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Category Archives: Art
New Mural In Riverfront Park
On November 8, local artist Stephen Toal was finishing up a new mural he has painted in the tunnel of the Hwy. 69 underpass on the Riverfront Loop Road in Riverfront Park.
He was inspired to create some patriotic themes featuring the Statue of Liberty along with the skyline of New York and the symbol of America, the Bald Eagle.
He said the name of the mural is United We Stand, Divided We Fall, which he felt was fitting for this time in America. The pandemic, social justice issues, and political divides are the news of the day in the last year and a half since the pandemic began.
For Toal, the project was set back a bit by stolen paint left at the site last week.
“Somebody stole my paint,” Toal said. “But it’s pretty cool that people came together and purchased more paint for me.”
“I’m going to open an account for community projects,” he said. “I don’t like messing with money,”
He has done six community murals in Fort Scott parks and has had three paid mural jobs recently, he said.
His first mural was at Gunn Park under the big rock shelter house No. 1, which he completed in spring 2020.
To view prior features on the artist:
New Mural at Gunn Park by Artist Stephen Toal
Toal said he invites the community to come and visit his latest artwork.
His mural work is just about finished for the season.
“Spray paint spits, when the weather gets below 40 degrees,” Toal said. “So I do it when the weather is warmer.”
The Artificers Are Coming
Kate and Trent Freeman, Edwardsville, purchased a building at 8 North National Avenue, Fort Scott, on October 2, 2020, and will soon open their new business there, called The Artificers.
“The definition of artificers is fine artists and craftsmen,” Kate said.
The business will be an art gallery, a teaching studio workshop space, and a studio space for both Kate and Trent, who are artists by profession.
“We have a network of artists that we will pull from to come in and display and teach watercolor, collage, airbrush artists… from all over the country,” she said.
There will be classes and workshops.
A possible opening will be late winter, 2021, or early spring, 2022, Trent said.
“Artificers is a group, including Trent and I and anyone we invite in,” she said. “You can expect quality work.”
Trent received a degree in fine art from Emporia State University; Kate “just does art”, she said, and added, “I do the marketing for the business.”
The business will take commissioned art and have art for sale.
Trent works to create art in mixed media: clay, glass, wood, metal; Kate works in clay and acrylic painting.
“We had our studio in Kansas City for 22 years,” Trent said. “I’ve been a professional for 28 years. We’ve done everything from gallery to commission to art festivals all over the country. Most of our work is commission now.”
Trent said when Kansas City shut down businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic, they began coming to their farm, west of Fort Scott.
Trent’s parents, Ed and Jackie Freeman built a house near Bronson and retired there, and so Trent and Kate have been coming here for 20 years, he said. “And we loved the town.”
“We love the atmosphere here,” Kate said. “It feels like home here. I feel there is a revival about to happen in the town and it feels good.”
The artists had a setback in July 2021, when the building next door to the north, between The Artificers and Sharkey’s Pub & Grub Restaurant, collapsed.
“That set us back three months,” Trent said.
Also, the pandemic has kept contractors busy and the Freemans are in line for plumbing, electrical, etc.
Trent is doing most of the repurposing of the inside of the former Hammond Real Estate building himself, and last Saturday was framing up some rooms on the inside.
“The front one-third of the building will be a gallery space,” Kate said. “The next one-third will have a small kitchenette and be a teaching studio workshop and have classes in all art genres. The back one-third will be our studio space for creating.”
“The City of Fort Scott is contracting Mid Continental Restoration for some facia and the entire north side (of the building) will be cleaned and sealed,” Trent said. “They have been good to us.”
The Freeman’s will eventually live on the second floor of the building when the business’s first floor is complete, Kate said.
They are not in a hurry, because their daughter is a senior in high school and they don’t want to move until she leaves for the University of Arkansas next fall.
Accompanying them in the move will be their Red Healer dog, Ivy, Kate said, and Ivy was enjoying the sun from a south-facing window in the gallery on Saturday. There will be many more days in that spot.
For more information: 8 North National-The Artificers Facebook page or https://tefreemanstudio.com/
Lowell Milken Center Features New Exhibits and Expands
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, 1 S. Main, has expanded its’ exhibits into the park south of the building.
On October 8, the center hosted an unveiling of two Kansas black women who were suffragettes in the movement to allow women to vote. The exhibit was sponsored by a Kansas Humanities Grant and featured Carrie Langston Hughes and Mamie Dillard.
In addition, that day several new exhibits were unveiled in the green space area south of the center, named the Unsung Heroes Park.
