Nouns | 2023 Sunflower Biennial

nouns

/february 8 - march 26/

Cover: Aja Wong, Women are Creatures, Hence the Obituaries, 2022 Above: Madison Rettiger, Jurassic Art, 2022

The Sunflower Biennial is a juried exhibition of visual art celebrating secondary and post-secondary arts education programs while recognizing artists in Kansas for dedication, achievement, and contribution to exchanges that reveal life. This year’s exhibition, Nouns, is divided into three sections: People, Places, and Things.

Programming: February 11 | 1-3 PM

Opening reception | Awards and juror remarks

February 15 | 12 PM

Art Byte

March 15 | 12 PM

Art Byte

Virtual tour with artists talk available online. Visit www.SalinaArtCenter.org/Nouns

An essay from our jurors /Nouns/: words (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things (common noun), or to name a particular one of these (proper noun) Artists are social barometers; much can be discerned from a widespread exhibition of work produced within a given period of time. Considering the universal upheaval of the last few years, one might expect artists, the youth in particular, to be reflecting inwards, processing their isolation by plunging even deeper into a retrospective pool for inspiration.

However, after reviewing the images submitted for this exhibition, it was interesting, perhaps even heartening, to find many of the artists examining their external environment; observing their family and friends, their homes, natural and urban surroundings, even placing themselves in self-portraits within a larger communal context. In a sense, we seem to be re-marking our own territory, noting the people, places, and things that are once again influencing our growth and evolution.

This exploratory extroversion is apparent in ‘The After Party’, by Kailin Nielsen, a boldly colorful still life of a pair of glasses and cherries amid candy sprinkles, the detritus left in the aftermath of a now unprohibited gathering. In the oil by Claire Davidson entitled ‘Me and Noodles’, a skillful self-portrait portrays the artist in a restaurant, a common backdrop that up until a year ago would have felt disingenuous. Even some of the more opaquely introspective works are sited in a public location: Aja Wong’s cyanotype photograph, provocatively titled ‘Women are Creatures, Hence the Obituaries’, portrays an animal/human hybrid sprawled across a park bench, and the almost voyeuristic photograph of ‘Chappy’ by Abbey Graves captures a profoundly private moment in an active farm scene.

Our residual loneliness continues to be apparent though, in works like ‘College Dorm’

by Mara Fox, where a single person is sitting alone in their room, almost glitching in a disassociating world where boundaries between people, places, and things are breaking down. Equally powerful are the haunting photographs by Paola Iseley, of parking garages and bus shelters completely devoid of people or any evidence of recent human occupation. It is clear that the threat of apocalypse is still overwhelming and must be challenged on basic and primal fronts, evidenced in the bare insistence of Brooklyn Petrie’s ‘We’ve Always Been Here’.

The rigor and raw purpose in our desire to survive, as individual artists and members of a larger global community, constantly pushes us to evaluate what is most important. The creative impulse, to realize something that has not existed before, is directed by our own

needs for self-actualization: we struggle to understand why we’re here and what to do with that knowledge. The work in this exhibition demonstrates that emerging regional artists are addressing these questions with courage and taking their own agency in determining what the future holds.

Elizabeth Stevenson and Patrick Duegaw About Our Jurors Patrick Duegaw, one of the co-founders of Fisch Haus, is a Juror 2023 Sunflower Biennial. Patrick is an artist and shows nationally and internationally, and divides his time between his studios in Kansas and Montréal, Québec. Duegaw’s first solo museum exhibition, The Builder, Removed, a comprehensive retrospective of 111 paintings and drawings, was held at the Wichita Art Museum in the spring of 2009. Many museums and exhibitions later, Duegaw has had seven large-scale solo multi-media exhibitions at Fisch Haus, regularly exhibits in galleries in both Kansas City and San Francisco, and has been invited to participate in national group shows.

Elizabeth Stevenson, LEED AP, Director of Fisch Haus is a Juror 2023 Sunflower Biennial. Fisch Haus is a multi-disciplinary art facility, located in Wichita’s Commerce St. Art District, currently accommodating five full-time local creatives and a steady stream of artists, actors, and musicians, both regional and international. Elizabeth earned a degree in architecture from McGill University in Montréal. She has lived and worked throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, finally arriving in Wichita in 1998.

