W Magazine | Wichita Art Museum WINTER/SPRING 2023
2 INSIDE THE ISSUE • INSIDE THE ISSUE • INSIDE THE ISSUE • INSIDE THE ISSUE 04 ISABELLE DE BORCHGRAVE : FASHIONING ART FROM PAPER 10 WICHITA WORE WHAT ? A CENTURY OF LOCAL FASHION 14 WHAT’S COMING UP @ WAM 20 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 22 NEW ACQUISITIONS 26 LEADERS @ WAM 28 NEW FACES @ WAM 29 1400 BY ELDERSLIE 30 2022 DONORS & BENEFACTORS + 2022 MEMORIALS 31 DONORS + BOARD OF TRUSTEES + FRIENDS OF WAM
Isabelle de Borchgrave, Delphos Dress and Shawl (detail), 2006-7. Mixed media, acrylic, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive on paper, 58 x 21 1/4 x 20 1/2 inches. Collection of the artist
ON THE COVER
DEAR FRIENDS,
As we begin 2023, we are so excited to share some wonderful new initiatives with you! The first is this newsmagazine, which you will see has a fresh new design and logo plus rich content about exhibitions and artists. In addition, our new culinary partnership with Elderslie Farm is underway and will culminate with the opening of 1400 by Elderslie. Under the creativity of Chef Katharine Elder, 1400 by Elderslie will offer a newly redesigned restaurant space, including a new bar for gourmet coffees and cocktails, scrumptious baked goods and pastries, and a seasonal menu inspired by the art all around.
In our continued effort to make WAM accessible to everyone, we were also thrilled to announce in December FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL to the permanent collection galleries. Our founder, Louise Caldwell Murdock, had the vision to establish a collection as a gift to the City of Wichita. In that spirit, this is everyone’s collection, and you should always be able to access its beauty. WAM continues to build on Louise’s vision and adds to the collection every year. Over the coming months, you will see some new acquisitions in the gallery, including Oklahoma-based artist Robert Peterson’s double portrait Sunday Kind of Love.
We are also thrilled to bring you Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper, a spectacular exhibition, opening Saturday, February 18, of fashion inspired from art history and theater and recreated using hand-painted paper. With this show comes a variety of programs—from talks with fashion experts to a film series featuring some of the best costume designers to our new Saturday night closing parties.
As you have read, there is a lot happening at WAM, and we are just getting started. We thank you for all of your continued support!
With gratitude,
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From the Director/CEO Anne Kraybill
Opens Saturday, February 18, 2023
Louise and S.O. Beren Gallery
John W. and Mildred L. Graves Gallery
Fashioning Art from Paper
Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave creates breathtaking paper recreations of historical costumes. The life-size sculptures celebrate the artist’s love of vibrant color, textiles, and the artistic effect trompe l’oeil (French for “fools the eye”). De Borchgrave began her studies at age 14 at the Centre des Arts Décoratifs in Brussels. After graduating from the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, she established her own studio by age 18 and embraced multiple creative disciplines—including painting and sculpture—from the beginning of her career.
Following a visit to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in 1994, de Borchgrave created her first series of paper dresses, Papiers à la Mode, in collaboration with Canadian costume designer Rita Brown. The elaborately designed paper costumes depicted 300 years of fashion history, from Queen Elizabeth I to Coco Chanel.
Since then, de Borchgrave’s work has included commissions and series focused on specific historical garments she has seen in museums and private collections—kaftans spanning three centuries of the Silk Road trade route in Central Asia, early 20th-century European and American stage costumes, and clothing pictured in European portraits. As she renders the textiles, she interprets them—incorporating her own research and impressions—rather than recreating them identically.
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Her art reimagines the history of fashion in humble paper, transporting us through more than 500 years around the world.
Isabelle de Borchgrave, Pallas, 2007. Mixed media, acrylic, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive on paper, 72 1/2 x 33 x 21 inches. Collection of the artist
ABOVE : Isabelle de Borchgrave, Kaftan Sholeh
Sadra—Flame (detail). 2004. Mixed media, acrylic, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive on paper, 57 x 49 3/4 inches.
ABOVE RIGHT : Isabelle de Borchgrave, Kaftan Safir Sadr—Sapphire, 2004. Mixed media, acrylic, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive on paper, 57 1/4 x 50 3/4 inches. Collection of the artist
IN 2019, DE BORCHGRAVE TOLD
VOGUE MAGAZINE’S LAIRD BORRELLI-PERSSON:
I was, and still am, surprised every day by what paper can give you. Paper gives you freedom: You can paint on it, shrink it, iron it, and mimic fabrics such as linen, velvet, brocade, taffeta, and satin by playing with trompe l’oeil and illusion. It’s much more resistant than fabric. It endures better against light and time…
Today, de Borchgrave’s studio, located in the center of Brussels, includes a team of assistants and interns, collaborating not only on sculptures but on a range of projects, including paintings, bronzes, and décor. In addition to her artistic pursuits, de Borchgrave has worked with luxury fashion brands Christian Dior and Hermès, among others. Her work is in private and permanent collections, including The Frick Art Museum in Pittsburgh and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. She has worked in fashion, interior design, painting, and sculpture for nearly 60 years.
Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper provides a retrospective view of the artist’s paper sculptures. Her art reimagines the history of fashion in humble paper, transporting us through more than 500 years around the world.
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WAM Curator Dr. Tera Lee Hedrick interviewed fashion historian Dennita Sewell, who curated the Isabelle de Borchgrave exhibition and currently serves as the program director/professor of practice in the School of Art at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Prior to her position at ASU, Sewell was a curator of fashion design at the Phoenix Art Museum.
FOR AUDIENCES WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF ISABELLE DE BORCHGRAVE, WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT HER? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT ABOUT HER LIFE AND CAREER?
She’s an artist first. This isn’t a fashion exhibition. This is an artist interpreting clothes from different periods of time—she’s just as interested in the time period, people, and place as she is in fashion per se. The sculptures are her interpretations.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT DE BORCHGRAVE’S PROCESS IS LIKE, FROM IDEA THROUGH PRODUCTION? HOW DOES SHE DECIDE WHAT TO MAKE? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
She draws inspiration from travel and research. The first thing she does is buy books on a subject, for inspiration. The next step is choosing whatever paper or armature she’s going to use—doing some samples and mockups and experiments. She makes the “fabric” (from paper) and then constructs the dress. Textural qualities are very important to her. She studies historical artists and the way they painted. If you compare how gold lace looks in reality to how it’s represented in a painting, it’s obviously connected and structured in reality. And yet when Isabelle paints it, she has that same ability to abstract that idea and recreate what that object looks like in light and color and translate it through paint into something that’s absolutely believable. Like any painting, when you step back and view it at a distance, it is completely believable.
DE BORCHGRAVE DOESN’T MAKE THESE WORKS ALONE— SHE HAS A STUDIO OF ASSISTANTS. WHO DOES WHAT?
When she first started out, she collaborated with theatrical costumer Rita Brown. Rita made patterns that were extremely period accurate. Then Isabelle began working with fashion students. It became a lot more expressive. She cared much less about historical accuracy, much more about the aura, the emotion, the passion in the piece.
AND WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE OF HER STUDIO WORKSPACE LIKE?
Oh boy, if only everyone could go. It’s all white but it’s filled with colorful things. It’s like her own “white box” gallery and her work is hanging from the ceiling and in drawers. Things that she’s made are everywhere. She’s energized by others. The role of studio assistants varies according to their skill set. Like any small business, people show their strengths and you use their strengths. Maybe they lay down the ground color, and then Isabelle goes in for details. Maybe they help make little pearls. (Even I made a pearl!) In order to do the level of output that she’s done, you need people to help.
