Joplin: A Canvas of Creativity
From murals to sculptures, textiles to jewelry, cinema to theater, and music, Joplin is the place for art lovers! Find creativity, imagination, and inspiration when you find yourself in Joplin.
From the time we became best friends in elementary school, I recognized that Gina was a talented artist. I was always entertained by, and impressed with, the elaborate doodles that she drew on the notes that she passed to me in class (which were sometimes intercepted by a displeased teacher)
![Chris and Gina attempting to look artsy and edgy in high school.](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/1-arts-hub-chris-gina-bw.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=291ff1ffab54abeb67688fa743af6eb6 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/1-arts-hub-chris-gina-bw.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=083c5d0419d73b0fc5fe4ecdee505509 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/1-arts-hub-chris-gina-bw.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=263633a02953966f155f0d936bbb5cf5 600w)
Gina's skills developed over the years, from doodles to intricate sketches and paintings that continue to wow me.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/events/2-arts-hub-boy.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dd77334ac36f49ca33170a88403e2fb4 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/events/2-arts-hub-boy.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=45e066c857d3be38c2bb76a5fc31f9f5 391w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/3-arts-hub-horse.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=fa80cc71030986775e96081c140e6d02 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/3-arts-hub-horse.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2137a7a6eb2758abe556a0fdd64ca523 497w)
When I found out that she was coming from Chicago to visit me in Joplin, I wanted to make sure to show her the artistic side of our city, so I checked out the website of Joplin’s Connect2Culture, an organization that promotes the arts in our area, to help me plan the following itinerary for Gina’s visit.
Thursday
Gina’s quick, direct flight from Chicago brought her to Joplin with plenty of time left in the day for us to explore. The first thing I wanted to do was show her a piece of artwork by the well-known regionalist artist Thomas Hart Benton.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/4-history-murals-hart-benton.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=cde8901e48b3f900cd5baf4470efa092 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/4-history-murals-hart-benton.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7f64999689a9ef91a68b0492fda00546 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/4-history-murals-hart-benton.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=a8f7972ff8650cff474cc752316d734e 768w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/4-history-murals-hart-benton.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=b01bb84bc48006e52f636343c1ee2303 800w)
Completed in 1973, Benton’s mural, “Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1896-1906,” was one of his final works and is displayed in the lobby of City Hall.
Benton was born in the nearby town of Neosho in 1889. He studied art in Chicago and Paris, then worked at his studio in Kansas City until his death. His home and studio are now part of a Missouri state historic site.
Benton’s Joplin mural depicts the history of our community’s development in a naturalistic, realistic style. Visitors can learn about Benton’s artistic process in creating this mural on the mezzanine level of City Hall in the “Evolution of a Mural” exhibit, which features Benton’s preliminary sketches of the mural. (To see other murals that tell the story of Joplin’s community, check out this mural tour).
With Benton still on my brain, I took Gina to the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts next, where we found Benton-related items in the gift shop (the center is a steward of the Thomas Hart Benton Trust).
This bustling regional art hub was the vision of Joplin businessman George A. Spiva over 70 years ago, and it continues to make both local and national artwork accessible to residents and visitors - and admission is free.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/5-Spiva-princess.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=8be34005ea52b215cbea5f3d9be71bb8 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/5-Spiva-princess.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=83c3601da8069c7e842293510722c178 432w)
After completing our walk through Spiva’s galleries, I figured we could use a break. “Are you up for a refreshment?” I asked Gina. It was late afternoon by this point, and I thought that we could get some cocktails and an early dinner before our next activity.
