18 Fall 20
i g r o C arty P and p u sed (or Dres to race ze) li y read ly socia simp
Topeka SR 2018 edition focuses on senior leisure New photo series examines state’s small wildlife The innovative ceramic works of Tyler Quintin
PICTURE THIS: Debilitating joint pain to back in the game Charlie’s total knee replacement is more than a great success story. It’s an inspired one. When he first came to Cotton O’Neil Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Charlie’s life — and the activities he enjoyed — had taken a back seat to debilitating pain. But within a few short months after surgery, he lost 50 pounds and was able to walk all 18 holes on the golf course. He was so motivated by his experience that he started volunteering, and later working, at Stormont Vail Health. He now hopes to inspire others through his personal success.
The story of you is the story of us.
4
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
FROM THE EDITOR FALL 2018 | VOLUME 12, NO. 4
Editor Nathan Pettengill Art Director/Designer Jenni Leiste Copy Editor Leslie Andres Advertising Peterson Publications, Inc. Representative publish@petersonpublications.com (785) 271-5801 Ad Designer Jenni Leiste Contributing Nick Krug Photographers Katie Moore Bill Stephens Brittany JoRae’ Pusch-Zuniga Contributing Writers Marsha Henry Goff Faith Jennings Carolyn Kaberline Nick Krug Brittany JoRae’ Pusch-Zuniga Leah Sewell Bill Stephens Barbara Waterman-Peters Subscriptions $27 for a one-year subscription, including Topeka SR; order at sunflowerpub.com
T
his fall issue contains two special sections. The first is a Topeka-themed sample of Kansas Weddings magazine, the leading statewide weddings publication from our parent company Sunflower Publishing. Here, we bring wedding advice from two of our magazine’s photographers who also have extensive experience as wedding photographers. Photographers are not traditionally the go-to experts in planning wedding arrangements, but they could be. After all, photographers are the silent witnesses to some of the best (and sometimes most stressed) moments in people’s lives and they have a vested interest in helping couples, guests and families look and feel their best during the ceremony. See what tips, many applicable beyond a wedding day, they have for you. This issue also includes our annual sister publication, Topeka SR, with a special focus on leisure time. We thought that while so many senior publications bring health advice and tips (we’ve done that in the past as well!), it would be nice this year to devote our entire section to activities that lend themselves to senior life, whether that is model plane groups, quilting or weekday getaways. There are, after all, privileges and benefits of retirement. We hope you enjoy both of these special sections as well as our regular stories on art, food, drinks, photography and loveable corgis in this fall edition.
Please contact us at topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com for all comments, subscription and editorial queries.
Topeka Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications.
Publisher Bill Uhler General Manager Bob Cucciniello Production Manager Jenni Leiste Ogden Publications 1503 SW 42nd St Topeka, KS 66609
— NAT H A N P E T T E N G I L L , E D I T O R sunflowerpub.com topekamag.com
6
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
WHAT’S INSIDE FALL 2018 | VOLUME 12, NO. 4
On the Cover
Lola the corgi shows off her Halloween costume. Photograph by Bill Stephens.
TOPEKANS 10 TYLER QUINTIN’S
DIALOGUE WITH CLAY
A young Topeka artist combines ideabased figures with technical boldness to create astounding ceramic structures
14
FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL
The latest in our series of personal letters from local residents brings a story about working with Habitat for Humanity to create a new home
18 A FAMILY HARVEST TRADITION
22
26
For more than 60 years, a family has gathered to cook large batches of traditional apple butter THREE MARTINI EVOLUTIONS
Area mixologists bring this classic drink beyond gin and vermouth WEDDINGS
A special section of Topeka Magazine in partnership with Sunflower Publishing’s Kansas Weddings magazine
33 WHAT’S HAPPENING
Selected events for the fall months
F E AT U R E S 38 CORGI-WEEN
Topeka’s annual gathering of corgis and the people who love them continues to raise funds, attract celebrities and please honored guests
44 SMALL GAME HUNTER
Topeka Magazine photographer Bill Stephens tracks down Marcus George, who tracks down some of the state’s most elusive wildlife
WHAT’S INSIDE
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
L SPECIA N SECTIO
12 Pages
2018/2019
Leisure OUR ANNUAL SENIOR
SECTION FOCUSES ON THE BENEFITS OF SENIOR LIFE—MAKING TIME FOR A H O B B Y, A C R A F T A N D A
On the Cover
Greg Inkmann, president of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education, stands with an RC plane. Photograph by Nick Krug.
G E TA W AY
SR 02
SR 06
SR 08
AIR VETERANS
Topeka’s three RC plane clubs provide opportunities for experienced pilots to pass on skills, knowledge and thrill of flight TIME TO RECHARGE
Our travel writer recommends four senior-friendly destinations to recharge your spirits and energy THE DARK DRAGON QUILTER
A Topeka artist and her unlimited imagination create novel, fluorescent 3D patterns and charitable works of art (some with secret messages)
7
8
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
FA L L 2 0 1 8
TOPEKA TALK
| VOL 74
|
ISSUE 3
|
KANSASMAG.COM
adventures tate inters
70
2018 $5.00 / Display until Nov. 2018
Dreamy
Dresses for your one-of-a-kind wedding
kansasweddingsmagazine.com
What We Commemorate For nearly one year, we have been following plans for and progress of Topeka’s two newest large-scale murals, both connected to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that effectively ended legalized racial segregation in the United States. Both murals have received extensive official backing and prominent placement, one near the central, interior rotunda of the Kansas Capitol and the other on a sprawling, privately owned wall near the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. It is somewhat strange that these public memorials arise so many decades, and not even on a traditional anniversary year, after the 1954 ruling. But it is equally understandable. After all, it is over the past few years that the our nation—and this community—has had to shift from talking about hopes and realities of a postracial society to refocusing on the regretful persistencies of racial tension and the fallacy of racial supremacy that Brown v. Board of Education so eloquently struck against.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com
Brown v. Board of Education is not a celebration of individual achievements. The heroes and forces on the winning side of the Brown v. Board of Education decision had been valiantly fighting for justice and rights for generations, and a recognition of their struggles would begin well before a judicial ruling. Instead, the importance of this Supreme Court ruling is that it marks a point where Americans and Topekans established a common understanding of our identity. There will always be nuances of policies and beliefs that separate people from one another, but that separation will hopefully rest on a shared commitment to core values. And for now, we as a community—with these murals—are testifying that one of these shared values continues to be the conviction that children across Topeka, without regard to race, economic background or nationality, deserve equal educational opportunities, including the skills to envision and create a better future.
facebook.com/topekamag
@TopekaMagazine
Topeka in KANSAS! magazine Check out all the Topeka connections in the recently released fall 2018 edition of KANSAS! magazine, the state’s official tourism and Kansas lifestyle publication. Topeka locations feature prominently in the feature story about 70 attractions just off Interstate-70. How many of these have you been to?
Kansas Weddings Our special weddings section in this issue is part of our parent company’s Kansas Weddings annual magazine. Look for the 2019 edition to release in January 2019, and check out events and information related to the current edition at kansasweddingsmagazine.com
Next Edition The winter issue of Topeka Magazine will arrive in early December. If your home area is not included in our routes, remember that we distribute complimentary copies through the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and other locations. Subscriptions are also available through our publishing company website, sunflowerpub.com.
November 17 - 18
Homes Tour & Sweet Treats Bakery Open Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10AM-3PM Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door Event Details & Tickets at CASAofShawneeCounty.com Thank you to our advertising sponsor!
• Business • Contractors HomeHome • Auto• •Auto Business • Contractors Worker’s Compensation Worker’s Compensation • Life • Life Disability • Surety & Notary Bonding Disability • Surety & Notary Bonding
WEPUT PUT PEOPLE PEOPLE FIRST WE FIRST
1414Ashworth SW Ashworth Place, 100 •271-8097 (785) 271-8097 1414 SW Place, Ste 100Ste • (785) www.peoplesinsure.com www.peoplesinsure.com
10
TOPEKANS
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018 STORY BY
Barbara Waterman-Peters |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
Tyler Quintin’s
DIALOGUE WITH CLAY A young Topeka artist combines idea-based figures with technical boldness to create astounding ceramic structures
Artist Tyler Quintin stands next to his work The Optimist.
TOPEKANS
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
A work from the “stick cup” series by Tyler Quintin
T
yler Quintin’s quiet, gentle manner does not immediately reveal the depths of determination, organization and talent that have enabled this young artist to accomplish much more than many colleagues twice his age. Approaching his mid-twenties, Quintin has already amassed a series of fellowships, gallery showings and awards testifying to the quality and uniqueness of his work, a range of creations likely to evolve and deepen along with the career of this promising talent. Born in Topeka, Quintin grew up drawing with the encouragement of teachers and becoming interested in what he describes as “fictional character design and stories.” In high school, first at Washburn Rural and then at Topeka West, he studied ceramics with Gina Baer-Witt and Will McDaniel and, by his junior year, won “Young Artist of the Year” in Visual Arts at Topeka Performing Arts Center and a Gold Key Award in the Mark Arts Scholastics Art Competition in 2012. Splitting his time between visual and vocal arts, Quintin participated in Concert Choir and Topeka West Singers. He was in a rehearsal for Guys and Dolls when art instructor Susie Corbett informed him that
he had won the Busick Scholarship from Washburn University. Though Quintin had several schools in mind, this scholarship made the decision an easy one. “It was validating,” Quintin says, adding that it gave him the “ability to just be a student and to work on more involved projects.” Quintin experimented with various art forms in school and chose to focus on printmaking during a semester at PXL College in Hasselt, Belgium. Quintin would apply these skills in creating animal imagery prints inspired by Chinese silk painting and in more recent works influenced by Japanese wood block prints. In both, the artist’s work is executed with strong, clean lines, a precision that carries into creations. Quintin’s markmaking, whether in clay or on blocks, is bold yet elegant. The period in Belgium also exposed the artist to what he describes as more of an “idea-based” approach to art, an influence that challenged and shaped what became his main artistic interest—ceramics. Now, approaching a new work, Quintin says he begins with the idea, with “a vision of something interesting enough for me to pursue and then to see how it fits into my other work.”
