2020 Public Outdoor Art Exhibition Catalogue

20202021

Outdoor Public Art Exhibition City of Manhattan, Kansas

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City of Manhattan

SPONSORED BY

T

he City of Manhattan was successful in securing a total of $20,000 in grant funding from the Greater Manhattan Community

Foundation (GMCF) and the Deihl Community Fund for this project. The grant provides for artist and juror honoraria, installation costs, and publicity materials for the project.

MADE POSSIBLE BY

ahab

ARTS & HUMANITIES ADVISORY BOARD

City of

Manhattan Kansas

2020 Outdoor Public Art Exhibition

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“

Public art enhances meaning in our civic spaces and adds uniqueness to our communities. Public art matters because our communities gain cultural, social, and economic value through public art.”

- Americans for Fine Arts

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City of Manhattan

“Why Public Art Matters”, 2018

THE EXHIBITION

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he Arts and Humanities Advisory Board (AHAB), the City of Manhattan, and the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation

(GMCF) are pleased to present Manhattan’s first juried outdoor public art exhibition. The juror, Dr. Susan Earle, is Curator at the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, Kansas, and Department Head at the University of Kansas Department of Art History. Dr. Earle selected ten sculptures from the many submissions to the public call for art. The call was active for three months and open to artists nationally and internationally. While Kansas State University has some public art on its campus, and there are a few statues around the city, compared to other communities, there is very little public art in Manhattan. We are happy to say that this is no longer the case, and hope to continue the program annually, with new artists.

The art installation commenced in June of 2020 and was complete in July, on the 3rd Street Corridor in downtown Manhattan. The exhibition runs until 2021.

We are proud to present artists Joelle Ford, John Hachmeister, Kirk Seese, Pat Slimmer, Craig Snyder, Alan Tollakson, Kati Toivanen, Owen Oertling, V.skip Willits, and Emily Weiskopf.

Rebecca Hackemann-Bahlmann, PhD Visual Artist, Associate Professor of Art, Kansas State University Chair of Juried Art Exhibition subcommittee Vice Chair, AHAB

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THE JUROR

S

usan Earle, Ph.D., is a curator of European & American Art at the Spencer

Museum of Art. She has curated more than fifty exhibitions and commissioned major works from artists such as Ann Hamilton, Cynthia Schira, Tim Rollins + K.O.S., Madison Davis Lacy, and Dave Loewenstein. Her recent exhibition book publications include

An Errant Line: Ann Hamilton & Cynthia Schira (Spencer Museum, 2013), which won a 2013 Award for Excellence from the Association of Art Museum Curators, and Aaron Douglas: African

American Modernist (Yale, 2007), named a noted book of the year by The New York Times.

H

er research interests focus on feminist inquiry and social justice work, contemporary textiles, murals, body sculptures, and 19th-

century painting and decorative arts. A recipient of the Curatorial Research Fellowship from the Getty Foundation, Dr. Earle also earned an Outstanding Educator award from the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society at the University of Kansas and is a board member of the National African American Quilt Museum and Textile Academy.

O

riginally from New York City, she earned a BA with distinction from Williams College and MA and Ph.D. degrees from the Institute of

Fine Arts at New York University.

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THE ARTISTS Kati Toivanen Blooming Planters

Alan Tollakson Petrified Forest

V.skip Willts Palimpsest

John Hachmeister Fire Tornado

Pat Slimmer Study in Light

Owen Oertling

A Guilder Working the Gears

Craig Snyder TipSee

Joelle Ford Red

Emily Weiskopf Re:

Kirk Seese Magnify

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KATI TOIVANEN Blooming Planters

2020 | Digital photography printed on AlumiGraphics

“I cherish the opportunity to activate public spaces with art in order to engage viewers and to enrich the audience experiences. In my six completed public art projects, I responded to the function of the site both visually and conceptually to create unique works spanning photography, digital imagery, sculptural projects, and installations. I hope to disrupt everyday routines by providing moments of surprise and by inviting conversation.