“Sounds great!” she said, and we headed to nearby Club 609, a popular, urban eatery in the heart of downtown. Happy Hour had already begun here, and we ordered one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails, a Key Lime Martini.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/6-609-martini1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=23ce5675ef9dfe7570b4767d06281fd9 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/6-609-martini1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=86812313ddae5b2c350e397b3d73f405 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/6-609-martini1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=755bf8fde096469e214f9d354117e48c 600w)
Club 609’s menu features a variety of bar bites, salads, sandwiches (the Chicken Cordon Bleu is my go-to), burgers, and entrees like Apple Pie Pork Chops and Bacon Wrapped Scallops. We placed our order, and while we were waiting for our food, I pointed to the far wall where brightly colored paintings dotted the exposed brick. “Let’s go check out that art,” I said.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/7-first-thursday-club-609-fancee-nancee.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=cd57cfefe32975ff9a3b7b167bb36660 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/7-first-thursday-club-609-fancee-nancee.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=090eb8863a1003fe76556f44c138a936 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/7-first-thursday-club-609-fancee-nancee.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=7b629ad4f5dbe3de54b924510df5fa0c 600w)
We walked over and read the artist’s statement for Fancee Nancee Designs. Not only was this local artist featured at Club 609, she was also a participant in Joplin’s First Thursday ArtWalk - the next activity on our schedule.
First Thursday ArtWalk, held on the first Thursday of the month, spotlights local artists at downtown studios and galleries, businesses, and restaurants, like Club 609. It worked out perfectly that Gina arrived on this particular Thursday, and I was excited to see what awaited us at the other ArtWalk venues. (Had she been in town on a different Thursday, maybe we could have caught a Pro Musica performance. Music is art, too…)
We left Club 609, and I pulled up the ArtWalk map on my phone. We lingered at Urban Art Gallery, where several local artists displayed their work. I observed Gina as she thoughtfully examined the pieces on display, her expression strikingly similar to the one she captured in her self-portrait.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/8-arts-hub-self-portrait.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=79116d23f7e976b3d2a8299b110823bc 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/8-arts-hub-self-portrait.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=181d18629d0f96782b403ca11efb8940 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/8-arts-hub-self-portrait.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=6ed4168c2b94548769dca3891e6b7d43 600w)
“What are you thinking?” I asked her.
There was a glimmer in her eyes. “This stuff is amazing. It makes me want to bring out my sketch pad.”
Ah, sweet inspiration. It’s a beautiful thing.
Friday
We kicked off the second day of our art tour with Van Gogh Lattes (made with vanilla, honey, and almond) from Joplin Avenue Coffee Company. We’d been there the previous night for ArtWalk, and now we had another chance to see the eclectic work by local artist Charlie Zimms Art displayed inside.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/9-first-thursday-jacc.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3f7237e474a8fbd781f0770f099eea7f 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/9-first-thursday-jacc.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=428c9abffe7cd61d4190dd986a5cebf7 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/9-first-thursday-jacc.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bdc9b18e80cdb259c735c17987098346 600w)
“Where are we going next?” Gina asked as we walked to my car.
“To Jorge Leyva’s studio.”
An internationally known artist, Jorge works out of his studio at his home, so I had called ahead to schedule an appointment. Even though I’d been to his studio several times before, I'm always excited to see Jorge - and the new things that he's working on.
The moment we got out of the car, Jorge greeted us with his usual exuberant warmth. A native of Peru, Jorge first came to Joplin to attend college at Missouri State Southern University. After moving to California, Jorge returned to Joplin to explore his craft here. He’s been a big proponent of giving back to the Joplin community, and his work can be spotted throughout town; there’s a sculpture of his in front of the Joplin Public Library, and one in front of the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/10-leyva-library.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=bc906f82503c0df983e848340be838d9 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/10-leyva-library.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=171f1f4315acb8f042fe3e616ebf670f 354w)
“Come in, come in,” Jorge said, waving us inside his studio. Larger-than-life paintings hung from the cavernous walls. Gina’s eyes grew wide, absorbing the vivid shapes and colors around her. “This is mind-blowing,” she said.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/11-leyva-army-crabs.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c51be8501b8db43591442ae10550ab74 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/11-leyva-army-crabs.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1826d1cf173a0e6bc063b86f28d91642 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/11-leyva-army-crabs.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=914843254ffe48325aad9afcce245bf2 750w)
