For years, artists have drawn inspiration from the tallgrass prairie. Now they’re giving it their support.
On Friday, Kansas artists — including several from this area — put almost 130 works on display to benefit the Kansas Park Trust, which maintains the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Chase County. The art show will run for six weeks at the Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan.
The show was inspired by the earlier “Homage to the Flint Hills,” a 37-artist show that toured Kansas for two years. “Homage” came to Emporia in September 2005.
Don Lambert, curator of both shows, said in a release that it was fitting to have so many artists supporting the prairie.
“So many of them feature the prairie in their works, and those who do not share a respect for the native prairie,” Lambert said.
Local artists taking part include photographers Larry Schwarm of Emporia and John Morrison of Admire; painters Judith Mackey of Cottonwood Falls and Terry Maxwell of Emporia; and glass artist Patrick Martin. Former Emporian Louis Copt also has paintings in the show.
Other artists in the show include photographers Jim Richardson and Kevin Sink; painters Robert Sudlow, Roger Shimomura, Stan Herd, Kim Casebeer, Phil Epp, Lisa Grossman, Cally Krallman and Michael Jilg; fiber artists Marilyn Grisham and Chris Wolf Edmonds; and glass artist Vernon Brejcha.
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