Anna Mae Rademacher loved her community.  She loved art, creativity, philanthropy, and education. Her legacy is ArtWorks on Main Gallery, a non-profit volunteer-run art center in the heart of Owensville.

Anna was a retired teacher and business leader who supported the Owensville community in all aspects — theatre, schools, sports, veteran organizations, Historical Society, and more. She started the ArtWorks endeavor in 2015, willing the non-profit, creative center to a small group of avid volunteers to carry on — leaving a mandate to display, teach and foster events that promoted the arts at 113 N. First Street.

Now the gallery space displays local and regional artists for people to admire and maybe acquire. Those same experts teach and often offer free classes and demonstrations. Volunteers have encouraged the community’s seniors, children, disabled, and underserved populations to participate, involving schools and retirement homes.

Gasconade County Plein Air projects were the most apparent artistic promotion events, drawing in artists from all over the United States. The Owensville and area communities were very much involved in making that happen, far beyond the day-to-day volunteers. The city, people and businesses sponsored generous prizes and directly housed and befriended well-known participants.

We will be leaving our much-loved creative hub of activity at the ArtWorks on Main building within the next six months, but we hope to carry on Anna’s dream — just in a different place. We hope to see you in a new “nest” sometime soon.

Cheri Riley and Sandy Nolan,

ArtWorks volunteers