On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Arts Council executive director Brenda Meder shares the latest from the council.
Transcript
James Bell
The Winter Artwalk may be over. But there's still an opportunity to see the five state photography show at the Hays Arts Council and maybe get in a little holiday shopping as well, Executive Director Brenda Meder stops by to talk to us about what's going on at the Arts Council this month. On this episode of the Post Podcast.
Brenda Meder
We've got is 150 fabulous photographs in this year's Five State Photography Exhibition. As a lot of people know, we opened the exhibition on Saturday, December 4, as the anchor of our winter, our walk. And and in fact, while I'm mentioning that, I'll just let everyone know, if you use us Facebook, I put a nice album up about I think 80 images, just to the various sites and the features, and some people enjoying them. And that is up on our Facebook page. And I don't have it on our website, I'll move it over there, but it is on our Facebook page. So you can just see how what a lovely day It wasn't. It was wonderful. And again, that's the day we opened the five state. And we did have a lot of photographers that were visiting from the Kansas City area from Winfield and we had people from McPherson, I know we had some people from Nebraska, I think we had some Oklahoma, I know some around the Wichita area. So it's wonderful that this project has such a level of appreciation that they appreciate it so much, because they know we're not going to do any formal ceremonies or make any big announcements or, you know, it's just come and enjoy great art. And so we just invite the community to do that as well. And the good news is we know the holidays can be a little crazy, which is why when it's a show we put this much work into and is this enjoyable for everyone people you know, there's something for everyone in this show. This show will run through February the 11th. So a good long time yet you know, schedules again are crazy during the holidays and will be shut down in a little bit over the two big holiday weekends and, and we know other people will be traveling, but on February the 11th. So you've got some great time to just come in and take a look when you've got a few minutes you're downtown. Because there isn't a fee. Nobody bothers you. It's just come in and enjoy a little bit of background music we'll be playing and and you know, we say hello, we say goodbye and unless you need something, we leave you alone just to enjoy. So please, please do come by and check it out. But it was a really great day. We had a lot of fun. And a lot of really wonderful things. It was such a great opportunity to see such a diverse array of creativity and imagination and arts and culture in our community. They were quilt shows in the photography. I went down and got to catch part of one of the martial arts demonstrations and it's such it's such an ancient art form, you know the aikido that was going on, I caught a little bit of that and, and some of the model building that was down there as well as you know, to great BFA and one fantastic MFA show. Factor I'll give her a shout out if you haven't been down to see Wendy tan show yet. And I know you guys have been reading some stuff on his post about it. It's really a fabulous show and it's one of those that's unique and interesting and it's just been a resounding success. So I got no connection to that one but it's a great show. And it and you know maybe not so bad to get a park on campus this week with it being finals and people kind of coming and going at different times. But I believe her show goes through this Friday. So it was it was just it was really really wonderful. The the sculpture students were out forging metal and showing some of their wares and stuff over at the Pavilion and there was a youth artwork and it was it was just a really good day. And again come see us if you didn't get a chance to and when you do come see us it'll also be a great opportunity to check out our Gift Gallery. As most people know our Gift Gallery is not real big and you know there's not you know we've got a great diversity of things in there but it's not like we have some big seasonal changeover but it's a great place to find something unique. The Coburn pottery that we have is always really popular. In fact we've had that going out in the last few days in a couple of really nice big chunks and at the Artwalk we did as well. But this wonderful decorative and functional pottery microwave oven and dishwasher safe made by Steve Coburn and Selena really really wonderful prices on it. It's beautiful a pottery but very simple in its in its form because its function is fabulous. And people have been loving it for years because it's basically been the same designs. We've also got if if you've got you know a fine art follower on your on your Christmas list. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. We've got this entire binder book of Maciel etchings, original original pulled press etchings for only $45 an etching and then if you want something with a little bit more drama and color, those wonderful little flowers that Nick also does, and those are those are these wonderful little floral paintings. They're framed and matted, and they're only 150 but they are original paintings. There's some larger floral works in there by Mick as well. We've got a little bit of some handcrafted jewelry. We've got a nice selection of books. I know there's people who know and remember the lovely lovely Pamela Shafer who is a person fessor in the English department for many, many years, and just here, shortly over, well, it's only going to be about a year now, shortly before she passed away, her book came out letters to marry, which was a collection of letters that she edited of her uncle writing to her and her uncle was Bishop, Monsignor Furman Schmitt. And we do have copies of that book at our gallery, Mary Kay Schippers family farms series, a couple of wonderful things by Nicole Thibodeau. And so there are some some books and things like that even down there. And there's some wonderful little glass necklace pendants that are there fused glass, and there's so many different colors, and you put them on whatever chord or chain you choose. They're original, they're handmade, they're only $15. So there are some fun things down there. So come check us out. Anytime we're open the gift galleries open.
