WOW event showcases Rhinehart artwork, Oliver Family artifacts

March 22, 2022

On Tuesday, the Works of Women (WOW) event was held at the Oliver Family 'Flag House' at 740 North St. in Cape Girardeau. The event honored Marie Watkins Oliver for creating the Missouri state flag and Lavetta Rhinehart for creating the bronze sculpture of Oliver for the Kellerman Foundation. Descendants of the Oliver family were in attendance.

Beau Nations

The bronze sculpture of Marie Oliver created by Lavetta Rhinehart remained veiled during the first part of the evening until before Oliver's great-great grandson, John Oliver III, spoke to a full foyer.

Kellerman chairman Sarah Holt speaks to attendees of the WOW event on some of the efforts that went into procuring and exhibiting the Oliver exhibit at Heritage Hall in Cape Girardeau.

Kellerman Foundation Chairman Sarah Holt, Oliver sculpture creator Lavetta Rhinehart and Kellerman Foundation founder Mary Ann Kellerman present the sculpture to attendees of the WOW event. The bronze sculpture was previously kept in the Kellerman Foundation's vault until its revealing on Tuesday evening. 

John Oliver III speaks to the audience at the event after the unveiling of the bronze sculpture. "The men of the Oliver family had titles, but the women had the testimonies, because they were the ones who actually got things done," Oliver said. 

Bert Kellerman spoke to the crowd about some of the interesting facts of the Oliver family before introducing John Oliver III.

John Oliver III and Lavetta Rhinehart pose in front of Rhinehart's creation after the sculpture was unveiled at the event on Tuesday.

Rhinehart's bronze sculpture of Marie Watkins Oliver. The sculpture will be on display at Heritage Hall as a permanent fixture in the Oliver family display.

The 'Flag House', now owned by Bert and Mary Ann Kellerman of the Kellerman Foundation, displayed fashion, artworks by Rhinehart and Oliver family artifacts.

Intern at the Kellerman Foundation Mya Hewitt greeted guests of the WOW event as they entered the residence. Hewitt's role as an intern at the foundation includes searching through the large amount of boxes containing Oliver family documents, photographs and artifacts and cataloguing the items. 

Brooke Roth poured wine for the guests at the WOW event. Hor d'oeuvres and drinks were available to patrons of the event.

Sarah Thurmond wore traditional attire of the time when Marie Oliver worked on designing the Missouri state flag and greeted visitors.

Fancy That Cakes owner Katie Goodpasture baked a cake for the WOW event, designed to look like the Missouri state flag. 

Some of Lavetta Reinhard's artwork on display at the event on Tuesday. Most of the pieces featured portraits of women including her series on women from around the world. 

John Oliver III and Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. look at a book about Oliver's great-great grandmother Marie Oliver. 

Deborah Oliver, descendant of Marie Oliver, holds a book featuring Marie at the WOW event. Deborah and John Oliver III were two Oliver family members in attendance of the event.

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