Clara Brierly Oral History Project

The Downtown Peculiar Arts & Culture District has been working since fall '08 to create a fitting tribute to the woman we have adopted as our "patron artist" - Clara (Porter) Brierly; known to most as Miss Clara. We are thrilled to announce the completion of "Outsider Artist With A Traditional Heart - The Clara Brierly Story" in June '09.

We approached this project by inviting those who knew Miss Clara and had stories to tell to join us in the church that was her second home. A court reporter captured the stories told 'round the table while professional videographer, Dennis Graves, worked his magic in the sanctuary while winter light filtered through the stained glass windows.

After the transcript was received, it was reformatted to fit the chapter headings we felt best represented Miss Clara's life and work. These pieces and memories were sewn together with historic facts and local lore to create the book. There is a color section meant to give a representative sample of this outsider artist's work. The DVD features stories and the unforgettable faces and life smoothed voices of those who know Miss Clara as well as Peculiar pictures and pieces.

Miss Clara was a woman who was born before people had automobiles, before telephones were common, she lived through both world wars and died long after man had walked on the moon. She was a teacher, a wife, a mother, an artist, a mentor, and someone who continued learning her entire life. She was generous and a caretaker of both those she knew and those she did not. Married to one of the town's most notable men, she did not disappear in his shadow. Her influence on Peculiar, Missouri is still evident today - over a quarter of a century after her death.

With a grant from the Peculiar Charitable Foundation and the kindness of those who knew her/had pieces of her art to share, DPACD has created this book and DVD based on the life of Miss Clara. The format is unique and captures the stories of Miss Clara's art, faith and work in the actual words of those who lived the stories with her. Sold separately or as a set (while there is some overlap, the book and DVD are very different works - not just the same thing in two formats), all proceeds from the book and DVD will be used to continue the revitalization of the Downtown where Miss Clara lived and painted. Visit the DPACD Store to purchase via the internet.