LINN  — Local artist Lana (Dawson) Hunt is proud to display her work at the Osage County Library’s Woodland Art Gallery. A reception on Saturday celebrating her art show entitled “Recollection and Anemoia” drew nearly 50 visitors, including students in Hunt’s art classes at Linn R-2.

“Having my artwork chosen to be displayed at the Osage County Library is such a compliment and a wonderful opportunity to share my art with the community, students, friends, and family,” said Hunt. “I have not had my work displayed this way in several years. It is encouraging to me that people care and want to see my art. I have nothing but gratitude to (Branch Manager) Sarah Falter and the opportunity given to have my work displayed.”

Hunt explained how she named her display. “I chose the word ‘recollection’ simply because many of the pieces on display are ones of my past,” she said. “The word ‘anemoia’ comes from the book ‘The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows,’ by John Koenig, and refers to the feeling of nostalgia for a time you’ve never known. I have often felt this feeling but have never been able to describe it. So, when I recently saw this made-up word, its definition really stood out to me.”

Hunt added she loves the nostalgia associated with old objects and photographs. “I like feeling a sense of wonder about the past,” she said. “I feel that today, our world moves so fast — we don’t take time to stop and notice small things or to simply sit with our thoughts. I think that’s one of the wonderful things about creating art, being able to intentionally slow down and sit with something for a long period.”

Hunt observes her surroundings and turns it into art.

“The photographs displayed are simple reflections of moments and observations in my life that may have otherwise gone unnoticed,” she explained. “For example, the pattern of the remaining coffee grounds in the bottom of a mug or the reflection of the clouds and trees in the coffee itself. The most recent painting I completed was inspired by a vivid dream I had of a palomino horse. In this dream, it was as if I had entered into another time or place. I wanted to be able to make some sort of record, so I wouldn’t forget it. I began searching for images of palomino horses similar to the one in the dream. I wanted the background to be a reflection of the blurriness of dreams themselves. The painting itself took many hours to complete.”

Of all the mediums of work displayed in the show, Hunt doesn’t have a favorite; she said there are various aspects she loves about all mediums.

Hunt’s passion for art is rooted in drawing and painting. “When I was in middle school, I dreamed of owning an art shop in Florida after being inspired by an artist, Cara Roy, who owned a store in Sanibel Island and sold her prints there,” said Hunt. “Of course, as you get older, reality sets in, and dreams often fade.”

That did not deter her, though; she took as many art classes as possible while attending Jefferson City High School.

After graduating in 2005, she went to work as an apprentice at Atelier-Inc., a non-profit arts organization in Jefferson City. “That was a fantastic experience,” Hunt said. “I got to work for professional artist Carla Steck and help with a variety of tasks, primarily fundraising, and planning for Jefferson City’s ‘Art Inside the Park.’”

She attended UCM in the fall of 2005 to pursue a Fine Arts degree. “My college plans were side-tracked when I had my first child at 20,” said Hunt of her daughter, Saida, 16. “When I returned to school, I knew I had to get a degree to provide for her and have more security, so I switched to Art Education and loved it.”

Over the next few years, she and her husband, Casey, had another child, August 14. “It was not easy raising two small kids, going to school full-time, and working, but I was passionate about my courses, determined to get my degree, and begin my professional career,” Hunt explained. “I could not have done this without my amazing husband, ever-supportive family, and professors who taught me so much. I also gained some life-long friends while going to Lincoln University in Jefferson City.”

Hunt graduated from Lincoln in 2013 and went to Steelville to participate in a Plein Air competition, shared by her mother-in-law, who lived there at the time.

While there, Hunt began speaking with members of the Arts Council and told them she had just graduated with her Art Ed. Degree. “They encouraged me to apply for the local high school art position, which was open,” said Hunt. “I went to the high school that day in my plein air t-shirt and paint-covered jeans to introduce myself and be interviewed,” said Hunt. “A few hours later, the principal called and offered me the job.”

Hunt said it was completely unexpected as she and her family lived in Jefferson City then and had not planned on moving — but they loved the natural beauty of Steelville and the surrounding area. “I truly believe it was God’s plan for me to begin my career at Steelville,” said Hunt. “I cannot begin to describe all of the wonderful people in that community — teachers, students, the Arts Council — everyone was so supportive and welcoming. My kids had an amazing experience growing up there.”

Over the next five years, the Hunts spent a lot of time traveling to the Jefferson City area for family-related events. Hunt’s mother-in-law and her husband decided to purchase a farm in Beaufort and move there.

At the same time, the Owensville High School art position opened up, and Hunt was interested in applying for several reasons. “Primarily, I knew this location would get us closer to my mother-in-law and our families in Jefferson City,” Hunt explained. “I applied, was chosen for that position, and spent one year at Owensville. After a year, my family decided it was not where we wanted to stay indefinitely.”

Hunt and her family decided to move back to Jefferson City in 2019. They bought a house, and their kids attended Blair Oaks, where their cousins went. Hunt was offered a job at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, where she had completed her student-teaching. Hunt spent three years at TJ, including the COVID years. “Overall, that was a very challenging experience,” she said. “I missed teaching high-school-level courses and hoped to return to that grade level. When the Linn R-2 position opened up, I made the decision to apply. I was hired with the intent of growing the high school art program at Linn in 2022. I feel that I have been able to do that primarily because I have some amazing students!”

Hunt said working with many talented art students in her classes is a privilege. “I am also blessed to have incredible co-workers,” said Hunt. “I do not have a family connection to Linn or Osage County, but I have been welcomed and treated as such by so many.”

The best part about teaching art in the classroom is getting to know the students. “I love talking with them and seeing them find themselves and exploring their interests and identity through their artwork,” said Hunt. “I also love the opportunity to display their work and have students recognized for it. Seeing their hard work noticed and discussed by others is meaningful to me.”

Hunt has been asked about selling her work and whether she does commission pieces. “Currently, I do not have a website where I have prices for current pieces, but I plan on developing one soon and hopefully having some prints made to sell,” she said. “I have done this in the past during my college years, but teaching and raising a family are all-encompassing priorities that leave little to no time for a side business.”

Now that her kids are older, Hunt is beginning to make more time for personal work and would love the opportunity to sell her artwork and do commission pieces. “Over the last two years, I was blessed to complete two commission pieces for a good friend,” said Hunt. “One was for her business, and one was a personal piece for her home, and both were large-scale paintings. These were so fun to create, and they helped me get back into the groove of painting again.”

Anyone interested in buying or requesting commission work may call Hunt at 314-833-0766.

Hunt will display her art at the Woodland Art Gallery until Feb. 29.