Story and Photos by ALIYAH CONNER Video by RORY MOORE
The Hays community is full of artists eager to show off their work, and Friday’s Fall Art Walk gave many of them that chance.
“Contrast In Clay” featured work from FHSU ceramics professor, Linda Ganstrom and one of her graduate students, Paige Hyatt, and featured contrasting ceramics – creating a dynamic and interesting display.
Ganstrom featured bright white ceramic busts, while Hyatt had vessels covered in spikes and glazed in dark and rusty colors.
“I’m very inspired by medieval weaponry and spikes in general, so I like to recreate a lot of medieval weapons, including flails and stuff like that,” Hyatt said. “I like to make them look like they are metal instead of ceramic…I really just like the dark aesthetic.”
At Hays Community Theater, Terence Koehn showed off the oil paintings of his home in Wakeeney and the surrounding landscapes.
“I walked out one day and all of a sudden I’d seen a world…there was this beautiful, gorgeous world out there and I was desperate to do something with it,” he said. “Then I started thinking about painting…the only way I could express my feeling and emotions about it was to try to paint it and that’s basically what I’ve been doing ever since.”
At Custom Creations, artists Julianne Stecklein and Lucus Albers sold their work. Stecklein created beadwork and jewelry in bright colors. Albers sold machine-knit beanies, planning to use the money he makes to go to every zoo. Despite the heat during the event, he sold over 40 beanies toward his goal.
Custom Creations also sold a variety of one-of-a-kind furniture and art created by members of Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas. DSNWK believes in helping disabled individuals with independence and employment. Because of this, profits from the sales at Custom Creations go right back to the artists themselves.
Hays Arts Council held “By Seed and Spirit” by ceramic artist Taylor Wiens and printmaker Justin Miller. Blue Light Body Arts displayed glass pieces by Stan Detrixhe. Acrylic and oil paintings by Melita Warren were shown in Paisley Pear. At Fort Hays State University, PJ Stauffer and Celeste Hernandez each hosted personal galleries. Many other galleries were hosted by downtown businesses.
Visual art wasn’t the only thing available this Art Walk. The Hays Public Library lobby hosted author tables for Meredith Green, Andrea Rome, and the Rev. Reginald A. Urban, upcoming authors in the Hays area. At Breathe Coffee House, author Tristan Rhea signed her book “The Language of Weeds”.
The Art Walk also featured live music at various locations. At the Downtown Pavilion, Hays High School’s string quartet performed. The quartet was followed by Buffalo Bridge. At the Hays Public Library, Forrest McCurren performed live guitar and singing.
The Hays Art Walk is held seasonally and will return in the winter with brand-new art, live music, and events.