“The objectives of the park are to provide a place for visitors to enjoy the pleasant outdoor scenery, learn about unsung heroes, and offer a centralized community gathering space for programs and activities, while also complementing the downtown area,” according to a prior LMC press release.
To view the press release on the park:
New Unsung Heroes Park in Downtown Fort Scott
The new outside exhibits in the Unsung Heroes Park are inter-changeable and will be occasionally switched out, Ronda Hassig, LMC Docent, said.
“We are still awaiting murals that will be placed on the north side of the center, facing Wall Street and also on the south side of the center, facing the park,” she said.
The biggest part of the funding for the park was by the center’s founder Lowell Milken. Milken believes “education can awaken the mind, sustain curiosity and strengthen our engagement with others. More importantly, … education has the power to instill in people the impulse to take initiative for the good of others,” according to the LMC for Unsung Heroes website.
Others who helped with the park funding: the American Association of Retired People Challenge Award, The Timken Foundation, and a Sunderland Grant, Hassig said.
Education and Entertainment: the Gordon Parks Celebration
The annual Gordon Parks Celebration weekend Oct. 7-9 was packed with events to educate and entertain.
The Gordon Parks Museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton.
Parks was an African American documentary photojournalist, photographer, musician, writer and director, with humble beginnings in Fort Scott.
He died in 2006.
There were photo exhibits and a local photo contest, speakers, tours, film showings, entertainment, book discussions, and the opening of the Learning Tree Tourism Trail.
Two African American men were honored as the “Choice of Weapons” annual recipients, Kyle Johnson and Eli Reed.
Parks Choice of Weapons Award Winners Announced
During the weekend celebration, The Learning Tree Tourism Trail was introduced.
The Learning Tree Tourism Trail is a series of signs located at the different locations where the filming of The Learning Tree took place around Fort Scott. The signs include QR codes, to be used with a smartphone, along with a virtual tour of the identified scene locations of the film, according to a Gordon Parks Museum press release.
To learn more:
The Learning Tree Tourism Trail Grand Opening is Oct. 7
The annual photography contest in conjunction with the Gordon Parks Celebration had the winners on display at the Ellis Arts Center on the campus of FSCC.
Additionally on display were some of Parks’ photos and photos of The Learning Tree, the autobiographical film that Parks wrote and directed.
Winners of the Gordon Parks Celebration “Fashion & Diversity” photo contest, sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography, are below.
Twenty-six entries were received and the winner of First Place was Johanna Walker (Franklin, KS) with the photo titled “Spotlight.”
Second Place was also Johanna Walker with the photo “Johnny.”
Third Place was Frank Clay with his photo, “Enjoying Each Other.”
First, Second, and Third place winners received cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 respectively.
There were six Honorable Mentions named: “Diversity.” by (Yasser Alaa Mobarak,( Alexandria, Egypt.); “Skating the Disaster.” by Julie Steck (Merriam, KS); “Jewels of Plenty” by Bareigh Farrell (Fort Scott); “Portrait.” by Yasser Alaa Mobarak, (Alexandria, Egypt); “Queen of Color” by Alexxus Browning, Tulsa, OK and “Baby Blue.” by Adelay Martin (Redfield, KS).
The contest was open to any non-professional photographer and was inspired by Gordon Parks, who started his career in fashion photography and chose a camera to fight against racism, discrimination, and poverty.
Judges for the photo contest were professional photographer, Veretta Cobler, and established make-up artist and hairstylist, Donna Fumoso based in New York City.
The photo exhibit is on display in the lobby of the Ellis Fine Arts Center through October 15. The building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Children’s Art Class Offered On No-School Days
Happy Snappy Art is now offering art parties for school-age students on the no-school days for USD 234 & St. Mary’s.
They will be offered every month.
Other Paint Parties are offered this month for adults and children 12+.
All events include everything needed to complete the painting and step by step instructions.
The total cost for each is $25. A deposit of $5 is required to reserve your spot.
Message Happy Snappy Art on Facebook or email at [email protected] to reserve your spot.
Jazz, R and B Violinist Performs Oct. 8
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Museum of Creativity Starts Fall Activities
The Museum of Creativity has craft classes for children, some playgroups, and a ladies craft time starting this week.
The building is located at 201 S. National Avenue in the Beaux Arts Centre.
Owner Lorina Bowman, said the following are available:
Play Group – [Open Play] every Monday from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Maker Monday – [Beginner Crafts] ages 7-18 – every Monday after school – 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Lego Club – [Challenge Builds] ages 7-18 – every Tuesday after school 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Ladies Craft Night – [Crafts] every Tuesday Night from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Friday Fun – [Open Play] every Friday from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Game Night – [Board Games] every Friday from 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Entrance fee for all groups is $1 for each person.
