Space Spiral, mixed media on canvas by Don Fullmer.

A new exhibition featuring artwork from Hutchinson artists Don Fullmer and Scott Brown is on exhibit at McPherson College’s Friendship Hall through October 21. The exhibit features abstract paintings by Fullmer and mobiles made from reclaimed prints by Brown.

“Abstract Expressionism is the first truly American art movement of modern times,” said Michaela Valli Groeblacher, associate professor of art and gallery director at McPherson College. “The current exhibit is full of color, pattern, and movement and provides skilled examples of abstract expressionism. I invite visitors to enjoy getting lost in their thoughts while pondering the art on the walls and dangling from the ceiling.”

Fullmer’s paintings have been described as instinctual, sublime, ethereal, and highly crafted. A native of Hutchinson, Fullmer’s education includes a BFA from the University of Kansas and an MA and MFA in painting from the University of Iowa. He used his formal training as a starting point to create a long career as a painter. He has maintained an art studio in Hutchinson since 1978.

Brown is a multitalented, versatile artist, also from Hutchinson, and a former art instructor at Hutchinson Community College. He and his wife, Michele, founded Big Nasty Press over a decade ago, and through that group, they have organized an annual print portfolio with other regional artists. They operate Arkanoe, a kayak, canoe, tube rental, and shuttle service serving the Arkansas River in Reno County.

A closing reception for the artists is planned during McPherson College’s homecoming activities on Friday, October 18 at 3 p.m.

The Friendship Hall gallery at McPherson College is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

McPherson College will offer a unique opportunity to Kansas high school art instructors and top high school art students when it hosts Doug Casebeer to lead a three-day workshop this summer at the college. Casebeer is one of the leading ceramicists in the United States and recently completed a 6-year appointment as the resident artist at the Oklahoma University School of Visual Arts in Norman.

The workshop is scheduled for June 17-19, 2024, at McPherson College’s Hess Fine Arts ceramic studio. Space for the workshop was limited to just 20 participants. Thanks to generous financial support, the workshop is offered at a highly reduced fee for participants.

Casebeer, a Salina, Kan. native, was the artistic director for ceramics at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center for 34 years. Anderson Ranch, located in Snowmass, Colo., is non-profit arts organization founded in 1966. It hosts an artist-in-residency program, workshops, and classes by artists during the summer and offers studio space for ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and printmaking.

Casebeer’s artwork is in collections worldwide, including a permanent installation at the Yingge Museum of Ceramics in Taiwan. He was elected to the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva, Switzerland, and was a featured artist at the Chinese Academy of Fine Art in Beijing. His most recent solo exhibition was at the Huntington Museum of Art in West Virginia, where he was awarded The Walter Gropius award for excellence in the arts.

He received his MFA in ceramics from Alfred University and his BFA from Wichita State University. Casebeer teaches, lectures, builds kilns, and exhibits his artwork worldwide. He has served as a pottery consultant to the United Nations and the German government. He has been involved in outreach to rural Jamaican schools, offered technical support and assistance for Nepali potters, and advised art centers in Chile and Hawaii.

An exhibition of his work, titled “A Sense of Place the Prairie Landscape,” is showing at the Birger Sandzen Gallery in Lindsborg through July 21. Casebeer will present a talk on June 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sandzen Gallery. The event is free, organized by the Arts on the Prairie Committee, and supported in part by the Patterson Family Foundation and the Kansas Arts Commission. The Birger Sandzen Gallery is located at 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Ceramic vessel and collage by Larry Peters on exhibition at McPherson College’s Friendship Gallery.

The artwork of Topeka artists Barbara Waterman-Peters and Larry Peters is showing in an exhibition at the Friendship Hall gallery of McPherson College now through the end of March.

“Barbara and Larry are a power couple in the fine arts of Kansas,” said Michaela Valli Groeblacher, associate professor of art and gallery director at the college. “They have dedicated their lives to creating art and supporting other artists all over the state. Their work is of the highest quality, and it is an honor to have them exhibit at McPherson College.”

The exhibit, titled “A Warning,” features the artists’ paintings, collages, and ceramics. Additionally, Groeblacher pairs her ceramic clowns alongside Waterman-Peters’ clown paintings.