IF YOU WERE TO TELL OUR VISITORS TO LOOK CLOSELY AT ONE SPECIFIC ELEMENT OF THE EXHIBITION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Don’t miss the touching station—go through and look and then don’t miss touching. It is so Isabelle to want that as part of the show. She loves to share; she loves tactility.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXHIBITION ABOUT ISABELLE DE BORCHGRAVE’S ART?
She’s brought together what would be an impossible exhibition of fashion. These are treasures—including things that don’t even exist but are iconic. She’s brought them together.
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Isabelle de Borchgrave, Flora, 2006. Mixed media, acrylic, ink, metallic powder, and adhesive on paper, 71 x 25 x 24 1/2 inches. Collection of the artist
ADMISSION TO Fashioning Art from Paper
• FREE for WAM members
• $12 for adults/seniors
• FREE for college students w/ID + youth 18 & under
Pay for admission at the museum’s Welcome Desk.
FREE DAY
No admission charge for visitors to see Isabelle de Borchgrave
MANY THANKS TO COLBY SANDLIAN OF SANDLIAN REALTY FOR SUPPORTING THIS FREE SATURDAY.
In addition, thanks to the generous support of Colby Sandlian, Sandlian Realty, more than 40 public libraries in the metro area and across the state offer access to check out passes to all temporary exhibitions at WAM for FREE! Visit your library and check out your pass today!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Lattner Family Foundation
PRINCIPAL SPONSORS
Koch Family Foundation
Sondra Langel
Sarah T. Smith
Judy Slawson Exhibition Fund
GENERAL SPONSORS
DeVore Foundation
Dondlinger Construction
Emprise Bank
The Trust Company of Kansas
Donna Bunk
Mary Eves
Toni and Bud Gates
Joey and Rich Giblin
Carol and H. Guy Glidden
Harold and Evelyn Gregg
Sonia Greteman and Chris Brunner
This exhibition has been organized by Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, in cooperation with Isabelle de Borchgrave Studio.
Wichita WORE WHAT ?
A CENTURY OF LOCAL FASHION
Paul Ross Gallery & Scott and Carol Ritchie Gallery On view through Sunday, June 18, 2023
LEFT: B.H. Wragge, Bright yellow and pink silk dress, 1960s. 38 x 15 x 18 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Museum Purchase MIDDLE: William Travilla, Floral print evening coat, 1960s. 60 x 25 x 15 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Gift of the Estate of Rosalyn Gore
RIGHT: Oscar de la Renta for Jane Derby, Multicolor evening gown with metallic thread, 1965-1966. 54 x 15 x 14 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Gift of Marian Lewin Beren
WICHITA. UNEXPECTEDLY FASHIONABLE?
Perhaps. In 1872, Marshall Murdock, the editor of the Wichita Eagle newspaper wrote: ‘The style and intelligence of the people who are setting up the homesteads and building up the frontier towns of Southwestern Kansas are often a subject of remark by those just in from the East… The great majority of those living on homesteads in this section of the state are people of refinement and taste.” Reverend John Pearse Harsen of First Presbyterian Church—anxious to defend his city against stereotypes of shootouts and saloons—was even more short and sweet when said “We are not all ruffians.”
WICHITA WORE WHAT? A Century of Local Fashion spotlights our city’s fashionable history. In 1870, Wichita officially boasted about 700 residents. By the turn of the 20th century, however, Wichita had become a major regional center offering a wide variety of shopping spots, places to see and be seen, and residents eager to assert their identities as refined citizens of the world. With nearly a dozen department stores dotting the downtown area alone, Wichitans could admire and purchase the latest styles from the East Coast and beyond. As the city continued to flourish after World War I and World War II—with the success of companies including Coleman, Mentholatum, Travel Air, Beech, Stearman, and Cessna—residents continued to embrace the most up-to-date designs.
WICHITA WORE WHAT? features clothing and accessories worn in Wichita from 1888–1988 (with a few outliers), surveying changes in both apparel and lifestyle. The exhibition includes designs by superstars like Sadie Nemser, James Galanos, Geoffrey Beene,
Norman Norell, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, and Pauline Trigère. For WAM Curator Dr. Tera Lee Hedrick, the beaded Sadie Nemser dress is a highlight. She says “I didn’t know about this designer until Jami [Frazier Tracy, co-curator of Wore What? and Curator of Collections for the WichitaSedgwick County Historical Museum] brought her to my attention a few years ago. I love her. She worked in the 1920s and is one of the earliest American female fashion designers. The beadwork is astounding. Thousands of beads are applied to tissue-thin silk and chiffon. It is miraculous the dress hasn’t just disintegrated.” Hedrick also adds, “I just look at it and feel like I’ve been transported to the Roaring 20s, and I’m dancing the Charleston at a speakeasy!”
Jami Frazier Tracy, co-curator of the exhibition, loves the chance to highlight fashion from various moments in Wichita’s history. She says, “Wichita had a long tradition of being a retail center—not just for the state but the Midwest. Fashionable men and women could shop from dozens of department stores, specialty boutiques, and later, shopping malls, to find the latest styles. Because Wichita also
Norman Norell for I. Magnin, Orange and gold matelasse evening dress with gold fringe, 1960s. 51 x 16 x 18 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
had wealthy entrepreneurs, our community had people who wanted to look good and were happy to pay for it.” In this exhibition, Tracy has special love for the 1970s and 1980s fashions and calls attention to the beaded and sequined Matisse Jacket by Bill Blass. “It was worn by Rochelle Levitt, who with her husband, Leo, owned Henry’s Department Store. Henry’s was one of the premier department stores in the Midwest. The jacket is so opulent and so in line with what we think about the 1980s—excess, volume, luxe, big shoulders, rich detail. All in one jacket. And, it references art. It features a design from the French painter Henri Matisse!”
A trip through American fashion history, the exhibition also features garments that are standouts not just for style but for their provenance—who owned and wore them. One special dress was worn by Connie Peters, the first woman elected to Wichita’s City Commission and our first female mayor. A woman of her moment, Peters wore mini-skirts while presiding over Commission meetings. Perhaps the most important garment in the show was worn by civil
rights icon Chester I. Lewis, an attorney and leader of the Wichita chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Under Lewis’s leadership, NAACP youth held the first successful student-led sit-in for civil rights in 1958 at Wichita’s Dockum Drug Store. The dashiki worn by Lewis— based on traditional tunics worn in West Africa—symbolized Lewis’ embrace of his African heritage and rejection of the status quo. Hedrick notes that “Lewis’ dashiki is a Wichita treasure, a national treasure. WAM is incredibly privileged that the Historical Museum was willing to lend it for this exhibition.”
WICHITA WORE WHAT?
is drawn from the WichitaSedgwick County Historical Museum and local collectors. The exhibition is organized in conjunction with Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper. See extraordinary paper reproductions of textiles from around the world in Isabelle de Borchgrave and enjoy an immersion in local fashion in Wichita Wore What?
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OPPOSITE PAGE: Unknown maker, Man’s woven cotton dashiki shirt, cream with tan, black and gray circles outlined with borders of gray, black and tan, about 1970. Worn by Chester I. Lewis. 22 x 27 1/2 x 7 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Gift of Brenda Lewis Davis and Michelle Lewis-Hardy
ABOVE: Geoffrey Beene, Orange, brown and gold brocade cocktail dress with beads, 1965. 32 x 15 x 12 inches. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Gift of Rochelle Levitt
TALKS + TOURS
OPENING DAY TALK
Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper
Join Dennita Sewell, exhibition curator and program director/professor of practice in the School of Art at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, to learn about this exhibition featuring Isabelle de Borchgrave’s astonishingly beautiful paper artworks that explore 500 years of fashion history.
