Mary Yeiser, 1976 by EJ Abell

Ms. Mary Belle Yeiser
April 07, 1905 - March 24, 2008

Well-known Paducah artist Mary Belle Yeiser, 102, was born April 7, 1905, in Paducah passed away at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2008, at the Colonial Health & Rehab Center in Bardstown where she had lived for the last 17 years. She was first a resident at the Nazareth Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity and then at the Colonial Health & Rehab Center. Ms. Yeiser will be remembered for her lifelong commitment to the arts as art teacher, painter, founding member and first president of the Paducah Art Guild (now known as the Yeiser Art Center).

Ms. Yeiser was a former faculty member of Paducah Junior College and Paducah Community College. As an undergraduate, she studied in Paris and toured art centers in Italy. She attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Kentucky, and graduated from Murray State University. She did post-graduate work at Southern Illinois University and at Pueblo City, Mexico. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, a graduate of St. Mary Academy where she had been the oldest living graduate.

She also worked in the fashion department at McCall’s Magazine and had worked with modern furniture designer Gilbert Rhode and trained with the late Geza Gilbert Foldes, well-known authority on tapestry weaving. She was specially recognized by former Gov. Martha Layne Collins in 1986, when the Paducah Art Guild received a community Arts Award.

She is survived by a nephew, Ted Martin Yeiser of Evansville, Ind. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph P. Yeiser and Mary R. Judge; two brothers; and one sister.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 116 S. 6th St., Paducah, KY 42001; or The Yeiser Art Center, 200 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001.

Celebrate Tradition by becoming a Member Today!

The Yeiser Art Center (founded 1957) is a non-profit visual arts gallery located in the historic Market House in downtown Paducah, Kentucky. Exhibitions and events organized by the Yeiser are designed to serve citizens of and visitors to our region and feature quality works by established and emerging artists. Our permanent collection, exhibited periodically, is at the core of our educational mission to provide a variety of visual arts experiences to students of all ages.

2008 Membership Drive continues . . .

Business Partner - $5,000

 Ray Black & Son, Inc.

Exhibition Sponsor - $1,000 and up

JPEC (Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation)

US Bank

Four Rivers Behavioral Health

Big Time Friends - $1,000

Jane & Irv Bright

Susan French

Jean & Ken Wheeler

Business Patron & Individual Partners - $500

Carolyn & Guthrie Allen

Crounse Corporation

CSI (Computer Services Incorporated)

Carl & Connie Johnson

Mike Livingston

Business Donors & Sponsors - $250

The Art Room

David & Donna Booth

Bruce Brockenborough

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Carl & Polly LeBuhn

Mike & Barbara Livingston

Dwight & Annie Mills

Paducah Garden Club

Paducah Power System

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Rene Advertising Specialities

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Jerry Watson

Ben Whiteaker

Business Professionals & Patrons - $100

Pam & George Boland

Bradshaw & Weil

Mike & Caroline Cappock

Dr. & Mrs. Harry Carloss

Mr. & Mrs. J. Richard Coltharp

CK & Carolyn Davis

David & Ann Denton

Bill & Mary Dyer

Mark & Karen Edwards

Etcetera Coffee & Student Art Gallery

Sue Fendley

Fleming Furniture

Bill Ford Interiors, Inc.

Dr. & Mrs. Merle Fowler

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Dr. Robert Garey

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Billy & Linda Harper

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Paducah Ford Lincoln-Mercury-Mazda, Inc.

Sara & Jerry Page

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Larry & Tena Payne

Robert & Karen Petter

Joe & Vicki Pittard

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Gail & Charles Ransler

Frank Rasche

Allen Rhodes, Sr.

River's Edge Film Festival

Lily, Robert & Robin Shapiro

Randy Simmons

Mary P. Smith

Anne Speck

Ana & Predrag Sredl

Studio e

Mrs. Burton Washburn

Maria Wilke

Zebra Graphics

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Business & Individual Friends - $50

Margaret Anthony

Bike World

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Bob Bloomingburg

Blythe, White & Associate, PLLC

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Janet & John Colgan

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Reverend Paul & Carol Donner

Laura Duff

Gallery 5

Gallery 600

Sherry Granner

Bill & Mary Ann Graves

Norman Greenberg

Lynn & Pat Habacker

Rowland & Susan Hancock

Anita T. Haws

Don & Lana Holifield

Dr. & Mrs. Jeff Johnson

Shirley T. Johnson

Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Kupper

KY Hydra-Power Division of Fluid Power Products

Clara W. Little

Sonice Martin

McDougall Interiors

Donna Morse

James & Lisa O'Rourke

Mr. & Mrs. W.F. Paxton III

Imogene Rasche

John & Jean Reed

Paul & Sandy Sasso

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Supporters - $25

Kay Armstrong

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Rick & Gaye Brewer

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Michael Crouse

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Paula Danby

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Bill & Joanne Farr

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Jenny Fuller

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Sherry L. Hack

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Karen Heath

Kay Hosbach

Alyson & David Kelly

Gloria Livingston

Carolyn Long

Deb Lyons

Rita McKeel

Mary McKeown

Christy Meisenheimer

Paulette Mentor

Jean Meredith

Ann Nagel

Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mary Pat Price

Patience Renzulli

Ken Rudolph

Grace Russell

Hal & Debe Sullivan

Beatrice Tapp

Dutch Thurman

Jean Tilker

Laura Jane Walsh

Elizabeth Ware

Dr. & Mrs. Charles F. Winkler

Bobbie Wrinkle

Current Exhibit:      

    Up in Stitches

• March 1 - May 3 , 2008
• 
  This is an international juried exhibition highlighting work from SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) members.  We received over 400 entries from all over the world and our juror, Margaret Merida, narrowed it down to 63.  Each quilt is no larger than 35" and challenges the typical interpretation of quilting.  The two quilts below are examples from artists Leslie Carabas of California and Carol Ann Waugh of Colorado.
• 
  Opening Reception:  Saturday, March 8th from 5-7

        Click here to view the Up in Stitches Winners

The Yeiser exists for you and because of you. 90% of our budget comes from individual and business donations. Your financial support and involvement helps the Yeiser maintain the excellence you expect for your children and future generations.

“The Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, provides operational support funding for the Yeiser Art Center with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.”