- [Muenks] Best of Missouri Hands is a statewide organization of artists of all different walks of life.

We are a nonprofit organization that was established in the 1980s, and we support all the artists and artisans across the state with professional development opportunities, exhibit chances.

We share on social media and we support the life and art of all of our members.

- The value of the Best Missouri Hands, I believe the core thing is the networking with the other artists and having that family of folks that you can, you know, ask questions of.

When I first started, my background is in animal science.

I had nothing, knew nothing about the arts and stuff, so I was lucky early on in my career that I was doing a little bitty art show, and I saw another artist and she had this banner, and it said, "Jury Best Missouri Hands Artist."

And I was like, hmm.

That looks pretty cool.

This looks important.

And so in having a conversation with her, I found out about this group, and it has been, as a artist, life-changing for me.

- [Muenks] Our conference always starts off Friday night.

We offer a really fun activity called the Friday Night Frolics, and this gives all of our members and conference attendees a chance to mingle and sit down and have some fun and make some artwork.

So we had six different artists that had different activities set up last night, from needle felting to embroidery to pounding on metal to make lucky charms, alcohol ink paintings, collage.

And it's a great opportunity to start off the conference in a relaxed environment, to network, talk and make some art together with other artists that we don't really see.

You know, we're spread out across the whole state.

So being able to sit down and make some collage cards or do embroidery with a friend that you've only known online is a really fun way to start off the conference.

- [Carr] When you get artists together like this, I think it's great because, you know, it just kind of gets your creative juices flowing.

You get inspired and you're like, oh, I need to pick up my camera and get out there and take some shots.

It's just a good feeling.

It kind of recharges you.

- [Monzyk] Artists, wherever they are, share everything.

Doing shows, you know, you meet artists at the show.

The talk right away goes to processes.

It's wonderful for learning new things and how to gain exposure, if that's what you're looking for.

- [Muenks] As artists, most of us are working alone in our studios, and Best of Missouri Hands gives us an opportunity to connect with other artists that are going through same experiences with selling art at art shows or getting websites set up or taking photos of our artwork to jury in.

So having that connection in Best of Missouri Hands, dealing with other people that are going through the same struggles, the same challenges, and sharing the victories and the celebrations when we exceed in, whether an exhibit or an art show.

and the sense of community with Best of Missouri Hands has been huge, and that was for me when I went art full-time to join that community and really be part of celebrating the art of Missouri.

- As far as our group goes, we've got like over 400, I think, jury artists and our categories are basically broke down to like, you know, glass, ceramic, wood, metal, 2D, 3D, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, your traditional crafts, which would be like your soap makers, rug makers, things like that.

Digital.

It's really neat to just see the variety of talent and skill that these folks have.

I mean, I'm always just blown away at what people are able to create.

We share, like if they have a social media page, I encourage all the artists, you know, if you're wanting to sell work and stuff, you know, make a business page on Facebook, do an Instagram and stuff.

I can easily then take their work and share it onto our main page, which we have like over 4,000 followers and stuff.

So, you know, it just kind of, if they take advantage of it, you never know where it might go.

- [Helton] A lot of times they'll take my posts and turn 'em into stories.

I'm not really savvy on the social media thing.

So it's really helpful for someone like me.

I mean, it takes me two hours to make a story.

I don't even know what I'm doing.

So, to have someone else to do it, that's wonderful.

That's helpful to me.

- So I'd recommend any artist in Missouri to check out our website.

It's bestofmissourihands.org.

Lots of information about membership, what the process is to go through to become a general member, and then go into jury status.

There are artist pages, so all jury members actually get an artist page that they can populate with images of their work, contact information, any kind of links, videos, awards.

So everything we do generates interest and excitement about Best of Missouri Hands.

And I highly recommend going to the website and finding out more.