BUNKER HILL — Smoky Hills PBS has announced it will be bringing its Family Fun Day event to the Earth Day Celebration at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.&nbsp; Curious George will also be there.

The Family Fun Day event gives kids a chance to meet Curious George in person and take pictures with him. The first 500 kids that come to meet Curious George will receive a free bag of gifts from Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Curious George is so excited to come celebrate Earth Day with the kids,” said Haley Gagnon, event coordinator for Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; “We are thrilled to be a part of this great event and look forward to being in Great Bend.”

The Great Bend Earth Day Celebration is presented by Rosewood E-cycle, Dairy Queen and the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. Booths will be set-up throughout the zoo with activities, a special meet and greet for zoo society members, keeper chats throughout the day, contests, and giveaways.&nbsp; Be sure to join in the fun to celebrate our amazing planet and learn how you can help!

Family Fun Day is an educational and entertaining event that Smoky Hills PBS puts on approximately four times a year across central and western Kansas.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS brings a special PBS character to visit and free books and educational gifts are distributed to those children in attendance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578663876107.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Smoky Hills PBSBUNKER HILL — Smoky Hills PBS has announced it will be bringing its Family Fun Day event to the Earth Day Celebration at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.&nbsp; Curious George will also be there.The Family Fun Day event gives kids a chance to meet Curious George in person and take pictures with him. The first 500 kids that come to meet Curious George will receive a free bag of gifts from Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Curious George is so excited to come celebrate Earth Day with the kids,” said Haley Gagnon, event coordinator for Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; “We are thrilled to be a part of this great event and look forward to being in Great Bend.”The Great Bend Earth Day Celebration is presented by Rosewood E-cycle, Dairy Queen and the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo. Booths will be set-up throughout the zoo with activities, a special meet and greet for zoo society members, keeper chats throughout the day, contests, and giveaways.&nbsp; Be sure to join in the fun to celebrate our amazing planet and learn how you can help!Family Fun Day is an educational and entertaining event that Smoky Hills PBS puts on approximately four times a year across central and western Kansas.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS brings a special PBS character to visit and free books and educational gifts are distributed to those children in attendance.

Curious George and Smoky Hills PBS coming to Great Bend

The Alton&nbsp;Community Easter Sunrise Pageant&nbsp;live&nbsp;re-enactment of the&nbsp;Life&nbsp;of Christ&nbsp;will be Sun. April 17,&nbsp;at 6&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;at the Bluffs just south of Alton (Highway 24 between Osborne and Stockton).&nbsp;Dress warm, bring a flashlight and&nbsp;lawn chair.&nbsp; Breakfast&nbsp;at the Methodist Church,&nbsp;following. Sponsored&nbsp;by&nbsp;United&nbsp;Methodist Church, Mt. Ayr&nbsp;Friends&nbsp;Church, and Community of&nbsp;Alton.

SubmittedThe Alton&nbsp;Community Easter Sunrise Pageant&nbsp;live&nbsp;re-enactment of the&nbsp;Life&nbsp;of Christ&nbsp;will be Sun. April 17,&nbsp;at 6&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;at the Bluffs just south of Alton (Highway 24 between Osborne and Stockton).&nbsp;Dress warm, bring a flashlight and&nbsp;lawn chair.&nbsp; Breakfast&nbsp;at the Methodist Church,&nbsp;following. Sponsored&nbsp;by&nbsp;United&nbsp;Methodist Church, Mt. Ayr&nbsp;Friends&nbsp;Church, and Community of&nbsp;Alton. Cover image courtesy Unsplash

Easter sunrise service scheduled in Alton

Walk to End Alzheimer's scheduled in Hays

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Grow Hays, the economic development organization for Ellis County, will host members of the Hayc City Commission, Ellis County Commission and USD 489 Board of Education at an open house in the new housing development at 22nd and Wheatland.

During the event three homes will be available to view; 2612 E 23rd, 2603 Maize Ct. and 2219 Cumberland Dr.

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Grow Hays, the economic development organization for Ellis County, will host members of the Hayc City Commission, Ellis County Commission and USD 489 Board of Education at an open house in the new housing development at 22nd and Wheatland.During the event three homes will be available to view; 2612 E 23rd, 2603 Maize Ct. and 2219 Cumberland Dr.