Placement, abstraction, and suggestion are the most important considerations as I create art for public spaces.

Using a technique of seamless digital collage, I create imagery that is at once familiar and mysterious, enchanting, and disorienting. Scale, color, texture, and juxtaposition compete and coalesce to transform the ordinary into fictional vignettes. The imagery oscillates between abstraction and representation, as well as painting and photography.”

More of Kati’s work can be found online at http://www.katitoivanen.com.

Blooming Planters are located on 3rd Street, between Osage and Leavenworth, in downtown Manhattan.

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ALAN TOLLAKSON Petrified Forest

2019 | Native Kansas stone

Petrified Forest addresses the ever-present, immense scale of nature that looms over human existence. For some, the enormity of creation can also be petrifying, as the small house indicates. The title playfully refers to the finished material (stone), its implied material (wood), and its permanent state as an evergreen (petrification). “The nature of my work as a Sculptor relies on the organic, narrative, and metaphoric qualities of stone materials. My public work is displayed throughout the Midwest and beyond, including China and Europe. Native Flint Hills limestone is a primary source for my installations, and influences some of the forms I create.�

Petrified Forest is located on 3rd Street and Leavenworth, in downtown Manhattan.

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V.SKIP WILLITS Palimpsest

2019 | 12-gauge polychrome steel, welded

Palimpsest is writing material (parchment or tablet, in this case, a sculpture) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased.

“Snippets of text, parts of journals, songlines. I like to write on the surface of my sculptures, repetitively. A Palimpsest if you will.”

“The artwork that I create is an integral part of who I am.

The welding technique I use to create most of my work is a skill I began learning at age ten from my father who worked in a welding shop. He taught me everything, from the characteristics of materials such as steel, cast iron, and aluminum to the various welding techniques: arc, TIG, MIG, torch, etc. In 1983, I produced and installed my first major public sculpture. Since that time I’ve continued to make things both large and small. Yearly, I participate in numerous outdoor public sculpture shows and produce commissioned work across the United States, Canada, and Europe. I live and work, happily, on the banks of the Mississippi River.”

Palimpsest is located on 3rd Street and Humbolt, in downtown Manhattan.

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JOHN HACHMEISTER Fire Tornado

2019 | Cast aluminum on steel armature

“This sculpture references the phenomenon of ‘fire tornados’ that erupt on occasion when burning native tall grasses in the Flint Hills and on my farm. When the fire and breeze are right, two mini tornados rush down the fire line. On the grass side, it’s a column of flames swirling 30 to 40-feet into the sky, and on the burned side of the fire line it is a sister column of black ash.

Using those brief stunning images as inspiration, I melt aluminum to around 1,200F and draw with it in a calligraphic fashion, as if it were ink on paper. The aluminum is poured on and around a steel armature and, when cooled, multiple layers of paint are applied.”

John Hachmeister was born in North Central Kansas in 1949. Though he grew up on a ranch near Natoma, Kansas, part of each year was spent living with his maternal grandmother in Chicago. It was during these yearly visits to Chicago that Hachmeister was first exposed to sculpture, both modern and ancient.

John is an artist, art professor, and art activist caring for and promoting the appreciation of grassroots art sites. He lives in a rural setting but works in his studio buildings in Lawrence, Kansas. He has created public artwork in the United Kingdom, Peoples Republic of China, and numerous locations in the United States.

More of John’s work can be found online at http://www.kuhachmeister.com

Fire Tornado is located on 3rd Street in front of the mall entrance, in downtown Manhattan.

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PAT SLIMMER Study in Light

2020 | Steel with rusted patina finish

The mirror finish on stainless steel circles captures and projects the light during sunrise and sunset. In contrast to the mirror finish stainless steel the body of the sculpture is made out of 11 gauge steel with a rusted patina/finish 2 inches thick and about 10-12 inches wide about 5ft tall. All welds except securing to the base will be TIG brazed, giving a nice contrast of yellow brass on the edges of the rusted metal finish and stainless steel edge.