11
12
TOPEKANS
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
The Early Accomplishments of Tyler Quintin Tyler Quintin is a phenomenon in every sense of the word. A Busick Scholar during his years at Washburn University, he has attended the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee five times (first as a student and then as an assistant) and the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. He has already been a visiting artist at Bethany College and a NOTO ArtsPlace Artist in Residence at STUDIO 831. Quintin’s awards include a Merit Award at the 22nd San Angelo National Ceramic Competition and a Cup of Merit Award at NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) in Pittsburgh, both in 2018, an FOA Scholarship from the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg and a cash award from the Art at the Center National Juried Show in Overland Park in 2017. Prior to those awards, he won numerous scholarships and academic honors, including the Charles A. and Margaret Pollock Purchase Award selected by Washburn University art faculty and presented at the annual student exhibition at the Mulvane Art Museum. Other national shows to his credit have been held in New Orleans, Louisiana; Columbia, North Carolina; Wichita, Kansas; Woodstock, Illinois; and Berkeley, California. In addition, Quintin’s work has been judged into an online international exhibition called “Art Kudos 2017” and included in “Hidden Meanings” in Hasselt, Belgium. His 2018 exhibition, “The Unearthly Bestiary,” a two-person show with Kyra Miller, was held in the Morris Gallery inside the NOTO Arts Center The prestigious national show, “Topeka Competition 33” held at the Sabatini Gallery at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, included his work in 2017.
Opening Up
Product of Environment
Lately, Quintin’s work has focused on a series of clay animal sculptures that are allegories for personality and identity. In his artist statement, he explains, “I explore the potential disconnect between external and internal thought through animal forms. I constructed a mythology in which each animal portrays a different aspect of myself. I often select animals with a masculine quality and juxtapose that with body language not usually associated with masculinity, one that speaks of tenderness and vulnerability.” Most frequently, Quintin shapes wolves or tigers as his animal selves. Each beautifully modeled creature is accurately rendered and its gesture poignant. Sometimes the hair or fur is clay; other times, it may be glaze or even hundreds of plastic straws. In The Optimist, a large wolf hangs suspended forever in a net. In Product of Environment a tiger sits awkwardly, lifting its left foreleg in an appeal; its facial expression is accusatory. Covering the tiger’s leg is a miniature structure, which seems to be a broken rope and plank bridge on closer inspection. In Opening Up, Quintin returns to the wolf form, but this one sits uncomfortably as it exposes a belly full of long, twisted coils and geometric cubes.
These structural elements—the bridge on the tiger’s leg and the wrappings of the wolf’s belly—are formed in perfect, miniaturized shapes contrasting with the organic natural forms of the animals and drawing the viewer in for a closer look. In another series of recent explorations, these structural shapes become the main focus as Quintin uses spaghetti-thin sticks of clay put together end-to-end to form triangles stacked upon rows. Then, Quintin takes these extremely fragile pieces, which he calls “stick cups,” and fires them in a kiln, creating an attenuated yet formidable structure that seems to defy the laws of physics. “Three-dimensional objects excite me because there are so many facets to explore,” explains Quintin. “I think clay will continue to be my primary medium. Clay talks back to me. I’ll never stop learning about it.” That dedication to learning and exploring his craft will undoubtedly allow Quintin to continue growing as an artist. His skill in manipulating clay is already impressive, and his patience in shaping delicate structures is even more admirable.
About the Writer: Barbara Waterman-Peters writes, paints, exhibits, teaches and manages Studio 831 in the North Topeka Arts District (NOTO).
LEARN PRACTICAL SKILLS AND USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING, FOOD PRESERVATION, MODERN HOMESTEADING, RENEWABLE ENERGY, NATURAL HEALTH, AND MORE! R
E
IONS TAT
10
0+
P
N SE
M
F
K ID
S GET
IN
00 VEN D OR N2 S
PS
HANDS-ON W OR K
S
H
EE
HA
O
R
T
KANSAS EXPOCENTRE TOPEKA
R E
OCTOBER 13-14
O
Take Your Skills to the Next Level with Hands-on and Extended Workshops! Stand beside an instructor and cultivate mushrooms, brew hard cider, master the basics of cheesemaking, learn how to make deodorant, ferment vegetables, and more! PLUS: At all of these hands-on workshops, we’ll send you off with what you make!
WEEKEND PASS $10! Regular price: $30
OFFER
Enter promo code 18KAN10 at checkout or bring this ad to the box office on the dates of the event.
Children 17 & under get in FREE!
20
$
OFF
For more information, visit
WWW.MOTHEREARTHNEWSFAIR.COM OR CALL 800-234-3368
14
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
TOPEKANS BY Faith Jennings with Leah Sewell | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bill Stephens
Faith Jennings sits on the porch outside her new home in the Highland Park region of Topeka.
TOPEKANS
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
For that, I am
GRATEFUL The latest in our series of personal letters from local residents brings a story about working with Habitat for Humanity to create a new home
I
n 2013, I lived in a two-story house near 11th and Garfield in Central Topeka. If you’ve lived in Topeka for any amount of time, you can picture the neighborhood landmarks: large old homes with spacious front porches, the library and Lowman Hill Elementary. My house was large enough to host Christmas gatherings for my entire family (I now have 17 grandchildren and one on the way). With a living room, dining room and big kitchen, the house offered plenty of space where we could stretch out when all of us gathered during the holidays. That spaciousness is one thing I miss about the house I used to live in. So, yes, my house on Garfield had space (even with noisy children on the second floor, the first floor would be peaceful), but it also had a drafty fireplace that the landlord wasn’t interested in sealing off. In the winters, that cold, drafty fireplace meant the heating bills were high. When something broke, the landlord put in the minimum effort to repair it. The house wasn’t getting fixed up, so over the years, it fell into disrepair. Finally, it got to be unbearable. I knew I needed a change. Being ready to move is one thing, but being able to afford a move was another matter. I worked as a cook at a retirement community at the time and knew that I wouldn’t be able to afford anything much more expensive than the house on Garfield. I went by the Topeka Housing Authority to apply for Section 8. I’m convinced that the state doesn’t really want anyone to apply for Section 8 because they make it very difficult not only to qualify for housing assistance but to complete the paperwork in the first place. They want to know every tiny detail about you. Then, if you complete the whole process and you get a Section 8 rental, you can lose it, it seems, just by sneezing. After my introduction to the Section 8 process and rules, I knew it wouldn’t be an option for me, but I now had the drive to find a better living situation. I kept looking for a way out of that dilapidated house on Garfield. That’s when I drove down Topeka Boulevard and noticed what was then the location of Habitat ReStore. I didn’t know a lot about Habitat for Humanity, but I knew they helped people own their own homes, and that was enough for me. I called and sent a preliminary application in over the phone. The next step was to meet with a credit counselor to go over my credit history. They needed to determine if I was a serious, mature candidate for the program and if I could be relied upon to make the mortgage payments. That’s not something many people realize about Habitat homes—no one hands you the keys and says, “Congratulations, we’re going to give you a brand new house.” You have to show you’re a hard working individual and you can handle the responsibility of owning your own home. It isn’t charity. In fall 2014, I got a phone call telling me that my application was selected, and there was no turning back. I knew I had an enormous task before me. The moment when I could walk in the door, close it behind me, and begin to feel like the house was really mine—that moment was far in the future. I had to roll up my sleeves and get to work. I chose the site where my house would be built. When I first visited, there was a house on the lot that had suffered a fire, but by the second time I came to look, it was gone. The spot where the house had been was now just a patch of land with a hole in the ground for a basement.