SAT, FEBRUARY 18, 2 PM
OPENING DAY PERFORMANCES
Using the dance vocabulary of contemporary ballet, visitors will delight in a dramatic, original creation choreographed and directed by David Justin, Artistic Director at Ballet Wichita. The dancers’ costumes and set design are inspired by Isabelle de Borchgraves’ paper mastery.
SAT, FEBRUARY 18, 1 PM & 3 PM
ART CHATTER – Wichita Fashion!
Art Chatter is back with twist. Come for the same creative vibes you love—this installment focuses on all things fashion, costume, and design. You will hear from artists, designers, history buffs, and more.
FRI, MARCH 3, 7 PM
$15 general public, FREE for WAM members
ART ON A MONDAY – Wichita Fashionistas!
Join us for a luncheon inspired by the exhibition Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper. ICT Fashion Maven Bonnie Bing will be in conversation with Allison Baker, owner of Aspen Boutique, and Wichita fashion designer Hazel Stabler. Allison returned to Wichita in 2019, leaving a corporate job in finance and bought local favorite Aspen Boutique, a clothing and accessories store. She later opened The Vault Collection and both stores sell vintage luxury gems. Stabler’s Yaqui and Ojibwe heritage influence her designs. Her collections have been shown on the runways of New York, Paris, and Milan. Pick up fresh inspiration from this fashion trifecta.
MON, MARCH 6, NOON
$40 general public, $35 for WAM members
SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF WAM
14 COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING
MURDOCK MIXOLOGY
The 2023 theme of Murdock Mixology is The Year of Living Artists! These conversations feature an artist whose work was newly acquired for the permanent collection of WAM. Prior to each conversation, gather with Murdock Members and local creatives from Harvester Arts over a glass of wine or artful cocktail created by an Elderslie mixologist and enjoy tunes spun by DJ for the Win.
Murdock Mixology is a FREE program for Murdock Members, including Renegades, Ambassadors, Visionaries, and Futurists. Want to elevate your membership? Learn more about how you can upgrade: wichitaartmuseum.org/membership
IN CONVERSATION
Artist Robert Peterson with WAM Director/ CEO Anne Kraybill
In 2012, Robert Peterson, after receiving word from his doctors that he needed surgery to replace his hip, picked up a paintbrush for the first time as a means to relieve his fear of going under the knife. After painting a few works, Peterson’s work began to sell and just eight months later he had his first solo exhibition in New York City at Smile Design Gallery. Ten years later, Peterson’s paintings began to evolve and focus more on the black experience through the lens of his life which is projected onto each new work stating that, “My art is my truth and my voice, it reflects a softer side of black people often not portrayed in the media and yet it still finds a way to show our strength and resilience, something that I want to see more of in galleries and museums.’’ WAM’s new acquisition Sunday Kind of Love exemplifies this with an intimate portrayal that is representative of Peterson and his wife, Marina, quietly laying together and listening to each other’s heartbeat. Learn more about Peterson’s life experience and artistic practice during this intimate conversation with Director/CEO Anne Kraybill.
THURS, MARCH 30, 5:30 PM
IN CONVERSATION –Artist Sharif Bey with Carnegie Museum of Art Curator Rachel Delphi
Born as one of twelve children, Sharif Bey was raised in a large African American family in Pittsburgh. While many of the men in his family left school for jobs in industry, Bey had a pivotal experience as a high schooler at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild (MCG), a community center that inspires creativity, learning, and personal growth through the arts. MCG played a formative role for Bey throughout his teens, giving him a foundation of skills and extensive ceramicsworld connections. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Bey studied sculpture at The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. Later, he earned his BFA from Slippery Rock University, his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and PhD (in art education) from Pennsylvania State University. Inspired by modernism, functional pottery, Oceanic, African art, and art of the African diaspora, Bey’s ceramic/glass/mix-media works investigate the cultural and political significance of adornment and the symbolic and formal properties of archetypal motifs, while questioning how the meaning of icons and function transform across cultures and time. Join him in conversation with Rachel Delphia, the Alan G. and Jane A. Lehman Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at Carnegie Museum of Art, organizer of the exhibition Sharif Bey: Excavations and coeditor of the accompanying publication.
THURS, MAY 4, 5:30 PM
HOWARD E. WOODEN SPEAKER SERIES
– Generation Paper: A Fashion Phenom of the 1960s
Helen Jean, Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum, will give a talk about the fascinating fashion
phenomenon that occurred during the late 1960s. Paper dresses, jumpsuits, rompers, accessories and even bikinis began popping up in major department stores and corner general stores, on celebrities and even at the beach! Learn about the history of the marketing scheme that set the entire fad in motion, and the experimental textile technology that occurred as a result. This illustrated lecture will look at over 50 garments and accessories with detailed photographs of textiles, construction methods and interior shots of objects to explore this exciting, experimental and extremely short-lived moment in fashion’s history.
FRI, APRIL 28, 6 PM | FREE for All SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF WAM
ASK ME! TOURS
Deepen your enjoyment and learning about the exhibition Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper by talking with docents who will share their knowledge and insights. No reservations necessary, but exhibition tickets, available at the Welcome Desk, are required.
SAT, MARCH 11 | 1 TO 3 PM
SAT, APRIL 8 | 1 TO 3 PM
SAT, MAY 6 | 1 TO 3 PM
DROP-IN SCULPTURE TOUR IN THE ART GARDEN
With a WAM Docent as your guide, explore our open-air museum. Meet in the museum’s Boeing Foyer. This tour focuses on outdoor sculpture in the garden, not landscaping design or botanicals.
SUN, MAY 14 | 10:30 TO 11:30 AM
SAT, MAY 20 | 10:30 TO 11:30 AM
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CONCERTS +PERFORMANCES
PONDER THIS:
Verbal Expressions of the Divine Ponder This brings spoken word poetry and gospel music together for a special evening. Poets and gospel musicians will explore hardhitting topics and their personal relationships with community, faith, and hope. NOTE: As an art form, the expression and perspective can be brash and hard-hitting and will not suit all audiences.
SUN, FEBRUARY 26, 6 PM
$15 general public, $10 for WAM members
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY:
Akropolis Reed Quintet
Celebrating their 13th year making music with a “collective voice driven by real excitement and a sense of adventure” (The Wire), Akropolis has “taken the chamber music world by storm” (Fanfare). As the first reed quintet to grace the Billboard Charts (May 2021), the untamed band of five reed players and entrepreneurs are united by a shared passion: to make music that sparks joy and wonder.
SUN, MARCH 19, 5 PM
$30 general public, $25 for WAM members
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY : Outburst Chamber Orchestra
The Outburst Chamber Orchestra serves as CMSICT’s resident group and it brings together the most dedicated chamber musicians from the region. The ensemble’s variety of instrumental combinations allow for performances of virtually the full range of repertoire available in the western classical tradition.
SUN, APRIL 16, 5 PM
$30 general public, $25 for WAM members
THE WICHITA JAZZ FESTIVAL COMES TO WAM!
For nearly 50 years, the Wichita Jazz Festival has been celebrating the history and legacy of jazz music while encouraging and developing the next generation of musicians and helping build on the love for one of the oldest genres of music in the world.
THE DELANO JAZZ ORCHESTRA WITH GUEST ARTIST MARCUS LEWIS ON TROMBONE
The Delano Jazz Orchestra performs the great music of the most iconic big bands such as Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, and others. Marcus Lewis hails from Kansas City where he leads his own quintet and an 18-piece big band. His most recent album “Brass and Boujee” is riding high on the Billboard jazz charts. He is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory.
WED, APRIL 19, 6 PM
$30 general public, $25 for WAM members
“NIGHT OF THE GUITAR” concert and Wes Bound movie premiere
The “Night of Guitar” concert will feature three of Wichita’s most well-known jazz guitarists: William Flynn, Randy Zellers, and Kenny White. 2023 is the 100th Anniversary of one of the most influential guitarists in jazz, Wes Montgomery. Robert Montgomery (Wes’ son) will present the film that he directed, chronicling the life and struggles of his father, and host a Q&A session immediately following.