Grow Hays to host local officials for housing tour Friday

Dementia, Alzheimer's support group for caregivers

UPDATED 10 a.m.&nbsp; Thursday

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Several K-State Research &amp; Extension Districts will be offering a Hazardous&nbsp;Occupation Safety Training in&nbsp;Agriculture or&nbsp;Tractor and Farm Safety Course&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;April 30th&nbsp;from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Hill City at the Graham County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.&nbsp;

The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents.&nbsp; However, there are several cases where youth may be required to take the training even though they are working on the “family farm.”&nbsp; For instance, if the parent is a partner or member of a farm corporation or if the youth is legally employed by grandparents, the law requires youth participate in the course.&nbsp; Any employer who plans to hire youth under 16 years of age must make sure they attend this tractor and farm safety course.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Certification will be presented to participants who meet all of the following. Attend the entire session, complete all assignments, successfully complete tractor safety exam, safely demonstrate the ability to operate a tractor and all its controls according to safe operating procedures under the supervision of a parent or employer, youth ages 14-15 years (others will receive certification at the time they turn 14).&nbsp; There is a $10 fee to attend and&nbsp;RSVP is requested by Friday, April 22nd.&nbsp;Thank you to our lunch and refreshment sponsor, People’s State Bank!&nbsp;This program is being offered and taught by Extension Agents in the&nbsp;Cottonwood,&nbsp;Twin Creeks, Golden Prairie and Phillips/Rooks Extension Districts. &nbsp;To register contact any of the above Extension Districts by&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;<a></a>April 22 to register and pickup study materials before-hand.&nbsp;

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

UPDATED 10 a.m.&nbsp; ThursdayBy STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSeveral K-State Research &amp; Extension Districts will be offering a Hazardous&nbsp;Occupation Safety Training in&nbsp;Agriculture or&nbsp;Tractor and Farm Safety Course&nbsp;on Saturday,&nbsp;April 30th&nbsp;from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Hill City at the Graham County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.&nbsp;The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents.&nbsp; However, there are several cases where youth may be required to take the training even though they are working on the “family farm.”&nbsp; For instance, if the parent is a partner or member of a farm corporation or if the youth is legally employed by grandparents, the law requires youth participate in the course.&nbsp; Any employer who plans to hire youth under 16 years of age must make sure they attend this tractor and farm safety course.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Certification will be presented to participants who meet all of the following. Attend the entire session, complete all assignments, successfully complete tractor safety exam, safely demonstrate the ability to operate a tractor and all its controls according to safe operating procedures under the supervision of a parent or employer, youth ages 14-15 years (others will receive certification at the time they turn 14).&nbsp; There is a $10 fee to attend and&nbsp;RSVP is requested by Friday, April 22nd.&nbsp;Thank you to our lunch and refreshment sponsor, People’s State Bank!&nbsp;This program is being offered and taught by Extension Agents in the&nbsp;Cottonwood,&nbsp;Twin Creeks, Golden Prairie and Phillips/Rooks Extension Districts. &nbsp;To register contact any of the above Extension Districts by&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;<a></a>April 22 to register and pickup study materials before-hand.&nbsp; Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

UPDATE: Tractor and farm safety course scheduled this month

Antique tractor pull scheduled in Schoenchen

Get books at great prices at the Friends of the Library book sale on April 9th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649197938700.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Get books at great prices at the Friends of the Library book sale on April 9th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Hays Public Library, 1205 Main.&nbsp;

Friends of Hays Public Library book sale Saturday 

Ellis Chamber Easter Egg Hunt is April 16 at Good Samaritan Society

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Sexual assault awareness events scheduled on FHSU campus

Bingo night April 23 to benefit Oxford House

Trinity Lutheran barbecue to benefit Options

Due to the low forcasted tempratures the Rolling Plains Motor Speedway has cancelled events scheduled for April 2.

"We have been monitoring the weather for this Saturday's opening night, and with the evening temps dipping to a possible 25 degree windchill, it just doesn't make financial sense to start the season off like that," according to the announcement made via facebook. "We will take the next 2 weeks and be 110% ready, and make the 2022 Mike "Huey" Hughes Classic one you will not want to miss."

Due to the low forcasted tempratures the Rolling Plains Motor Speedway has cancelled events scheduled for April 2."We have been monitoring the weather for this Saturday's opening night, and with the evening temps dipping to a possible 25 degree windchill, it just doesn't make financial sense to start the season off like that," according to the announcement made via facebook. "We will take the next 2 weeks and be 110% ready, and make the 2022 Mike "Huey" Hughes Classic one you will not want to miss."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frollingplainsmotor.speedway%2Fposts%2F4888232317962604&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="265" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><figure>
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RPM Speedway cancels weekend races due to weather

The Hays Chamber received notification that local elected officials will be in session very late Friday evening.  

As such, the chamber is postponing the Legislative Coffee that was schedule for Saturday morning to a later date that has yet to be determined.  

