They live among us, artists creating in every medium.

From stage productions to street sculptures, murals to live concerts, the arts are definitely alive in Webster City. Their work is appreciated not only by family members, but by neighbors, friends and strangers.

Eric Anderson, director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum spoke to the members of the Webster City Women’s Club on Monday about the history and the exhibits at the museum.

With three separate exhibits, the juried art show opened last weekend, with projects that had to fit in a 24 x 24 space. 24 works were chosen. One of them was created by Elaine Beerman of Webster City.

“Blackbird singing in the dead of night” is the name of the pen and ink drawing created by Beerman that was selected. This is located in the Small Works exhibit and can be seen at the Blanden from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturday until August 30.

“She’s part of the collective and has been attending for over a year,” Anderson said. “I hope to have her do a solo exhibit, her work is something the community would really appreciate. She has a great way to tell a story.”

Beerman, Carol Zills and Jim Adams, all from Webster City attend the Blanden Collective gatherings which brings artists together once a month. Beerman explained that Anderson is very encouraging and supportive of everyone who comes to the Collective.

“Carol and I usually go to receptions for the artists at the Blanden”, explained Beerman, “One day Eric was talking to us and when he learned we were artists, he invited us to join.”

Most of the artists have one median that they work in. Her work includes acrylic painting, lino cut block prints, paper collages, mixed media, needlework and embroidery in addition to the pen and ink work.

“She is a very versatile artist,” said Anderson, “Her compositions are amazing”.

Beerman grew up in Webster City, graduating from Webster City High School in 1966. She was a commercial sign painter in western Washington State from 1978 to 2014. “I retired in 2014 and moved back to Webster City to take care of my mom.”

“I never expected to be back in the Midwest,” she confessed, “but here I am, with no regrets.”

Zills was born in Boston, but after marriage and children, her husband found a job with Land of Lakes that allowed them to move to Webster City in 1987. If you attend the Webster City Community Theatre productions and note the sets, she has had a hand in almost every show since 1991, when she began painting sets for the local theater troupe.

“I do commissioned paintings on occasion, and I do animal portraits” explained Zills, “I tend to work better when someone says, ‘Can you do this?'”

One of her most visible works is the ceiling in the Children’s department of the Kendall Young Library. Unlike many of the others in the collective, her work is not usually something you can carry in to share, as she often is painting on walls, and in the case of the theatre, the work disappears when the next show begins.

“The sets kind of satisfy me,” she summarized.

The collective has a lot of different types of artists, she explained further, “There are a few of us who are realists, but there is a lot of three dimensional work to abstract work.

Beerman also serves on the board of “Arts R Alive”, and helps choose the sculptures for Webster City’s new sculpture exhibits

“It’s art for everyone,” she explained. “We try to pick pieces we think will appeal to the public.”

The Blanden Memorial Art Museum is part of her history,

“I remember my mom and dad taking me there as a child,” she reminisced. Now with the Blanden exhibit showing her work, she is part of their history.