This fall, the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art will celebrate more than three dozen alumni of Central Methodist University as the “Art from the Alumni” exhibit opens with works by 37 different artists who attended the college.

Opening on Sunday, September 8, and running through November 21, the show will feature special galleries exhibiting the art of Thomas Yancey ’54 and Ellery Johnson ’56, two of Central’s most prolific and beloved alumni artists.

An array of Yancey works will be on display in the gallery room that bears his name, showcasing the late professor’s talent and creativity. A co-founder of the Ashby-Hodge Gallery, along with registrar Joe Geist, Yancey served on the Central Methodist faculty from 1958 through 1995. He maintained a reputation as a respected freelance artist and painting restoration specialist throughout his life and career.

Johnson, whose work headlined an Ashby-Hodge show in early 2022, was another Central alumnus known for creating in a wide variety of media. Though most of the works included in the fall show will be his wonderful paintings, Johnson’s work in sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and other media earned awards and exhibitions throughout the continent during his lifetime and after his passing in 2017. Johnson’s work was heavily influenced by American history and culture, particularly that of Native Americans.

In addition to the Yancey and Johnson exhibits, the Geist Gallery will hold dozens of works by an array of other Central alumni. The art featured will include a number of paintings – oils, acrylics, and watercolors – along with works of other media such as wood sculpture, pen and ink, photography, and batik, an art style using dyes and wax to create designs on fabric.

Artists in the show span more than a century of art students at Central, from Mary Elizabeth Walkup Markland in 1892 to Shelby Dodson in 2017. Regulars of the Ashby-Hodge shows, such as Edna Schenk ’35 and Jerry Benner ’66 will be joined by other familiar names like Helen Puckett Thogmorton ’43 and Anna Mae Besgrove Hodge ’44, as well as Alvin Hudson ’84 and Charles Broadus ’84 – the last two full-time Central art majors – and many others.

The show will also feature a small display of holiday cards designed by 1978 graduate Nancy Morrison Nesvik, who recently passed away after a battle with cancer.

An art opening will take place at 1:30 on Sunday, September 8, to kick off the show. The Gallery will be open each Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first floor of Classic Hall. Special tours and groups are also welcome to be scheduled by contacting curator Tyler Pierson at tpierson@centralmethodist.edu or 660-248-6304.