People /pē-pəl/ Amy Baber b. 2002 Everett, Washington University of Kansas Luminoso, 2022 Oil on canvas 30”x40” Panic Room, 2022 Oil on canvas 24”36” Kierstin Barton b. 2002 Wichita, KS Butler Community College Frozen, 2022 Graphite on paper 8.5”x 10” Devin Carter b. 2000 Hutchinson, KS Wichta State University Fallen Angel, 2022 Plaque-mounted photograph print 20” x 30” x 1/4” Collin Chaney b. 2002 Chanute, KS Pittsburg State University Passing, 2022 Woodcut on paper 11 7/8” x 11 5/8”

Mason L Cloud b. 2000 Newton, KS Fort Hays State University Blending In, 2021 Ceramic 12.5” x 12.5” x 7”

Kat Doty b. 2002 Springfield, IL Fort Hays State University Tony (Figure Drawing), 2022 Pastel on paper 24” x 19”

Claire Davidson b. 2003 Wichita, KS Butler Community College Self Portrait Plaid, 2022 Oil on canvas board 16” x 20” Self Portrait Argyle, 2022 Oil on canvas board 16” x 20” Me and Noodles, 2022 Oil on artist panel 16” x 20”

Mara Fox b. 2002 Kansas City, MO Emporia State University Pigeon or Chicken?, 2021 Oil on canvas 20” x 16” x 2” Fragmented, 2022 Oil on canvas 20” x 16” x 1”

Mariah Dechant b. 2002 Cimarron, KS Fort Hays State University Medias Effect, 2022 Trace monotype, gelatin monotype, intaglio, and acetone transfer on paper 13” x 10” Bat Shit Crazy, 2021 Charcoal on paper 30” x 22”

Samantha Gales b. 1999 Wichita, KS Wichita State University Half of a Hole, 2022 Collage, acrylic, ink, colored pencil 30” x 22” Zoë Gillis b. 1998 Shawnee, KS Wichita State University Inner Child, 2021 Silkscreen on paper 8.5” x 11”

Amy Baber, Luminoso, 2022

Claire Davidson, Me and Noodles, 2022

Abbey Graves b. 2001 Wichita, KS Wichita State University Chappy, 2022 Digital print 20” x 24”

Ashley Herrman b. 2002 Great Bend, KS Barton County Community College Exploration of Wonder, 2021 Chalk pastel on paper 18” x 15.5” x .5”

Victoria Hernandez Velazquez b. 1998 Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico Emporia State University Piecing It Together, 2021 Mixed media on muslin fabric 8’ x 6’

Paola Iseley b. 2001 Dallas, TX Wichita State University Womanhood (My Body), 2022 Inkjet print on Pro-luster paper 12” x 18”

Mirka Leyva-Gaucin b. 2000 Emporia, KS Emporia State University i would tell you everything (if i could), 2021 Archival pigment print 24” x 24”

Jamie Kalen b. 2002 Emporia, KS Emporia State University Baby Don’t Stop, 2022 Oil paint on canvas 20” x 16” x .75”

Savanna Nichols b. 2002 Wichita, KS Butler Community College Arachne, 2022 Graphite on vellum 34” x 22” x .25”

Jenae Romeiser b. 2001 Morrowville, KS Emporia State University A Granddaughter’s Self Portrait, 2022 Oil paint 20” x 16” x 0.5”

Kailin Nielsen b. 1998 Kearney, NE Fort Hays State University Debauchery, 2022 Oil paint and glitter on linen 48” x 36” x 2” Sexualization or Sexuality?, 2022 Oil on canvas 48” x 44” x 2”

Macalah Ruff b. 2001 Okinawa, Japan Wichita State University Fools Play (Jazzy), 2022 Digital print 20” x 13”

Mariah Prophet b. 2005 Salina, KS Salina Central High School Blue, 2022 Clay 6” x 4” x4”

Collin Chaney, Passing, 2022

Carrie Sleezer b. 2000 Emporia, KS Emporia State University Apple of My Eye, 2022 Cyanotype print on Stonehenge paper 22” x 27” Dragging, 2022 Graphite pencil, colored pencil, and thread on Stonehenge 22” x 17”

Abbey Graves, Chappy, 2022

Rosemary Stapleton b. 2004 Tulsa, OK Pittsburg State University Self-Portrait, 2022 Pencil and charcoal drawing 24” x 18” Lucia Rose Suniga b. 2002 Wichita, KS Wichita State University One Day When You Are Older, 2021 Acrylic paint on reclaimed canvas 40” x 30” Kelsey Taber b. 1996 Kansas City, MO Johnson County Community College Losing Balance, 2021 Cast aluminum 20” x 8” x 5”

Jade Warden b. 2000 Wichita, KS Wichita State University Koji, 2022 Charcoal on tan paper 9” x 12” Self-Portrait, 2022 Acrylic, watercolor, and stickers on black canvas 20” x 16”

Aja Wong b. 2002 Olathe, KS Kansas State University Women are Creatures, Hence the Obituaries, 2022 Cyanotype Photograph 9” x 12” & 12” x 9”

