SPRINGFIELD, MO.- The Springfield Art Museum announced the acquisition of Reason: Pepper, a watercolor on textile currently on view in Watercolor USA 2018, by Little Rock artist Emily Wood. Wood is represented by Gallery 26 in Little Rock and Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her work has been seen at the Arkansas Arts Center and at the Springfield Art Museum in the 4x4: 2014 Midwest Invitational Exhibition.

Pepper is part of a series Wood titled, Working, that explores how, why, and for what, or whom people work.

The artist asks individuals for used work shirts and why they work. In this case, it is for the individual’s daughter, Pepper. Wood notes, “I love the way the watercolor responds to the various fabrics and the challenge of figuring out how to make it work… while also embracing the accidents and imperfections.”

Pepper integrates two focus areas of the Museum’s Collection Plan: contemporary American watermedia, especially those works that showcase innovative use of the medium or unexpected mounts, and art of the Midwest. This acquisition marks the third former 4x4 artist to be added to the Museum’s permanent collection.

This piece also bridges the Museum’s extensive watermedia collection with its sizable collection of textiles, selections from which were most recently on display in the 2016 special exhibition, String Theory: Textiles from the Permanent Collection. The acquisition of Reason: Pepper was made possible by the Southwest Missouri Museum Associates’ (SMMA) sponsorship of Watercolor USA, with funds designated for art acquisition.

Pepper and 81 other works of contemporary American watermedia are on view in Watercolor USA 2018 through August 26 at the Springfield Art Museum, located at 1111 East Brookside Drive. Admission is always free. Donations are gratefully accepted.