Waterman-Peters, a naturalistic/surrealistic painter, uses images as symbols to tell her story or to express her opinion. She deals with global political and cultural issues through a feminist lens.

Peters is both a ceramicist and a painter. His “paintings” are non-representational collages. Even though highly abstract, the collages exude the spirit of his thoughts about the Holocaust and more current situations in Ukraine and nationally. A few of the collages reference Native American imagery he encountered when hiking in Utah and New Mexico, and his ceramic vessels support that connection.

Groeblacher’s clown series was triggered by an invitation to a self-portrait group exhibition, resulting in Clown #1. Historically, clowns have reflected complex societal and psychological dimensions, which are explored in Groeblacher’s work.

“I’ve been wishing for the opportunity to exhibit my ceramic clowns alongside Barbara’s clown paintings,” Groeblacher said. “I am thrilled that she and her husband accepted my invitation to show at McPherson College, where my ceramic clowns currently admire the paintings surrounding them.”

The Friendship Hall gallery is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. A closing reception and artists’ talk are planned for March.

McPherson area piano students will be able to learn from world-class pianists Beatrice and Christina Long in a masterclass on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. at McPherson College’s Mingenback Theatre. The sisters perform together as The Long Duo, a highly acclaimed piano duo that will be in concert on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series.

The masterclass is open to elementary through high school students who study with teachers who are members of the McPherson Area Piano Teachers League, an organization that promotes quality teaching and learning. The students will play a piano piece and then work with Beatrice and Christina in a master lesson format to take the piece to the next level of performance. Parents, family members, teachers, and other students will have the opportunity to observe and learn from what is being taught.

“We are so excited the Long Duo is offering this masterclass for local students,” said Dawn Ivers, McPherson piano instructor. “It will be a terrific benefit to the young musicians who perform, as well as the local students and community members who come to observe and learn more about what goes into a great piano performance.”

The masterclass and concert are free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter, an alumna who taught piano in McPherson for many years. Her son, Steve Clark, established the fund that supports two annual music performances and encourages the college to provide learning opportunities for area students in addition to the performances. Working together, the college and the McPherson Area Piano Teachers League hope the masterclass will further a passion for the study of piano, much like Fern Lingenfelter did nearly 100 years ago.

“The masterclass with the Long sisters is a wonderful opportunity for our community,” said Brett Janssen, McPherson Area Piano Teachers league president, KMTA Immediate Past President. “It is an opportunity for our area piano students to receive a lesson from world-renowned pianists and for audience members to hear our local pianists and gain insight into musicianship ideas as they listen to the lesson on stage.”

One of the most sought-after piano duo performers, The Long Duo, will perform at McPherson College as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series on Sunday, February 25, at 4 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre. Admission to the performance is free.

The duo will also conduct a masterclass on Saturday, February 24, at 10 a.m. in Mingenback Theatre for elementary through high school-aged students of teachers participating in the McPherson Area Piano Teachers League.

Sisters Beatrice and Christina Long have played as a duo since their childhood. They have performed in venues on three continents, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, National Concert Hall in Taiwan, Dallas Museum of Arts, Phillips Gallery in Washington D.C., Spoleto Festival, International Piano Series in Charleston, Grand Theatre (Hangzhou) and Xinghui Theatre (Guangzhou) in China, and Jordan Hall in Boston, among others. The Washington Post hailed the duo as artists “who bring new life to duo piano recitals.”

While achieving acclaim worldwide as a duo, they have also enjoyed distinguished solo careers. Beatrice Long has performed as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, the National Symphony of Mexico, the National Orchestra of Taiwan, the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the Jura Symphony Orchestra (France), Ensemble du Monde, New Amsterdam Orchestra (New York), among others. She has given recitals at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, Festivals of Champagne and Fontainebleau (France), Kunsthalle (Appenzeller, Switzerland), the American Embassies in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras, and throughout the U.S. Her recordings on Naxos and live performances were featured on NPR, Radio France and TV-NY 1. She graduated with honors from the Curtis Institute, studying with Seymour Lipkin, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, and Leon Fleisher from the Peabody Conservatory.  She is a faculty member at the Music Conservatory of Brooklyn College City University of New York.

