ST LOUIS MO (stlouismo.com) -- An art exhibit featuring work by Boonslick residents will open June 7 with a lecture at Arrow Rock State Historic Site in Arrow Rock. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Arrow Rock, Inc., the opening event begins at 10 a.m. in the historic site's visitor center. The event is free and open to the public.
Bartlett C. Jones, a former college professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville and Central Methodist University in Fayette, will present a lecture entitled "The Boonslick's Confederate Hero and Neglected Artist." The lecture highlights 19th century Boonslick artist William B. Cox, an enigmatic figure whose portraits of Confederate leaders are hung in major museums, sought by collectors and reproduced in several books, yet little is known about him. Jones is currently writing an article about Cox for publication. Shown for the first time will be two of Cox's portraits of Frances and Ralph Montague, which were recent gifts to the Friends of Arrow Rock by William Groner, a Montague descendent.
In addition to these portraits, work will be featured by local artists Sue Hall, Rich Lawson, Chuck Petty, Mike Dickey, Diana Dickey, Joshua Dickey, Aaron Dickey, Anna Mae Hodge and Glen Wolfe.
A reception to meet the local artists will follow the lecture. The art exhibit will be featured at the site throughout the summer. The visitor center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Arrow Rock State Historic Site is located in Arrow Rock on Highway 41 in Saline County. For more information, contact Arrow Rock State Historic Site at 660-837-3330 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.
For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of upcoming meetings and events in the state park system, visit the online calendar at www.mostateparks.com/events/events.htm.