When David Eckerd of the Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center mentioned an art gallery we could use for a convention exhibit, I was intrigued. I’ve lost count of the Oz exhibits I’ve supported through the years. Sharing my Oz collection in ways that allow the public to appreciate a wide picture of Oz is one of my favorite things. But Oz art? Never.
My first question was “can I fill a gallery?” It turned out I had more original art and signed prints than I had dreamed. (I stopped counting at 70.) As I ruled out 3-dimensional pieces that would require space-consuming boxes to transport safely, I realized I actually could fill the car with pieces give us an art-filled gallery for our opening reception. I’d just have to frame about 40 of them first. So I agreed, and David offered to co-host our reception with the center’s own patrons as our opening event.
But what an eclectic variety I have! With exactly one published John R. Neill piece from Wonder City of Oz, and one original W.W. Denslow Scarecrow, my published original art proved to be quite a mix. Barry Moser, Evan Dahm, Libico Maraja, Wes Lowe, Michael McCurdy, Anna Maria Cool, and signed prints from Graham Rawle. There’s comic art from Giorgio Trevisan to Skottie Young. Add a magazine cover, a rejected MGM VHS packaging design, and a Rick Wicks political cartoon…
Continuing to dig I discover wonderful oversized pieces from the proposed Wonderful World of Oz theme park once planned for the Kansas City area. Not only wonderful, but drawn by William Stout! And then there’s the fan art. Oz Club favorites like Irene Fisher, Bill Eubank, Dick Martin, Eric Shanower, and Rob Roy McVeigh. Pieces I’ve purchased from my friends John Coulter, and Joe Shipbaugh, as well as gifts and auction wins from artist names that were new to me.
I did commission a portrait of L. Frank Baum from Joe, and Otis Frampton is making an exception to his usual all-digital creation for his new Patchwork Girl of Oz graphic novel work to create one piece by hand for me to frame and share. But for the most part, I just need to frame and frame and frame some more!
I’ll be filling the car in June to set up the gallery in Aberdeen, then bringing it home with me at the close of the convention. I love unloading drawers and portfolios to fill walls with art that’s seldom seen. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing it in Aberdeen as much as I’m enjoying putting it together for you.
Jane Albright
Chairman, Oz the National Convention 2025