She and Jorge started talking shop, and before I knew it, two hours had passed. Before we said goodbye to Jorge, he led us out to his front yard to the garden - the sculpture garden, where several of his metal sculptures seemingly sprouted from the ground.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/12-leyva-scales-of-nature.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=fd45b01a2eb763f446d2bbae8f44aa27 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/12-leyva-scales-of-nature.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=3184d1fdd921099974e9458c24cfad29 486w)
We left Jorge’s studio feeling uplifted, energized, and hungry, so we headed to Crabby’s Seafood Bar & Grill. We felt like we were in an art gallery as we walked to our table, passing painting after painting, an air of urban sophistication permeating the dining room.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/13-crabbys-interior.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=07bf10a1bff3e91c45f81f27aa5bf029 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/13-crabbys-interior.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f0316c06ed324db44011e9cf4af70d90 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/13-crabbys-interior.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=cec8393443640a0576867d4b93301fc2 600w)
I ordered Crabby's signature Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, and Gina ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon with a cup of the Butternut Squash Bisque, made with molasses, brown sugar, cream, and spice - perfect for a fall day.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/14-crabbys-crab-cakes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ee7aad8ec29e93ce861235f385eaf9d3 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/14-crabbys-crab-cakes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=49e5d940fb79b8e1b16e0f07cca35c5b 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/14-crabbys-crab-cakes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d214dad913619f5ffe3969c852535dc2 600w)
After lunch, we went back to my house to rest and freshen up for our evening excursion: a light meal at The Board Room, which consisted of an artfully arranged charcuterie board paired with glasses of wine; then a performance of “Clue: On Stage” at Joplin Little Theatre - it had us laughing as the characters bumbled along trying to unravel the mystery of this whodunnit.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/15-JLT-outside-angle.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d186b4c06be8f58e6b289f50cf459873 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/15-JLT-outside-angle.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=970778c62bb6d74c81671acc23be6150 500w)
Laughter is always a great way to end the night.
Saturday
Just like when we were teenagers, Gina and I stayed up late talking on Friday night, so we slept in the next morning. Around 10 a.m., we rolled into Joplin Empire Market just after it had opened.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/16-joplin-empire-market-chair1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1ac2174702ad208cb248113ca0e05d9a 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/16-joplin-empire-market-chair1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e9dc58fa9465ba15acde4fd795e52dd1 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/16-joplin-empire-market-chair1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5bad9c8324c68679facc355e8839a6d4 600w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/17-Joplin-Empire-Market-music.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dac25ca5f7e288739531624aef3dd5a5 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/17-Joplin-Empire-Market-music.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=08ec8eda3af9fef559365cc61a9c8dad 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/17-Joplin-Empire-Market-music.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=22143c94d476e20c9fdd9ed9c0454014 576w)
The market is run by Downtown Joplin Alliance, an organization which fosters the revitalization of downtown Joplin and manages other major events such as Third Thursday and Joplin Arts Fest.
We took our time stopping by each vendor, and Gina bought some local honey and lavender lotion to bring back to Chicago with her, along with a handcrafted necklace.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/18-joplin-empire-stone-house.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=825f51fa0ecafe252de1126b5c3636b6 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/18-joplin-empire-stone-house.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f50902aa6eb83a526c08a7bfd02a3bad 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/18-joplin-empire-stone-house.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c963b1260ddae3531a6c7205e97b43a2 600w)
We left the market with hearty appetites, so we bee-lined it to The Bruncheonette, where the menu is quirky, and the food - mainly from local producers - is art.
Gina ordered the “Henny, I Shroom the Kids,” a po’ boy filled with Hen-of-the-Wood mushrooms and coleslaw, and I got the Garden Benny, a vegetarian twist on Eggs Benedict, which is made with fresh asparagus, tomatoes, avocadoes, local microgreens (from one of the vendors we saw at Empire Market), topped with dreamy pink Hollandaise made from earthy beets.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/19-history-brunch-micro-greens.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=159175ef312ef0e46d4d35c063b5c801 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/19-history-brunch-micro-greens.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5d7ad2a8bbc5a9a3bab7e3a818c25a85 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/19-history-brunch-micro-greens.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=00ce483218407f7f0f9bef61852f1b15 669w)
Next, I wanted to show Gina Local Color Art Gallery & Studio, a space where a cooperative of area artists sells their paintings, art glass, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and more.
