artCentral
By Sally Armstrong
Fortunate are we to introduce
three of artCentral’s member artists for the
newest exhibition, set to open on March 28th.
This show will feature, in the upstairs Member
Gallery, paintings, pastels and drawings by
Joplin artist Nida Rudd. Her show is entitled
"99% Landscapes" because that is what
she told me would be her subject matter for this
show! I will feature Nida in next week’s
article. The Main Gallery will feature a bit of
work by Jasper artist Steve Binam. Steve is a
painter, and is just beginning to gain momentum
in his part-time painting career, is anxious to
show a few of his best paintings to date, and we
are glad to display them. And now, for the
featured artist for the Main Gallery,—
Joplin artist Joe Prater, and his show entitled
"THE WEST THAT I
SEE."
Joe Prater was born in 1938 in
Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, of Choctaw Indian and
English heritage, and has been interested in art
for as long as he can remember. He works
primarily in transparent watercolor and oils, but
any media may be used depending on his desired
effect. Although Joe is best known for his
landscapes and western-themed paintings, he has a
wide range of other interests. "I’m not
one who is willing to limit myself to just one
type of subject matter. When I feel I want to
paint something, I paint it." Joe says. It
is fair to say that western people and the
western way of life seem to be at the forefront
of many of his paintings. Joe grew up in Parsons,
Kansas where he attended the local community
college and studied art. Later, he continued his
studies at Missouri Southern in Joplin with
watercolorist Jim Bray. Over the years, he has
studied with such noted artists as Joe Garcia of
Julian, CA, Adele Earnshaw of Sedona, AZ, George
Kontoupous of Tulsa, OK and Bob Tommey of
Carthage. He has attended workshops and seminars
with John Moyer of Santa Fe, NM and Tom Lynch of
Chicago, IL. His art has been exhibited at
numerous art shows in the four states. Joe has
won awards for his artwork in Missouri and
Oklahoma, and was invited to exhibit in the
Midwest Gathering of the Artists in both 2002 and
2003. Joe lives with his wife Ruth of 39 years
and they have three sons, Todd, Jeff and Tim. His
show will open with the artist’s reception
on March 28th at the Hyde House Gallery and will
remain on display until April 13th during the
regular gallery hours.
Natural Nutrition
By Mary An Willis
The arrival of spring often
brings with it new optimism. With the appearance
of bright tulips and jonquils to the aromatic
fragrance of sage blooming or the irises blowing
in the breeze one is met with the renewal of
life.
For many individuals who have
been challenged with long term dis-ease, the
renaissance of herbal medicine has brought about
a "spring in their lives." Many have
incorporated herbal teas and supplements into
their daily routines. It is not unusual to see
someone sipping ginger tea or peppermint tea
after a large meal to help aid digestion or to
brew a cup of chamomile prior to bedtime to quiet
the nerves after a long day. The usage of herbs
goes far beyond these simple pleasures.
For those treating more serious
conditions one must note that the scientific
validation of herbs is available for review and
study as an option and an adjunct to more
commonly used drugs. An excellent reference book
on this subject may be The Scientific Validation
of Herbal Medicine by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D. It
is full of references to particular scientific
research on various herbs shedding light in areas
once considered "old wives tale." In
Germany and many other foreign countries the
usage of herbs is standard practice.
As our lawns flourish from
spring to summer, take a look at your weeds with
a new perspective. That broad leafed plantain has
traditionally been used to stop poison-ivy itch,
dandelion for minerals and liver, chickweed for
weight loss and wild onion and garlic for immune
maintenance. Plants, as life itself, is all how
you look at it.
*This article is meant for
informational purposes only and is not intended
as a substitute for medical advice.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
Smoked Ham with
Fresh Strawberry Sauce
We created this
impressive glazed ham for winter entertaining,
but it has become an Easter favorite as well.
TOTAL TIME: 4
1/2 hours MAKES: 24 servings
1 (12-pound)
smoked whole ham, fully cooked
3 pints strawberries
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 jar (10- to 12-ounce) orange marmalade
Radish sprouts or watercress sprigs, for garnish
1. Remove skin and
trim some fat from smoked whole ham, leaving
about 1/4-inch fat. With knife, score fat
covering on ham crosswise, just through to the
meat, into 1-inch-wide strips. Place ham on rack
in large roasting pan (about 17 by 11 1/2
inches). Insert meat thermometer into center of
ham, being careful that pointed end does not
touch bone. Bake ham in 325 F oven 3 to 3 1/2
hours until thermometer reaches 140 F (15 to 18
minutes per pound). If ham browns too quickly,
cover with tent of foil.