Brenna R Welch b. 2000 Wichita, KS Emporia State University Blocked Satyrs, 2022 Oil on canvas 20” x 16” x 1.5” Enchanted in Thought, 2022 Oil and gold leaf on canvas 36” x 24” x 1.5”

Bryan Vazquez b. 2001 Emporia, KS Emporia State University 21st Edition, 2021 Oil on canvas 16” x 20” Luis Henry Veleta b. 2003 Lakin, KS Garden City Community College Chile Colorado (mmmfood), 2022 Oil Pastel 30” x 22”

Samantha Gales, Half of a Hole, 2022

Places /’pleIsəz/ Sophia Marie J Agbayani b. 1999 Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines Wichita State University Vain, 2021 Monoprint on paper 11” x 15”

Brooklyn Petrie b. 1999 Topeka, KS Washburn University We’ve Always Been Here, 2022 Digital - Adobe Illustrator 48” x 72”

Mara Fox b. 2001 Kansas City, MO Emporia State University College Dorm, 2022 Oil on canvas 24” x 30” x 1”

Sarah Presley b. 1997 Spring Hill, KS Kansas State University Untitled, 2022 Color etching 24” x 18”

Mya Garcia b. 2003 Garden City, KS Garden City Community College Glitch in the City, 2022 Photographic print

Mel Sharp b. 2002 Overland Park, KS Wichita State University Path (2), 2022 Oil on canvas board 12” x 12”

Paola Iseley b. 2001 Dallas, TX Wichita State University Made for the Night, 2021 Inkjet print on Pro-luster paper 12” x 18” The Love we Leave Behind, 2021 Inkjet print on Pro-luster paper 12” x 18”

Dylan Stone b. 2002 Olathe, KS Johnson County Community College Great Blue Heron, 2021 Digital Photography 16” x 20”

Frances Tsounis b. 2003 Livingston, New Jersey Emporia State University L’age D’or, 2022 Intaglio 10” x 12” x .5” Angel-Like at the Turnpike, 2021 Oil pastel & gouache Cecilia Vazquez-Paredes b. 2002 Garden City, KS Garden City Community College Still life, 2022 Graphite on Bristol paper 18” x 23” Luis Henry Veleta b. 2003 Lakin, KS Garden City Community College E Beaty RD Gas Station, 2022 Oil pastel 20” x 14”

Above: Sarah Presley, Untitled, 2022 Below: Paola Iseley, Made for the Night, 2021

Things /thiŋs/ Ashton Albright b. 2001 Overland Park, KS Johnson County Community College Purgatory, 2021 Mixed media, fabric, and acrylic paint 37” x 20” x 18” Kierstin Barton b. 2002 Wichita, KS Butler Community College Cornered, 2022 Graphite drawing on paper 8” x 11” Dad’s Denim Jacket, 2022 Charcoal on toned paper 23” x 34” Makenzie Burmeister b. 1997 Omaha, NE Kansas State University Concrete Compliments, 2022 Stoneware tile with glaze, screen print with glaze and concrete 7” x 7”

Justice Catron b. 1999 Tahlequah, OK Kansas State University Sorry About my New Shoes, 2021 Electric fired ceramics 12” x 4” x 6” Mason L Cloud b. 2000 Newton, KS Fort Hays State University Outreak, 2022 Ceramic 5” x 5” x 2’ per arm Sadie Dreiling b. 2000 Wichita, KS Emporia State University Geometry, 2022 Glass 8.75” x 4.5” x 3” Ember Fiegenbaum b. 2000 Wichita, KS Emporia State University Maybe We Can Be Okay, 2021 Lithograph and screen print on paper 8” x 8”

Jake Geisen b. 1999 Lawrence, KS University of Kansas Rooted, 2022 Borosilicate glass, clay 10.5” x 9.25” x 4.5” Madison Gleason b. 1999 Great Bend, KS Fort Hays State University Textured Textile, 2022 Fiber 39” x 25.5” Rebecca Impson b. 2006 Wichita, KS Goessel High School Spring, 2022 Ink and watercolor paper 6” x 11” Sarah Kuffler b. 2000 Coffeyville, KS Wichita State University This is all she had, 2022 Oil on canvas 6” x 9.75” x 2” Growing Up, 2022 Oil on canvas 8.25” x 9” x 3.5” Misophonia, 2022 Oil on canvas 4.5” x 4” x 2.5”

Alayna Reinke, Here We Go Again, 2021

Kennedy Mitchell b. 1998 Kansas City, MO Love, Loss, and Growth, 2021 Casted aluminum, wood, paint, silk roses 17.5” x 17.5” x 17.5”

Gaylin E Nicholson b. 1998 Olathe, KS Johnson County Community College Up n’ at ‘Em, 2022 Raku fired slip-cast ceramic 4” x 3” x 7”

