Skunk River art on display in May

FORT MADISON - Deb Scott has a passion for the imperfect. Scott’s finely crafted Souls of the Skunk River revel in this idea with engaging busts and high relief sculptures outfitted with ephemera.
Each sculpture is enhanced with a story dreamed up to further the viewer’s understanding and context of the caricatures they are encountering. With names like Effie May Cross, Rube Mathis or Purdy the Hornet Reader, any one of these individual characters could have a volume written to tell their tale, or a Disney movie made about them. They are not flawless or beautiful, but that is not the type of art Scott is interested in. Rather, she strives for authentic and engaging. This exhibition features these figurative sculptures along with a collection of watercolors. The Opening Reception for Souls of the Skunk River by Deb Scott is Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5pm to 7pm. Everyone is welcome to come meet the artist and enjoy complimentary refreshments at the FMAAA Art Center located at 825 Avenue G in Fort Madison, IA. This exhibition is graciously sponsored by Great River Health.

Retirement has afforded Deb Scott the time to indulge in her artistic passion. Scott states that she, “likes challenge and change, going so far as to make my own watercolor brushes from various roadkill,” along with notable sculpting tools that work best for her particular style. Scott further reminisces about her sculptural figures, “I have always had the urge to create. I am self taught. In sculpting I know there are rules, for example placement of features, but I never memorized them. If something doesn't look right to me, I simply cut it off and move it.” Her process, which includes pottery tools made from deer bones and snapping turtle shells (part of the aforementioned roadkill), produces sculptures that are true to her mind’s eye of who and what these characters are meant to reflect to the rest of us. These Souls seemingly ride around with Scott full-time as she acquires the accoutrements to bring them to life and rounds out the stories she has to tell about them.

In addition to being an accomplished sculptor and storyteller, Deb Scott is also an exceptional watercolorist. Her subjects are engaging and free spirited, walking the line of Americana and Scott’s own particularly piercing brand of authentic. Once can easily relate to childhood scenes, or the wise faces she renders – equally belly-laugh material and thought provoking. Her landscapes project a different feeling altogether though. There is a beauty that is both haunting and moody reflecting from the woody crags gracefully rooted.

Deb Scott will be on hand for a gallery talk about her work during Lunch ala Art at noon on Friday, May 30th. The cost of the lunch is $10 and reservations are required. Contact the FMAAA Art Center at 319-372-3996 before Wednesday, May 28 to make your reservation. The gallery talk is free to attend, however, and you are not required to eat lunch. This exhibition will be on display from May 3 through May 31. The FMAAA Art Center is open Tuesday – Saturday: Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 7pm, and Wed/Fri/Saturday from 10am to 5pm. For more information visit fortmadisonart.com

Plein Air painting on view through May 16

The FMAAA Art Center hosted its spring open-ended plein air event from March 19 through April 19. Artists converged on the area to paint in situ painting outside in “plein air” capturing imagery from within a 30-mile radius of Fort Madison. From first blossoms to the Depot, farmscapes to streetscapes, plein air artist paint quickly to capture their imagery before the light changes. These works are dynamic and fresh.  Stop in to cast your vote for the People’s Choice award, or find on Facebook the original post of the entries that came in and cast your vote in the comments on that post. The FMAAA Art Center thanks Clear View Vision Center and MidWestOne Bank for their generous sponsorship of this event.