“This is gorgeous!” Gina said, unfolding a hand-dyed silk scarf patterned with swirling colors. “It would be perfect for my mom.”
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/20-art-local-color.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=322a0ab3b750456f273332b63d31fe23 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/20-art-local-color.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=fdde41b28a94c30573369082c09afe29 480w)
“I’ve bought many gifts here for people over the years,” I said. “I love that each piece is unique. And speaking of unique pieces, remind me to show you the painting that I made here when I took a Vino and Van Gogh class. It’s actually not bad...for me.”
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/21-local-color-painting.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b8bd38eefdf3380bfcb7a722d4950b5d 229w)
Since both Gina and I were craving something sweet, we stepped next store to Caroline’s, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor where you can also find nostalgic candies, chocolates, and coffee made from regional roaster Onyx Coffee Lab.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/22-carolines-counter1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b69a0759de7e63cb7f9908fbc763f353 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/22-carolines-counter1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ffcb93dfe7eb000451bf012f9fa81533 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/22-carolines-counter1.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d9802f50bc1620bc9b3f654c8bbaef66 600w)
At this point, we were ready to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall day, so we headed to Mercy Park, a tranquil oasis in the middle of the city.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/23-mercy-park-butterfly-mural-c.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d1fdcdc39f6a74fde4288a6d388a74fb 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/23-mercy-park-butterfly-mural-c.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=a1595cb415f9d7a750d1aca1fdca0dc6 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/23-mercy-park-butterfly-mural-c.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c43751ef24a81324c3cc17bae917df9a 600w)
On the Wings of Butterflies mural.
It also happens to contain an outdoor art gallery featuring two murals and the Rotary Sculpture Garden.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/24-mercy-park-water-lily.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e640d65eef637084f201cba4b7fb015a 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/24-mercy-park-water-lily.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=602320d4ba91d2f2422711f19e479d9d 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/24-mercy-park-water-lily.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=217c3f97ee0b208b8c8ebe00fd3ea87c 600w)
Large bronze sculptures of people and animals dot the path at intervals, adding pops of human creativity to the park’s canvas of nature.
Thoughts and worries drifted away as Gina and I walked beneath the azure sky. I felt like a kid again, playing outside with my best friend.
What comes after playtime? Nap time! We drove back to my house, and I said a quick “hi” to my family before collapsing on my bed. I knew I had to rest up for our Saturday night plans: dinner and a movie at Bookhouse Cinema.
With just 45 seats, Bookhouse Cinema is Joplin’s only micro theater, showing independent, artsy movies - an ideal stop on our Joplin arts tour.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/25-bookhouse-theater-seats.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=00c93283d5df791435ad6edc7a9cb9ba 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/25-bookhouse-theater-seats.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9052f47fd6a35b96f581b3ffc6eff135 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/25-bookhouse-theater-seats.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=268bf9c0ee7c35a217b8e52fe59c500a 600w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/26-bookhouse-cauli.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e7061965d269cb1d94e2b815d06ba88a 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/26-bookhouse-cauli.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d45fcd28dde87fddff1f7b5cc414176c 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/26-bookhouse-cauli.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=484d117d8277918edd4fdf2660a529af 600w)
The menu at Bookhouse caters to both carnivores and herbivores. We got the Beer Battered Cauliflower with a side of Vegan Wasabi Mayo to share, then Gina ordered the Falafel Shawarma, and I ordered the Pulled Pork & Spinach sandwich, which was topped with a red onion chutney.
Gina ordered a cocktail, and I ordered a beer, and guess what? We were allowed to bring our drinks into the theatre with us to watch our movie, the newly released Language Lessons which won an Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival.
Sitting in the theatre, we reminisced about our teenage years when we spent many Saturday nights at the theater watching movies like John Hughes Sixteen Candles. Now we were watching an independent film and sipping adult beverages.
Where have the years gone?