THURS, APRIL 20, 6 PM
$20 general public, $15 for WAM members
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PHOTO: KARI LANDRY
COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING
PHOTO: MARK SHELDON
TERELL STAFFORD with the Mid-Kansas Jazz Ensemble and WSU Jazz Arts
Friday’s concert will feature Terell Stafford, trumpeter, performing with the Mid-Kansas Jazz Ensemble and the WSU Jazz Arts 1. Terell Stafford has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Terell is based in New York City, where he is a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University.
FRI, APRIL 21, 6 PM
$30 general public, $25 for WAM members
ART
& KRIMES | Documentary and Panel Discussion
While locked up for six years in federal prison, artist Jesse Krimes secretly creates monumental works of art, including an astonishing 30-foot mural made with prison bed sheets, hair gel, and newspaper. Art & Krimes by Krimes takes a hard look at the issues facing our justice system from systemic racism to recidivism and the far-reaching consequences of a criminal record. Following the 80-minute documentary, our panel of experts will reflect on the film itself and the state of our justice system—touching on the challenges facing returned citizens, the imbalances of the justice system, and how art is used within the prison system.
WED, FEBRUARY 15, 6 PM
$15 general public, $10 for WAM members
MAMA.FILM SERIES *
Whether subtle or extravagant, a film’s costume design conveys its social fabric—the essential storytelling elements of time, place, personality and more. In conjunction with Isabelle De Borchgrave’s exquisite exhibition, WAM and mama.film have curated a series of films that span the decades, to celebrate the art of costume design on screen. These films feature iconic costumes that are unforgettable and often scene stealing. Joining us are local experts and aficionados who will contextualize the costumes as they relate to each story.
$10 general public, FREE for WAM members
MARIE ANTOINETTE *
Directed by Sofia Coppola, 2006
An Austrian teenager (Kirsten Dunst) marries the Dauphin (Jason Schwartzman) of France and becomes that country’s queen following the death of King Louis XV (Judy Davis) in 1774. Years later, after a life of luxury and privilege, Marie Antoinette loses her head during the French Revolution. (Winner, Best Costume Design 2007, Academy Awards)
FRI, MARCH 10, 6:30 PM
FILMS
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA , QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Directed by Stephan Elliot, 1994
When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow cross-dresser Adam (Guy Pearce) and transsexual Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and homophobic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship. (Winner, Best Costume Design 1995 Academy Awards).
FRI, MARCH 24, 6:30 PM
PURPLE RAIN *
Directed by Alberto Magnoli, 1984
A victim of his own anger, the Kid (Prince) is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his truculent father (Clarence Williams III), the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with a captivating singer, Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero). But another musician, Morris (Morris Day), looks to steal the Kid’s spotlight—and his girl.
FRI, MAY 12, 6:30 PM
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*
JUST FOR SENIORS
Senior Wednesdays are informational and entertaining sessions, designed for active seniors ages 55 & older and offered by a collaboration of Wichita museums and cultural institutions.
ALL SENIOR WEDNESDAYS ARE $2 GENERAL PUBLIC, FREE TO WAM MEMBERS
SENIOR WEDNESDAY: Crafted with Love
Make Valentine’s Day extra special this year with a handmade Valentine from this make-it/take-it workshop.
WED, FEBRUARY 1, 10:30 AM
SENIOR WEDNESDAY: That’s Paper?
Take a guided tour of Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper, WAM’s newest exhibition of historical fashions crafted entirely from paper.
WED, MARCH 1, 10:30 AM
SENIOR WEDNESDAY: Wichita Wore What?
Dr. Tera Hedrick from the Wichita Art Museum and Jami Frazier Tracy from the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum will talk about our city’s century of fashion from 1888 to 1988.
WED, APRIL 5, 10:30 AM
SENIOR WEDNESDAY: Artist Talk
Sarah Kephart and Hannah Christenson will discuss the Envision Art Gallery and how blind and visually impaired artists create art using their other senses.
WED, MAY 3, 10:30 AM
SPECIAL EVENTS
SPARKLE, GLITTER, GLSEN Valentine’s Day Party
Bring your sweetie for an evening of dinner and dancing, under the dazzling Chihuly chandelier in the S. Jim and Darla Farha Great Hall as GLSEN Kansas presents Sparkle Glitter GLSEN at Valentine’s, our first in-person event since 2019. GLSEN Kansas’ mission is to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
SAT, FEBRUARY 11
6:15 pm | VIP Reception
7 to 10 pm | Dinner and dancing
$100 general public, $150 VIP
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION Cocktail Reception
WAM invites members to raise a glass in celebration of our dedicated volunteers. As an additional gift, WAM volunteers can show their pin to receive 30% off in the Museum Store in April, which is National Volunteer Month.
FRI, APRIL 28, 5 PM
IDB FASHION Closing Party
Going out with a bang—cocktail in hand! Come for a night of flamboyant fashion, art, music, bites and booze to celebrate the last weekend of the IDB exhibition. If you experienced a WAM Color Party or heard the tales, you won’t want to miss WAM’s new Closing Party.
SAT, MAY 13, 8 TO 11 PM
$50 general public, $25 for Murdock Members
FRIENDS OF WAM Readiculous Book Sale!
FRI, MAY 5 | 5 TO 9 PM
SAT, MAY 6 | 10 AM TO 5 PM
SUN, MAY 7 | 10 AM TO 5 PM
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COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING UP @ W A M • COMING
YOUTH + FAMILY
ART START
Art Start is a free program for children ages 3 to 5 to learn, imagine and engage with art. The theme changes each month, so come back once a month for a fresh take on the museum! Advance registration is required and space is limited.
FEBRUARY: We Love Colors!
Mixing and discovering colors has never been so much fun! Mix, squish, and dance with all your favorite colors.
FEBRUARY 2, 9, 16, 23
10:30 TO 11:30 AM OR 1:30 TO 2:30 PM
MARCH: Clouds in the Sky
A cloudy day is the perfect day to imagine, create, and discover! What will you see in the clouds?
MARCH 2, 9, 23, 30
10:30 TO 11:30 AM OR 1:30 TO 2:30 PM
APRIL: A Royal Good Time
Calling all kings and queens, princes and princesses! Travel back to medieval times and explore the kingdom.
APRIL 6, 13, 20, 27
10:30 TO 11:30 AM OR 1:30 TO 2:30 PM
MAY: Wiggle and Wobble
Explore lines that wiggle and wobble. Give your body and mind a workout with fun activities designed to move you.
MAY 4, 11, 18
10:30 TO 11:30 AM OR 1:30 TO 2:30 PM
SPRING BREAK ARTCATION
Go on a vacation without leaving the museum! Each day, visit the beach, the mountains, and other vacation destinations by exploring works of art in the galleries. Create a souvenir of your visit with fun artmaking. Drop in for one or spend all three days at WAM.
WED, MARCH 15 THROUGH FRI, MARCH 17, 1 TO 4 PM
FAMILY ARTVENTURES
WE LOVE COLORS!
Brighten up your February with a dose of color! Celebrate and explore a variety of bold and beautiful colors in fun artmaking and art looking activities around the Museum. What will your favorite color be?
SAT, FEBRUARY 25, 11 AM TO 3 PM
THE LITTLE READ
Experience the joy of reading and art together as part of The Big Read Wichita brought to you by the Wichita Public Library. Enjoy activities based on the Little Read companion book selections which celebrate family, the bonds between generations, and discovering the true meaning of home. Bring your family to make art and memories.
