On Friday, the Emporia Arts Council marveled at the hills before honoring its stars.
From their first step into the art gallery, members of the arts council were surrounded by images of the Flint Hills. The National Geographic photo exhibit had arrived earlier in the week and every shot transformed a familiar landscape into something new.
A nighttime shot of wild alfalfa glowed with an eerie blue and gold, as though touched by fairies.
A pair of prairie chickens faced off, as though ready to do battle.
Some shots were filled with fire and smoke, others with the delicate beauty of prairie flowers. The one thing they all have in common -- all of them have been drawing big audiences, in Emporia and elsewhere.
"It's just a constant stream of people," said Melissa Windsor, the executive director of the arts council. "We just feel fortunate to have this exhibit and the space to show it."
The photos were taken by Jim Richardson of Lindsborg, who published many of his shots in a 22-page photo spread in April's National Geographic. The collection has been on tour since April and earlier visited the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (May 21 through May 27) and Strong City (May 28 through June 3). It will remain in Emporia through Sunday.
"It's time that we stop looking beyond the borders of our state for inspiration and learn to see what has been here all along," Richardson said in a statement that was included with the collection. "The Flint Hills should never play second fiddle to our nation's more recognized landmark landscapes."
The arts council also presented its Star Awards on Friday, given to volunteers, artists and businesses who have been exceptional supporters of the organization. This year's Star-winning volunteer was Dan Robertson, the organization's long-time treasurer -- so long-time, in fact, that the EAC changed its bylaws to allow him to remain treasurer even after term limits forced him to temporarily step down from the board.
"He donates many evenings and weekends of his time going over our books and making sure we're a fiscally sound organization," Windsor said.
"I've been doing this for seven years," Robertson said as he received his award. "If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it."
The business of the year award went to Flint Hills Music, which has supported artists and events ranging from local bands to the Young Thespian Players and from the annual "Live in the Lot" concert series to the once-in-a-lifetime 150th anniversary celebration.
"I always want to add 'Need I say more?'" Windsor said, laughing. "They are an incredible business for the arts in Emporia in so many ways."
The artist of the year award was given to Maxine Mitchell, who has been the accompanist for every local performance of the Missoula Children's Theater. The Missoula group casts, rehearses and performs a children's show in one week.
"She gets the score about a week ahead of the show, so she has some extra time to rehearse it, but not much," Windsor said. "We couldn't do it without her."
The arts council also reviewed its season for the upcoming year, which will be featured in Friday's Arts page. The season will start Sept. 14 with a return visit by the Chicago comedy troupe The Second City, as a fund-raiser for the EAC. The council also plans to hold a New Year's Eve gala at the Granada Theatre -- if the restoration work is done in time.