“There will be an extra kit fee for craft groups and that will always be posted at least 24 hours in advance on the group event page,” Bowman said.
“We are accepting reservations for field trips, birthday parties or any other type of event you would like to have here,” she said. “It is only $100 to reserve the museum and classroom. Please contact us to see how we can make your event special. We will not host events or be open on Sundays.”
“If you would like to volunteer time or money to help out our non-profit we have lots of opportunities,” she said. “Come talk to us!”
More details can be found on the Museum of Creativity Facebook page, then click on the events tab to find each group for more details.
Text Bowman at 209-204-9743 or email:
Students and school/class/booster club can win prizes
Contests aim to Put the Brakes on Fatalities
Poster and video contests where Kansas students can win great prizes and learn about traffic safety are back as part of this year’s Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety campaign. The poster contest deadline is Sept. 24, and the video contest deadline is Sept. 26.
In addition, the school, class or booster club of the grand prize-winning students will also receive money as part of the contests’ prizes.
Poster contest: For Kansas students ages 5 to 13 – all students who submit completed poster entries will be eligible for a random prize drawing of a $100 Amazon gift card. A total of 18 regional winners in the six regions and age groups (ages 5-7, ages 8-10 and ages 11-13) will receive a bicycle from the Kansas Turnpike Authority and a helmet from Safe Kids Kansas. Three statewide winners will each receive:
sKindle Fire Tablet and case from the KTA;
s$50 Amazon gift card from Fuel True/Independent Energy and Convenience;
sMovie passes from AAA Kansas; and
s$200 for the school, class or the booster club.
Poster entries must be postmarked by Friday, Sept. 24. Information and entry forms are available here.
Video contest: For Kansas teens in grades 8-12. Prizes from the KTA include a GoPro, a DJI Stabilizer and a DJI Drone, and the grand prize winner’s school, class or booster club will receive $500. Video entries must be submitted to the KTA by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26. Entry details are available here.
About 37,000 people die in traffic crashes each year across the United States. That’s nearly 101 fatalities every day. Let’s encourage everyone – drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists – to exercise caution every day and Put the Brakes on Fatalities.
The Kansas Department of Transportation, KTA and other transportation organizations in Kansas are sponsoring the contests. More information about Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day is available here.
Winners from the 2019 contests are listed below:
Poster Contest Winners –
Northeast Kansas – Ella Kate Schuyler, Lawrence; Emma Kuhlman, Topeka; Paiton Wallace, Basehor
North central Kansas – Quincy Coup, Hope; Grayson Koenig, McPherson; Hannah Simmelink, Esbon
Northwest Kansas – Colt Raudis, Hays; Jerome Bieghler, Phillipsburg; Peyton Gower, Phillipsburg
Southeast Kansas – Harper Frasier, Galena; Hannah Noel, Columbus; Faith Godsell, McCune
South central Kansas – Avery Hutson, El Dorado; Cade Brown, Andale, Von Woleslagel, Hutchinson
Southwest Kansas – Andelyn Reimer, Meade; Mary Paris, Dighton; Teaghen Elledge, Spearville
2019 Video Contest winners –
Students from Lansing High School won first place.
Students from Eudora captured second place.
Shawnee Mission West High School placed third.
View the winning videos here.
Bourbon County Arts Council Patio Concert Oct. 1
2021 Gordon Parks Museum Photo Contest Starts
The 2021 Gordon Parks Museum to feature Photo Contest
Fort Scott, KS. -The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College, will feature a photo contest sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography. This event is inspired by Gordon Parks, who started his career in fashion photography and chose a camera to fight against racism, discrimination, and poverty.
The theme of the contest, “Fashion and Diversity”, is for any amateur photographer. Photographers are invited to capture the essence of the theme.
Non-professional photographers of any age and skill level are invited to take pictures for the project and may enter up to two photos in JPEG format with less than 2MB. There will be a first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50) prize and up to five honorable mentions. All photos submitted will be on exhibit at The Gordon Parks Museum and in the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center Oct. 7 – 9, 2021. All photos will also be posted on the Gordon Parks Museum website and Facebook page. Judges for the photo contest will be professional photographer, Veretta Cobler and established make-up artist and hair stylist, Donna Fumoso based in New York City.
Photographs must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. All photos must be attached in JPEG format and limit file size to less than 2 MB. All entries will be confirmed via email. Photographers should submit (in their email) a title, along with their name, address, email, phone number and share a one or two sentence on what inspired the photo. If under 10 years old, please include parent’s information. Photos should be received via email by Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the latest.
For more information, email [email protected] or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.
Fall Art Walk, Sept. 20
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