Sunflower Biennial |Through their Eyes

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Through their Eyes Contemporary Art from Young Kansas Artists | 2021

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2021 Sunflower Biennial Juror's Essay I wish to thank the Salina Art Center for the opportunity to jury the 2021 Sunflower Biennial Exhibition. It has been rewarding for me to get a glimpse of the collective vision of young artists working in our challenging times.

Jurying is a process that is necessarily discriminating. As an artist, I am aware of how it feels to be rejected from a juried show. Disappointment of rejection runs parallel with the pleasure of being included and celebrated and every artist experiences both these feelings at some point in their practice. For those who are not selected to participate in this exhibition, know that you are just as likely to be included in your next attempt to share your work – your efforts may be recognized positively by different circumstances and jurors. I encourage every artist who risked acceptance or rejection for this show to be persistent and continue to take on these risks.

My task as a juror is to seek out the overall themes and content from the submissions and select the best examples of works dealing with those ideas. A juror is an editor, selecting the most representative objects that tell the story of the moment.

Seeking the most articulate, well-execut-

ed, and expressive works that are in touch with materiality and process, I look for engagement in the world of ideas. If this is not clear in the work itself, it can often come through in an artist’s statement and send me back to see if I missed something.

I have a broad definition of articulate and well-executed that covers a wide range of historical and current precedents.

I begin my process by looking through each artist’s submission – the actual (virtual) work. I then check the artist’s statement to see if it makes me question my assumptions about the work or reinforces my understanding of what I think I am perceiving. I have rough notes on each artist’s submissions, and often, I will go back to look again. I try to remain “blind” to artist’s names and backgrounds on this first pass. Next, I begin the process for refining the selections. At this stage I am also interested in what kind of themes are emerging - what the overall potential work of the show is suggesting. Media and methodologies become a focus, checking that my initial selections are diverse. I double-check details of scale, media, what age range of artists are represented, and where they are from. Having a more accurate sense of scale and material might change my perception of the work - I want to make sure (as is possible from digital images) that the work is what I think it is. Some work might get an advantageous

second, third or fourth look. Inclusion is important in the jurying process and I attempt to make the selections as diverse as possible while maintaining the highest level of work. My goal is to select just the right number of artworks to make for a lively and engaging installation. It is important to me that all the works fit in the exhibition space and can be properly engaged.

are challenged by it. In some works, artists are forming their own sense of self as participants in and of nature rather than the more traditional position of outside observer.

In this social media age, there are quite a few artists exploring the boundaries of meme and truth. Some strong works explore how media distorts our identities, forms our assumptions about each other, Even in my first stage of looking, I rec- or damages our self-image. There are exognized themes relating to the COVID-19 cellent contemporary re-imagings of Pop year. There are many works where masks Art, and identity-based art. make a very poignant presence. Sometimes these masks turn up in very tradi- Artists are charged with transporting us tional situations like still-lifes or figure to unexpected places — the weird, the undrawing. Other times they are a focal seen, or new perceptions of the ordinary. point that creates tension and power in Artists experiment with materials and the work. While it isn’t unusual for skele- juxtapositions that challenge us while tons to turn up in the work of young art- connecting with our common humanity. ists who are exploring the challenges of The young artists included in this Sunengaging with issues of life and death or flower Biennial demonstrate these qualperhaps they’re just full of morbid curios- ities in abundance. For me, this is what ity, the skeletons in many of these works artists do best and it is exciting to see a seem to reach for deeper meaning that new generation of artists finding new might relate to the loss of a loved one or ways to surprise us. the new realization of the fragility of life due to the pandemic.

Nelson Smith Juror There are strong works that deal with humanity’s tense relationship with nature.