15
16
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
TOPEKANS
I loved seeing the house come alive from the ground up. I always wanted a house where I was the first one to live in it, and everything was brand new. But first, there was much to be done. I found out that Thomas, the head cook where I worked, had gone through the Habitat for Humanity program, and he mentored me on what to expect from the process. I would need to put in 300 hours of volunteer service in addition to my regular job. I pieced together that time after work and on the weekends. I had to take courses on home ownership, too, everything from how to do my own handyman jobs around the house to how to plant flower beds and balance a budget. Some were day-long classes. Students at Seaman High School (as part of the THFH Build and Development Lab program) built the framework of the house, which arrived in two sections on a trailer. From there, it was a long process of making a home out of that framework – installing the wiring, insulation, walls, plumbing, and fixtures. For nine months, the site was busy with activity. The contractor was busy directing the volunteers. I handselected every fixture and detail about the look of the home. Topeka Landscape came in and generously offered their services, so I worked with them to decide how the outside of the home would look. I was there every step of the way. I know every corner and nook and cranny of this house and the land it occupies. I’m a loner by nature, and I don’t like a lot of attention, so when the time came that the house was finished, I asked Janice Watkins, the Habitat executive director, if we could just have a low-key affair for the dedication. She agreed to honor that, so on the day that the house became mine, May 20, 2016, we held a small celebration with my pastor, my mom and kids, other family members and members of my church, which is nearby. Looking back, though, it wasn’t a low-key affair at all. The little house was crammed full of people. I still couldn’t fully call the house mine yet because I had one last task: packing and moving. I left the Garfield house, with its cold drafts, high utility bills, and shoddy repair jobs, and finally arrived at my new house. I closed and locked the door the first night and was out as soon as my head hit the pillow. My new neighbors were enthusiastic about the house being erected from scratch. They came and took pictures
of the progress and asked questions. Some people who get into a Habitat house aren’t so lucky. There can be a stigma surrounding a Habitat project. Because the families who move into Habitat homes are coming from unfortunate circumstances, some neighbors fear the new homeowners will behave improperly, fail to keep up the appearance of the home and make the neighborhood look trashy. I heard of a Habitat house built recently where the neighbors didn’t want it; they wrote things like “Go away” in chalk where the new homeowners could see it. While some Habitat homeowners might not keep up their homes, that certainly isn’t the case with most people who live in a Habitat house. Now I am on the selection committee at Habitat, so I recently got to inform four families that they were picked to own their own homes. I get to be a mentor to them. People ask me, “Faith, how do I get into a Habitat house?” I tell them, “Well, first, you have to have good credit.” This isn’t a charity. You need to have a level of maturity to understand this isn’t a game. This home ownership with a 15- to 25-year mortgage depending on your agreement. When something breaks, you can’t call Habitat to come fix it for you. It’s up to you from now on. You also need to be humble, grateful and patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a Habitat home. When you look at my house, you don’t think “That’s low-income housing” or even that it’s a Habitat house with all the ill-informed stereotypes that might go with it. I try to make it look nice with plants and décor, and it has its own unique charm. My neighbors seem nice, and the block is quiet. I improve upon the house when I can. My son is building a second bathroom in the huge basement, where there’s a lot of potential to keep adding on. On Christmas last year, the whole family packed into the little house, filling up every corner. That’s the only thing I miss about the raggedy old house on Garfield: the space for family gatherings. But I love this house. Sometimes I don’t even know what the weather is like until I open the door, that’s how well built it is. It’s a wonderful home. I hate leaving it, and I can’t wait to come home every night. Nowadays, I may not have a great big two-story house for those times when all the grandkids are over for a big holiday dinner, but I do have a home I look forward to returning to every evening. For that, I am grateful.
First Friday Art Walk Sept 7, Oct 5, Nov 2 Sunflower Slide Show @ KS Expo Sept 14-16 NHRA Division 5 @ Heartland Park Sept 14-16 Tacos Y Tequila Sept 15 TopCon Geek Expo @ KS Expo Sept 15 & 16 Jazz & Food Truck Festival Sept 22 Cider Days Fall Market @ KS Expo Sept 22 & 23 AQHA Horse Show @ KS Expo Sept 27-30 Kansas Chocolate Festival Sept 29 Ribs and Bibs @ Heartland Park Oct 5-7 Mother Earth News Fair Oct 13 & 14 Boo It Downtown Oct 25 Salute Our Heroes Festival & Parade Nov 10 Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays @ TPAC Nov 16-18 Winter Wonderland Nov 21-Dec 31 Shop Small Saturday Nov 24 Miracle on Kansas Ave. Nov 24 The Chocolate Nutcracker Midwest @ TPAC Nov 24 & 25 FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN
#TopCity
Is thatinsmile you? a s s i dy
Renovation & Expansion is Underway at
TO
.
P E K A C.C
The Topeka Country Club
EST. 1905
Orthodontics Creating beautiful smiles for you and your family 600 Governor View | Topeka, Kansas | 785.233.0582
NEWPool rt s Re o
pen!
Now O
membership - golf - tennis - swim health & wellness - dining w w w. topeka c c . org
Contact Gina at (785) 354-8561 Multiple membership or gpatterson@topekacc.org options are available to fit your busy lifestyle!
Now Offerin
g
Din Membe ing rships
18
APPETITE
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018 STORY BY
Linda A. Ditch |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
A Family Harvest
TRADITION For more than 60 years, a family has gathered to cook large batches of traditional apple butter
APPETITE
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
T
he morning air is cool and crisp, with a hint of rain as Jane and Joe Weiler welcome friends and family to their back yard in Berryton, just south of Topeka. Preparations for this party began the night before as the Weilers cored and sliced six bushels of Jonathan apples before storing them in sealed bags to open in the morning. By 7:25 am, the Weilers have already started a small campfire and hung a large copper pot above the flames. Soon, they have poured about 4 gallons of water and all the apple slices into the pot as hosts and guests take turns stirring with a handmade wooden paddle, just as the family has done each harvest season for over 60 years. Jane’s parents were the ones who first began this tradition. That was back in 1956, when her folks still lived in Missouri. They didn’t have an orchard, but they did have a large copper pot and a wooden spoon—the very same instruments passed on to Jane—and enough spare money to buy bushels of Jonathans. Since 2006, Jane has hosted the event, choosing to leave the recipe and preparation almost the same as it was in 1956. The amount of effort required has not changed either. Stirring the apples is difficult, even when only half of them have been added. As the apples cook and break apart into a reddish-brown sauce, the mixture starts to pop and spew out chunks of fruit. After several eruptions, the apples cook down to a soft consistency, and an assembly line forms to scoop out the substance with saucepans and transfer it to chinois (cone-shaped mesh strainers), where it is pushed through with wooden pestles to separate the fruit from the peels. Now resembling applesauce, the strained apples are returned to the copper pot. Once the sauce reaches a simmer, it is time to add the next ingredient—exactly 90 pounds of sugar. The Weilers use a fourwheeler to carry the 90-pound load from the house and into the pot, one bag at a time. Then comes the surprise ingredient, 4 pounds of Red Hots candy, which will add color and flavor. Finally, a small cloth bundle filled with whole cloves and cinnamon sticks is placed into the boiling mixture. All this time, the stirring continues. It’s important to keep the mixture moving as it cooks so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pot, ruining the entire batch. The wood from the fire can’t touch the bottom of the kettle for the same reason. Jane remembers it happening one time, and Joe had to use a sander to get the burned spot off the pot.
Jane Weiler’s family has held an apple butter gathering every year since 1956; the tradition continues each fall, over two weekends, at Weiler’s Berryton home.
19
20
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
APPETITE
Taking a turn at stirring, friend Kathy Seilig says, “You don’t want to be the person who screws things up. Then you know five years from now somebody will say, ‘I remember when Kathy ruined the apple butter.’ You become part of the apple butter-making legend. Part of the lore.” While mistakes can easily happen, the Weilers are able to call on six decades of experience. Jane watches the apple mixture boil, and when it makes bubbles the size of craters that her father would describe as “the size of a hog’s eye,” she knows it is time to bring out a white china plate that was once part of her mother’s set of fine dishes. A dollop of the substance is spooned onto the plate, which is then tilted at a slight angle. If too much liquid runs out, then more cooking is needed. If only a small amount runs, then it is declared ready—it is now apple butter. At this stage, the saucepan line forms again to pour the finished apple butter into fivegallon buckets and then into smaller Mason jars, which are closed and sealed. Some of the jars will remain with the Weilers. Many will be taken to homes of the friends and family members who have arrived to help make the apple butter. Some will be given as Christmas gifts and a few will be hoarded until next fall, when a new batch will be cooked to replenish the supply.
About the Writer: Linda A. Ditch is a Topeka-based food writer who contributes to a variety of national outlets and writes regularly for Topeka Magazine.
the
nutcracker A Topeka holiday tradition since 1977
December 7-9, 2018
M E A L S : T H E ORIGINAL S O C I A L N E T W O R K “Share” is thrown around a lot these days... Truly sharing means more than filtered phone pics. It’s enjoying time with those you care about surrounded by exceptional food made from the heart.
Topeka Performing Arts Center
December 7at 7:30pm • December 8 at 1:30pm & 7:30pm • December 9 at 1:30pm Lacee Sandgren, Artistic Director
balletmidwest.net
(785) 235-1700 RowHouseRestaurant.net
22
APPETITE
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018 STORY BY
Linda A. Ditch |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Katie Moore
Three Martini
EVOLUTIONS Area mixologists bring this classic drink beyond gin and vermouth
APPETITE
M
ention a martini and many people immediately think of James Bond and his iconic drink. Others cringe because of a negative reaction to the first time they tried the drink. For some, the drink means sophistication, for others it is a stuffy, old-timer’s cocktail. Whatever the impression of a martini, the drink certainly has recognition and a pedigree. “A martini is a very specific drink,” says Brian MacDonald, The Burger Stand’s assistant bar manager. “People know what they want, how they want it made, and where to go to get a good one.” At its base, the martini is made with gin and vermouth. The vermouth can be varied, the less vermouth in the drink, the “drier” the martini becomes. One very common variation is to include vodka or replace the vermouth entirely with vodka. Traditionally, a martini has been garnished with a green olive on a cocktail skewer or a lemon twist. Sometimes, that garnish becomes a tiny white onion, which then changes the drink to a Gibson. Through the years, more variations have expanded the idea of a martini. Just about any drink served in a distinctive stemmed glass is called a type of martini, but a key difference in a martini is the amount of alcohol in the drink. Briana Kuszak, bar manager at The Glazed Goose, explains, “There is more concentration of liquor in a martini drink.” Sandy Ready, The Burger Stand’s bar manager, agrees. “Anything can be chilled, strained and served in a stemmed glass. For us, it’s the proportion of alcohol and mixers that makes a martini. The drink is going to highlight the notes of the alcohol.” What about the shaken/stirred debate? Technically, either method can be used for a martini. Stirring swirls the ingredients together and is preferred by those who think shaking with ice dilutes the cocktail’s flavor. Most bartenders, however, use that method. “If the drink is shaken properly,” explains Sarah Williams, manager at The Wheel Barrel, “it gets a little cloudy with nice ice crystals floating on top. That’s the sign of a good one.” The three drinks featured in these pages are modern martini creations. The Glazed Goose’s Caramel Apple Martini highlights a flavor of the season though it’s available anytime. The Burger Stand’s Rosemary Maple Martini features a nontraditional liquor with a refreshing finish. And The Wheel Barrel’s Peach Bellini-tini has a splash of citrus that leaves you wondering why happy-hour shouldn’t begin at brunch.