SAT, MARCH 25, 11 AM TO 3 PM
PLAYFUL PATTERNS
Playful patterns make fashion and art pop. Explore how you can use symmetry and repetition to create stunning designs that bring art to life. Be inspired by the special exhibition Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper and design your own masterpiece.
SAT, APRIL 22, 11 AM TO 3 PM
ANI-MAY
Step into the world of anime for the month of May. Enjoy anime films and create your own anime character. Get in the spirit by coming dressed as your favorite character!
SAT, MAY 27, 11 AM TO 3 PM
CUBING AT THE MUSEUM—2023
Speedcubing is a fast-paced competition to solve the world’s favorite puzzle—Rubik’s Cubes! Stop by to watch competitors solve Rubik’s Cubes and other twisty puzzles (4x4, 5x5 cubes, Pyraminx, and even blindfolded!). The World Cube Association sets standardized competition environments and judging standards for solving puzzles in a fun environment. Records set in these competitions are recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
SAT, MARCH 4, 8 AM TO 6 PM
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
20 02/01 – Senior Wednesday 02/11 – GLSEN Valentine’s Day Party 02/15 – Mama.film: Art & Krimes 02/18 – Exhibition Opening Day for Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper 02/25 – Family ArtVenture 02/26 – Ponder This 03/01 – Senior Wednesday 03/03 – Art Chatter 03/04 – Cubing at the Museum 2023 03/06 – Art on a Monday 03/10 – Mama.film: Marie Antoinette 03/11 – Ask Me! Tour 03/15 - Artcation 03/16 - Artcation 03/17 - Artcation 03/19 – Chamber Music Society of Wichita Concert 03/30 – Murdock Mixology 03/24 – Mama.film: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 03/25 – Family ArtVenture 04/05 – Senior Wednesday 04/08 – Ask Me! Tour 04/16 – Chamber Music Society of Wichita Concert 04/19 – Wichita Jazz Festival 04/20 – Wichita Jazz Festival 04/21 – Wichita Jazz Festival 04/22 – Family ArtVenture 04/28 – Howard E. Wooden Speaker Series and Volunteer Appreciation Reception 05/03 – Senior Wednesday 05/04 – Murdock Mixology 05/05 – Friends of WAM Readiculous Book Sale 05/06 – Ask Me! Tour 05/06 – Friends of WAM Readiculous Book Sale 05/07 – Friends of WAM Readiculous Book Sale 05/08 – Ask Me! Tour 05/12 – Mama.film: Purple Rain 05/13 - Closing Party for Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper 05/14 – Art Garden Sculpture Tour 05/14 – Final Day for Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper 05/19 – Ponder This 05/20 – Art Garden Sculpture Tour 05/27 – Family ArtVenture
These
See
what’s sprung up!
Silhouettes are distinctive and easily recognized among loyal fans for their artistic themes, including bee and butterfly motifs that are evocative of old Italian wax seals, vintage-influenced coins and crosses. Collections are inspired by her fine arts education, travels throughout Europe, and elements of nature and architecture. All Susan Shaw jewelry is handmade in the U.S.
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SUSAN SHAW JEWELRY
ISABELLE DE BORCHGRAVE PLACE SETTINGS
The painterly floral print of de Borchgrave features bold blooms and a loose brushstroke border–perfect for spring!
AYCA DESIGN HANDWOVEN SILK VELVET BAGS, CLUTCHES & POUCHES
are the perfect fashion accessory in artful designs and colors.
INITIALLY, THE PAINTINGS THAT I CREATED WERE BASED SOLELY ON STOCK IMAGES OF CELEBRITIES THAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET. AS I GREW AS AN ARTIST, SO DID MY DESIRE TO BECOME MORE CREATIVE, AND SO I BEGAN PHOTOGRAPHING MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN THAT I KNOW. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, MY PAINTINGS BEGAN TO EVOLVE AND FOCUS MORE ON THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AS I KNOW IT THROUGH MY LIFE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY PROJECTED ONTO EACH NEW WORK. MY ART IS MY TRUTH AND MY VOICE. IT REFLECTS A SOFTER SIDE OF BLACK PEOPLE OFTEN NOT PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA, AND YET IT STILL FINDS A WAY TO SHOW OUR STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS.
ARTIST ROBERT PETERSON
EXPANDING THE STORIES WE TELL New Acquisitions by Robert Peterson & Sharif Bey
The Wichita Art Museum continually collects new artwork to expand the stories we tell in our galleries and the histories we preserve for future generations. With 2023 already emerging as an extraordinary
year for additions to the collection, WAM is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Sunday Kind of Love by Robert Peterson and Nestle III by Sharif Bey.
Monumental in scale at nearly five feet by 10 feet, Sunday Kind of Love features an entwined couple lounging on their bed, enjoying a moment of relaxation and connection. Although friends posed for the painting, the couple references artist Robert Peterson, his wife Marina, and
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their life together. After long days working and parenting, they reconnect by curling up together and listening to each other’s heartbeats. Contemporary artist Peterson— who lives only a few hours away in Lawton, Oklahoma—uses his art to celebrate African American experiences, especially the joy found in family, friends, and relationships. Astoundingly, he comes by his ability through talent, passion, hard work, and drive—a self-taught artist who did not attend art school, he picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 2012. His work has been widely exhibited regionally and nationally during the last 10 years.
Peterson shares that his paintings celebrate the “Black experience as I know it” to show the “softer side of Black people often not portrayed in the media,” such as moments of joy, relaxation, playfulness, and intimacy. In 2022, the United States Postal Service
commissioned Peterson to paint author Ernest J. Gaines for the Postal Service’s long-running Black Heritage series. This prestigious honor underscores Peterson’s rising star, and memorializing both the acclaimed Black author and Peterson’s art on a Forever stamp is fitting given Peterson’s goal for his subjects to “live forever through my work.”
In the few weeks Sunday Kind of Love has been on view at WAM, our visitors have stood transfixed by what Peterson calls his “spontaneous realism.” The artist renders the human body, glowing flesh tones, and the textures of hair and fabric so precisely and skillfully that his paintings seem threedimensional. Perhaps even more striking is his ability to convey a whole world and story in a single face or pose with just a few details. Indeed, each figure in a painting is imbued by the artist with love and care.
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Robert Peterson, Sunday Kind of Love (detail), 2022. Oil on canvas, 54 x 114 inches. Collection of the Wichita Art Museum. Photo courtesy Robert Peterson
Peterson typically bases his paintings on photographs he or a photographer he commissions has taken of family or friends. Before he photographed men, women, and children he knows—recreating the images in large scale on canvas—he worked from photos of celebrities, such as Muhammad Ali and President and Mrs. Obama. He shoots his models in black-and-white, and the artist selects a few frames to use as reference photos. Studying his models in grayscale leaves Peterson more space for painting his models in his own way, playing up the dimensionality of Black skin tones under studio light. His distinctive style— in which glints of reflected light on his subjects’ collarbones, noses, and shoulders are colorful and iridescent, like the sheen of a pearl—renders skin like a precious material.
Peterson also emphasizes his models’ tattoos, clothing, and hairstyles—often setting off mens’ durags, for example—to insert contemporary Black American culture into the history of portraiture. By responding to centuries of traditions for depicting distinguished people in European and American portraits, Peterson honors Black individuality today—emphasizing tenderness, confidence, and self-expression in his community at large rather than the wealth and power of a precious few.
THE SCULPTURE Nestle III is another important acquisition for the permanent collection, layered with complex ideas about power, history, and the Black experience. At nearly three feet by three feet, Nestle III is a dramatically oversized necklace made from glowing gold and purple glass beads, each slightly curved and resembling teeth, claws, or feathers. The glass beads reference objects that have intrigued artist Sharif Bey throughout his career: bones, fossils, rock and plant forms,
and archaeological finds from Oceania and Africa. Nestle III also responds to the importance of beads and adornment in African cultures— Bey’s series of sculptural necklaces was inspired by a photograph of a Berber girl in North Africa wearing heavy amber necklaces, which the artist notes “didn’t look comfortable,” and are worn not just for their beauty but because they instill their wearer with power.