Madison Mullen b. 2000 Wichita, KS Lick Her Bottle, 2022 Acrylic on collage canvas 36” x 24”

Kailin Nielsen b. 1998 Kearney, NE Fort Hays State University The After Party, 2022 Oil on linen 24” x 41.5” x 2”

Savanna Nichols b. 2002 Wichita, KS Butler Community College Frog of the Flowers, 2022 Alcohol ink felt tip pen 16” x 12” x .25”

Jared Parsons b. 1999 Independence, MO Emporia State University Glass Peppers, 2022 Hot sculpted glass, stained with acrylic paint, 11 glass peppers (biggest pepper 7.5” x 1.5”, smallest pepper 5” x 1”, basket 12” x 12” x 12”)

Dalton Reed b. 1999 Lawrence, KS Emporia State University Have I Ate Yet?, 2022 Glass kiln casting negative image technique 12” x 6” x 4” In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream, 2022 Sculpted Glass With Color 4” x 7” x 10” Alayna Reinke b. 2003 Overland Park, KS Johnson County Community College Here We Go Again, 2021 Aluminum and preserved flowers 5” x 10” x 12”

Rosemary Stapleton b. 2004 Tulsa, OK Pittsburg State University A Long Nap, 2022 Ceramic 2.5” x 5” x 3.5” Alexander Charles Stewart b. 2001 Topeka, KS Emporia State University Little Thing, 2022 Glass 12” x 5” x 5” Dylan Stone b. 2002 Olathe, KS Johnson County Community College Snow Geese, 2022 Digital Photography 16” x 20” Lucia Rose Suniga B. 2002 Wichita, KS Wichita State University La Familia, 2021 Ceramic stoneware with velvet underglazes and clear glaze 15” x 6” x 6”

Kelsey Taber b. 1996 Kansas City, MO Johnson County Community College Not Yours to Use, 2022 Ceramic, bronze, 3D printed resin 15” x 15” Hands Off, 2022 Canvas, paint, string, screws (site specific installation) 50” x 50” Cecilia Vazquez-Paredes b. 2002 Garden City, KS Garden City Community College Amphibian Adventure, 2022 Watercolor on Bristol paper 22” x 30” Glory Winzer b. 2002 Augusta, KS Butler Community College Illness 1, 2022 Ceramic 5” x 3” x 7” Illness 2, 2022 Ceramic 4” x 6” x 6” each

Glory Winzer, Illness 1, 2021 Ember Fiegenbaum, Maybe We Can Be Okay, 2021

Top from left to right: Jared Parsons, Skull Study, 2021 Collin Chaney, Man, 2022 Madison Rettiger, Alas, Poor Yorick, 2022 Christina Bruce, Infectious, 2022

Madison Rettiger b. 2001 Grand Rapids, MI Johnson County Community College Alas, Poor Yorick, 2022 Ink and watercolor on paper 7” x 10” Jurassic Art, 2022 Ink and watercolor on paper 7” x 10”

Skulls Christina Bruce Salina, KS Wichita State University Petri, 2022 Oil on canvas 36” x 24” Infectious, 2022 Acrylic and oil, pom-poms, embroidered felt, hot glue, beads, craft paint, on canvas 20” x 16” Collin Chaney b. 2000 Chanute, KS Pittsburg State University Man, 2022 Woodcut on paper 6.75” x 5.375”

Rebecca Impson b. 2006 Wichita, KS Goessel High School Deadly Dance, 2022 Scratch board 10” x 6” Jared Parsons b. 1999 Independence, MO Emporia State University Skull Study, 2021 Oil on canvas 12” x 12” Seferino Ramirez Jr. b. 2002 Lancaster, CA Garden City Community College Forever and Always, 2022 Clay, moss, rope, roses 8” x 13” x 15”

Abbey Segobia b. 2002 Emporia, KS Emporia State University Kitchen Counter, 2022 Graphite on paper 14” x 17” Luis Henry Veleta b. 2003 Lakin, KS Garden City Community College Time gone by, 2022 Acrylic paint, oil pastel on masonite panels with wood matrix support 3’ x 4.5’ Jennifer Wong b. 2000 Wichita, KS Emporia State University Warped Figures, 2022 Glass 5” x 3.5” x 1.5”

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The Sunflower Biennial exhibition is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

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Salina Art Center, 242 S Santa Fe Ave. Salina, Kansas SalinaArtCenter.org Catalog published by Salina Art Center to accompany the exhibition, Nouns | 2023 Sunflower Biennial February 8 - March 26, 2023 Opening Reception February 11, 2023

Text by Patrick Duegaw & Elizabeth Stevenson Design by Hannah Crickman All images courtesy of the artists Exhibition design by: Patrick Duegaw, Elizabeth Stevenson, and Daniel Picking