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Wichita Through the Looking Glass: Wichita Art Museum By Karla Cardenas Pasten

Wichita Kansas is what some people would call small, but what many would describe as a sunflower in a field of daisies. The sunsets, the city scape, the fields, and the weather are only a few things that make up its individuality. The Wichita Art Museum reflects the inner gems of a city with a small town feel.

Upon entering the museum, the first thing that catches your eye is the amount of light. The high ceilings, the open space, and the tall, large windows allow the sun’s rays to contrast with the white walls and create a feeling of brightness. The architecture of the building is beautiful and modern, as well as the interior design. The leather chairs, the black tiled floor, and the amount of glass allows its modern, artistic concept to shine through.

Me, Karla Cardenas-Pasten, walking up the stairs to the second floor.

Walking On Glass

Dale Chihuly's “Persian Seaform Ceiling” also known as the Chihuly Bridge is one of the main attractions of the museum. It’s breathtakingly beauty first catches your attention while you first enter, and it leaves you more astonished once you walk across it. The vibrant colors mixed in with the oddly shaped blown-glass pieces, not only impresses, but leaves you believing in magic. While I walked across the bridge I had the opportunity to enjoy the friendly and warm atmosphere that was transmitted by the surrounding people, who like me were creating an unforgettable memory.

Chihuly’s glass chandelier, located on the second floor is also another main attraction of the museum. It’s massiveness and color spectrum make it a piece without compare. I enjoyed observing the loops and turns of the glass as well as the uniqueness of its structure. Hanging from the high, vaulted ceiling, it's impossible to miss and certainly a sight to behold.

Under the Chihuly glass chandelier, a seating area is available for resting, and picture taking. There are also more seating areas on the side by the windows. They provide a comfortable space and a spectacular view of the art garden.

But first.... A little shopping

Before sitting down and enjoying the view, I had to first visit the museum store which is also located in the second floor just off S. Jim and Darla Farha Great Hall. The store contains a wide variety of merchandise as well as a range of prices. Everything from the stuffed animals to the postcards to the artsy socks were of a good quality and sold at an average price. The customer service was also pretty good, for the staff were friendly and checked up on their customers from time to time.

Me, Karla Cardenas-Pasten, sitting down in the seating area while looking at the Kansas postcards bought at the museum store.

S. Jim and Darla Farha Great Hall

  • Kansas Land- September 29, 2018 through March 10, 2019
  • Storytelling Collection- Ongoing
  • Heritage of the West- Ongoing
  • Visions of the Plains- August 11, 2018 through February 10, 2019
  • An American Salon: 19th Century Paintings- Ongoing

Kansas Land, an exhibition featuring the work of photographers Larry Shcwarm and Byron Darby as well as sociologist Paul Stock and designer Tim Hossler, shed light to what the Kansas farm looks like in 2018. Not only did it display the hardships that come with being a fifth-generation farmer or a first generation one, but it also documented the land and life of farmers through economic, social, and environmental challenges and obstacles. I enjoyed seeing the beauty of Kansas captured through the viewpoint of a farmer due to its rawness and perspective change. One of my personal favorite from the exhbition includes, Wheat Stubble off Grigston Lane, East of Scott City, Kansas by Larry Shcwarm.

Stoytelling, a WAM permanent collection, features tales, mysteries, and old history told through art. The collection features many works done by Kansas-based artists such as John Steuart Curry. Not only does it display great American art, but it also appeals to Kansas audiences. Through the emotion expressed by the brushstrokes and hard work, the stories told are one-of-a-kind. While walking by the paintings and grasping their meaning I was able to appreciate the artist’s willingness to share a fragment of their viewpoint with the world.

Heritage of the West, an ongoing exhibition, features the American West portrayed like never before. The artists not only captured the wildlife, the landscapes, but also the nostalgic moments between the Indians and the cowboys. Kansas being part of the old wild west, was without a doubt honored with the collection’s portrayal. Although it was a smaller collection, the pieces were still enjoyable.

Visions of the Plains, likewise Kansas Land, features paintings of the Midwestern landscapes. It goes from featuring flat farmlands to the majestic rolling hills of eastern Kansas. The art on display, mostly featuring the countryside, invokes emotions such as isolation, peacefulness, and freedom. I enjoyed the color schemes and the calmness of the exhibit. Not only were the landscapes portrayed in a way to make you feel at ease, but they were realistic enough to feel at home.

The American salon collection features art from the 19th century in salon style. I liked the elegance in which the pieces were displayed and the paintings that were chosen, for they made me feel as if I had stepped into the 19th century.

1st Floor Exhibitions & Collections

  • Pre-Columbian Art and Artifacts- Ongoing
  • Over there, over here: American Print makers Go to War, 1914-1918- July 28, 2018 through February 17, 2019
  • City Scapes- October 25, 2018 through April 14, 2019
  • Art of Fire: Glass Art- Ongoing

Pre-Columbian art and artifacts, a collection made up of mostly pottery, features art and artifacts collected by Haig Kurdian between 1954-1959 during expeditions into Costa Rica and Mexico. Through the different pieces, appreciation of pottery from the Mesoamerican culture shines through and gives glory to a past that will never be brought back. The collection was not large in size, but rich in value. I enjoyed taking a closer look at some of the smaller pieces, for they were beautifully crafted and intricately detailed.

Over there and over here, a special WWI exhibition, display war, its outcomes, and its lasting influence. Including Kansas, rich history is featured through the works of artists dedicated to displaying the definition of war. Although, I’m not entirely interested in wars, the exhibition was very informational and allowed me to learn new things. Not only did I see war through a different perspective, but came to understand the influence it has had on America.

Cityscapes, a collection portraying the urban environment through streets, skylines, and buildings, features modern life paintings and prints created by artists from the early-20th century. From abstract to geometric, the collection displayed a nice contrast to the rural side of the country.

Art of fire, a growing glass art collection, acknowledges the influence of Steuben Glass Works on new emerging artists and the legacy it left behind. Not only does it explore different techniques used, but it presents glass art in a variety of forms and qualities. The wide range of colors and shapes, allows any art enthusiast to become captivated by the first glance. While I prefer seeing art in the form of paintings than in the form of glass, the pieces featured held my attention and impressed me with the details and uniqueness they held.

The art pieces featured in between the different collections and exhibitions were also worth seeing up close and reading more about. Although they were random pieces, they were just as special as the other works featured.

Although the weather isn't in favor of the art garden, the pieces alongside the museum grounds are just as beautiful as the work inside. Although the wind was strong and the sun was blinding, walking around to admire the different pieces was enjoyable and to some extent peaceful.

Dreamers Awake sculpture by Tom Otterness

Overall the Wichita Art Museum was fascinating and worth visiting. The overall atmosphere and experience was above my expectation, and a memory to remember. Not only did the museum contain various exhibitions and collections, but it allowed people to see Kansas through a looking glass, for not all things are what they appear to be.

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