2. About 30
minutes before ham is done, prepare strawberry
sauce: Reserve 1 pint strawberries for garnish.
Hull remaining strawberries. In 3-quart saucepan
with potato masher or back of slotted spoon, mash
strawberries. Stir in brown sugar, cornstarch,
salt, and orange marmalade; cook over medium heat
until mixture thickens slightly and boils,
stirring frequently.
3. To serve, place
ham on warm, large platter. Arrange radish
sprouts and reserved whole strawberries around
ham. Serve with strawberry sauce.
Each serving:
About 250 calories, 12g total fat, 60mg
cholesterol, 1,770mg sodium.
COLLECTING
By Larry Cox
Elvis Stamps
Q: I have two
sheets of Elvis stamps. Are they worth anything,
and, if so, where can I sell them? -- Jack, Port
Orange, Fla.
A: According to
the Blackbook Price Guide to United States Post
Stamps by Marc and Tom Hudgeons, your
commemorative Elvis Presley stamps are worth
about $28 per sheet. Since prices vary from
region to region, you need to consult a good
stamp dealer in your area.
***
Q: I have a
Barbie doll case with three dolls and clothing.
How much are they worth? -- Martha, Centralia,
Ill.
A: The first
Barbie doll was introduced in 1959. It quickly
became one of America’s most popular dolls.
One of the best price guides for dolls is Blue
Book: Dolls & Values by Jan Foulke. I found
several used copies at amazon.com in the $10 to
$15 range. This is one of the most trusted guides
in this field of collecting. Arranged
alphabetically by manufacturer, it features more
than 560 photographs, all in full color. Another
good way to determine current values is to
monitor the Barbie doll action on eBay.
***
Q: I have a run
of "Ring" magazines from 1973 until
1996. They are in good shape, and I am curious
about how much they might be worth. -- Kenneth,
Spokane, Wash.
A: Several
contacts that might be helpful are Frederick
Ryan, Boxiana and Pugilistica Collectors
International, P.O. Box 83135, Portland, OR
97283; Don Hoffman, P.O. Box 4231, Salinas, CA
93912; and Lou Manfra, 27 Rochelle St., Staten
Island, NY 10304.
***
Q: I have a
collection of porcelain birds issued by Kaiser.
Each one has an identification mark on its base.
Most are from the 1960s and ‘70s, and I
would like to find a buyer for them. -- Marjorie,
Albuquerque, N.M.
A: If you contact
Replacements, Ltd., at 1-800-737-5223, you might
be able to market your bird figurines. However,
selling modern collectibles isn’t always
easy to do.
Cruisin’
By Greg Zyla
Corvette Lust
Q: Greg, I’m a lover of
Corvettes, and want to know which one is most in
demand and collectible? Would it be the first
year of 1953? -- K.H., Spokane, Wash.
A: Not by a long shot, K.H. We
contacted one of the Corvette world’s most
prominent members, Terry Michaelis of ProTeam
Corvettes in Napoleon, Ohio. Here’s what he
had to say:
"If money is no object, at
the top of my Corvette list is the 1963 Corvette
Grand Sport, of which only five were ever built.
Next would be the 1969 ZL1 all-aluminum 427, of
which GM made only two, and then the 1967 L88
427, of which GM made just 20.
The five 1963 Grand Sports he
speaks of were conceived by Zora Arkus Duntov,
father of the Corvette, in 1962. These special,
lightweight Corvettes were delivered to sports
car race teams and driven by top-notch drivers
like Dave McDonald, Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, Don
Yenko, A.J. Foyt and Roger Penske. Duntov wanted
to build 125, but GM pulled the plug after only
five were delivered.
Michaelis said that the last
1963 Grand Sport traded hands three years ago for
$4.4 million, and you wouldn’t touch it
today for less than $6 million. (For more info,
see www.grandsportregistry. com/63_history.htm)
As for price, a 1969 ZL1
all-aluminum 427 Corvette should fetch close to
$4 million, and a 1967 L88 is in the $1.7 million
and up range.
For more available cars,
Michaelis recommends the L88s from 1968 and 1969,
of which 196 were built.
"Right now, they are
bringing $350,000 to $750,000. The $350,000 car
is probably a T-top, not a great color, maybe
green or yellow or maroon. The popular Corvette
colors are red and black. A black convertible
just sold for $675,000."
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