SubmittedThe Hays Chamber received notification that local elected officials will be in session very late Friday evening. As such, the chamber is postponing the Legislative Coffee that was schedule for Saturday morning to a later date that has yet to be determined.

Hays Chamber postpones legislative coffee

Natural Resources Conservation Service is inviting the public to participate in a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting at 1 p.m. April 5 at Hays Public Library, 1205 Main. The meeting will last approximately two hours.&nbsp; This LWG meeting will be focusing on Ellis, Russell and Trego counties.

The purpose of the meeting is to gather information and make recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist, as well as other state and local leaders, related to addressing natural resource concerns identified at local level. The recommendations gathered locally, as well as a consolidated report for the entire state of Kansas, will be shared with all interested parties.

“LWGs are important because they provide recommendations on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation activities and programs. It is critical that the ‘boots on the ground’ have a voice in the process,” said Dan Meyerhoff, KACD executive director.

Topics to be covered at the LWG meeting will include:

The NRCS would like the local workgroup to be diverse, and is hoping to include agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock raised within the local area; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; governmental agencies carrying out agricultural and natural resource conservation and activities as well as anyone from the general public with an interest in their community’s natural resources.&nbsp; The LWG can also take into account concerns of particular historically underserved groups and individuals including but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593956642758.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NRCSNatural Resources Conservation Service is inviting the public to participate in a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting at 1 p.m. April 5 at Hays Public Library, 1205 Main. The meeting will last approximately two hours.&nbsp; This LWG meeting will be focusing on Ellis, Russell and Trego counties.The purpose of the meeting is to gather information and make recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist, as well as other state and local leaders, related to addressing natural resource concerns identified at local level. The recommendations gathered locally, as well as a consolidated report for the entire state of Kansas, will be shared with all interested parties.“LWGs are important because they provide recommendations on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation activities and programs. It is critical that the ‘boots on the ground’ have a voice in the process,” said Dan Meyerhoff, KACD executive director.Topics to be covered at the LWG meeting will include:<ol>
 <li>A review of a resource assessment completed by each Conservation District in the Management Unit.</li><li>Identification of local priority resource concerns</li><li>Training Needs in the Management Unit</li><li>Outreach Opportunities in the Management Unit</li><li>Other issues raised by meeting attendees</li>
 </ol>The NRCS would like the local workgroup to be diverse, and is hoping to include agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock raised within the local area; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; governmental agencies carrying out agricultural and natural resource conservation and activities as well as anyone from the general public with an interest in their community’s natural resources.&nbsp; The LWG can also take into account concerns of particular historically underserved groups and individuals including but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource group.

NRCS seeks input from residents in Ellis, Russell, Trego counties

The Department of Water Resources will make a planned repair to the water main located just west of the VFW at 2106 Vine beginning at midnight Tuesday.

This repair is being completed overnight to minimize traffic delays.  Work should be completed by daylight Wednesday, but it is expected that the northbound outside lane will be reduced to one lane until new concrete can be poured. 

 Traffic warning signs will be placed to warn travelers of work in the area. 

 If you have any questions please contact Water Resources at 785-628-7380.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648565183929.jpeg" alt="(City of Hays)" />
 <figcaption>(City of Hays)</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysThe Department of Water Resources will make a planned repair to the water main located just west of the VFW at 2106 Vine beginning at midnight Tuesday.This repair is being completed overnight to minimize traffic delays. Work should be completed by daylight Wednesday, but it is expected that the northbound outside lane will be reduced to one lane until new concrete can be poured. Traffic warning signs will be placed to warn travelers of work in the area. If you have any questions please contact Water Resources at 785-628-7380.

Overnight Vine Street water main repair starts at midnight

TOPEKA — Area town hall meetings have been scheduled by Sen. Rick Billlinger, R-Goodland, for April 4 and 5.

The public is encouraged to attend.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedTOPEKA — Area town hall meetings have been scheduled by Sen. Rick Billlinger, R-Goodland, for April 4 and 5.The public is encouraged to attend.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
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Billinger schedules NW Kansas town hall meetings

March 31 is a fifth Thursday of the month; therefore, there won't be a Hays City Cmmission work session that evening.

<figure>
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 </figure>City of HaysMarch 31 is a fifth Thursday of the month; therefore, there won't be a Hays City Cmmission work session that evening.

No Hays City Commission work session Thursday 

If you like to run or walk and would like to meet others with similar interests, the Hays Area Road Runners might be the group for you. 

 HARR members meet on Tuesdays at various locations around Hays (often at the former Hays Daily News building on south Main), but also in Plainville and Ellis. 

See schedule at haysarearoadrunners.com. 