From public art to cars, Pat Slimmer is a true renaissance man! In addition to being a master mechanic, Pat Slimmer is the man behind the infamous ‘Flying Saucer’ Art Car. This signature vehicle in the Art Tougeau parade has traveled to many exhibitions and has even been featured in several books. Pat’s public art has been exhibited in Topeka’s NOTO Arts District and the Downtown Lawrence Sculpture Exhibition. Pat has created metal sculptures for the Lawrence annual Scarecrow Auction and his metal wreaths are always a favorite part of the Lawrence Festival of Trees.

For more of Pat’s art, visit his Instagram page, @slimmermetalarts.

Study in Light is located on 3rd Street in front of the mall entrance in downtown Manhattan.

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OWEN OERTLING A Guilder Working the Gears

2019 | 3-D printed resin and wood model, cast in bronze

The Guilders are small scale figures that each have a job. This job, or action, helps to create a narrative with their surroundings. The location of the installation adds to the narrative.

Whether it be a gallery, a pedestrian walk-through, a public area, a time period, or a conversation with the political, social, or ethical climate.

“My interest in the labor comes from the many hats I have filled being a part-time handyman, fabricator, and artist. The skillset of a sculptor is akin to being ‘jack of all trades.’ Being an artist does not always provide financial security, which is where having these many skills comes in handy. Learning woodworking, welding, molding, casting, and creative thinking all were basics to a sculpture career, yet all have more ‘real world’ applications as well, which can employ a hungry artist. Taking these jobs also comes with the expense of having to answer to someone other than yourself. Whether it be a lead designer of a theatrical production, a homeowner needing a repair, or sticking to the plans of a pre-designed drawing, taking jobs requires you to please that who you work for. Creating artwork, I have the responsibility of making every decision and answering to myself, and the world.”

Owen’s work can be found on his Instagram page, @owenoertling.

A Guilder Working the Gears is located on 3rd Street, between Poyntz and Houston, in downtown Manhattan.

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CRAIG SNYDER TipSee

2019 | Painted steel

As any kid will attest it’s monumentally fun to stack blocks as high as possible before they fall. It’s also completely irresistible to not knock them over.

“Sculpture is my thing. I appreciate all forms of art but working in three dimensions appeals to me in so many ways. I have gravitated to public art. It’s really the ultimate showcase for my work -- it’s out there for all the world to see and love or not.

My specific focus is on welded steel, copper, brass, and aluminum. I often combine that with stone, wood, and now also ceramic and glass. Depending on the preference of the piece, I will go with natural patinas but also seriously love color. I’ve always been fascinated with the East and have chosen to experiment with techniques and concepts originating there, such as wabi-sabi. For me, wabi-sabi is the acceptance of beauty infused by the inflection as a reflection of our lives and loves.”

Craig’s work can be found online at www.fireshapes.com.

TipSee is located on 3rd Street and Houston, in downtown Manhattan.

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JOELLE FORD Red

2018 | Wooden shelves with iron base

Red is the culmination of collecting wooden shelves for many years. Since the shapes of the shelves lent themselves to be used in a vertical arrangement, they were attached to an upright post. The shelves were primed and covered with several coats of outdoor paint to withstand many Kansas winters.

“My work consists of the utilization of found objects. This has been my focus for many years - really my whole life. My parents and grandparents, who lived through the Depression, taught me how to make doll beds out of shoe boxes, and clothes from feed sacks. The habit of finding value in unwanted or undervalued items continues in my work today. I have made art from old magazines, world globes, paint can lids, embroidery hoops, ruined paintbrushes - items that some see as junk and I see as idle art - and in this instance, many wooden shelves. I find it challenging to work with found objects.”

More of Joelle’s work can be found on her website, www.joelleford.com.

Red is located on 3rd Street and Pierre, in downtown Manhattan.

