Art at the Library ~ Honest Imagination Members

The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and West Plains Public Library (WPPL) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the library. Participants at Honest Imagination Day Habilitation will provide pieces to be displayed July through the end of September 2024. Visitors may view the display at the library during open hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Organizers say, “Honest Imagination members bring a freshness and joy to the creation of art! It’s a must-see group of creative works.”

TJ Swift House (TJSH) is a Department of Mental Health contracted provider that supports people with disabilities. TJSH supports people in Individualized Supported Living (ISL) services where a person lives in their home. Support staff assists with daily living skills and being a part of the community. We also support people in Shared Living, where a person with disabilities lives with a family and is integrated into a family unit and community.

Honest Imaginations is a Day Habilitation facility operated by TJ Swift House, focused on helping the people we serve develop and use their artistic gifts and talents.

Honest Imaginations is a thriving gallery in the West Plains community. It serves as a place not only for people with developmental disabilities but also for community members by:

• Acknowledging and developing gifts
• Facilitating community connection through art projects, art shows, teaching classes, being taught, etc.
• Providing self-care through exercise, journaling, and other appropriate forms.
• Giving back through the skills and abilities of our participants in community projects.

The artists at Honest Imaginations range from 18 all the way to 63 years old and know no limits in life and art. Each artist has a style of their own and it shows in the art they create. Honest Imaginations has art on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center and the Ozarks Welcome Center in West Plains. They also have art on display at the Neighborhood Tribe store in Mt. View Missouri. The sale of art on display creates a boost of confidence and feeling of acceptance in our participants. Honest Imaginations has sessions from 8:30 AM to 3pm Monday through Friday. Our goal is to create art, and to

build friendships through that process.

“We create smiles at Honest Imaginations,” says Garrett Melby, the coordinator at the West Plains Location of Honest Imaginations at 23 Court Square. Melby is a local artist who is committed to the community, creating art-based fundraisers. He works with area bands, painting live while the bands play. Melby has worked with bands such as the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ha-ha Tonka, and the Steel Drivers. With a degree in Art and Animation, Garrett has a passion for giving the artists of Honest Imaginations the opportunity to get exposure for their creations, and to help them grow in our community. Stop in at 23 Court Square and see the artist in action M-F until 3PM.

To find out more about Honest Imaginations Day Habilitation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you out. Contact us by phone at 417-256-1022 or email us at

WPPL Director Greg Carter shares, “The West Plains Public Library is always excited to partner with organizations, such as West Plains Council on the Arts, that wish to use art to enrich the lives of the citizens of West Plains and the surrounding area.”

A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 1-3PM, hosted by the library, 750 W. Broadway, in West Plains. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view, and discuss the pieces on display. Partial funding for this exhibit is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Dianna Locke at the library or WPCA Coordinator Audrey Scott at