 Members run a variety of courses 4 to 5 miles long or walk about 45 minutes, but shorter distances or times are fine as everyone ends up at the starting location.  Most of the group typically meets again shortly after each run for food, drink, and conversation.  Runners and walkers of all abilities and ages are welcome. 

 The March 29th run/walk begins at the auditorium at the Kansas State University Agriculture Research Center, just south of Hays. 

If you’re curious or have questions about HARR, contact Helen at <a href="mailto:helenh1962@gmail.com">helenh1962@gmail.com</a>.

SubmittedIf you like to run or walk and would like to meet others with similar interests, the Hays Area Road Runners might be the group for you. HARR members meet on Tuesdays at various locations around Hays (often at the former Hays Daily News building on south Main), but also in Plainville and Ellis. See schedule at haysarearoadrunners.com. Members run a variety of courses 4 to 5 miles long or walk about 45 minutes, but shorter distances or times are fine as everyone ends up at the starting location. Most of the group typically meets again shortly after each run for food, drink, and conversation. Runners and walkers of all abilities and ages are welcome. The March 29th run/walk begins at the auditorium at the Kansas State University Agriculture Research Center, just south of Hays. If you’re curious or have questions about HARR, contact Helen at <a href="mailto:helenh1962@gmail.com">helenh1962@gmail.com</a>.

Hays Area Road Runners seeking runners, walkers 

The next Science Cafe will take a closer look at the Webb Space Telescope's "new view of the universe."

The event will be at 7 p.m. March 28 at The Venue @ Thirsty's,&nbsp;2704 Vine.

Presenter will be Dr. Paul Adams dean of the Fort Hays State University College of Education, also a Professor of Physics, Anschutz Professor of Education and NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.

The Science Cafe is free and open to public. For more information, click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648046588131.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The next Science Cafe will take a closer look at the Webb Space Telescope's "new view of the universe."The event will be at 7 p.m. March 28 at The Venue @ Thirsty's,&nbsp;2704 Vine.Presenter will be Dr. Paul Adams dean of the Fort Hays State University College of Education, also a Professor of Physics, Anschutz Professor of Education and NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.The Science Cafe is free and open to public. For more information, click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe">HERE</a>.

Science Café  will discuss Webb telescope's 'new view'

Hays Science Festival scheduled next month at FHSU

The Kansas Department of Transportation began a pair of resurfacing projects on U.S. 36 and U.S. 281 in eastern Smith County on Thursday.

Construction activities will involve a mill and overlay on both routes.

The U.S. 36 project will cover 10 miles starting approximately 4 miles east of Smith Center and extending east to the Jewell County line. Work on U.S. 281 portion will begin at the U.S. 36 junction near Lebanon and extend 15 miles north to the Nebraska border.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zones and directed by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Delays of up to 15 minutes may be possible. KDOT expects the projects to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.

KDOTThe Kansas Department of Transportation began a pair of resurfacing projects on U.S. 36 and U.S. 281 in eastern Smith County on Thursday.Construction activities will involve a mill and overlay on both routes.The U.S. 36 project will cover 10 miles starting approximately 4 miles east of Smith Center and extending east to the Jewell County line. Work on U.S. 281 portion will begin at the U.S. 36 junction near Lebanon and extend 15 miles north to the Nebraska border.Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the work zones and directed by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Delays of up to 15 minutes may be possible. KDOT expects the projects to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.

Resurfacing projects begin in Smith County

The
 TMP-Marian Drama Department will present "Clue" in the Dreiling 
Theater. The show runs at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

Tickets are on sale now by <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/clue" target="_blank">clicking here.</a>

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647967259307.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Thomas More Prep-MarianThe
 TMP-Marian Drama Department will present "Clue" in the Dreiling 
Theater. The show runs at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10.Tickets are on sale now by <a href="https://www.tmp-m.org/o/tmpm/page/clue" target="_blank">clicking here.</a>

TMP-M Drama Department set to present 'Clue'

<a></a>LOGAN — "Under Pressure: Painting With Air" (A Survey of Contemporary Airbrush Realism)&nbsp;is on view at the Hansen Museum&nbsp;now&nbsp;through May 22. &nbsp;

This&nbsp;exhibition is comprised of&nbsp;45&nbsp;works,&nbsp;wide-ranging in&nbsp;theme,&nbsp;by&nbsp;noteworthy,&nbsp;working&nbsp;artists who have chosen airbrush as their principal&nbsp;medium of expression.&nbsp;According to the exhibit’s curator,&nbsp;David J. Wagner,&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air"&nbsp;has been a long time in coming.