Christina Long has performed with orchestras such as the Dallas Wind Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. As an active contemporary and chamber musician, she was a founding member of the New England Lyrical Trio. She has performed in Germany, Italy, Canada, Poland, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan. She has recorded for Centaur Records and was commissioned by the Ubiquitous Publishing Company to translate the book “My Life with Great Pianists” by Franz Mohr.  Christina served as the Artist-in-Residence at Southeast Oklahoma State University, an assistant professor of piano at Tabor College, KS, and Westfield State College, MA. She was inducted into the hall of fame by Steinway & Sons.

Admission to the Lingenfelter concert is free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to college students on campus and younger students at her studio downtown. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group of Wichita, established the fund that supports two annual music performance events with particular emphasis on piano.

Each year, McPherson College invites Kansas high school students to exhibit their best art and compete for prizes and scholarships at the Art POP exhibition in Friendship Hall at the college. This year, a record number of high schools, art teachers, and students are participating in the exhibit.

Art from 15 schools statewide includes more than 100 art pieces from students and high school art teachers. This is the first year that the exhibit has featured the work of both students and their teachers. Student work will be juried by Tim Stone, painter and part-time art instructor at Wichita State University. A closing reception and award ceremony are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17, from 5:30-7 p.m., with awards announced at 6 p.m.

The exhibit features artwork from high school students attending Concordia, Garden City, Smoky Valley (Lindsborg), Hesston, McPherson, Canton Galva, Belle Plain, Hutchinson, Goessel, Inman, Kinsley, Salina Central, Moundridge, and Free State (Lawrence).

The exhibit is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, through Nov. 17.

Professional stage performers Melia (Dell) Jones and Kevin Jones will perform in “Broadway Showstoppers” at McPherson College as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series on Friday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre. Admission to the performance is free. Melia is a 1992 McPherson College graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in music/vocal performance.

Melia and her husband, Kevin, own and operate the Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio, where they also host summer theater camps and workshops. Melia worked professionally as a singer, dancer, and actor in theater, film, commercials, and print. She has also worked on the technical side as a director, choreographer, stage manager, graphic artist, scenic artist, muralist, costumer, dresser, and stitcher. For the past 18 years, she homeschooled their two children, who are now pursuing their own careers in musical theater and linguistics.

Kevin has spent over 30 years in professional theater as an actor, musical director, director, and choreographer. His credits include the Broadway national tours of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” the Asian tour of “Annie,” the European tour of “Annie Get Your Gun,” three productions of “Evita,” and two productions of “Phantom of the Opera.” He currently serves as musical supervisor for Oceania Cruise Lines. As a vocal and acting coach, he has mentored hundreds of actors into Broadway shows, national tours, regional theater productions, film, and television shows. The couple splits their time between New York City, Tampa, and Myrtle Beach.

While at McPherson College, the couple will conduct a masterclass for high school students hosted by the college’s theatre department. Additionally, as part of the McPherson College Homecoming “Fine Arts Showcase,” a faculty and staff art exhibit reception will be held Friday, October 20, at 3 p.m. in Brown Auditorium’s Friendship Hall; a fine arts reunion and reception are scheduled for Saturday, October 21, at 6 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre; and the McPherson College Choir will host a concert at the McPherson Church of the Brethren at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 22.

Admission to the Lingenfelter concert is free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to college students on campus and younger students at her studio downtown. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group of Wichita, established the fund that supports two annual music performance events with particular emphasis on piano.

An exhibition featuring the artwork of McPherson College faculty and staff is on display now through October in Friendship Gallery on the college campus. The exhibit includes a wide variety of artistic media. A closing reception is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. The gallery is open to visitors Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“My aim for this exhibit is to demonstrate the collegial aspect of our institution,” said Michaela Valli Groeblacher, associate professor of art and gallery director. “I think many will be surprised at the diversity of work on display. Reading the accompanying statements and explanations will deepen the experience.”

Participating artists include Dr. Ken Yohn, professor of history; Dr. Kerry Dobbins, professor of history; Dr. Julia Kuttler, assistant professor of communication; Jen Taylor Pollard, assistant professor of theatre; Dee Erway-Sherwood, professor of art; Kelsy Gossett-Dennis, assistant professor of art; Ed Barr, professor of automotive restoration technology; Rick Tuxhorn, director of endowment and special projects; Raquel Resendiz, academic advisor; Dr. Kim Stanley, professor of English; and Michaela Valli Groeblacher, associate professor of art.