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FEBRUARY 2025

Studio 55 Arts Guild Program

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM

LOCATION: National Avenue Christian Church

1515 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO

Program by Steve Snyder

Join us on February 12, 2025 for a presentation by photographer Steve Snyder. Steve will be discussing
The Freedom Endeavor project, which honors veterans through the use of dramatic artistic photography as well as audio and text media. Each veteran is photographed as we would see them currently, in everyday civilian life, while holding a picture of themselves from their time in the service. The contrast between their current appearance and their service time can be vastly different. A short audio/video interview is recorded with their story on how their service time affected their lives and why they took the oath. More information about The Freedom Endeavor is at this website.

"The goal of The Freedom Endeavor is to document some of our veterans and display their images and stories in galleries and public spaces around the country to increase awareness of just who our veterans are."

Award-winning photographer Steve Snyder grew up on a small farm outside of Mount Vernon, MO. It was there he started to really study and look at how light played on objects and shapes, created shadows, forms and textures, and how they all worked together. As a child he took many trips to his grandparents' house south of Ava, spending a lot of time exploring the mountains and scenery of the Ozarks. Today he resides in Republic, using SW Missouri for his homebase.

In high school he excelled in art and he decided that his life path needed to follow art. He attended Drury University, majoring in Studio Art with emphasis in Graphic Design and Illustration. His career as a designer gave him the opportunity to work daily in studio environments with commercial photographers. This time allowed him to rediscover his love of photography and art. His career as a designer also gave him the opportunity to learn and use many of the latest technologies available while incorporating them into his photography.

This career path eventually led to creating his business, Images of the Ozarks and Beyond, Photography by Steve Snyder, in 2006. In recent years he became the Marketing Photographer for CoxHealth, a job which still allows time for his art and personal projects. He’s been fortunate to have art pieces residing in collections around the US and Europe and has received several awards at photography shows around the US. In 2019 Steve received the “2019 Individual Artist” award from the Missouri Arts Council, at the Missouri State Capitol, for his work in the arts. Also in the fall of 2019 he received an Ozzie Award for Regional Impact from the Springfield Regional Arts Council for his work in the arts.

Throughout his photography career he’s been able to meet and learn from amazing artists and photographers, many becoming his mentors and friends. Without them he would never be where he is today. His path in the arts has allowed him in recent years to partner with many organizations on photography projects -- organizations such as the Kansas City Symphony and the Smithsonian. You can see more of Steve's photography at his website.

Welcome to Studio 55! Studio 55 Arts Guild meets monthly for programs on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in The Gallery at National Avenue Christian Church, 1515 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri. The entrance to The Gallery is adjacent to the parking lot behind the church. We welcome visitors to our programs and it is our hope you will explore our website's menu at the top of the page and learn more about us.

Our membership is composed of art lovers and visual artists of all media and levels of expertise, including art professionals and emerging artists who are 18 years old and above. The club meets monthly for educational programs, sponsors workshops, organizes exhibitions and facilitates the interchange of ideas, information, and motivation of our members and the arts community. Members and guests are invited to show and share their art at each meeting. This is a fun time of sharing, socializing, and enjoying light refreshments.

Studio 55 Arts Guild

Promoting Creativity in the Arts in the Springfield, Missouri area

Please bring some of your own art for show and discussion before and after our meeting. Refreshments are also available. Members and visitors are welcome.