“The&nbsp;earliest, and perhaps the&nbsp;last&nbsp;exhibition to&nbsp;broadly&nbsp;survey&nbsp;airbrushed&nbsp;fine&nbsp;art that I am aware of was&nbsp;The Artist and The Airbrush,&nbsp;curated by Barbara Rogers, herself an accomplished artist,&nbsp;40 years ago&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Art Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;San Jose State University in California&nbsp;where she served on the faculty.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two&nbsp;of the artists whose work&nbsp;was featured in&nbsp;that seminal exhibition&nbsp;who are still active&nbsp;today,&nbsp;have current work in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air" — Don Eddy (b. 1944) and Jerry Ott (b. 1947) — as does another,&nbsp;George Green(1943-2020),&nbsp;though he&nbsp;passed&nbsp;away&nbsp;unexpectedly&nbsp;during the organization of&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air."&nbsp; This&nbsp;exhibition is comprised of works&nbsp;by&nbsp;these and&nbsp;the&nbsp;artists&nbsp;who followed&nbsp;in their footsteps&nbsp;including&nbsp;several of&nbsp;today’s&nbsp;younger&nbsp;generation of&nbsp;accomplished&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;masters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Airbrush as a medium may be known to most people as a&nbsp;go-to medium for commercial artists who&nbsp;decorate a broad&nbsp;range of&nbsp;material culture&nbsp;beyond fine art,&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;t-shirts,&nbsp;sporting equipment&nbsp;andvehicles ranging from boats to&nbsp;pickup trucks, semis,&nbsp;cars and motorcycles, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, it became a go-to medium for&nbsp;the so-called Kustom Kulture, a neologism&nbsp;that refers to&nbsp;styles and&nbsp;fashionsassociated with&nbsp;custom cars and motorcycles in the United States&nbsp;particularly the&nbsp;hot rod culture of Southern California.&nbsp;Then there is animation,&nbsp;the culinary arts,&nbsp;body art, make up, and tattoos. &nbsp;You name it, and airbrush artists seem to have covered it in one form or another. As would be expected, many commercially successful airbrush artists possess incredible skill, but&nbsp;many&nbsp;lack true artistry, which&nbsp;may be the reason&nbsp;the medium has been&nbsp;unfairly&nbsp;maligned or ignored by&nbsp;highbrow aesthetes over the years.&nbsp;

Though a hip medium&nbsp;in the world of commercial art today,&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;is&nbsp;actually&nbsp;a&nbsp;nineteenth-century invention.&nbsp;Francis Stanley, who with his twin brother became&nbsp;famous for the Stanley Steamer, patented a simple “atomizer” airbrush to colorize photographs in 1876.&nbsp;An instrument called the “paint distributor,” which relied on a hand-operated compressor to supply continuous air, was developed in 1879 by Abner Peeler “for the painting of watercolors and other artistic purposes.”&nbsp;A commercial prototype was developed by Liberty Walkup who re-patented it under a name suggested by his wife: “air-brush.” She would go&nbsp;on&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;the Illinois Art School in Rockford where airbrushing&nbsp;would be&nbsp;taught.&nbsp;Seventy-five miles north and a decade later, Charles Burdick&nbsp;revolutionized the air brush&nbsp;in Madison, Wisconsin.&nbsp;Patented in 1892,&nbsp;his airbrush was a double-action, internal-mix&nbsp;airbrush similar to those used today. It contained paint somewhat like a fountain&nbsp;pen and&nbsp;featured an index finger trigger with the air supply re-positioned through the bottom, which&nbsp;improved balance and control. Burdick’s invention was&nbsp;promotedby Thayer and Chandler, a Chicago mail order arts and crafts retailer,&nbsp;which&nbsp;also&nbsp;showcased it&nbsp;at the 1892 World Columbian Exposition.&nbsp;As other improvements ensued&nbsp;the medium took off.&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;airbrushes are used for&nbsp;countless commercial applications, as well as fine art.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the world of fine art, Man Ray (1890–1977),&nbsp;remembered&nbsp;to many&nbsp;as a force of&nbsp;the Dada and Surrealism art movements,&nbsp;was among the first to employ&nbsp;airbrush in the production of fine art. Alberto Vargas (1896–1992), the pioneering artist who had emigrated from Peru to the U.S. after studying art in Europe, used airbrush in combination with watercolors, to produce his signature pin-ups, which&nbsp;associated&nbsp;airbrush with so-called girlie pictures,&nbsp;an association&nbsp;that has&nbsp;trended&nbsp;to this day. &nbsp;With the emergence of Photorealism in the mid and late 1960’s, the airbrush assumed a special place of distinction as a&nbsp;favorite medium among&nbsp;the first generation of&nbsp;artists practicing&nbsp;that style in America,&nbsp;e.g.,&nbsp;Paul&nbsp;Sarkisian (1928-2019) and&nbsp;Ben Schonzeit (b.&nbsp;1942)&nbsp;though he&nbsp;stopped airbrushing about a decade ago and&nbsp;no&nbsp;longer works in airbrush today.&nbsp;Interestingly,&nbsp;this&nbsp;phenomenon&nbsp;hasn’t&nbsp;just&nbsp;been&nbsp;male dominated.In addition to Barbara Rogers&nbsp;(b. 1937),&nbsp;Audrey Flack (b. 1931),&nbsp;for example,&nbsp;projected images onto canvas instead&nbsp;of making preliminary drawings,&nbsp;and&nbsp;developed a method of applying paint in layers with an airbrush. Others followed.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the first wave of Photorealists in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, younger artists produced work that extended&nbsp;the medium of&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;in new and interesting ways, notably, in the stylistic realm of what has become known as, Hyperrealism. &nbsp;Today,&nbsp;work by artists who use airbrush embodies adiverse range&nbsp;of style, subject matter, and technique.