WE RECOMMEND
MARTINIS 3 drinks for fall THE GLAZED GOOSE’S CARAMEL APPLE MARTINI The neon green of this cocktail, created by bar manager Briana Kuszak, gives it the look of a party drink. Made with vanilla vodka, the Sour Apple Pucker schnapps, Buttershots, and sour apple mixer, this martini seems like it might be sour, but the overall combination creates a smooth, balanced drink. A dollop of caramel sauce in the bottom is a nice treat.
THE BURGER STAND’S ROSEMARY MAPLE MARTINI This unique drink combo looks to bourbon for its primary liquor. It is mixed with amber maple syrup, lemon juice, and crushed rosemary. Surprisingly, the result is a light, refreshing drink with a slight maple finish.
THE WHEEL BARREL’S PEACH BELLINI-TINI This cocktail was created with brunch in mind. It is a mixture of vodka, peach schnapps, a splash of cranberry juice, and a splash of orange juice. Once it’s shaken to an icy, frothy consistency, it is poured into a chilled martini glass and topped off with a splash of sparkling wine.
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
23
24
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
APPETITE
MEET THE
EXPERTS Briana Kuszak, bar manager at The Glazed Goose Briana Kuszak knows her customers. Standing behind the bar, she often starts making a drink for one of her regulars before they even sit down. “It’s like Cheers,” she says. “You know all your people.” That includes customers who order traditional martinis. However, for Kuszak, the mix of gin or vodka with vermouth isn’t one she enjoys. “I think ‘gag!’ But I love the new, now-a-days martinis.” Kuszak is a fan of the shaken method. She says, “I’m a shaker. It’s kind of an art to know how much ice to use to get the ice crystals in the drink but not water it down. I think if you truly enjoy making a drink, it tastes better. It’s made with love. If you take pride in what you do, it will taste better.”
Sandy Ready, bar manager at The Burger Stand Beer might always be paired with burgers, but Sandy Ready says she has a regular base of diners who order their meal with cocktails, including traditional martinis. How she serves the drink often depends on the time of year, the liquor, and the experience of the drinker. Autumn is going to highlight the flavors of the season—pumpkins, apples, spices, etc. Drinks like martinis often have strong liquors, and lots of it. “Somebody new to drinking might want theirs on the rocks instead of up.” What if you’re not sure about a drink? “Trust your bartender,” Ready says. “Tell them what you’re looking for. The options are so vast, but the bartender’s got your back.”
Sarah Williams, manager and event coordinator at The Wheel Barrel As a manager, Sarah jumps in where she’s needed on busy nights, and that includes behind the bar to mix drinks for customers. Many of the people she serves pay special attention to the house specialty drinks. “Some classic cocktails are making a comeback, but we all get together and experiment with specialty cocktails,” she says. “We’ve got some really creative specialty martinis.” Those modern martinis have won a place alongside the traditional version for various reasons. Sometimes it’s because of the season—heavy flavors in cooler weather and lighter in the spring and summer—or due to a new, featured liquor. With martinis, the key is to remember they are made mostly of alcohol and not a lot of mixers or juices. “It’s mixing the different alcohols to give a blend so you don’t feel like you’re drinking straight shots” she says.
This is your moment. Let us handle the details.
loral. Bakery. Catering. Lawrence | Topeka | Manhattan
Photograph by Nick Krug
WEDDINGS
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Wedding photographers are firsthand, behind-the-scenes eyewitnesses to some of the most important moments of people’s lives. They have witnessed heartfelt moments of joy as well as complete meltdowns at the ceremonies they attend. Wedding photographers intersect with couples and families at vulnerable times, but the best of them can work with their subjects to overcome the stress and complications of any wedding day and create a peaceful space to help people look their best. We asked two Topeka Magazine photographers who have also worked at weddings to share their expert advice for those on the other side of their lenses.
27
28
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
WEDDINGS
5 TIPS
from Nick Krug
WEDDINGS
Relax Unless you’re lying face down on a massage table, hearing someone tell you to relax is all but guaranteed to produce a negative reaction. Who wants to be told they’re not chill? I think a better frame of mind to remember on your wedding day is to keep it loose. It’s definitely easier said than done while wrapping your head around all of the moving parts that have gone into planning your wedding day, but being as carefree as possible puts a certain twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, both of which photograph well.
Get tunes Find upbeat music you love and play it when you’re getting ready. Music, above all else, has a unique way of setting us at ease, building our confidence and putting us on firmer footing for stressful situations that may arise.
Line up assistance Get a fixer to solve the unexpected but inevitable surprise problems. Whether it’s that nobody was assigned to hang up the party lights or that the boutonnieres arrived without pins—some issue will challenge you at the last minute. Whatever the case may be, everybody has an aunt, an uncle or a friend who is pretty awesome at seeking and destroying problems. Don’t be afraid to identify this person and ask them for help in advance. Chances are they live for moments like these and will relish the opportunity to swoop in and save the day.
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Use this trick Hair and makeup are definitely essential aspects of preparing for your photo shoot. However, there is also one thing you can do on location that I believe dramatically affects the success of a wedding day portrait. Essentially, the tip is to just lift your shoulders ever so slightly, and then roll them back a bit. Instant Vanity Fair cover material.
Stay in the moment My final tip is to stay in the moment. Don’t worry about doing enough to make sure the photos turn out great. If you are family or a friend, remind yourself why you are here—to celebrate. If you are part of the wedding couple, then concentrate on the only other person that truly matters that day—your partner. The best pictures are always going to come when the two of you are focused on each other. Cheers and congrats!
Nick Krug is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Topeka and Lawrence. Aside from weddings, Nick has photographed KU basketball for the Lawrence Journal-World for the last 13 seasons. In the moments that he sets his cameras down, he can be found digging in his garden, working on his house in central Topeka and spending time with his beautiful wife, Louise, and his children, Olive and Bruce.
29
30
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
5 TIPS
WEDDINGS
from Brittany JoRae’ Pusch-Zuniga
WEDDINGS
Know what you want, and go for it Dare to be different! One of the most memorable brides I photographed had studied fashion for years and designed her own wedding gown, along with her reception ensemble and a ton of décor. No one knows what you want better than you. Wedding professionals can help you articulate your vision, but you should own it every way you can.
Think of photos and styles Hair and makeup are often key aspects of a wedding portrait, but remember the makeup in particular might not look the same on your face as it does in photographs. Lighting and filtering used in the photo shoot might take definition away from makeup. For the wedding portrait, you or the makeup artist should apply foundation and eye color a tad heavier than everyday makeup. A good way to ensure you will like what you see in photographs is to have your demo the day of your engagement or bridal shoot.
Choose bridesmaids who tell you no lies Just like a marriage, a wedding is a team sport. For your team, you need friends who have always been there for you, the ones who have told you which jeans hug you in places only your fiancé should, the sisters who let you come ugly-crying when it’s all his fault—but who tell you when you might be to blame. These are the women who will get you through the day with style and grace.
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Take care of you Stress causes all kinds of unwarranted issues. No matter how beautiful your dress, your hair, your flowers or the backdrop—none of this will matter if you feel and look overwhelmed. You know this, but you might also need to remind yourself of this … regularly. Relax and remember why you are working (and worrying) so hard. Remember what the day is all about.
Have fun Once you relax, you can enjoy the day. Nothing matters if you are not having fun. Years from now, you can look back on your wedding photos and laugh at how dated the dresses or the suits might look, but you will still be able to see love in your eyes … and that is what makes every photo and this day so worthwhile.
Owner of BriJoRae’ Productions, Brittany JoRae’ Pusch-Zuniga is a Topeka-based photographer and wedding planner. With a background in glamour photography, she’s spent 13 years dedicated to helping people express the beauty within them. Additional credits Makeup: Taylor Wilson, Misty Oliver, Antonio Zuniga, Brittani Fontelroy and Bianca Rodriguez; Hair: Cynthia Naughton; Attire: J. Lynn Bridal and Jade’s Alterations; Jewelry: Traci Lynn by Beverly Hall
31
2018/2019
Leisure OUR ANNUAL SENIOR
SECTION FOCUSES ON THE BENEFITS OF SENIOR LIFE—MAKING TIME FOR A H O B B Y, A C R A F T A N D A G E TA W AY
02
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
STORY BY Carolyn Kaberline PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nick Krug
AIR
VETERANS T
Topeka’s three RC plane clubs provide opportunities for experienced pilots to pass on skills, knowledge and thrill of flight
here is a slight wind and clear Kansas skies, so naturally Ron Jones is out flying. Jones, a member of the Capital City RC Club, is taking his quarter-scale, 77-inch plane across the runway below Perry Lake Dam. Using his handheld controller, Jones faces the plane toward the wind, accelerates it and allows it to take off into the skies. The red-and-white striping of the Extra 300 RC plane shows easily against the blue sky as Jones commands the plane through a series of acrobatic moves before bringing it back to the ground and readying another of his planes for flight.
His planes are not alone. On this day, the 28-member Capital City RC Club—the oldest of the city’s three remote controlled flight clubs—is hosting its annual Spring Fly-in with guests from Manhattan, Emporia, Kansas City, Junction City and southeast Kansas. Over the years, it has been primarily a gathering of senior-aged men, but all are welcome to attend, join and fly. “We have a lot of family groups in the club,” says club president Ed Renyer, noting the father-son, fatherdaughter as well as some grandchildren combinations.