As in all of Bey’s artwork, Nestle III brims with other references, including the importance of beads to enslaved people in the American South who may have bartered with them and contemporary urban “bling.” Throughout his career, the artist has been fascinated by objects that are functional— like beaded jewelry or pots—that become more than functional. They transcend their use to symbolize power, community, opulence, individuality, and other values.
As both an artist and professor at Syracuse University, Bey combines his intellectual curiosity, scholarly research, and love of physically making art to create work that is not simply beautiful but layered with history, cultural critique, and knowledge
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of biology and geology. These lifelong interests go back to Bey’s childhood in Pittsburgh wandering the halls of the Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where he was inspired by Kongo sculptures from Central Africa, as well as his first exposure to ceramics as a teenager. Bey often reminisces about his “antiimperialist” upbringing and parents who raised him and his 11 brothers and sisters and taught them to question everything, particularly media narratives
Bey works mostly in ceramics but also in glass and other media. The foundation of his art is the pinch pot—one of the oldest pottery making methods, and one that is alive and well today in children’s art classrooms, where potters press clay between their fingers and thumbs, spreading the clay thinner as it forms into a rounded hollow shape. Bey originally made the bead shapes that look like bird skulls, tusks, and bones in clay before turning to glass, like he did for Nestle III. He compares the many, many beads that he makes—which eventually become
the building blocks of a finished work—to the individual letters that make up a much larger thought. “The metaphor that I use [is]...letters becoming words and words becoming sentences, becoming paragraphs… One of these beads might serve as a letter in a much bigger conversation.”
Pinch pots and beads are just two examples of ancient customs that show up in contemporary culture and fascinate Bey:
“THERE SHOULD BE A HUMILITY THAT COMES OUT OF THE AWESOMENESS OF THAT WHICH IS ALREADY HERE AND THAT WAS HERE LONG BEFORE US.
He admires beautifully formed elements of the natural world, too—like dinosaur bones and brilliantly colored birds. “Sometimes we have these fragments of history, and those of us artists who are inspired by…the mystery of these objects have to kind of fill in the blanks,” he explains. Bey associates the idea of craft—making utilitarian objects in materials like glass, wood, metal, ceramic, and fiber—with quiet, listening, and humility. In academic contexts, craft traditions are sometimes considered less sophisticated, intellectual, or impressive than so-called fine art practices such as oil painting and bronze sculpture. Bey embraces that quiet quality of his art to encourage viewers to slow down—“listening a little harder, focusing a little more… think[ing] differently about how time passes.”
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Sharif Bey, Nestle III, 2021. Glass and mixed media, 33 x 33 x 3 inches. Wichita Art Museum, Museum purchase, F. Price Cossman Memorial Trust, INTRUST Bank, Trustee
LEADERS
MATT CORTEZ is president of GLMV Architecture and is a licensed architect in 40 states. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and from Wichita State University in 2009 with a master’s in business administration. Matt moved to Wichita from St. Joseph, Missouri, 20 years ago to work with Jeff Van Sickle (past chair of WAM’s Board of Trustees) at what was formerly known as McCluggage Van Sickle & Perry, now GLMV. Matt’s hobbies include family adventures with his wife, Hilary Cortez, and children Vivian and Bohden, as well as working out and golfing. In 2020, Matt served as the point person at GLMV during the WAM’s renovation/reinstallation of the Boeing Foyer, Living Room, and the S. Jim and Darla Farha Great Hall. He also is a past presenter at Art Chatter, WAM’s Friday night event featuring local creatives.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VISUAL ARTIST AND WHY?
Picasso. His art is visually stimulating because his work always has different meanings than what is perceived on the canvas. His intention then becomes a catalyst for conversation about what his art truly means, which usually means different things to different people—that is the value that art brings.
LAI-L DAUGHERTY is the Director of Student Engagement at WSU Tech and a Wichita native. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in leadership from Southwestern College in Winfield. In the community, she serves on board leadership for the Wichita Educational Foundation and Arts Partners. She is an active volunteer for the Kansas Children’s Service League, Miss Kansas Organization, Kansas Higher Education Professionals, and the Wichita Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lai-L was named one of the Wichita Business Journal’ s “40 Under 40” in 2018 and is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Wichita, sponsored by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. Lai-L and her husband, Damon, have been married for eight years and enjoy traveling and spending time with their family and friends.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORK OF ART AND WHY?
Melina by local artist Hannah Haas. The details of the oil painting are mesmerizing. The honeycomb weaved into the focal point’s naturally coiled hair, highlights the beauty of the artwork. I have a Melina print in my home, and I’m always noticing new elements of the painting.
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SONDRA LANGEL is a familiar face at WAM and is rejoining the Board as an at-large member of the Executive Committee. She first became a museum trustee in 2012 and served as Chair in 2017 and 2018. Sondra has been a volunteer and community activist in Wichita for most of her adult life. She served the Wichita Junior League as president and, at one time, as the League’s registered lobbyist at the Kansas Legislature. She was director of Kansas Action for Children and president of the Ronald McDonald Houses, The Wichita Youth Home, and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) and served for many years on the board of Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Sondra also is a published author of two books: Wichita Artists in Their Studios, featuring interviews with 50 local artists, and Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club, highlighting the history and recipes of a 127-year-old Wichita club that still meets monthly. She is currently working on her third book, Crave, Covet, Collect: The Stories of Wichita’s Treasure Hunters.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT THE WICHITA ART MUSEUM?
WAM is a welcoming place. We have comfy furniture in the Great Hall, and we will have a new restaurant—Elderslie Farm —serving visitors. We want to be a place where visitors feel free to spend spare hours with friends.
MEET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD WHO WILL BE GUIDING OUR ORGANIZATION’S FUTURE. THEIR BIOS ARE FOLLOWED BY A FUN GET-TO-KNOW YOU QUESTION ABOUT ART OR THE MUSEUM.
LAUREN “L” MERCADO joins the Board having served as a member of WAM Contemporaries (now Renegades), the museum’s “young at art” membership group. She has a fashion business degree from Fashion Careers College in San Diego where she worked extensively in the fashion industry. Lauren moved back to Wichita in 2015 and opened a local boutique, Handpicked Los Angeles. She focused on being a place in Wichita where visitors could experience more than just purchasing on-trend styles—she found it essential to create a space for young people to immerse themselves in fashion, music, and the arts together through her instore events. Being a fashion boutique owner helped Lauren bring opportunities to aspiring fashion professionals through photoshoots and wardrobe stylist training while also providing mentoring and fashion internships through Kansas State University. Since closing her boutique in 2019, Lauren transitioned into helping small business owners with her new agency, Show Up on Social, which brings style and strategy to digital/social media marketing and in-store experiences.
WHICH ART MUSEUM DO YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHY?
I love the Met because of its expansive and diverse collection. As a fashion industry professional, the Met Gala is always one of my favorite times of the year. Fashion is sometimes overlooked as a form of art, but not at the Met.
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FRESH FACES
BRAD HOCH is the museum’s Director of Security and Facilities, a new position at the museum responsible for overseeing security and facility functions for WAM’s daily operations, including events, public programs, and facility rentals. In addition to supervising Security and Facility staff, Brad will be responsible for building maintenance as well as the museum’s security planning and procedures. Prior to joining WAM, Brad, a Wichita native, was a 35-year veteran of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, most recently serving as Captain before he retired in January. His career in law enforcement began with the Wichita State University Police Department where he also received his bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice.