Of the artists exhibiting in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;Southerner, Dru Blair(Charleston, SC),&nbsp;is widely known&nbsp;as much for his art as he is an educator having founded his Blair School of Art in the ‘90’s in Raleigh, NC which he&nbsp;operates today in Charleston. &nbsp;To&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;his impact, examples of work by&nbsp;several&nbsp;former students&nbsp;now&nbsp;having&nbsp;their own&nbsp;successful careers&nbsp;are&nbsp;also featured: Silvia Belviso (from&nbsp;Italy, now&nbsp;residing&nbsp;in&nbsp;Charleston), David&nbsp;Evanoff&nbsp;(Cleveland, GA), and Joshua&nbsp;Zarambo (Richmond, VA). &nbsp;In addition to&nbsp;this younger generation, and the older masters previously mentioned -- Don Eddy&nbsp;(New York, NY), George Green, and&nbsp;Jerry Ott (Duluth, MN) – others&nbsp;exhibiting in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;include&nbsp;some of the very best who have ever worked with the medium:&nbsp;Bruce Evans (Philadelphia, PA), Kirk Lybecker (Portland, OR), Alan Pastrana (Queens, NY; with studio in Plainville, CT), Cesar Santander (New York, NY), and Hisaya Taira (Tokyo, Japan).&nbsp;&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air"&nbsp;features a&nbsp;diverse selection&nbsp;of works by&nbsp;each of these artists to share&nbsp;with viewers&nbsp;the breadth and&nbsp;depth&nbsp;of each artist’s oeuvre and their&nbsp;artistic prowess. &nbsp;As such,&nbsp;the exhibit&nbsp;is a celebration of&nbsp;artistic virtuosity&nbsp;and achievement&nbsp;through a unique, American&nbsp;medium:airbrush.&nbsp;&nbsp;Serving as Curator for&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;is David J. Wagner, who earned his Ph.D. in American Studies and served as a museum director for 20 years. &nbsp;

For booking information, contact: &nbsp;DAVID J. WAGNER, L.L.C.,&nbsp;EXHIBITION&nbsp;TOUR OFFICE&nbsp;(414) 221 6878;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com">davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com</a>;&nbsp;davidjwagnerllc.com

The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 &amp; 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 &amp; 1-5; Sundays &amp; Holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicapped&nbsp;accessible,&nbsp;and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.&nbsp;To learn more, call 785-689-4846, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hansenmuseum.org/">www.hansenmuseum.org</a>, or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/InsideNatGeo/">Facebook</a>.

