Sarah Nguyen’s hand-cut paper art, “Devorah-Bee,” was unveiled as commemorative poster of the year at Jesse Hall’s Celebration of Arts on Wednesday night.
The celebration, hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs, featured Nguyen’s original 76-inch by 49-inch artwork, which depicts a flowering ash tree with a honeycomb and bees falling out. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe unveiled the commemorative poster at the event.
Buffaloe also announced a special recognition of the year given to Diana Moxon for her work and volunteering in the local arts community. Moxon was executive director of the Columbia Art League for 11 years and currently hosts “Speaking of the Arts” on KOPN, Buffaloe said.
The Office of Cultural Affairs was established by the City Council in 1992, and the Office has designated a commemorative poster each year since its inception.
“You could say we’re celebrating our 30th birthday tonight,” said Assistant City Manager Carol Rhodes.
Nguyen, the artist, said in an interview that she has lived in Missouri for 15 years and moved to Columbia in 2018. She said she spent two months on “Devorah-Bee,” with each cut based on her daily interactions with Columbia, on “an oasis in the middle of a very rural Missouri.”
“My husband thinks Colombia is the city of festivals,” Nguyen said, laughing. “Because there’s always a festival, even in the middle of winter and March – the True/False Festival, the Unbound Festival, Roots N Blues.”
“I don’t think I’ve been to Colombia, even during the lockdowns during the pandemic, when culturally nothing happened,” she said.
She added that the imagery in Devorah-Bee was inspired by all of the inclusive and diverse cultural aspects that come from Colombia.
“Everyone who bought tickets for tonight’s event will receive a poster,” Sydney Olsen, public information officer at the City Manager’s office, said in an interview. Olsen added that tickets to the fundraiser will go to the Columbia Arts Fund and donations are always welcome.
The commemorative poster is also available starting Thursday for $20 at the Convention and Visitors Office at 300 S. Providence Road. Posters from previous years are available for $10.
After the celebration, the original “Devorah-Bee” will be part of the exhibition at MU’s George Caleb Bingham Gallery from October 3rd to November 3rd.