MOLLY MCFERSON is WAM’s Director of Learning, Engagement and Partnerships (LEAP), a new position dedicated to the creation of programming, partnerships and interpretation to ensure the museum is accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all audiences. McFerson’s extensive museum experience includes two Dallasbased institutions, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Dallas Museum of Art, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Prior to joining WAM, McFerson, a Derby, Kansas native, transitioned to teaching and was the Gifted Facilitator at Derby High School. She has a master’s degree in art history from the University of Kansas and a bachelor’s in anthropology and art history also from KU.
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B A L L E T W I C H I T A A R T I S T H E O N L Y W A Y T O R U N A W A Y W I T H O U T L E A V I N G H O M E . – T W Y L A T H A R P A M E R I C A N D A N C E R & C H O R E O G R A P H E R B A L L E T W I C H I T A . C O M P H O T O : E R I C F I S H E R
As we get ever closer to opening 1400 by Elderslie, Chef Katharine Elder has expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community in such a unique space! Having grown up in the arts, she is inspired by the dedication of so many visual artists in their life-long pursuits of excellence, expression, and adorning the lives of others. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to infuse her work in food with stories and inspiration drawn from the art around her.
The launch of 1400 by Elderslie will also coincide with an exciting change to our hours! WAM will be open Friday evenings until 9 pm. Look forward to enjoying meals and drinks with friends, fun pop-up performances and activities, classes for youth, and, when the weather cooperates, drinks out on the Dan and Frank Carney Sculpture Deck.
As Katharine and her team develop the menu for 1400, she is “delighted to share some long-time Elderslie favorites, elegant but not-too-fussy lunch built upon the work of our local growers (and goats!) as well as some new bold flavors to share for brunch!” 1400’s menu will remain dedicated to seasonality and locality as Elder gives an artistic flair to each dish and beverage. 1400 by Elderslie will have pastries, coffee, and such with lunch service beginning at 11 am Wednesday through Friday and brunch starting at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday. The bar menu will have non-alcoholic and boozy craft cocktails, beer, and a carefully selected wine list to accompany our dishes.
Elder has stated that as spring seems to come sooner every year at Elderslie Farm she is ecstatic that their farm will be back in full swing in time to share their farmstead cheeses on charcuterie boards in the afternoons as well as on Fridays when 1400 remains open into the evening!
STAY TUNED TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE TO STAY APPRISED OF THE OPENING DATE FOR 1400 BY ELDERSLIE AND
WAM’S NEW HOURS!
2022 MEMORIALS AND HONORS 2022 PATRONS AND BENEFACTORS
LOUISE BEREN
Sherana and Ronald Abderhalden
Vida and Ken Adamek
Joann Baugh
Fred and Sue Berry
John and Cindy Carnahan
Marla and Charles Chandler
Christopher Coffin
Nancy Cohlmia
Mary S. Cowdery
Monique Debroeck
Bill and Alta DeVore
Shirley Dorsey
Lotti Eichhorn
J. Frank Fair and Martha Bruce Fair
Lee Gee
Ruthie and Jim Gillespie
Gayla Jarboe
Melanie and Charles Jenney
Jeff Kennedy and Patti Gorham
Harold E. Kieler
Sondra M. Langel
Pam Porvaznik
Dr. Patricia McDonnell and Larry Schwarm
Judy Meredith
Diane and Bob Moore
Mary Lynn Oliver
Sharol and Robert Rasberry
Carol Ritchie
Novelene Ross and Dwight Corrin
Dorothy Schneider
Heather and Gene Schultz
Gwen Sevart
Debbie and Ron Sinclair
Mrs. Sarah T. Smith
Betty Sullivan
Sue and Kurt Watson
Wi-Fi Alliance
Leslie O. Wilson
DONALDA EDWARDS
Dana and Marvin Albertson
Vanessa Klein
Donna and Willi Richert
Linda and Luther Yakel
Jerelyn Young
PAMELA KINGSBURY
Koch Siedhoff Hand & Dunn
Novelene Ross and Dwight Corrin
GLADYS KOEPKE
Maggie Madden
TIM SCHOONOVER
Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas
Karen and Patric Hamit
Kevin McElgunn
JILL WHITE
Deborah Donaldson
Carol A. Ebel
Sara Engber
Jill Hattan
Larry and Barbara Hays
Mim and Kieth Hiesterman
Kathleen Raymond
Gina Reyes
Tera and Scott Riggs
Roger Rufenacht
Patricia Schroeder
Betty Schultz
Diane and Jim Swartzendruber
Loal Wilson
Michael Zabel
IN HONOR
JUNE RUTLEDGE
Jane Shaw’s No Dice Group
YOU ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL THE WICHITA ART MUSEUM IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE. MEMBERS, PATRONS, PARTNERS, AND MUSEUM FRIENDS HELP WAM CONTINUE TO BE A HUB OF OUR COMMUNITY’S CULTURAL VIBRANCY. YOUR GENEROSITY AND PARTNERSHIP PROPELS US FORWARD AND ALLOWS THE MUSEUM TO BE A MAGNET FOR ALL VISITORS TO ENCOUNTER WORLD-CLASS ART AND LIVELY PROGRAMS.
2022 MAJOR DONORS
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE SOCIETY
Louise Beren †
Burneta Adair Endowment
City of Wichita
Claire Lorraine Colaw and Grace Charlene Crane
Charitable Trust
F. Price Cossman Memorial Trust, INTRUST Bank, Trustee
Paula and Barry Downing
Friends of the Wichita Art Museum
John W. and Mildred L. Graves Memorial Fund
Lattner Family Foundation
Jayne and Glenn Milburn Fund
Lynne Ruffin-Smith
Charitable Foundation
Colby Sandlian, Sandlian Realty
Slawson Family
MARY CASSATT SOCIETY
DeVore Foundation
Emprise Bank
Panfila Galvan Trust
Koch Family Foundation
Sondra M. Langel
Mosby Lincoln Foundation
Judy Slawson Family
Exhibition Fund
The Trust Company of Kansas
Dot Shannon
WINSLOW HOMER SOCIETY
Charles Baker
Fred and Sue Berry
Kansas Creative Arts
Industries Commission
Rynthia and David Mitchell
Stev L. Overstreet
Sharol and Robert Rasberry
Sarah T. Smith
Stephen and Ann Starch Fund
Stone Family Foundation
EDWARD HOPPER SOCIETY
Donna J. Bunk
Commerce Bank
Tom and Colleen Dondlinger
J. Eric Engstrom and Robert Bell
Mary Eves
Joey and Rich Giblin
Ruthie and Jim Gillespie
Carol and H. Guy Glidden
Dr. Harold and Evelyn Gregg
Sonia Greteman and Chris Brunner
Caroline and William Hayes
Helen and Ed Healy
IMA Financial Group
Delmar and Mary Klocke
Dee Rolph
Suzie and Errol Luginbill
Mike and Dee Michaelis
Jan and Steve Randle
Betsy and Scott Redler
Shaw Family Foundation
Debbie and Ron Sinclair
Mary Sue Smith
Barbara Thompson
2022 GIFT-IN-KIND
Paula and Barry Downing
J. Eric Engstrom
Friends of the Wichita Art Museum
Charles Haddox
Innes Phillips Estate
Print Society of Greater Kansas City
JOHN STEUART CURRY SOCIETY
Charles Baker
Connie Bonfy
Donna J. Bunk
Paula and Barry Downing
J. Eric Engstrom
Mildred Graves Weir
Sonia Greteman and Chris Brunner
Jeff Kennedy and Patricia Gorham
James Gross
Ellie Keppy
Delmar and Mary Klocke
Dr. George and Eleanor Lucas
Jerry Martin
Glenda McNew
Russ and Helen Meyer
Marlene Phillips
Carol Ritchie
Dr. Patricia McDonnell and Larry Schwarm
Chris Shank and Anna Anderson
Dot Shannon
Susan and Chris Addington
Dr. Richard and Suzie Ahlstrand
Tammy and Lionel Alford
Gretchen and Stanley Andeel
Donna Ard
Mrs. E.W. Armstrong
Kay Bartel
Kate and Clay Bastian
Sharon and Clark Bastian
Carolina and Michael Bates
Ann and Martin Bauer
Michael J. Bayouth
Patty and Bill Bennett
Denita Benyshek
Kathryn and Steve Black
Connie Bonfy
Lori and David Bowlin
Dr. John and Nancy Brammer
Doug Brantner
Susie and William Braun III
Bunny and Bob Broeckelman
Anthony J. Caputo and LewJene Schneider
Cynthia and Richard Carl
John and Cindy Carnahan
Gerri Colgan and Michael Klaassen
Lois and Norman Carr
Marla and Charles Chandler
Anne K. Coffin
DeLonna and Ron Coleman
Bree and Jason Cox
Margaret and Lee Crawford
Rosemary Davenport
Carolyn and David Denver
Richard and Miriam DeVore
Bill and Alta DeVore
Jill Docking
Shirley Dorsey
Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co.