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
Ed Renyer, President of Capital City RC Club
Greg Inkmann, President of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education
Choosing a plane If you’re thinking of getting into this hobby, you might want to follow these suggestions provided by longtime flier Frank Farr, who can often be found helping new fliers at Dee and Mee Hobbies located in Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center.
The club hosts several events through the course of the year on its 100x700 foot runway, including the Spring Fly-In, Warbirds over Perry during July, and the Don Kamphaus Memorial Fly-in in the fall; this year’s memorial event is scheduled for September 30. “We also have a Freeze Fly, which is always on January 1 of each year,” Renyer says. On that day, the club encloses and heats the pavilion, organizes a potluck meal and invites members from several regional clubs to join them. Some even fly. “This is just a fun day for pilots to fly if they prefer because the weather always plays a factor whether they want to get out in the cold and snow, if there is any, to fly off the snow with skiis on their planes,” says Renyer. “We do have brave pilots that like to show off and fly; otherwise we just sit around and enjoy good camaraderie amongst all of us.” With 41 members ranging from 15 to 80 years of age, the 30-year-old Northeast Kansas Blue Sky Squadron (NEKBSS) hosts two major events each year. While its first show is open to all sizes and kinds of aircraft, the second fly-in is a Giant Scale Show, which requires all single-wing aircraft to have a minimum of an 80-inch wingspan; multi-wing aircraft need a 60-inch wingspan or either type can be built to at least a ¼ scale. “It’s amazing to see these planes fly,” says NEKBSS president Vernon Nelson. “They can fly as far as you can see them. Some are small and some are very big—everything from WW I aircraft to current jets.” Nelson notes that club members usually fly whenever the weather is nice “and not too windy. Someone will just e-mail club members and let them know they are going out to fly in the next day or so.”
THE CHAMP RTF small plane that comes with everything needed to fly for just under $100 APPRENTICE S 15E ready to fly and includes built-in anti-crash technology. “Unless you fly into something, it keeps you from making big mistakes,” Farr says. Sells for around $280 HORIZON series foam planes that can take more damage and are 1.5 meters or smaller; range from $150–$250
03
04
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
The region’s third club, the Foundation for Aeronautical Education (FAE), began in 2003 and is an educational nonprofit as well as a flying club, says club president Greg Inkmann, adding that the group’s mission is to teach “safety, respect, courtesy, and technical skills in a positive fashion. We provide education in safety, aviation science, and math.” The club also provides building classes for youngsters, aircraft repair classes, flight training with gas and electric aircraft and other functions as the community and members require. The educational nature of this club means that its membership ranges in age from 11 to 83, reflecting the combination of students and experienced volunteers with time to provide the mentoring and supervise practice sessions every Sunday afternoon and evening depending on the weather. Even temperamental Kansas weather hasn’t hindered the group’s favorite event: a New Year’s Eve Fly-in that takes place at midnight each year.
“IT’S AMAZING TO SEE THESE P L A N E S F LY. T H E Y C A N F LY A S FA R A S Y O U C A N SEE THEM.” –Vernon Nelson
When it comes to the aircraft, a variety of types can usually be found at any club airshow or fly-in. These planes range from the RTF (ready to fly) aircraft to ones that are built from kits and all types in between. “We refer to the ready-to-fly aircraft as basically for training,” Renyer says. “More advanced fliers like to do their own.”
There are also planes more suitable for acrobatics while others are modeled after military planes—everything from powered gliders to pre-war styles to current-day types. There are even jets that have turbine engines much like their full-sized counterparts. Helicopters and drones can also be found at many fly-ins and shows. In addition, all three clubs offer lessons for those interested in learning to fly radio-controlled airplanes. These lessons let beginners fly a plane by using a buddy-box system that allows a second flyer to take over control of the plane if the beginner runs into problems. Vernon Nelson, President of N.E. Kansas Blue Sky Squadron
“These planes can’t crash,” says Inkmann. “It’s kind of like driver’s ed.” What attracts RC enthusiasts? Inkmann says that the “fun and challenge of flying” appeals to any age, but as pilots grow older, they find themselves sharing their knowledge, helping others understand the variable conditions, electronics, computer systems and critical thinking” necessary for flying. At that point, it is flying, as well as the thrill of “giving back to the community.”
About the Writer: Carolyn Kaberline is a teacher and journalist whose writing appears regularly in Topeka Magazine and Topeka SR.
Interested in RC planes and want to learn more?
Here’s contact infor mation for the three area clubs. CAPITOL CITY RC CLUB Meetings: Held 7 pm on the first Wednesday of every month; meets at the Topeka Public Library November–March and then at the club’s flying field at 9897 Spillway Road by Lake Perry, April–October Website: capitalcityrcc.com Contact person: Ed Renyer, rcgolfks@yahoo.com N.E. KANSAS BLUE SKY SQUADRON Meetings: Held at either the flying field or the Air National Guard Museum usually on the third Sunday of each month at 2 pm Website: nekbssi.org Contact person: Vernon Nelson, vnelson191@sbcglobal.net FOUNDATION FOR AERONAUTICAL EDUCATION (FAE) Meetings: Held at Billard Airport Terminal Room 4 on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm Website: angelfire.com/ks3/fae Contact person: Greg Inkmann, g.inkmann@sbcglobal.net
06
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
STORY BY Susan Kraus PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY Lied Lodge/National Arbor Day Foundation
TIME TO
RECHARGE Our travel writer recommends four senior-friendly destinations to recharge your spirits and energy
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
S
ometimes we need to recharge. Just like our phones, we run out of juice. But, unlike our phones, we don’t have little battery percentage monitors to warn us. We just feel our patience fraying, our enthusiasm for life dissipating. We’re tense and irritable. For retired seniors, recharging is just as essential. Even if there isn’t the daily grind of work, there is still the danger of the daily routine, the volunteer obligations and so forth that can slowly sap energy. Fortunately, retired seniors have the distinct advantage of being able to take off for a quick getaway during the weekdays—and that flexibility is a distinct advantage in terms of lower rates and smaller crowds. Here are my guidelines for a perfect senior-age short getaway, along with four recommendations.
REQUIREMENTS: go to one place and stay there (do not get in car for 24–48 hours) 1)
shut down phones, computers, tablets, etc. (OK, check in, but only once or twice a day) 2)
3) listen to your body: walk, read, sleep, think, reflect, journal. Take naps.
These four options are all easily within a 2–3 hour drive, and all have lower mid-week rates. FLYING W RANCH (flinthillsflyingw.com, 620.340.2802) at Cedar Point is smack in the middle of the Flint Hills and provides cozy cabins with kitchenettes (some full kitchens). Hike the prairie, ride a horse, star gaze (the night sky here is fabulous), rock on a front porch. This is the most rustic and off-grid of the options.
CEDAR CREST LODGE
at Pleasanton offers lovely views, an outdoor pool, access to nearby hiking trails and rocking chairs on the porch. Breakfasts are included, and you can arrange for lunch and supper at a very reasonable cost. Delicious food. Massages available (book in advance). Secluded and peaceful but offers amenities.
(cedarcrestlodge.com, 913.352.6533)
LIED LODGE
in Nebraska City, Nebraska, is an Adirondack-style lodge with a massive fireplace lobby and best indoor hotel pool I’ve ever seen. Home to the National Arbor Day Foundation, it also has hot tub, saunas, fitness center and spa. Dining room serves three meals a day. My favorite rooms are the ones on the fourth floor with views of the orchard. The grounds offer trails to hike, public golf across the street, and a long back patio with rockers and sweeping views. I’ve gone here for over twenty years and always return home refreshed.
(liedlodge.org, 402.873.8733)
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL (intercontinental.com/Kansascity, 816.756.1500) overlooks the Plaza in Kansas City. Walk across the street for dining, shopping, movies and bookstore. On a recent stay, I did “happyhour-for-supper” one day at Brio (the outdoor balcony tables are best) and the next day at McCormick & Schmick’s, and I enjoyed free live music in the hotel lobby each night. For a splurge, book concierge level rooms with breakfast, light lunch and happy hour included (ample food & free alcohol). Outdoor seasonal pool and indoor saunas, fitness center, spa services are all included. Rates vary considerably, with bargains to be found.
About the Writer: Susan Kraus is an award-winning Kansas travel writer and frequent contributor to Topeka Magazine and Topeka SR.
07
08
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
STORY BY Marsha Henry Goff PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bill Stephens
THE DARK DRAGON
QUILTER
A Topeka artist and her unlimited imagination create novel, fluorescent 3D patterns and charitable works of art (some with secret messages)
M
artha Kistler describes herself as “out-of-thebox, headed toward the galaxy and not coming back!” The former arts and crafts specialist for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation is driven by a creative force that has expressed itself in many art forms, among them, oil painting, stained glass, pottery and quilting. But it is her work with black-light quilting that has gained her particular recognition. Kistler discovered this art back in 1998. That same year she married Harland Kistler, her biggest cheerleader, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The first two events were life-changing, the third simply required
adaptation. On days when she is too shaky to sew, Kistler shops for fabric. When she could no longer sign her quilts, she learned to sew her name upside down and backwards. “Parkinson’s,” Kistler says, “hasn’t slowed me down at all.” Black-light quilting, also known as longarm sewing machine black-light quilting because of the equipment it uses, is almost identical to standard quilting, but uses thread that glows under a black light. Not only does it create a groovy work of art in the same way as a 1970s velvety day-glow poster but it also can be practical for quilters who can turn on the black light and more easily
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
09
10
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
see the thread when they are quilting, for example, white-on-white patterns. Kistler’s introduction to black-light quilting came through an article she read about Dusty Farrell. Often referred to as the “badass quilter” and revered for his bold style, the former repo man and avid hunter runs a craft shop with his wife in rural Pennsylvania and is a frequent headline attraction at quilting shows and across the quilting lecture circuit. At this time, the black-light quilting Farrell promoted was in its early stages, and fluorescent thread was difficult to find. In Topeka, Kistler was able to obtain only three colors: orange, yellow and green. Thinking of other art forms that were limited in their color range, Kistler decided to stop by her local tattoo parlor, which is now called Fine Line Tattoo and Piercing, to consult with the studio artists. Once they learned that she was not there for a tattoo, the artists agreed to sit down with her and go over possible patterns.