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EMILY WEISKOPF Re:

2020 | Recycled aluminum

“We must awaken to a current world that has always been impermanent, full of uncertainty, in need of ongoing transformation, a world on fire from the inside out and the outside in. Growth is a process of mobilizing to Re-imagine, Resilience, Re-direct, Re-cycle, Regenerate, Re-learn, Re-build, Re-lease and Re-ceive, to bring Re-newal to ourselves, our lives, our planet, our hope and need of healing. There is strength and struggle needed for progress. We, like nature, are each seeds which must open and act with interdependence Re-membrance. Resistance only brings more struggle, to realize we have all we need.”

Emily Weiskopf’s trademark as both a connection and space between all things presents a convergent mode of abstraction to tactile experiences. She draws relations between the disparity of the disappearing natural world, the sacredness of life, and her personal struggles due to her ongoing spine conditions and physical constraints.

She strives to create through a rich palette of materials dependent on her body’s capabilities at the time - work that acts and emotes as portals and markers for healing spirits. She creates space for the sacred, bringing rebirth and peace through a reciprocal connection of the impermanence of life.

“My public and site-specific work bring together these concepts with a universal and archetypal symbolism; a given site and the complex relationship between the built environment, the community, the individual, and the natural world. The works are the monumental expression of my vision.”

Re: is located on 3rd Street and Colorado, in downtown Manhattan.

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KIRK SEESE Magnify

2020 | Steel and MDO board, painted acrylic

Magnify is an invitation to explore, play, and have fun. It invites the curious, inspires the creative, and adds wonder to the everyday domesticity of life. This interactive, kinetic sculpture acts as a giant magnifying glass. Sunbeams pour through the colored “lens” as the viewer swivels the rings into position to catch the light, casting a stained glass reflection on the ground, or anything else it hits. Made from CNC cut, sign industry-standard MDO board, primed and painted black, a steel post, and a 1/2” thick piece of circular, clear acrylic with designs directly printed on using UV Ink from a large format flatbed printer, this piece is meant to be enjoyed outdoors.

Kirk Seese is a lifetime visual artist, specializing in large scale murals and public sculpture.

From facilitating community art projects using volunteers of all ages, to designing multimillion dollar indoor climbing gyms for franchisees, Kirk offers a wide range of expertise in design, fabrication, delivery, and installation of winning artworks across the nation.

More of Kirk’s work can be found online at www.bbmurals.com.

Magnify is located on 3rd Street and Blue Earth Plaza, in front of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, in downtown Manhattan.

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MANHATTAN CITY COMMISSION Usha Reddi, Mayor Wynn Butler, Mayor Pro Tem Linda Morse, Commissioner Aaron Estabrook, Commissioner Mark Hatesohl, Commissioner

CITY MANAGER Ron Fehr

ARTS & HUMANITIES ADVISORY BOARD Karen McCulloh, Chair Dr. Rebecca Hackermann-Bahlmann, Vice-Chair Charlene Brownson Dr. Michaeline Chance-Reay Sarah Hoyt Julie Pentz Sujatha Prakash Hilary Wahlen Aaron Oleen, Former Chair

PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR Eddie Eastes

RECREATION DIRECTOR & STAFF LIAISON Randi Clifford

MARKETING & COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER Theresa Mueller

ART INSTALLATION Casey Smithson Cody Kramer

Special thanks to the MHKPRD Parks Division staff

SPONSORED BY

The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation

Some sculptures may be available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing any piece, please contact the artist directly.

If you would like to make a donation to the next annual juried public art exhibition, please email clifford@cityofmhk.com.

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City of Manhattan

1 “Blooming Planters�

Kati Toivanen

MHK Public Art Exhibition

2

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1

2

“TipSee�

Craig Snyder

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“Palimpsest�

V.skip Willits

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9

“Study in Light�

Pat Slimmer

“Red�

Joelle Ford

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5

8

3

“Fire Tornado�

John Hachmeister

“A Guilder Working the Gears�

Owen Oertling

“Petrified Combustion�

Alan Tollakson

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6

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“Re:�

Emily Weiskopf

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“Magnify�

Kirk Seese