News release<a></a>LOGAN — "Under Pressure: Painting With Air" (A Survey of Contemporary Airbrush Realism)&nbsp;is on view at the Hansen Museum&nbsp;now&nbsp;through May 22. &nbsp;This&nbsp;exhibition is comprised of&nbsp;45&nbsp;works,&nbsp;wide-ranging in&nbsp;theme,&nbsp;by&nbsp;noteworthy,&nbsp;working&nbsp;artists who have chosen airbrush as their principal&nbsp;medium of expression.&nbsp;According to the exhibit’s curator,&nbsp;David J. Wagner,&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air"&nbsp;has been a long time in coming.“The&nbsp;earliest, and perhaps the&nbsp;last&nbsp;exhibition to&nbsp;broadly&nbsp;survey&nbsp;airbrushed&nbsp;fine&nbsp;art that I am aware of was&nbsp;The Artist and The Airbrush,&nbsp;curated by Barbara Rogers, herself an accomplished artist,&nbsp;40 years ago&nbsp;at&nbsp;the Art Department&nbsp;of&nbsp;San Jose State University in California&nbsp;where she served on the faculty.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Two&nbsp;of the artists whose work&nbsp;was featured in&nbsp;that seminal exhibition&nbsp;who are still active&nbsp;today,&nbsp;have current work in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air" — Don Eddy (b. 1944) and Jerry Ott (b. 1947) — as does another,&nbsp;George Green(1943-2020),&nbsp;though he&nbsp;passed&nbsp;away&nbsp;unexpectedly&nbsp;during the organization of&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air."&nbsp; This&nbsp;exhibition is comprised of works&nbsp;by&nbsp;these and&nbsp;the&nbsp;artists&nbsp;who followed&nbsp;in their footsteps&nbsp;including&nbsp;several of&nbsp;today’s&nbsp;younger&nbsp;generation of&nbsp;accomplished&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;masters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Airbrush as a medium may be known to most people as a&nbsp;go-to medium for commercial artists who&nbsp;decorate a broad&nbsp;range of&nbsp;material culture&nbsp;beyond fine art,&nbsp;such&nbsp;as&nbsp;t-shirts,&nbsp;sporting equipment&nbsp;andvehicles ranging from boats to&nbsp;pickup trucks, semis,&nbsp;cars and motorcycles, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, it became a go-to medium for&nbsp;the so-called Kustom Kulture, a neologism&nbsp;that refers to&nbsp;styles and&nbsp;fashionsassociated with&nbsp;custom cars and motorcycles in the United States&nbsp;particularly the&nbsp;hot rod culture of Southern California.&nbsp;Then there is animation,&nbsp;the culinary arts,&nbsp;body art, make up, and tattoos. &nbsp;You name it, and airbrush artists seem to have covered it in one form or another. As would be expected, many commercially successful airbrush artists possess incredible skill, but&nbsp;many&nbsp;lack true artistry, which&nbsp;may be the reason&nbsp;the medium has been&nbsp;unfairly&nbsp;maligned or ignored by&nbsp;highbrow aesthetes over the years.&nbsp;Though a hip medium&nbsp;in the world of commercial art today,&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;is&nbsp;actually&nbsp;a&nbsp;nineteenth-century invention.&nbsp;Francis Stanley, who with his twin brother became&nbsp;famous for the Stanley Steamer, patented a simple “atomizer” airbrush to colorize photographs in 1876.&nbsp;An instrument called the “paint distributor,” which relied on a hand-operated compressor to supply continuous air, was developed in 1879 by Abner Peeler “for the painting of watercolors and other artistic purposes.”&nbsp;A commercial prototype was developed by Liberty Walkup who re-patented it under a name suggested by his wife: “air-brush.” She would go&nbsp;on&nbsp;to&nbsp;establish&nbsp;the Illinois Art School in Rockford where airbrushing&nbsp;would be&nbsp;taught.&nbsp;Seventy-five miles north and a decade later, Charles Burdick&nbsp;revolutionized the air brush&nbsp;in Madison, Wisconsin.&nbsp;Patented in 1892,&nbsp;his airbrush was a double-action, internal-mix&nbsp;airbrush similar to those used today. It contained paint somewhat like a fountain&nbsp;pen and&nbsp;featured an index finger trigger with the air supply re-positioned through the bottom, which&nbsp;improved balance and control. Burdick’s invention was&nbsp;promotedby Thayer and Chandler, a Chicago mail order arts and crafts retailer,&nbsp;which&nbsp;also&nbsp;showcased it&nbsp;at the 1892 World Columbian Exposition.&nbsp;As other improvements ensued&nbsp;the medium took off.&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;airbrushes are used for&nbsp;countless commercial applications, as well as fine art.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the world of fine art, Man Ray (1890–1977),&nbsp;remembered&nbsp;to many&nbsp;as a force of&nbsp;the Dada and Surrealism art movements,&nbsp;was among the first to employ&nbsp;airbrush in the production of fine art. Alberto Vargas (1896–1992), the pioneering artist who had emigrated from Peru to the U.S. after studying art in Europe, used airbrush in combination with watercolors, to produce his signature pin-ups, which&nbsp;associated&nbsp;airbrush with so-called girlie pictures,&nbsp;an association&nbsp;that has&nbsp;trended&nbsp;to this day. &nbsp;With the emergence of Photorealism in the mid and late 1960’s, the airbrush assumed a special place of distinction as a&nbsp;favorite medium among&nbsp;the first generation of&nbsp;artists practicing&nbsp;that style in America,&nbsp;e.g.,&nbsp;Paul&nbsp;Sarkisian (1928-2019) and&nbsp;Ben Schonzeit (b.