Kistler walked away with a dragon pattern and gifted the first dragon pattern that she quilted back to the shop’s artists. One of her next dragon patterns earned her the admiration of her grandson. “He said, ‘Grandma, you did Harry Potter!’ and of course I didn’t know who Harry Potter was,” recalls Kistler. Soon, her fantastic beasts would find more admirers. When Dusty Farrell offered a class in Overland Park, Harland enrolled and paid for Martha to attend. She brought with her a recent dragon pattern that featured a 3D element where the dragon’s foot appeared to move. “Dusty asked me how I did that, and I said, ‘I was hoping you would tell me how I did that,’” recalls Kistler. But, somehow, Kistler was able to repeat the effect for Farrell, who special-ordered a black suede jacket from her decorated with thirteen quilted skulls and the Grim Reaper, whose hand holding the scythe appears eerily to be moving off the jacket.
Since then, Kistler has created many quilts and quilted wall-hangings that are beautifully complicated yet freehand as she rarely follows patterns. She often starts in the middle of a quilt and allows her creative energy to guide her. A stunning color-wheel wall-hanging covering a dining-room window is evocative of stained glass. Karen Stone, an internationally known Texas quilter whose original pattern was the basis for Kistler’s wall hanging, viewed Kistler’s version and declared, “You are an overachiever. Instead of eight fabrics, you have forty-eight.” While most machine quilters use longarm machines costing from $3,000 to in excess of $35,000, Kistler—who originally used a low-end longarm machine—now quilts with a basic noncomputerized domestic tabletop sewing machine for which she paid a frugal $500. “If I’m going to buy a machine that costs over $5,000, I’d expect it to answer
Topeka SR | 2018–2019
11 Compassionate experts. State-of-the-art procedures. Clear, comfortable vision for life.
the phone, get me my cup of coffee and do a lot of other things besides sew,” she says with a smile. Kistler is equally frugal with her leftover pieces of cloth that she uses to create and dress teddy bears. She gives them personalities and interesting lives. According to Kistler, a favorite Victorian teddy bear wearing a frilly ruffled hat needs to go to the Kentucky Derby and have a mint julip. She has made bears for veterans using camouflage shirts on which she quilts the lyrics to “God Bless the USA.” She is pleased that Lee Greenwood gave her permission to use the song provided she gives the bears away and doesn’t sell them. Kistler has a charitable heart and a deep appreciation for military veterans. Quilting friends helped her make and distribute 90 red-white-and-blue pillowcases to veterans at the Topeka and Leavenworth VAs. Each was decorated with a quilted white feather. “My grandfather told me when someone does something special for you, give them a white feather,” she explains. “That’s the first feather for their angel wings.” Kistler also made a quilt to be raffled to benefit the Victory Junction Camp in North Carolina, a camp for terminally ill children established by Nascar greats Richard and Kyle Petty in memory of Kyle’s son Adam, who died in a speedway crash. Richard Petty called Kistler to thank her and request some additional material so he and Kyle could sign their names to the work. Kistler, a quilter who knows her racing legends, was thrilled and called Harland—an even bigger Nascar fan—to share her excitement. “I’ve been a Nascar fan for 40 years,” he laughs, “and Richard Petty calls her?” Even without the signatures of racing legends, the quilts Kistler has donated have raised as much as $5,000. A Jayhawk quilt she created for an American Legion raffle raised $3,000. She so loves the Jayhawks that when she crafted a K-State quilt for a friend, she included a secret message in white thread on the white background: “Rock Chalk Jayhawk, KU.” Kistler’s creativity and humor permit her to create mermaids that are pink instead of traditional green. And her can-do attitude and adventurous spirit—she has both skydived and flown in a hot air balloon—allow her to live life to the fullest and triumph over Parkinson’s. “My grandfather said, ‘As long as it doesn’t hurt anybody and you’re not breaking the law, try it and if you like it, fine, and if you don’t, don’t do it again,’” recalls Kistler. “So that’s what I’ve always done.”
About the Writer: Marsha Henry Goff is the editor of Amazing Aging, the official publication of the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging and author of books on history and humor.
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to your vision. The surgeons at Genstler Eye Center have been enhancing sight through advanced surgical solutions for over 25 years. Put your sight in the hands of experience!
3630 SW Fairlawn Road • 785.273.8080 • g-eye.com
Lots happening … and more to come! Opening in January 2019
WASHBURN TECH EAST 21ST & SE WASHINGTON
Washburn Tech East is a new educational facility that will offer career programs as well as GED and ESL classes to adult and high school students. BUILDING TECHNOLOGY . CERTIFIED MEDICATION AIDE . CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE HOME HEALTH AIDE . COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE (CDL) (Scholarships and financial assistance available to those who qualify.)
Call for more information...
785.670.2010
www.washburntech.edu
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
33
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER FEATURED EVENT
Topeka Symphony Orchestra Season Opener September 29
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra (TSO) opens this season’s concerts with a lineup of rousing favorites, including Leonard Bernstein’s Candide overture, Franz Liszt’s Les Preludes and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring Van Cliburn Competition Bronze medalist Daniel Hsu. But perhaps the most intriguing performance of the evening is a revival of Theron Kirk’s Kaleidoscope. This little-known piece was commissioned from the Texasbased, popular mid-century composer for the opening of what is now the White Concert Hall 50 years ago. The program notes from the original performance of the full orchestral piece describe it as a combination of diverse styles in a “rather festive vein,” but it is unknown if Kaleidoscope has ever been performed or recorded since 1968, so the TSO, in effect, will be opening and performing its own musical time capsule. The TSO continues with its 2018–2019 concert season dedicated to scores focusing on “The Big Questions” throughout the year, and including the popular holiday song concert in December and a special Valentine’s Day performance featuring works made popular by Frank Sinatra. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekasymphony.org or call the box office at (785) 232-2032.
September 7–9 Huff-’n’-Puff Balloon Rally The Great Plains Balloon Club presents its 48th annual hot air balloon festival, including educational activities for kids, tethered ascents for the public and a group flight over Topeka. For more information and full schedule, go online at huff-n-puff.org.
September 7–29 Steel Magnolias Topeka Civic Theatre presents comedy exploring the lives of hair salon regulars in a small Louisiana town. For tickets and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com or call box office at (785) 357-5211.
September 9–16 Topeka Pilots Season Opener The Capital City’s rebranded NAHL South Division hockey team opens its first season playing in Topeka as “The Pilots” with 3 matches against the Odessa Jackalopes. For season information and ticket reservations, go online at topekapilots.com.
September 11–15 Topeka Pride 2018 Annual celebration of the city’s LGTBQ and allied communities includes movie screening, discussion panel, drag show and community park gathering. For full schedule of events, go online at topekapride.org.
September 15 Tacos y Tequila and Kansas Mariachi Festival Grammy winning band Flor de Toloache headlines a celebration of Mexican and Mexican-American culture that includes street vendors, public and ticketed concerts. For more information, go online at visittopeka.org or topekaperformingarts.org.
September 15 Great Topeka Duck Race Annual race of some 10,000 rubber duckies across Lake
Photographs from top: Daniel Hsu, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (Renee Rosensteel) and Bonerama.
Shawnee raises funds for Sertoma Clubs’ charitable initiatives for children. Sponsor one duck. Sponsor a flock to improve chances of winning grand prize of a 2016 Ford Taurus, while helping a good cause. This is your year. This is your lucky duck. For more information and sponsorship/ racing opportunities, go online at duckrace.com/topeka.
September 22 Aaron Douglas Art Fair Topeka’s annual celebration honors its native son, who went on to become a leading composer and artist and prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Includes free admission to art booths, musical performances and more at the Aaron Douglas Park. For more information, go online at aarondouglasartfair.com
September 22 Jazz and Food Truck Festival Bonerama headlines a day of free, outdoors jazz music with 20-plus food trucks parked and serving near the downtown stage. For full lineup of guest artists and more information, go online at visittopeka.com.
September 24 The Pigeon Comes to Topeka! A Mo Willems Exhibit
The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center opens a special exhibition featuring artwork featuring Pigeon, the impetuous, temperamental but beloved character by award-winning illustrator Mo Willems. The exhibit runs until January 4, 2019, but Pigeon wants you to come now. Hurry. Get a move on. Take the bus. Let Pigeon drive! For more information and entrance fee information, go online at kansasdiscovery.org.
September 29 Kansas Chocolate Festival Enjoy this gathering of chocolate vendors, live music and even a calorie-burning 5k run that benefits the Combat Air Museum. For more information, go online at visittopeka.com
34
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
WHAT’S HAPPENING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OCTOBER
OCTOBER FEATURED EVENT
SEVENTH ANNUAL KANSAS CORGI GATHERING
October 27
The Corgi Connection of Kansas nonprofit that helps rescue abandoned or homeless Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh corgis holds its annual gathering that includes corgi races, costume showings, raffles, silent auctions and more. No pre-registration required, but five-dollar donations are encouraged at the door. The event runs from 1–4 pm; first-time attendees are asked to review information and recommendations (including the no-tolerance policy for aggressive dogs) at the Facebook page of Corgi Connection of Kansas before attending. For more information about the event, go online at corgiconnection.com and see the feature story on pages 38–43 in this issue.
