Unions' Public Art Blog

  By the Sea 2013 acrylic on canvas A new exhibition is now on display across from US Bank in the MU Student Center featuring the vivid and expressive paintings of David Kontra. Originally from Ohio, Kontra lives and works in rural south-central Missouri in the small town of Norwood. Kontra is legally blind. He was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa when he was still a child and began drawing as a way to cope with depression. Retinitis pigmentosa is a condition that gradually causes people to lose their sight. Suffers must contend with severe tunnel vision, nystagmus (involuntary rapid eye movements), blind spots, and the eventuality of going completely blind. Today, Kontra retains less than five percent of his vision in his left eye, and his right eye can only perceive changes in light. The artist describes it as, “like looking through a straw with my left eye only.” As a result, the artist is unable to view his paintings in their e

2013 Director's Creativity Showcase     The Missouri Mental Health Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Missouri – Columbia, is proud to present the 2013 Director’s Creativity Showcase. The display is located in the MU Student Center, in the wall cases in the Lower Lair Lounge and in the square cases located on the first floor outside of Mort’s. The display will remain on view until November 25, 2013.   MU Student Center Lower Lair Lounge display Debuting in 1979, the Director’s Creativity Showcase is an annual event that displays the creative works of the talented people served by the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) and acts as an inspiration to all who create and experience these works.    The Showcase helps to acquaint the public with the talents of those who are served by DMH.  These are individuals with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or addiction disorders.  The artwork is created not only for the Showcase

This day in Mizzou history............   (1979 Savitar )     Remembering the Shack The Shack burned to the ground on Halloween night in 1988. (1989 Savitar )   It was 25 years ago today that Columbia, Missouri awoke to find that the Shack, a beloved campus hangout since the 1930s, had burned to the ground in a mysterious fire on Halloween night. Chandler Davis and his family in Texas while on their way to Columbia, Missouri from San Diego, California in 1921. The journey took five months. (Courtesy of University Archives C:0/30/1)   The origins of the Shack date back to 1921, when Chandler Davis moved his family across the country from San Diego, California to Columbia, Missouri to open the Davis Tea Room. Located across from Jesse Hall, where the Reynolds Alumni Center stands today, the Davis Tea Room originally consisted of little more than a touring car that the family modified so that it looked like a little wooden house on wheels. As their business