Ozarks Art Colony

The Ozarks Art Colony, founded in 1912 by artist Dawson Dawson-Watson, was known as the “Dawson-Watson Summer School of Painting and Handicraft.” The art colony was located in Brandsville, Missouri, near West Plains, in central southern Missouri.  Dawson-Watson, an English artist then living in St. Louis, spent his summers in Brandsville, and the colony grew out of his time there. The art colony was held in August and ran six weeks into September. There were other instructors who also taught at the art colony. In 1912, Kathryn Cherry taught classes in china painting and design, and Jessie Bard taught classes in leather and metal work. These two artists were also from St. Louis. The students came from St. Louis and other cities from across the country to attend the colony. In 1917, Ruth Chivvis and Eloise Ramsey taught at the art colony. They were  instructors of art at Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri.  At the end of the year for the colony, the school presented a pageant. In 1917, the students were college enrolled women, from St. Louis and Eastern cities. During their stay, they learned various arts, and sketched from nature in the surrounding area. 

The school was sponsored by the Art Association of the Ozarks, which was organized by residents of the area. 

In 1916, Dawson-Watson’s bungalow in Brandsville was destroyed by fire, but he returned in 1917. 1917 appears to be the last year for the art colony.

Select Sources

“A Summer Colony,” Mountain View Standard (Mountain View, Missouri), June 15, 1917, 3.

“Summer School in the Ozarks,” Journal-Gazette (West Plains, Missouri) June 14, 1917, 1.

“The Art School,” West Plains Journal (West Plains, Missouri) September 19, 1912, 1.

“Art in the Ozarks: The Dawson-Watson Summer School Opens at Brandsville with Many Students in Attendance,” West Plains Journal (West Plains, Missouri), August 8, 1912, 1.

Contributors

Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Record Published

Published on September 20, 2021