October 6–7
October 13
Old Prairie Town at WardMeade Historic Site hosts its 39th-annual apple harvest celebration featuring traditional apple-themed foods, Americana music and tours of the historic facilities. For ticket prices and more information, go online at parks.snco.us.
Adult after-hours costume party with drinks and music held as a fundraiser for the Topeka Zoo. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekazoo.org.
Apple Festival
October 8
Topeka Festival Singers Season Opener The city’s choral ensemble opens its 35th-anniversary season with a special program of hymns and spirituals. Continuing a more recent tradition, the ensemble also invites several area high school students to join them in selected performances to highlight the newest generation of vocal talent. For tickets and more information about this concert and the 2018–2019 lineup, go online at topekafestivalsingers.org.
October 12–14
Mother Earth News Fair
October 5 (and first Friday of every month) First Friday Artwalk
Topeka’s art galleries, artist studios and more open their doors for an evening of art displays, opportunities to meet artists, musical performances and more. For a full listing of venues and times, go online at artsconnecttopeka.org.
October 5–7
Ribs and Bibs Music Festival Heartland Motorsports Park launches this new festival of music and barbeque, with musical headliners Big and Rich of “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” fame along with a KCBS-sanctioned competitive smoke. For more information, go online at heartlandmotorsports.com. Photographs from top: Bill Stephens and courtesy Nathan Ham Photography and Danny Gokey
The nation’s leading sustainable living magazine hosts its annual fair featuring vendors, information booths and dozens of experts from across the nation. Mother Earth News is owned and operated by Ogden Publications, the parent company of Sunflower Publishing and Topeka Magazine. For more information, go online at motherearthnewsfair.com/ kansas.
October 12–November 2 Topeka Dia Des los Muertos
This celebration of Chicanx/ Xicanx cultures includes several events throughout the city such as art exhibitions and workshops, candlelight procession and dance performances. For full list of events and information, go online at topekaddlm.com.
Fright Fest
October 18
A Diary from Dixie by Mary Chestnut Scholar Sandra Wiechert leads a discussion about the classic Civil War diary of a white Southern society woman, wife to a Confederate Army Brigadier-General and eyewitness to the destruction of the slavery-based plantation system. Sponsored by Humanities Kansas and hosted by Aldersgate Village. For more information about the event, call (785) 478-9440.
October 19–November 3 Witness for the Prosecution
Topeka Civic Theatre brings a suspenseful legal drama that Agatha Christie adapted into a play based on one of her short stories. First staged in 1953, the production has been adapted into film, television and numerous languages and continues to be a popular stage presence. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
October 27 Danny Gokey
Topeka Performing Arts Center presents an evening with Danny Gokey, American Idol top-3 finalist and Grammy nominee who has seen a string of hits on the Christian rock/ contemporary circuit. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekaperformingarts.org.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
35
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER FEATURED EVENT
ELF: THE MUSICAL
November 23–December
This winter, the Topeka Civic Theatre presents a modern holiday classics. The Broadway musical adaptation follows closely to the plot of the hit 2003 film featuring Will Ferrell, with a few minor plot adjustments and several scores. Those unfamiliar with the story will enjoy a family-friendly production chronicling the tale of a man who was adopted by Santa’s elves as a baby and decides to go out into the world to find his human family—and discover the peculiarities of modern life outside of the sheltered North Pole workshop. For those familiar with the movie or Broadway version, the Topeka adaptation offers a chance to return to a holiday favorite as well, this time with the opportunity to enjoy the theatre’s extended dinner performances. For more information and ticket reservations, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
November 1
Winter Holiday Landscaping The Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners hold a free presentation at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library to provide tips on creating an enjoyable decorative winter lawn. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
Photographs from top: Nathan Ham Photography and Shutterstock (2)
November 2–4
United Rodeo Association Nine-state competitive rodeo association holds its annual finals event at the Kansas Expo Center with categories such as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and more. For more information, go online at ksexpo.com or unitedrodeoassociation.com.
November 3
Tails on the Trails This 5k run near the Shawnee North Community Center passes on all proceeds to the Helping Hands Humane Society, the city’s nonprofit animal shelter. Participants are encouraged to run with leashed dogs. For more information, go online at hhhstopeka.org.
November 9–January 6 Over There: Americans Abroad in World War I
The Sabatini Gallery of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library hosts this traveling exhibition of National Archives photography showcasing World War I overseas military photography from the fronts and behind the lines. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
November 10
Topeka Veterans Parade The city’s sixth annual downtown parade honors veterans from all military branches and all years of service. For more information, go online at zachevents.com/ topekaveteransparade.
November 16–17 Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays
This annual holiday tradition serves as a fundraiser for Topeka Performing Arts Center programs that provide free performances for area students. A $3 admission fee gives visitors the chance to bid on customized gingerbread homes as well as to enjoy several family-themed holiday activities. For more information, go online at topekaperformingarts.org.
November 16–18 CASA Homes for the Holiday Tour
Annual tour of homes decorated by Topeka’s top designers to benefit the mission of CASA Shawnee County, the nonprofit organization that advocates for the interests of youth in the court system. Opening night tour includes a special VIP gathering. For more details, ticket reservations or to learn how to volunteer, go online at casaofshawneecounty.com or call (785) 215-8282.
November 21– December 31
Winter Wonderland Topeka’s celebrated drivethrough display of holiday lights enters its third decade this year with proceeds benefiting TARC, the city’s nonprofit to support and advocate for those with intellectual, developmental and related disabilities. For more information, go online at winterwonderlandtopeka.com.
November 24
Miracle on Kansas Avenue Topeka’s annual downtown holiday parade with floats, music and, of course, Santa Claus. Post-parade celebration includes a community gathering and carols. For more information, go online at downtowntopekainc.com.
November 28– December 2 Festival of Trees
Topeka designers and artists decorate holiday trees for display and auction. Event includes pancake feed, musical performances and more with proceeds benefiting SLI Topeka, a nonprofit supporting independent lives for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. For more information, go online at slitopeka.org
“True happiness is... to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” – Seneca
T
he Italian philosopher Seneca believed in the wisdom of following our own path, and not getting distracted by all others that intersect it. To him, the goal was not to best others, but to accomplish the most you are capable of in your own chosen life. This is especially true with money. If you don’t know how much money you will need to retire, the obvious default is – more! So if we live our lives with the goal of simply filling our bank account instead of pursuing our true calling, then any success will not be complete or pleasurable. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you are truly making a difference, and on your own path? Whether you are approaching half-time in your career or closing in on the finish line, we can help. Call today and find out how our FINS™ system can help you work towards getting and staying on the right financial course.
Life is Good! Download your free Spending Tracker™ today at www.reinertwealthmanagement.com Charting financial courses since 1989! Mark A. Reinert CFP®, RICP®, MBA
Reinert Wealth Management 3639 SW Summerfield Dr. Suite B / Topeka, KS 66614 (785) 272-3900 mark.reinert@lpl.com www.reinertwealthmanagement.com
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
FEATURES
38
Corgi-Ween
44 Small Game Hunter
Jumping Spider; photograph by Marcus George
38
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
CORGIWEEN TOPEKA’S ANNUAL GATHERING OF CORGIS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS, ATTRACT CELEBRITIES AND PLEASE HONORED GUESTS STORY BY CAROLYN KABERLINE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL STEPHENS
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
39
Lola, the corgi of Matt Miller, displays her Halloween costume.
40
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
T H E S E TO P E K A C O R G I S A R E D R E S S E D U P A N D R E A DY TO AT T E N D T H E N E X T C O R G I - W E E N C O S T U M E PA R A D E . C L O C K W I S E F R O M U P P E R L E F T: M A G G I E ( W H O L I V E S W I T H D I A N N E A L F O R D ) , L O L A ( W H O L I V E S W I T H M AT T M I L L E R ) A N D TA L U L A H ( W H O L I V E S W I T H H A N N A H B U R I A N E K ) .
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
O
ver the past decade or so, Halloween has shifted from primarily a children’s holiday, to one anticipated and celebrated by adults with lavish costume parties and gatherings. But as the generations battle to claim the celebration they might not have realized that Halloween has already gone to the dogs, to the corgis to be exact. This year, as they have for the past six years, packs of costumed corgis are expected to gather at a large indoor arena outside of Topeka for their annual corgi Halloween party. Last year, almost 200 Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh corgis attended, along with some 400 human chaperones. The event raises funds for Milford-based nonprofit Corgi Connection of Kansas (CCK). Jeanette DeMars, who founded CCK, says she learned about corgis “purely by chance” from seeing them on a television program. By the summer of 2000, DeMars had her first corgi pup and shortly thereafter became involved with Friends of Animals, a Junction City organization, and its efforts to get dogs out of local shelters and in rescue groups to reduce the euthanasia rate. “I learned a lot from Friends of Animals and eventually decided to concentrate my efforts solely on corgis,” DeMars explains. So in September 2009 she registered CCK as a 501 (c)(3) with the state and set about creating meetings and activities—with the help of others also interested in animal welfare. Topeka resident Liz Syverson was part of a group of women who held a tea each year where they donated items to CCK and had the idea to create a “corgi parade.” She helped DeMars coordinate with Duane and Trudy Corkill, who agreed to hold the event at Summer’s Palace, their indoor horse arena. “It was such a success the first year that I just continued it,” says DeMars, “and it has always been at Summer’s Palace due to the graciousness of the Corkills.” The event has grown to attract prospective owners as well as corgi owners from out of state. “I’m not sure what the farthest distance traveled has been,” DeMars says, “but I know we’ve had people from Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and last year we had someone from New Mexico and California.” So what is it that makes corgis so special? According to corgi owner Dianne Alford, “They’re a wonderful different kind of dog: funny, hairy, short, loving, smart, entertaining, a good protector. I wish I could have a whole house full of them.” While 2017 was the first time Alford and her corgi Maggie attended the gathering, she plans to attend more. “I had no idea what to expect. It was so neat seeing all the different sizes and colors of the corgis that were there,” says Alford. “It was fun, and there were people there who couldn’t love the breed more than I already do.”
