Dorris Rider Art Gallery

10/24/2025

Laurel DeFreece Biography

Laurel DeFreece can’t imagine making art that doesn’t include nature. Her inspiration comes from the prairie biome that surrounds her rural home in Plattsburg, Missouri. Her work captures how beautiful as well as fragile nature and our planet are, yet how strong even a piece of paper can be. Trained as a graphic designer in the 1980's, she attended Missouri Western State University with an emphasis in printmaking, painting and photography. Her most recent body of work Natural Elements and Fate head into a bold new direction using native grasses, fiber, sticks, and other found objects. With these materials Laurel makes natural handmade paper for prints, collages, and 3-D structures, which include encaustic. Natural Elements was the subject of Laurel’s 2019 solo exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri. Fate, a collaboration exhibit with artist Robin VanHoozer was the subject for an exhibit at MWSU which opened January of 2022. More of Laurel’s work can be viewed on her website www.laurelsartstudio.com.

10/24/2025

Robin VanHoozer Biography
Robin VanHoozer is an artist, painter, and maker of unusual things. Residing in St. Joseph, Missouri and raised with a background rich in nature and history, her work displays a love of dynamic movement and vivid color. Robin's painting finds the link between the reality of the outside world and the inner being. This ability to connect daring vision and spontaneous imagination is displayed through her creations. Robin attended Missouri Western State Collage and later received her MA in Studio Art /Painting from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Robin has exhibited locally throughout the Midwest as well as nationally in Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and Washington, DC. Robin’s installation Echoes Through Time was the subject of her 2019 solo exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri. Fate, a collaboration project with artist Laurel DeFreece, was the subject of the two-woman exhibition at Missouri Western State University that opened January of 2022. More of Robin’s work can be viewed on her website www.robinvanhoozerart.com.

10/24/2025

NEWS RELEASE
October 24, 2025

A collection of works by two area artists is now on display in the Dorris Rider Art Gallery at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. “Fate,” by Laurel DeFreece and Robin VanHoozer is now open and runs through end of the Fall Semester.

The artists describe this collection of work as “a multimedia exhibition that explores the random riot of events that intertwine the common threads of our tomorrow.” The show features several artworks created both individually and jointly by the artists, and includes works in encaustic, collage, and various mixed media.

“My mission is to create dynamic, vivid, and darling artwork that inspires ideas about the world people see around them,” said Robin VanHoozer, who lives in St. Joseph. “Just as we must live in both a “real” world and in the world of our minds and imaginations my work interlaces what I see and what I imagine.”

Laurel DeFreece says that she can’t imagine making art that doesn’t include nature. Her inspiration comes from the prairie biome that surrounds her rural home in Plattsburg, Missouri. Her work captures how beautiful as well as fragile nature and our planet are, yet how strong even a piece of paper can be.

Both artists will be in the gallery on Thursday, October 30 at 11:00 am to discuss their work. NCMC students and the public are invited to attend.

For more information, please contact Norris at 357-6345 or by email at [email protected].

The Rider Art Gallery is located in the Frey Administrative Center on the NCMC campus. Regular hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, as well as selected weekend and evening hours by appointment.

10/09/2024

Don’t forget about the critique in the gallery tomorrow October 10 at 10:00am!

Any participating artists are free to take their art home after the critique. All others can pick up your works on Friday October 11. Feel free to contact me with any questions!
~ Jim

10/04/2024

This should be a fun event. Danny Shew is not only a fantastic and knowledgeable artist, but he’s also a renowned art educator and will provide great insight and inspiration to anyone who participates in the critique!!

https://www.kttn.com/dorris-rider-gallery-to-host-october-10-critique-led-by-danny-shew/

Dorris Rider Gallery to host October 10 critique led by Danny Shew

09/27/2024

For those who have art in the Local Artists Show, you can take your work with you after the critique.

09/05/2024

The Local Artists Showcase 16 will open on Monday September 9!

08/20/2024

CALL FOR ARTISTS

A collection of works by area artists will begin the 2023-2024 exhibition schedule in the Dorris Rider Art Gallery at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. “Local Artists Showcase 16” will open on Monday September 9 and run through Friday October 11.

Artists can submit up to two pieces of original art that have not previously been shown in the Rider Gallery. Any media is acceptable, but some pieces may not be accepted due to size constraints or content. Work may be brought to the gallery on Thursday August 29 and Friday August 30 from 8:30-4:30 both days, and anytime before by appointment.

“This is always a fun show,” said Gallery Director Jim Norris. “We have so many talented people all around us who are making very nice art. This show is a chance to recognize some wonderful local artists and their creations!”

For more information, please Norris at 357-6345 (office) or 660-635-2189 (cell), or by email at [email protected].

Regular hours at the Rider Art Gallery are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, as well as selected weekend and evening hours by appointment.

04/17/2024

Mark your calendars!

In conjunction with the exhibit “When the Marigold Met the Moon,” by Jennifer Bricker-Pugh now showing at the Rider Gallery at NCMC, we are hosting a reception for the artist on Saturday April 20 from 6:00-7:30 pm in the gallery. Come on in to see some great art, visit with the artist, and enjoy some snacks.

04/09/2024

NEWS RELEASE
April 9, 2024


A collection paintings continues the 2023-2024 exhibition schedule in the Dorris Rider Art Gallery at North Central Missouri College in Trenton. “When the Marigold Met the Moon” by Jennifer Bricker-Pugh is now open and runs through Friday May 17.

Bright, bold colors, loose line work, and references to nature are the primary characteristics of Jennifer’s work. Her abstract paintings embody a playful yet thought-provoking quality that makes viewers want to know and see more.

“My color palette creates a synergy of soft and vibrant hues that allow viewers to escape into a brilliant world,” she said. “Here they can explore each piece and create their own narrative based on my imagery.”

The title of each artwork also gives a hint at Jennifer’s mindset while creating individual paintings.

“The titles are typically the first thing I think of after finishing a piece,” she said. “I like to think of my paintings as visual poetry and name them accordingly. It’s a really fun part of the process.”

“I’ve been familiar with Jenny’s work for several years, and have always been impressed by her use of color,” said Gallery Director Jim Norris. “Viewers will notice the influence of Abstract Expressionists such as Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning, as well as Jean-Michel Basquiat. But those inspirations are just the starting point for a painting style that’s very much her own.”

Jennifer resides in Overland Park, Kansas and works out of her studio located in Mission, Kansas. She is represented by Leopold Gallery and Cerbera Gallery, and she is an active member of the arts community in and around the Kansas City metro area.

There will be a reception for the artist on Saturday April 20 from 6:00-7:30 in the gallery. Drinks and snacks will be available to the public.

For more information, please contact Norris at 357-6345 or by email at [email protected]. The Rider Art Gallery is located in the Frey Administrative Center on the NCMC campus. Regular hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, as well as selected weekend and evening hours by appointment.

02/02/2024

We currently have a fantastic exhibit in the gallery! Mother and son duo of Susan and Mike Elson are displaying a collection of their recent work until Friday March 1.

Susan is a retired art teacher who shared her talents with countless students in several different school districts during her career. Mike is currently an art instructor in the Putnam County school district at Unionville.

Viewers can expect to see a wide variety of artworks in various media and themes.

This is a fantastic show…be sure to check it out! - Jim

08/16/2023

REMINDER: Entries for the Local Artists Showcase 15 will be accepted tomorrow and Friday (August 17 & 18) from 8:30-4:30 in the gallery. Other times available by appointment.

We’re looking forward to a great show!! - Jim