Missouri State University art professor emeritus Jerry Hatch and his wife, Hing Wah Hatch, are the latest artists to be featured in a summer exhibition at the Brick City Gallery.

Sponsored by Missouri State’s Department of Art and Design, “Boomerangs, Butterflies and Then Some” is on view July 5-Aug. 4 and will end at the First Friday Art Walk Aug. 4 from 6-8 p.m.

The exhibit features a diverse collection of works created by the Hatches that span painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.

Themes of nature, culture and psychology

“Boomerangs, Butterflies and Then Some” is a testament to the Hatches’ diverse artistic talents and their ability to blend personal narratives with broader themes of nature, culture and psychology.

The phrase “and then some” in the exhibit’s title is meant literally, reflecting the artists’ wide variability of what they wanted to share.

For example, Jerry Hatch’s inspiration ranges from psychological theory to natural phenomena like tornadoes.

He used organic materials like calcite bone dust to capture that inspiration, incorporating a variety of techniques such as engraving, printmaking and painting on wood panels.

Hing Wah Hatch incorporated mushrooms in her work, including the use of mushroom dyes for watercolor paintings.

“Mycelium is like a network, forming the body of the mushroom. It’s so tiny you need a magnifying glass to see its structures,” she explained.

“Art is like a diary”

One of Hing Wah Hatch’s most noteworthy works is a portrait, in oil, of Jerry holding a boomerang. She also contributed light sketches in watercolor, colored pencil, pastel and Chinese ink, depicting various international places and local landscapes.

Hing Wah Hatch’s self-portraits and sculptures often draw from personal experiences and cultural heritage. She incorporates elements like Chinese costumes, letters from her parents, and thoughts on family, creating a dialogue between past and present.

“Art is like a diary for me, meant to journal my life,” she said.

A “box of us”

The Hatches enjoyed the collaboration, making choices together on which pieces to include in the exhibit.

“We had fun choosing,” Jerry Hatch said. “Some choices depended on what we could carry and what could fit in the car. I love the challenge.”

“It’s just a ‘box’ of us,” Hing Wah Hatch explained. “I love nature and Jerry loves boomerangs.”

About Brick City Gallery

Brick City Gallery is located at 215 W. Mill Street, Springfield, MO 65806. Summer hours are Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.

Images courtesy of the Brick City Gallery.

News written by Sam Barnette and edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.

Barnette is a writer for the Department of Art and Design. She earned an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Missouri State’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film and is working toward an MS in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling at Truman State University.