41
42
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Matt Miller, chief meteorologist for KSNT, also took his corgi, Lola, to the event for the first time. “This is my first corgi, and they are full of personality,” says Miller. “I would definitely get another one as they are a good mix of energetic and loving.” In fact, Lola’s personality has won her fans on television, where she is known as the “the Weather Dog on KSNT.” Miller says she is a natural talent. “Lola is a feisty, somewhat bossy girl, but she does it in a fun, playful way. She knows what she wants and can easily get into mischief, but most of the time she’s just a loving pet who naps at my feet and follows me everywhere I go. She loves to jump on my lap and shower me with kisses, but it’s her bursts of wild energy and frenetic running that really make me smile. She’s become quite the actress as well. Her commercials are easy for us to shoot as she’s really a natural in front of the camera.” So what’s planned for the 7th Annual Corgi Gathering scheduled for Saturday, October 27? “We’ll have the same activities as last year: The silent auction and raffle to raise funds for CCK; the races, which are hugely popular, and of course the costume contest, which really is equally fun and popular,” DeMars says. And of course, the most important thing will be there—corgis as far as the eye can see.
WHAT’S A CORGI?
Corgis come in two varieties: Cardigan Welsh corgis and Pembroke Welsh corgis. The Cardigans are slightly larger and considered a little more reserved with strangers, but loving and personable with people they know. The Pembroke Welsh Corgis are often born tailless and are also often referred to as the “Queen’s dogs,” as Queen Elizabeth has owned several of them. Both types were originally bred as herding dogs, but are friendly, gentle, outgoing, loyal, hard-working and tough dogs that do well in obedience, agility, tracking, and, of course, herding. However, as members of the herding group, corgis are not afraid to “take charge,” which often leads to their ending up in shelters and rescues. That’s where Corgi Connection of Kansas (CCK) comes in. While most of its focus is on corgis in Kansas, the rescue does assist corgis throughout the Midwest. Since CCK has no shelter facility, dogs are cared for in numerous volunteer foster homes, which allows the group to get to know the dogs and find the best placement for them. Money raised through the Corgi Gathering activities is used to provide medical care for these dogs before they are adopted. For more information on adopting corgis or providing a foster home for them, see the CCK website at corgiconnection.com. Of course, a purebred corgi is not for everyone. Many people will do better with a half-breed corgi, a mutt or an entirely different breed. The Corgi Connection website has a link to dog breed recommendation sites, and you can always check in with the staff at Helping Hands Humane Society, hhhstopeka.org, for advice in selecting a dog that matches your lifestyle.
43
44
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
HUNTE R
SMALL GAME
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
45
To Ge pek or a M ge St or , w aga yb yB ho zin ill S tep tra e p he ns ck ho Ph s d tog oto gr ow ra ap hy n s phe by Bi ll S om r B tep he e o ill S ns wi f th tep th M arc e s he us Ge tat ns or ge e’s tra mo cks st do elu wn siv M e w ar ild cus life
June Bug; photograph by Marcus George
46
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
Eastern-tailed Blue Butterfly; photograph by Marcus George
47
I
f you are a Kansas photographer, chances are you have spent not a small portion of your career or hobby time photographing some of the best natural scenes that our state has to offer: herds of bison, fields of sunflowers, the Flint Hills, menacing storm clouds swallowing the landscape, or the vast prairie skies. It makes perfect sense to photograph what is most beautiful around you—and these are subjects that Kansas offers to us in abundance. I am always intrigued to encounter a Kansas photographer who presents the land and the life around us in an entirely novel, but equally beautiful, way. And this is exactly what Marcus George is doing from his home, a little over two hours to the west of us in Hutchinson. A self-taught amateur photographer, George creates professionalcaliber photos documenting the insects, arachnids and other creatures he finds in vacant fields within bicycling distance of his home. “Macro photography” is the correct term for this type of endeavor though George doesn’t mind if you call it “bug portraits.” “I have no previous experience doing macro work,” George explains. “Ever since I was a little kid, I have enjoyed insects. I would always be down in the creek looking for critters. Five years ago I decided that I wanted to take photos of insects and got a Nikon D3300 and 90mm lens and started firing away.” George soon upgraded his camera to a superior Nikon D7100 and a 105mm macro lens, but his equipment is by no means the most expensive or the most specialized. Unlike many nature photographers, he cannot and does not work with zoom lenses from great distances. He crawls within a hand’s length of his subjects and his lighting is mostly done with one cameramounted strobe and a handheld flashlight. The fact that George is able to create such memorable, sharp portraits of insects with basic equipment makes his work even more impressive. In fact, George’s portraits seem to give personalities to his bugs; it’s an interpretation he doesn’t find at all odd. “Doing macro I have learned that some subjects have great dispositions,” he explains. “A lot of insects and arachnids are pretty shy, but, for example, the jumping spider is one of the best characters out there. At first, they will try to hide, but when they realize you are not there to harm them, they become curious about what you are doing. Once they get to know you, they seem to just stare right into the camera lens, allowing you to get some nice shots of them.”
48
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
George has also learned to adapt his photo shoots to the insects’ schedules. “Insects are like Pokémon,” he explains, “you can only go out during the day to find insects, but you will never find all of them unless you also go out at night. I can find lady bugs all day and night, but plume moths can only be found at night, and I find June bugs mostly at night, but actually they find me with my flashlight on,” he chuckles. One of George’s favorite photo locations is a large field next to the city’s Home Depot. It is also the residence of prairie dogs, several of whom yelp at George as he walks past the dozens of burrows they have created. But it isn’t only the prairie dogs who sometimes look strangely at him. “Doing macro photography in public places causes people to look and stare at you. Nighttime macro brings with it the chance of police being called to investigate a guy in a field or by a road flashing a light,” George says. “When law enforcement officers arrive and find out what I am doing, they seem cool and let me do my thing.” From a technical viewpoint, macro photography is one of the most difficult photographic skills to learn. It requires the photographer to work just two or three inches from the subject and use a medium telephoto lens. Working that close, your depth of field (the amount of near-to-far area that is in focus) is measured in fractions of an inch; typically, less than one-eighth of an inch is in focus. This means a photographer’s field of view is sometimes less than that of a postage stamp. George hand-holds his camera as he shoots all of his images; many photographers would be inclined to use a tripod for the stability it offers, but George believes it would slow him down too much and would be impractically cumbersome in the field. Shooting with a hot-shoe mounted strobe light freezes the image since the strobes typically flash at a few thousandths of a second. This cancels out the slight movement that handholding causes.
Fall 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
49
“...THE JUMPING SPIDER IS ONE OF THE BEST CHARACTERS OUT THERE ... ONCE THEY GET TO KNOW YOU, THEY SEEM TO JUST STARE RIGHT INTO THE CAMERA LENS, ALLOWING YOU TO GET SOME NICE SHOTS OF THEM.” —MARCUS GEORGE
50
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Fall 2018
George has photographed thousands of insects over the last five years. His Nikon keeps track of the number of shutter actuations it has gone through (the number of “snaps” that have been taken), and these figures indicate that George has taken more than 81,000 images. “I go all over the Hutchinson area,” he says. “I have a bike, and on really nice days I will go across town to photograph insects. On macro nights, I will usually just go to open fields or creeks close to where I live. I have to travel to different parts of town and out to the county areas to find insects that I cannot find in town. Different types of vegetation and plants draw different insects,” he observes. To observe George on a photo shoot is to understand the patience and determination—along with quick eyes and reflexes—required to produce his portraits. Quiet and motionless, George will crouch near weeds or ground cover. Then, his quick eye will pick out the slightest movement and he will move in closer to the subject, composing the shot in his camera viewfinder, and eventually shooting several quick images. Sometimes he will draw his hand, palm open, across short grass or ground cover, and the motion will cause tiny insects to jump and shift their positions, alerting him to another photo opportunity. During our time together, George demonstrated this technique of brushing his hand across the top of the grass, and immediately hundreds of one-half-inch long toothpick grasshoppers took off in all directions, allowing George to quickly focus in on one of them to produce an excellent photo. It took him perhaps five seconds from the hand swish to the finished photo. George photographs insects year-round. Heat does not affect his success rate as much as wind does. Any wind above 10mph scatters the insects too much. Winter can limit the bugs’ activities, so George waits them out to ensure that all of his photos are authentic, natural wildlife. “Some photographers will capture a bug and put it in their freezer then pull it out and pose it on a branch or leaf. With the body temperature lowered it does not move around at all,” George says. “I would never do that.” This is purely a labor of love for Marcus George. He does not market his images although he posts them on a Kansas photographers Facebook group (Kansas Photographers 2.0) and has many followers on Instagram (@marcus.george.507). When asked if the insects love him back, George was quick and to the point. “Mosquitoes and the occasional tick have gotten me. After a few hours in the field I will have red bumps here and there but other than that not any bites or stings,” George says with a tone of satisfaction. The insects, it seems, know that George is out to make them look their best.
A Toothpick Grasshopper; photograph by Marcus George
