The Harlin Museum of West Plains will showcase select works from its Permanent Collection from April 30 through May 30, offering visitors a rare look at pieces not often seen by the public. A gala opening reception is set for May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring light refreshments and an evening of art and community.
This year’s exhibit highlights previously unshown works by two celebrated Ozarks artists, James Burkhart and Lee Copin.
Burkhart (1933–2011), a Navy ship’s artist and graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, spent much of his life along Bryant Creek in Ozark County. His paintings reflect both his formal training and his deep connection to the region’s landscapes and quiet rhythms.
Copin, a longtime Mountain View art educator, is known for her expressive oil and watercolor landscapes. Her work often features the wide, layered skies of the Ozarks, capturing the subtle moods of the region. Recently retired from teaching, she continues to paint and exhibit throughout the area.
The museum invites the community to celebrate these artists and the enduring beauty of the Ozarks captured in their work.
