By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays Art Council's Winter Art Walk is set to return Saturday with an all-day event spread throughout downtown and beyond, allowing locals and travelers a chance to experience a variety of artistic expression along with the features of downtown Hays.
"It's shaping up to be really wonderful," said Hays Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Meder.
Historically, the art walk was scheduled for Friday evening, but after trying the new format during the pandemic, she said an all-day event has several benefits.
"After the success of the Spring Art Walk, which we did on that Saturday, after what would have been our first opening of the original opening night, we had such a great response. People seem to be more relaxed, when they were out, they were taking their time, and they were really enjoying each experience."
And while the longer format allows participants the opportunity to explore the exhibits at their own pace, Meder said all of downtown Hays would benefit.
"It was wonderful for our downtown merchants, food service, the coffee shops, the restaurants, the wine bars," she said. "It proved to just have such a wonderful benefit for everyone. Plus, it gives everyone more time. And so instead of being congested in a short amount of time, we're diluting our audience over six hours instead of two or two and a half."
With the extra time, she hopes that participants will also take advantage of the services in downtown Hays.
The longer format also allows those hesitant to be in large group settings to partake.
"And you know that first Friday in December, it can be so cold and obviously it gets dark early," Meder said. "I've already left that thing in the 31 years I've been doing this, you leave on that Winter Art Walk night and scrape off a quarter-inch of ice off your windshield. And, and people do drive you in for that show — from three, four, even more than five hours away. Because the photographers are really fans of ... our photography exhibition. So, we thought, let's go on the Saturday and just make it this day of celebration in and around the downtown Hays area."
Kicking off events Saturday is a Winter Craft Fair and Market, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon in the Fox Theatre, 1202 Main.
Also, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Sternberg Museum, a free lobby exhibition will explore The Dodo as a part of their ongoing exhibit along with 15th Century art reproductions and contemporary paintings.
While the art walk is kicking off at 10 a.m. downtown, Fort Hays State University will also have three exhibitions on display, including selected readings from Fort Hays State University Poet Laureate Jacob Buckman, in the Forsyth Library.
During the core times downtown, 16 stops are planned.
"We've got some music going on at Studio 809," Meder said. "We have the 5-State Photography, we've got two to two or three amazing exhibitions at the library. Got a book signing over at Regeena's is with Mary Kay Schippers and our fabulous family farm series (and we've) got a couple of things in the Chelsy Proehl Agency."
Also joining in this year, the Gamer's Guild and Aikido of Northwest Kansas, 208 E. Eighth.
"It's just that first kind of a long block off a main there, but it's so worth going down there," Meder said. "Brandon Nims has an incredible setup down there. … They've had their game miniatures that are these wonderful terrain and figurative miniatures that the members of their organization create. So they're like original little sculptures.
"Also, the real ancient and respected martial art of Aikido, there are going to be those demonstrations going on. It truly is such an art and a connection and a personal expression. So, it really is a type of performing art in a way."
Demonstrations are planned for 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
"The historical society is coming back into the fold. They're going to be bringing out a bunch of their gorgeous historical quilt collection pieces and putting those on display at the stone church," Meder said.
"The Big Creek Quilt Guild is going to be bringing out their contemporary quilts, and small art quilts and lap quilts, as well as large things, and they're going to be down at Chroma Quilting," she added. "It's a wonderful variety of things. And it's all free that day."
And while there will be a variety of events in which to to partake, the centerpiece will be the 38th annual 5-State Photography Exhibition.
"It's always the anchor of the winter artwork, that's the thing that really gets people excited about coming out for it," Meder said. "And it was another successful year. We had 446 photographs entered by photographers from Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado and truly from all over. Of course, there's always more from Kansas, there's always more from our area, but we got work in from all of the states.
"There will be 150 photographs that will be up in our gallery, 150 8-by-10 photographs, and matted and framed on the walls in there," Meder said. "And the range of those images is incredibly broad. ... There's so much work that goes into it. There is so much exquisite work that's in the show."
She said with the busy holiday season, the exhibition will be up until Feb. 12, allowing ample time for anyone to see the show the ability to do so.
The show features photos of all types, from straightforward images to more abstract, she said, giving the audience a chance to explore the meaning behind each piece.
"That's what good art does," Meder said.
For more information about the Winter Art Walk, visit haysartscouncil.org.