HAC Fall Art Walk 2015 (Pictures courtesy Brenda Meder)
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
“Come rain or shine, wind or hail, Friday evening’s Hays Arts Council Spring Art Walk will go on!”
HAC Executive Director Brenda Meder has her fingers crossed. The National Weather Service in Dodge City is forecasting an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms Friday night.
“If the weather cooperates, it will be an amazing night,” Meder promises. “There are 31 individual sites featuring a diverse array of visual art and music. K-12 art work, BFA and MFA exhibitions, professional area artists, interactive projects and live music.”
The opening reception for Kansas’ oldest state-wide juried art competition, the Smoky Hill Art Exhibition will be hosted at the Hays Arts Center. “The competition really attracted a broad audience this year, so we have a wonderful body of work from artists across the state – in addition to the great pieces from in our own area,” said Meder.
Mark Hartman
Juror Mark Hartman selected 72 of the 262 submitted entries for the exhibition. “First, selections were made from photographs submitted by the artists. Then I visited the Hays Arts Center and reviewed the work first-hand to confirm the decisions and to determine the recipients of the cash awards and Juror’s Merit recognition,” said Hartman.
“I try to recognize pieces that I perceive to be significant achievements. This may be in technique or innovation, in concept or meaning. Practical constraints are always looming, however, and inevitably, one may omit work that deserves recognition,” he lamented.
“I’m hopeful that the exhibition will connect viewers with something significant in thought or inspiration, emotion or spirit.”
Hartman is an artist and faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He maintains a practice in freelance design, produces artwork in a variety of media, and is currently featured in a solo exhibition of paintings and installations at MONA–the Museum of Nebraska Art.
Many of the art walk venues are in downtown Hays; others are located throughout the town. Some art displays will open early and some will open again Saturday.
The complete list is below.
2016 Hays Arts Council Spring Art Walk ~ Friday, April 29 – 6:30-9:30pm
Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th
47th Annual Smoky Hill Art Exhibition
Hays Public Library, 1205 Main
K-12 Spring Student Showcase (Children & Young Adult Departments)
“The Mindful Drawing Project: No Judgement” FHSU students, faculty, staff under Professor Amy Schmierbach
Couture for Men & Women, 1109 Main
Downtown Grain Elevator Mural Design Preview by Dennis Schiel
Artwork Inspired Apparel
Tri-Central Office Supply, 1101 Main
“Carnival of Metal” by Lance Wadlow & Nicole Thibodeau
Prairie Garden Club Youth Environmental Poster Display (window display)
Hays Community Theatre, 116 E. 11th
“H&H Heartfelt Creations” by Holly and Heidi Rupp
“D.K. Finding the beauty in a decaying world of education” Angie Pahls & TMP-Marian students
Platinum Group, 116 E. 11th
“Document Your Days” Documentary Portraiture by Rebekah Baier
“Temporum” paintings by Madyson Suskey, Karissa Gonzalez-Othon, Candace Staab, and Cadie Long
Madd Matter Frame Shop & Gallery, 112 E. 11th
“Local Flavor”
Downtown Hays Development Corp., 109 E. 11th
“Life in Portrait: Photography by Christophe Cheroret”
Bella Luna, 1013 Main
Sculpture by Omer Knoll
Simply Charmed, 1011 Main
St. Justa Pottery Guild
Art Walk Gallery, 1012 Main
“Express Love Over Violence” a Jana’s Campaign Project
Hays Arts Center Annex, 1010 Main
Jared Tadlock BFA Exhibition
“Merging Perspectives” by Hannah Werth, Jared Tadlock, and Kaitlyn Lammers
Paintings & Photographs by Bruce Burkholder
Art in the Alley, Main between 10th & 11th
“Patterned Paradox” by Schyler Edgren, Carson Kaiser, Melissa Williams
Salon 1007, 1007 Main
“Ceramic Infusion” by Linda Ganstrom & FHSU Advanced Ceramics Students
Buckner Creek Boys featuring Mike Benisch
Art Walk Gallery, 1008 Main
“Pinnacle Past” by Julia Kent, Hannah Lindo, Valeria Terrazza
FHSU Student Exhibition
The Furniture Look, 1000 Main
Live Creatively Studio: Zentangle Art by Kari Haas & Photography by Raymond Haas
Union Pacific Park, 10th & Main
Open Community Acoustic Jam Session (all welcome to sit in & play or just listen!)
Diamond R Jewelry, 807 Main
Photograhy Exhibition by Kirstan Hanson
Sculpture & Paintings by Carson Norton
Turquoise Ranch, 719 Main
A collection of works by Sierra Gwin
Artists @ Work Studio, 717 Main
Works by Karissa Gonzalez-Othon
Breathe Coffee House, 703 Main
“Tall Tales and Small Scales” Illustration Exhibit by Emily Hendricks, Yi Min, and Amy Smarsh
Ellis County Historical Society, 100 W. 7th
“Art & Artifacts” from the ECHS Collections
Moss Thorns Gallery, FHSU Rarick Hall
Kathryn Jones MFA Ceramics Thesis Exhibition
2016 Spring Art Walk ~ Early or Extended Hours ~ Friday, April 29
Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Dr. – 4:00-6:00pm
“Exquisite Miniatures: Miniature Paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist”
James Motor Company, 108 E. 13th – 5:00-8:00pm
“Art and the Automobile” paintings by Larry Zvalonek
Catholic Charities, 122 E. 12th – 5:00-8:00pm
“Mistaken Identity” and Photography by Jeanne Riedel
L&M, 113 W. 11th – 5:00-9:00pm
“Reflecting Tranquility” Ceramics by Herrick H. Smith
Sweet Zoo, 115 W. 8th – 5:00-8:00pm
Photography Exhibition by Paige Thompson
Photo Shoot Fundraiser by FHSU Public Relations Student Society of America
Northwest Signs & Awards, 131 W. 8th – 6:00-9:00pm
“FeBrAl Castings” Cast Sculpture Exhibition, FHSU Students and Faculty
Thirsty’s Grill & Pub, 2704 Vine – 5:00-10:00pm
“Forceful Substance” Paintings by Tristian Lindo
2016 Spring Art Walk Continues ~ Saturday, April 30
The following locations welcome visitors to the extended Spring Art Walk during these designated times on Saturday:
Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th 10am ~ 2pm
Chestnut Street Kitchens, 1310 Main 10am ~ 4pm
James Motor Company, 108 E. 13th 9am ~ 3pm
Hays Public Library, 1205 Main 9am ~ 5pm
Tri-Central Office Supply (windows) 10am ~ 5pm
L&M, 113 W. 11th 1pm ~ 5pm
Madd Matter, 112 E. 11th 10am ~ 5pm
Hays Arts Center Annex, 1010 Main 11am ~ 2pm
Art Walk Gallery, 1008 Main 10am ~ Noon
Art in the Alley, Main between 10th & 11th 10am ~ 5pm
Diamond R Jewelry, 807 Main 10am ~ 5pm
Turquoise Ranch, 719 Main 10am – 4pm
Salon 1007, 1007 Main 9am ~ 1pm
Breathe Coffee House, 703 Main 10am ~ Noon
Ellis County Historical Society, 100 W. 7th 9am ~ 6pm
Moss Thorns Gallery, FHSU 10am ~ Noon
Thirsty’s Grill & Pub, 2704 Vine 11am ~ 10pm