James Bell
Very cool. Yeah, I can attest those photos. Oh, it was an incredible show. There is such a such a diversity of photos. I know. And I took the family down, we all kind of we had a lot of fun picking our favorites, our top three and going through the whole gallery. But it was interesting to me, everybody in my family picked some different and it was such a, again, such a diversity. You know, the kiddos had a completely different either than my wife and I and just really cool and it does
Brenda Meder
And that I think it's we all point to different things there. The juror statement. Oh, in fact, I'll come back to that. But the juror statement, complete album of all 150 works. If it's somebody who says I just never get to downtown Hays, sorry. But I do think it's a great idea. You can see all 150 works on our website, I stayed up until the wee hours, I'm going to get that on. Because we don't just post part of them. They're all up there all 150 photographs are on our website in an album, the award winners are in their own separate album, the jury statement is there. And so go to our website, Hayes arts council.org. Go go to there, if during the holidays, you just want to have something to scroll through, you will see the diversity, the names of the photographers are on there, where they come from, which is all over the five states Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, and the title of their piece. And you'll see see how broad This is. And you'll also in fact, if you've never entered before even seen it, but you are a photographer, I've left the call for entry up there. So because it'll look the same next year, probably overall. So you can even check out what's involved and maybe be thinking of it for your for yourself. But in the juror statement. He quoted this very well known, respected, famous photography curator that worked for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in this quote, and I'm gonna paraphrase it badly. But he referenced that this this gentleman, he gave his quote, comparing photography to the act of painting. And I thought that was so fascinating, because that is what it is, is like, oh, gotta get this, there is something about that act of pointing, whether you whether it's something pretty to look at, or not so great, or dark or whimsical, or a great sunset, I mean, look at the people have been pointing, quote unquote, at their sunsets for the last week or so, through photography, they really wanted to make sure you saw that and pointing at it. And all of a sudden, it clarifies, in some ways, some of those images that he chose, because you kind of go, Huh, I wonder why they would pick that. But again, if you liken it to the act of pointing, you know, that's, that's kind of an interesting concept. And so yeah, you see, you see a lot of that your kids pointing, quote, unquote, it's something different than you were and someone is their height may have had something to do with something a little lower, some are a little higher. But But yeah, it's, it's it's a great assortment of things to just enjoy. And I'm curious, how do you like that? Eight by 10 format that we've been utilizing for the last two years?
James Bell
I like it, because it you don't have to focus so much on, you know, to be honest with you, and the older and the other shows in the past style. Yeah, the you know, the big ones are the ones that catch your eye, I think,
Brenda Meder
Right? Whether they're stronger or not than something else, there's just a sliceof it.
James Bell
Yeah, exactly. And with this format, you know, you they're kind of all even keel. Yeah.
Brenda Meder
And that's what I've been getting. That's what I've been getting from a lot of folks. And when you consider that most photography shows anymore. For the most part, there are a lot of shows that go on, like what we do when it comes to photography. They're they're more of an online presence now, because the digital format of photography. And so when people say, oh, gosh, I don't like doing something that's small. And this because I work big. It's like, well, if you enter anything or you have your website, everybody's going to be looking on it on a little tiny. And the images people are going to be looking at are going to be far smaller than the eight by 10 images that you're seeing at the Hays Arts Council. But yeah, looks great. Everything's framed and matted really cleanly. And everyone's framed and matted identically. So it really is all about the image. And I think also propels you to engage with each image a little bit more, because you don't sort of scan you have too close and personal with each one. So good. I'm excited for that feedback, because I've been trying to get that from from from folks. But yeah, that's one of the things that'll carry us over into the new year. And then just as a heads up, after the beginning of the year, we'll be getting information out Smoky Hill art exhibition, it's hard to believe that one rolls right into the next. But the state's oldest juried Fine Art competitive, which, you know, covers paintings and sculpture and, and printmaking and drawing and photography and ceramics. And, you know, I mean, it's any fine art medium, and that information will be going out sometime probably by about mid January, and also announced after the beginning of the year, we'll be getting the information out on our creative writing contest. And with with so many more families doing homeschooling in the last couple of years, I want to remind everyone that our Creative Writing Contest is definitely welcomes entries from homeschooled students, as well. In Ellis County, this is an Ellis County project. This one because it is large, the English department, the university, bless their souls work as the judging panel for our project. And so I have to keep that one in check. But anybody that is an Ellis County resident, so in public schools, private schools, or homeschooled, keep your eyes open for that in both prose and poetry. We'll also be getting information out on famous figures got a lot of great things we're doing in the schools. So we're gonna keep bringing it as we turn the corner and enter 2022.
James Bell
Excellent. Yeah, I love that their involvement with those kiddos. And especially I know that the famous figures is it as a huge hit every day.
Brenda Meder
And it's going to be so great. I booked beach mid, we're going to be back on stage with the live competition. Oh, nice, wonderful that we didn't jettison in the last couple of years and did this recorded version in two different styles, genres, formats, if you will, the last couple of years that were scheduled back in beechmont for that back in the big ballroom at the University for a creative writing award. So those kids can get that public recognition and an acknowledgement that they deserve. And that makes everybody very proud of their accomplishments. And so yeah, hopefully, we'll be back in the saddle re rescheduling J unless the Katy laughing matters that we're supposed to have this fall, tucking them into the spring. So actually, the spring is going to be full because of a couple of things we've had to restructure, but, but it's all good. And just come see us at the Arts Council. We will be closed December 24, fifth, sixth and seventh. And then again that Friday through Monday combo, New Year's weekend. But otherwise, we're open, come down and see us we will be open during weekdays. The rest of this week will be open Saturday. And we will be open through next week through the 23rd close to 24th. So if you're just you know kind of stuck on a gift idea, you may not find it with us, but you can share come in and look and at least it'll be something different than you saw someplace else.
James Bell
Yeah, when do if you've got some family in town and your head now down to get some lunch or something pop on?
Brenda Meder
Yeah, a lot of people do Christmas, you know, like the weekend before the weekend or two weekends after something. Yeah, pop on in on Saturday. We're just open 10 to one. But yeah, come down early and check us out before you go to lunch. But the gift opportunities are there through the end of the day, next week, Thursday. And like I said, if we if it doesn't fit, you know, no harm, no foul, you'll see some breaks. And if it does, maybe you'll get a unique gift that you hadn't thought of.