Reynolds College Blog

Student artists “start their journey” at 2025 Missouri Fine Arts Academy

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Ready to “start their journey,” 125 high school students from nearly 60 Missouri schools attended the 2025 Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) June 1-14.

As a summer residential program, MFAA serves highly motivated high school student artists throughout Missouri. The program, taught by faculty from across the state, gives students an immersive training experiences in visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing and music.

The academy received 209 applications for the 2025 session, according to MFAA Director Dr. Fatih Benzer, associate professor in the Department of Art and Design.

The Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) at Missouri State hosts MFAA and works with the state legislature to manage the affordability of the Academy. As a result, MFAA 2025 students received free tuition, thanks to the support of the State of Missouri and private donations. Benzer said he remains grateful to Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for “keeping ‘MFAA 2025’ free.”

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“Let me tell you a story” exhibit featured at Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

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The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center at Missouri State University announces a new summer exhibition, curated by Olga Shute, MFA in Visual Studies candidate, in collaboration with Director of Exhibitions Jodi McCoy.

“Let me tell you a story: gathering our roots to find belonging,” represents a group exhibition that explores Latin identity through personal and cultural storytelling. It features work by Marco Hernandez, Veronica Ibargüengoitia, Mariana Ruvalcaba, Tina Tavera, Xavier Tavera and Leandre Urrutia.

The exhibit is on view 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 7-Aug. 1. The center’s schedule is Tuesday through Friday during the summer.

A public reception will be held during First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 1 from 6-8 p.m.

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Intergenerational art exhibit on view at Cabot Gallery

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The Intergenerational Artistic Expression exhibition is on view at Missouri State University’s Cabot Gallery July 7-Aug. 1.

The Cabot Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at 215 West Mill Street, inside Brick City’s BRK3.

A special First Friday Art Walk reception for the exhibition will take place Aug. 1 from 6-8 p.m.

Exhibit inspired by interdisciplinary collaboration

Drawing of bare tree on beige background
“Untitled” artwork by Martin Cramer.

The exhibit features a range of collaborative and individual artworks created by students from diverse backgrounds, including those over 62 and first-generation college students.

The exhibit grew from the inspiration of Diane Denton, a per course instructor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology (SAG). Denton approached the department with a course she had developed, which led to an invitation to teach. Shortly after, SAG picked up the course, and the Department of Art and Design made space for it, leading to a creative collaboration.

Ultimately, the exhibition invites viewers to see others and themselves with compassion. Denton hopes visitors “see people’s humanity, find encouragement and be willing to challenge themselves. It’s about finding space for someone else’s story” and embracing our own.

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Tent Theatre’s “Vintage Hitchcock” promises an evening of mystery and suspense

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Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre continues the 2025 season with its production of “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.”

Performances are June 27 and 28, then June 30-July 2 at the John Goodman Amphitheatre.

All show times are 8 p.m.

Ticket information

Individual, group, and season tickets are now on sale. Patrons can purchase by mail, calling the box office at 417-836-7678 or 1-888-476-7849 or online at MissouriStateTix.com.

On show days, Tent Theatre patrons can pick up their tickets at the will-call kiosk next to the Amphitheatre between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Food and drink concessions will be available. Patrons can access restrooms in Hill Hall, just north of Craig Hall.

Get tickets

Early Hitchcock films brought to the stage

Directed by Betsy Kruse Craig, “Vintage Hitchcock” adapts three of film director Alfred Hitchcock’s earliest films – “The Lodger,” “Sabotage” and “The 39 Steps” – into radio format.

Known as the “master of suspense,” Hitchcock used innovative techniques in his films. Camera angles and framing, along with ominous music, create a sense of escalating danger and the surreal.

In “Vintage Hitchcock,” the stories are presented as they might have been in the 1940s. Five actors play dozens of characters, with live sound effects and atmospheric music keeping audiences spellbound. Vintage commercials woven into the performance add to the fun of this unique production.

 

Art and design department announces summer gallery schedule

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This summer, Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design invites audiences to experience two powerful exhibitions exploring identity, storytelling and underrepresented histories.

The exhibitions are on view at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center and Brick City Gallery.

Summer program celebrates fourth year

Now in its fourth year, the department’s summer programming continues its mission to showcase diverse voices and emerging talent through thoughtfully curated visual arts exhibitions.

“Our core summer audience is pretty open minded and excited to see our exhibit spaces try new things and explore new ideas,” said Jodi McCoy, Director of Exhibitions. “While our summer audience is smaller, our summer exhibits have been featured in national reviews. They’re a bit of a hidden or emerging gem.”

At the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

The 2025 MFA Thesis Exhibition opened May 27.  This event is the capstone showcase for Master of Fine Arts graduate students.

Next, “Let Me Tell You a Story: Gathering Our Roots to Find Belonging” opens June 21. MFA candidate Olga Shute co-curated the exhibition. It features six Latin American artists whose works explore heritage, memory and identity through storytelling.

“As we got deeper into planning with these particular themes of identity, it became very important to me to make intentional space for the voices of the artists to speak rather than have a heavy curatorial hand,” McCoy said.

Carolla Arts Exhibition schedule

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