While art openings and exhibits are nothing new to Cape Girardeau, three local artists hope to bring their own take to the tradition with their exhibit, "Integrated Counterbalance," opening at 5 p.m. today in the H&H Building and on display from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Kristopher Naeger, Charlie Kent and Megan Thrower are three artists with different techniques but the same desire to create works that provoke and inspire.

"I always think that artists of the same style and caliber should get together and collaborate," Naeger said. "When you get people together who have the same interest you can feed off of that."

The three Cape Girardeau natives are also interested in expanding the city's art scene to include alternative spaces for exhibiting and a wider range of artwork.

"I think the goal is to open up our area," Kent said. "To let people know there is art out there that's not behind doors in other places. We're not trying to take away from anybody. We're just trying to add something else out there."

The impetus of "Integrated Counterbalance" was a solo exhibit Naeger held in August at the H&H Building, which he said resulted in the sale of nine of his paintings worth $5,400.

"After the closing of my show the first thing on my mind was that I had to organize some people because the opportunities are out there," Naeger said. "There are people who want our work, but where are we going to show it?"

While Naeger, Thrower and Kent are members of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's Visual Arts Cooperative, they know that is not true of every local artist, especially those on the co-op's long waiting list. In addition, the artists are not in total control of what or how many pieces of their work get shown.

"For an artist, where do you go to display something you've created?" Kent said.

"I think that there are people who don't know that there are other people with similar interests out there," Thrower said.

"They don't know there's an outlet, a support system," Naeger elaborated. "Young artists need to know that not only can they show their work in this town, but sell it."

With these ideas in mind, Naeger called Kent and Thrower not long after his exhibit to see if they would be interested in putting together an exhibit.

The three have been busy collaborating ever since, meeting every Thursday to work on whatever needed to be done.

Thrower designed the postcards promoting the exhibit, while Naeger worked on getting the word out about the exhibit to groups such as the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, which mentioned it in their calendar of events for November.

Naeger also secured the H&H Building as a venue.

"The Wymans [the building's owners] have been incredibly supportive," Naeger said. "They are very supportive of young artists. They were going to make it happen regardless."

"It's a good location," Kent said about the H&H Building. "It has a big-city feel."

"Especially when there's a lot of people in there, it's amazing," Naeger said.

The name of the exhibit, "Integrated Counterbalance," came from Thrower.

"It's just the idea of three people whose work complements each other," she said.

Naeger creates large, abstract paintings with bright, vivid colors while Thrower uses mixed media and combines symbolism and imagery to create an idea or theme. Kent's work focuses on the human figure and has a lot of texture.

"I know it will all fit in so well together," Naeger said.

According to Kent, the three artists also work well together. "There's been nothing but harmony and peace throughout the whole process," he said. "Everybody respects each other's work and accepts each other's work."

Thrower, Naeger and Kent have already been talking about the possibility of future collaborations between the three of them as well as including other artists.

"This is like a nucleus that's started to grow and I hope it continues to grow," Kent said. "I hope it's not a one-time thing."

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

WANT TO GO?

What: Opening of the "Integrated Counterbalance" exhibit

When: 5 to 10 p.m.

Where: H&H Building, 400 Broadway