&nbsp;1942)&nbsp;though he&nbsp;stopped airbrushing about a decade ago and&nbsp;no&nbsp;longer works in airbrush today.&nbsp;Interestingly,&nbsp;this&nbsp;phenomenon&nbsp;hasn’t&nbsp;just&nbsp;been&nbsp;male dominated.In addition to Barbara Rogers&nbsp;(b. 1937),&nbsp;Audrey Flack (b. 1931),&nbsp;for example,&nbsp;projected images onto canvas instead&nbsp;of making preliminary drawings,&nbsp;and&nbsp;developed a method of applying paint in layers with an airbrush. Others followed.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the first wave of Photorealists in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, younger artists produced work that extended&nbsp;the medium of&nbsp;airbrush&nbsp;in new and interesting ways, notably, in the stylistic realm of what has become known as, Hyperrealism. &nbsp;Today,&nbsp;work by artists who use airbrush embodies adiverse range&nbsp;of style, subject matter, and technique.Of the artists exhibiting in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;Southerner, Dru Blair(Charleston, SC),&nbsp;is widely known&nbsp;as much for his art as he is an educator having founded his Blair School of Art in the ‘90’s in Raleigh, NC which he&nbsp;operates today in Charleston. &nbsp;To&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;his impact, examples of work by&nbsp;several&nbsp;former students&nbsp;now&nbsp;having&nbsp;their own&nbsp;successful careers&nbsp;are&nbsp;also featured: Silvia Belviso (from&nbsp;Italy, now&nbsp;residing&nbsp;in&nbsp;Charleston), David&nbsp;Evanoff&nbsp;(Cleveland, GA), and Joshua&nbsp;Zarambo (Richmond, VA). &nbsp;In addition to&nbsp;this younger generation, and the older masters previously mentioned -- Don Eddy&nbsp;(New York, NY), George Green, and&nbsp;Jerry Ott (Duluth, MN) – others&nbsp;exhibiting in&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;include&nbsp;some of the very best who have ever worked with the medium:&nbsp;Bruce Evans (Philadelphia, PA), Kirk Lybecker (Portland, OR), Alan Pastrana (Queens, NY; with studio in Plainville, CT), Cesar Santander (New York, NY), and Hisaya Taira (Tokyo, Japan).&nbsp;&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air"&nbsp;features a&nbsp;diverse selection&nbsp;of works by&nbsp;each of these artists to share&nbsp;with viewers&nbsp;the breadth and&nbsp;depth&nbsp;of each artist’s oeuvre and their&nbsp;artistic prowess. &nbsp;As such,&nbsp;the exhibit&nbsp;is a celebration of&nbsp;artistic virtuosity&nbsp;and achievement&nbsp;through a unique, American&nbsp;medium:airbrush.&nbsp;&nbsp;Serving as Curator for&nbsp;"Under Pressure: Painting With Air,"&nbsp;is David J. Wagner, who earned his Ph.D. in American Studies and served as a museum director for 20 years. &nbsp;For booking information, contact: &nbsp;DAVID J. WAGNER, L.L.C.,&nbsp;EXHIBITION&nbsp;TOUR OFFICE&nbsp;(414) 221 6878;&nbsp;<a href="mailto:davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com">davidjwagnerllc@yahoo.com</a>;&nbsp;davidjwagnerllc.comThe Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday 9-12 &amp; 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 &amp; 1-5; Sundays &amp; Holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicapped&nbsp;accessible,&nbsp;and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.&nbsp;To learn more, call 785-689-4846, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hansenmuseum.org/">www.hansenmuseum.org</a>, or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/InsideNatGeo/">Facebook</a>.

'Under Pressure' airbrush exhibition open at Hansen

Beginning Monday, the reconstruction of 27th Street between Lincoln Drive and Fort Street will resume. During this phase of construction, the south side of 27th Street will be reconstructed while maintaining one-way westbound traffic along the north side of 27th Street.&nbsp;

For more, visit the project <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/778/27th-St-Project">webpage</a>&nbsp;or by contact the Office of Project Management at (785)&nbsp; 628-7350 or Paul-Wertenberger Construction at (785) 625-8220. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647872164450.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Beginning Monday, the reconstruction of 27th Street between Lincoln Drive and Fort Street will resume. During this phase of construction, the south side of 27th Street will be reconstructed while maintaining one-way westbound traffic along the north side of 27th Street.&nbsp;For more, visit the project <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/778/27th-St-Project">webpage</a>&nbsp;or by contact the Office of Project Management at (785)&nbsp; 628-7350 or Paul-Wertenberger Construction at (785) 625-8220. &nbsp;

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