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FAIRFIELD – Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield will feature artwork from Mark Shafer all June and July, highlighting 18 pieces from the town’s beloved art teacher and historian.

A reception is planned for 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 6 at the funeral home, located at 203 S. Main St. The opening coincides with the June First Fridays Art Walk, and refreshments will be provided. Behner Funeral Home has been hosting receptions for local artists every other month since its first one in December 2024 when it showcased art from Fairfield resident Kathy Tollenaere.

Scott and Rachel Brown purchased Behner Funeral Home in 2023. Rachel said Tollenaere encouraged them to host art shows at their business, and that appealed to them.

“We want to welcome people to the building for something other than funerals, and help them recognize that this is an inviting space. It doesn't have to be a place you only go when you're sad or you're grieving, that there are other reasons to come in here,” Rachel said.

Susan Shafer, Mark’s wife, said she had to borrow several pieces of Mark’s art from the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, and from people in town who had pieces hanging on their walls. Three pieces were borrowed from Debbie Johnson, including a couple called “Moon Mother” and “Fairfield Light Tower” that he made specifically for Dick DeAngelis’ Fairfield History Series.

Behner Funeral Home will play a video of Mark’s art made by Werner Elmker that was shown at an earlier retrospective art show. Susan said Mark made cards of certain paintings, and those will be for sale at Behner’s, with all proceeds going to the Fairfield Art Association’s sculpture honoring Mark planned at the arts and convention center.

One of the largest and most prominent paintings in the collection is a portrait Mark did of himself as a little boy sitting on his grandfather’s lap, Will Summers, while grandpa reads a book to young Mark. Mark made the painting in 1969 while a student at the University of Iowa, and called it “Draw a Cow with Grandpa.”

Another of the featured paintings is “Niece and Nephew at the Beach,” which is just like it sounds, depicting nephew Will and niece Emma, the children of Mark’s brother Allen and wife Allison, while they play at the beach.

Other pieces include Mark’s depiction of Fairfield Ledger paper carrier Bill LaRue, several self-portraits, a portrait of Suzan Kessel and Sally Johnston, a couple pieces featuring Mark’s love of corn cobs such as “Venice of Iowa” and “Corn Cob Victorian,” and a number of religiously-themed art, which Mark was especially fond of later in life.

“There’s so much variety in the things that he produced over the years,” Susan said. “A lot of times artists specialize, but he could do anything.”