Sunday
We began the day sipping coffee and flipping through old photo albums. My youngest daughter shuffled into the room, still shaking off sleep, and came over to look at the photos with us. Suddenly, her eyes grew wide. “What's going on with your hair there?”
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/27-arts-hub-big-hair.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=90789ca2174c9153101bdcd07bb45ed8 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/27-arts-hub-big-hair.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b78edc7cffdf898e0a35fca64731d6e0 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/27-arts-hub-big-hair.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=943d7731a1a448f2224d51beb672eec2 600w)
I laughed. “Big hair was in fashion back in the 80s,” I told her. “Maybe it will become popular again - like Mom jeans.”
“I sure hope not!” Gina said.
After our trip down Memory Lane, our next stop was Finn’s, a sophisticated American restaurant that serves brunch on Sundays. While the Bottomless Mimosas sounded tempting, we opted for coffee to accompany our food: Raspberry Cream Stuffed French Toast for Gina and Clark’s Cheesesteak Omelet for me.
When we finished, I told Gina, “Not only did I bring you here for the delicious food; I also brought you here to see more art.”
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/28-finns-white-lounge-art.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6f59380bc3ece9fdd6f5b58ed4293454 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/28-finns-white-lounge-art.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=352620a85fa13b960b68067344a6aeae 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/28-finns-white-lounge-art.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d984b319f841bf5ef8643f6660ae4559 600w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/29-finns-art-work.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=89f60f6b31d025220180dcd3f9d2ab24 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/29-finns-art-work.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4651124b41553a53a5468e47e0fb76d1 532w)
That’s one thing that I love about our community: our local small business people and creatives find ways to partner together in order to help each other be successful.
With Gina’s visit winding down, we had just one more place to visit: George Washington Carver National Monument, located 20 minutes south of Joplin. This national monument is dedicated to George Washington Carver, who was born on this land as an enslaved person, and who later went on to become a scientist, teacher, artist, philanthropist, and inventor of many applications for the use of peanuts and other plants.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/30-girls-day-gwc-girls-boy-painting.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=5fe10b0027477fe26b5f2d689f9288cd 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/30-girls-day-gwc-girls-boy-painting.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9e35c382fcee3185b0ad7fc301e92ae0 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/30-girls-day-gwc-girls-boy-painting.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=40ebb089c041c87c8da70b8e0c78ae65 550w)
Gina and I began our visit by walking through an exhibit that detailed the timeline of Carver’s life. As a young boy, he spent a lot of time exploring the surrounding woods and prairie and familiarized himself with native plants and their properties. The scientist inside of him yearned to find practical uses for those plants; the artist inside of him longed to capture their untouched beauty on paper.
As we finished the exhibit, Gina said, “What couldn’t this guy do?”
“Let’s go see where he got his inspiration,” I said, leading us out of the visitor center and onto the paved trail that wound through the land that had served as Carver’s real-life classroom over a century earlier.
The tranquility of the landscape was palpable. We paused next to a bubbling spring, watching newly fallen leaves dance in the moving water, then continued on until we came to a bench that faced a statue of young Carver and sat down.
“I’m so glad you came for a visit, Gina,” I said. “I hope you had fun.”
“I did!” she said. “I got to hang out with my best friend, eat great food, and see incredible art."
“I hope you’re inspired now to go back to Chicago and crank out some of your own work.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, then watched as a late-season butterfly flitted in front of us, finally alighting on the statue of Carver.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/31-gwc-carver-statue-with-butterfly.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b7d84b31a21178da7d228dd432b00b18 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/31-gwc-carver-statue-with-butterfly.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5c625100056ab63d1a948ac3e3f6e410 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/31-gwc-carver-statue-with-butterfly.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2b09f91b480d0efa3aebdb8e24c0af52 600w)
“I’ll take that as a sign,” said Gina. “I’m getting out my paints as soon as I get home.”
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/32-grown-up-gina-and-chris.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c658345582aa40188bdb82b7ce2c480b 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/32-grown-up-gina-and-chris.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9a79b9a0f3728cea5d4e40dbe66a0201 539w)