Mark Eaton
Lexi and Drew Elder
Stephen A. English
Carol and Norman Farha
Sara and Jim Farley
Dr. Alan and Sharon Fearey
Kimberly Krohn and John Fishpaw
Foulston Siefkin LLP
Kyle Futo
K. Gary Gibbs and Deborah Gafvert
Tony Gallardo
Toni and Bud Gates
Judy and Hew Goodpasture
Karen and Jim Graves
The Gridley Family Foundation
John and Karen Hageman
Halstead Bank
Katherine Hanscom
Conley Harris
Michelle and Steve Hayes
Terry and Lou Heldman
Richard and Bonnie Bing Honeyman
Suzanne Jessup
April and Grae Johnson
Anita L. Jones
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† deceased
Jeff Kennedy and Patricia Gorham
Dr. and Mrs. Gyan Khicha
Lyndel and Blaine King
Gerri Colgan and Michael Klaassen
Charles and Elizabeth Koch
Dr. Sam and Jacque Kouri
Glenn and Nancy Kubina
Rich Learned and Kate Allen
Leigh Aaron-Leary and Michael Leary
Martha and Jeff Linsner
Gayle and Doug Malone
Jamil Malone
Naama and Shadi Marcos
Jerry Martin
Dr. Patricia McDonnell and Larry Schwarm
Dr. Robert McDonnell
Nancy and Chuck McGuire
Jane McHugh
Judy Meredith
Joseph E. Miller
Marianne and Glen Misko, MD
2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Lou Heldman - Chair
Sonia Greteman - Vice Chair
Mayra Ocampo - Secretary
TeOndra Phillips - Treasurer
Martha L. Linsner - Immediate Past Chair
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Paula Downing
Joey Giblin
Sondra Langel
Robert Layton
Mike Michaelis
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Prisca Barnes
Lindsay Benacka – Ex-Officio
Alejo Cabral
Matt Cortez
Bree Cox
Lai-L Daugherty
Lathi de Silva
J. Eric Engstrom - Honorary Trustee
Suzy Finn
Timothy Finnerty
Dr. Kevin S. Harrison
Tracy Hoover
April Johnson
Sheila J. Kinnard
Lauren Mercado
David Mitchell
Richard Overby
Jan Morgan
Dr. Barry and Jane Murphy
Julie and Bill Nicholson
Linda and Robert Nugent
Mayra Ocampo and Jeff Orr
Mary Lynn Oliver
Richard Overby and Mat Buckingham
Lois Pappademos
Suzie Peak
Donna and Martin Perline
TeOndra Phillips
Dr. Anthony Pollock and Diane Cline-Pollock
Diane and Scott Post
Jo Ann and Gary Pottorff
Belinda and Sheldon Preskorn, MD
Kristin and Will Price
Adriene and Randy Rathbun
Janel Razook
Anita and Timothy Reimer
Barbara Rensner
David and Janet Robl
Sally A. Robson
Novelene Ross and Dwight Corrin
Dr. Dennis and Mrs. Ann Ross
Edward W. Salguero
Bruce and Linda Schreck
A.J. and Jane Schwartz
Pat and John Schwartz
Chris Shank and Anna Anderson
Shoko K. Sevart
Barbara and Richard Shaw, MD
Dr. Jack Shellito and Ms. Mimi Balazs-Shellito
Mary Singleton and Deb McArthur
Susan and Richard Skibba
Ellie and Don Skokan
Debbie and Jay Smith
Jack and Debbie Snyder
Stephanie and Harvey Sorensen
D.J. and Dale Spaeth
Lee and Ron Starkel
Georgia and Keith Stevens
Stephanie and George Suddock
Patricia Sullivan
Adrienne Thompson
Bill and Lynne Tinker
Becky and Roger Turner
Janice and Earl Unruh
Mrs. Harriett Van Bebber
Janice and Jeff Van Sickle
Norma and Thomas Veazey
Marni Vliet Stone and David Stone
Sue and Kurt Watson
Penny and Steven White
Dale and Alice Wiggins
Alex and Kristin Williams
Leslie O. Wilson
Janet and Greg Wright
Adriene Rathbun
Betsy Redler
Jan-Maeve Saggerson
Chris Shank
Martha Walker - Honorary Trustee
Rachel Wetta
Alex Williams
Janet Wright
FRIENDS OF THE WICHITA ART MUSEUM
OFFICERS
Janet Wright - Chair
Dennis Murphy - Vice Chair
Jaclyn Reilly - Secretary
Betty Krehbiel - Treasurer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brenda Aldinger
Joy Archer
Patty Armstrong
Ken Arnold
Susan Arnold
Hamid Bakhtiari
Joan Barrier
Patty Bennett
Kathleen Bergkamp
Bob Blackburn
Jessica Branning
Bunny Broeckelman
Mickie Brown
Helen Bullock
Gena Dillard
Stephanie Frey
Joanie Gegen
Carol Glidden
Claudia Gonzales
Suzanne Graham
Bobbi Hansen
Lindsey Lane
Patti Mann
Cathy McElroy
Libby Merritt
Marianne Misko
Kelly Momsen
Linda Peressin
Diane Post
JoAnn Pottorf
Linda Ralston
LaNita Roark
Sally Robson
Julie Scherz
Sheila Shaw
Nancy Shawver
Marcia Smola
D. J. Spaeth
Valerie Spikes
Jane Sudermann
Betsy Sweeney
Diana Van Riper
Nancy Wallace
Susan Wilhite
Department of Commerce
Creative Arts Industries Commission
The Wichita Art Museum’s education programs were supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives funding from Kansas Department of Commerce and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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THANK
YOU !
1400 West Museum Boulevard | Wichita, KS 67203
Welcome Desk: 316-268-4921
WICHITAARTMUSEUM.ORG
THE DATE
EXHIBITION
CLEARLY INDIGENOUS Native Visions Reimagined in Glass
Celebrating Native artists working in a dynamic medium, this powerful, majestic, and stirring show features 115 works of art by 29 Native American artists and four Pacific Rim artists, including Wichita favorite Preston Singletary (Tlingit).
Clearly Indigenous is organized by The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and Curator Letitia Chambers, and is toured by International Arts & Artists. Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wichita Art Museum Inc.
SUNDAY,
SAVE
OPENING DAY |
JUNE 11, 2023
Preston Singletary (Tlingit) and Joe David (Nuu-cha-nulth), Looks to the Sky, 2017. Blown, sandcarved glass, 19 1/4 x 12 x 6 inches. Photo by Russell Johnson, Image and artwork courtesy Blue Rain Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. © Preston Singletary and Joe David