Spiva Art on Tap set for June 6; Route 66 exhibits debut May 30
The George A. Spiva Center of the Arts will hold its 18th annual Art on Tap from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, 212 W. Seventh St.
It also will debut two Route 66-related exhibits this weekend. This year is the centennial of Route 66.
Art on Tap features craft beer, food, live music and a silent auction. A selection of curated items and themed baskets will be up for auction with 100% of the proceeds supporting Spiva's exhibitions, classes and outreach programs.
"For 18 years, Art on Tap has been one of our favorite ways to honor and celebrate our Spiva members," Kearstin Mattox, director of engagement at Spiva Center for the Arts, said in a statement. "Being a part of the Spiva family gets you incredible benefits, including two opportunities a year to exhibit in Spiva's galleries, year-round discounts on classes and programming, access to opening receptions and exhibit previews, and members-only events - like Art on Tap. Our members are artists, art lovers and community advocates. They are an invaluable part of Joplin."
Members get into this event for free as a thank-you for their ongoing support.
‘Reflections on Route 66'
The exhibit "Reflections on Route 66" will run from Saturday through July 25 in the Jo Mueller Reserve Gallery at Spiva.
"Reflections of 66" is a long-term photography series created by VC Torneden.
According to Spiva, "Over the span of the last 20-plus years, Route 66 has played a strong role in her body of work. Just over a decade ago, she challenged herself to a task that would become ‘Reflections of 66.' The challenge has been to create one photograph based solely on a reflection in every city, town and ghost town along Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago.
"Some of these reflections are created by windows or other glass, some by water, some by metal. But in all cases, Torneden did not provide the reflective surface but rather worked with whatever was available on site, making the challenge exponentially more difficult."
‘66 Stories: Attractions, Oddities, & Americana'
According to Spiva, "Explore artwork and celebrate the quirky character of roadside attractions as well as the charm of the mom-and-pop businesses that defined the Route 66 experience. From vibrant neon signs, vintage motor courts, and roadside oddities to small-town diners, family-run shops, and nostalgic service stations, experience the whimsy, warmth and wanderlust that transformed ordinary stops into unforgettable waypoints."
It runs from Saturday through Aug. 1 in the Sharon and Lance Beshore Gallery.
Spiva Center for the Arts was established in 1947 and celebrates the creative experience through community outreach, in-house classes for all ages, and by showcasing both regional and national artists in revolving exhibitions.
For more information about the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, go to www.spivaarts.org.
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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 5:48 AM.