These works don’t just admire nature, but engage with it in all kinds of ways showing that humans challenge nature and

Tiffany Adams Age group: 19-24 Sterling, ks Sterling College Winter Deere, 2019 Acrylic paint 16" x 20"

Laura Barwick 19-24 Independence, ks Wichita State University Distorted Perception,2020 Acrylic on wood panel 48" x 36" x 3" each

Wendy Armendariz 19-24 Lyons, ks Barton Community College In Death’s Arms, 2020 Oil 16" x 20"

Daisy Buller 15-18 Newton, ks Newton High School Black and White Glow, 2020 Photography 8" x 10"

Amy Baber 15-18 Wichita, ks Heal, 2020 Oil on canvas 36" x 24"

Kathryn Cantrell 15-18 Alton, ks Osborne Jr/Sr High School Watermelon Baby, 2020 Oil 24" x 18"

Carolina Barraza 15-18 Courtland, ks Pike Valley High School Redefining Beauty, 2020 Photography 8" x 10" Erika Barron-Gomez 19-24 Ulysses, ks Garden City Community College Le Crepuscule, 2020 Color pencil on paper 16.5" x 16.5"

Taryn Carroll 19-24 Belton, mo Emporia State University Comfort, 2019 Archival pigment print 7" x 10.5" Champion, 2020 DASS transfer on paper, gel pen 6" x 6"

Saigen Conrad 19-24 Stafford, va Baker University Silver Lining, 2020 Oil on wood panel 18" x 18" Nooseance, 2020 Oil on wood panel 18" x 18" Hannah Crickman 19-24 Salina, ks The Future is Wild, 2019 Photography 11" x 8.5" Karina Delarosa 19-24 Wichita, ks Butler Community College Distracted, 2020 Graphite and charcoal on drawing paper 18" x 24" Lexus Di Loreto 15-18 Salina, ks Salina High School Central Rainy Day, 2019 Watercolor 11" x 14" Timothy Fey 19-24 Wichita, ks Wichita State University Ebb and Flow, 2020 Archival inkjet on luster paper 22" x 16"

Katherine Fowler 19-24 Lindsborg, ks Poppies and Pollen, 2020 Collage 19.5" x 13" Rebekah Franklin 15-18 Salina, ks Salina High School Central Thanatophobia, 2020 Paper mached foam 72" x 24" x 19" Raquel Garcia 19-24 Garden City, ks Her Nature, 2020 Watercolor and colored pencil on paper 22" x 30" Lily Guillen 19-24 Wichita, ks Wichita State University Glamorosa Hasta su Ultimo Suspiro (Jezabel), 2020 Mixed media on fishnet fabric 52" x 24" Ponte a Sus Ordenes con Humildad, 2020 Mixed media on canvas 30" x 40" Alex Mendoza Hartley 15-18 Topeka, ks Topeka High School I Can’t Breathe, 2020 Multimedia, colored pencil, oil pastels 14" x 11"

Logan Headings 15-18 Newton, ks Newton High School Plastic Pollution in the Environment, 2020 Colored pencils on paper 18" x 24"

Ryann Kats 19-24 Salina, ks Kansas Wesleyan University Hidden Gifts, 2020 Acrylic paint on canvas 20" x 16"

Mara Hemel 19-24 Hays, ks Fort Hays State University Beautiful Secrets, 2020 Intaglio 17.5" x 10" Katelyn Huddle 15-18 McPherson, ks Sterling College Simple Pleasures, 2020 Graphite 12" x 18"

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Jessica Kepler 19-24 Pittsburg, ks Pittsburg State University Rain, 2020 Digital painting on photo paper 8" x 8"

Emily Kohls 19-24 Hutchinson, ks Take This Pink Ribbon, 2019 Acrylic, ink, satin cloth, glitter, and paper image transfer on wood panel 19" x 16" Is She Pretty Inside, 2019 Layna Kinnaird Acrylic, ink, glitter, marker, 15-18 plastic pearls, and paper on Salina, ks wood panel Salina High School Central 12" x 16" What’s Wrong with You?, 2020 Pop Culture was in Art, Now Gouache and swarovski crys- Art’s in Pop Culture in Me, tals on paper 2019 12" x 20" Gouache, watercolor, acrylic, ink, paper, and gesso on Marisa Kistler wood panel 19-24 24" x 20" Dodge City, ks 9 Fort Hays State University The Battle of Comfort, 2020 Mixed media collage on plywood 28" x 28"

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Kiahlyn Kussman 15-18, Formoso, ks Pike Valley High School Rows, 2019 Photography 16" x 20" Jocelyn Lechuga 19-24 Wichita, ks Cowskull Warriors, 2019 Relief print 9" x 12" Mirka Leyva-Gaucin 19-24 Emporia, ks Emporia State University 10 Things I Love About You, 2020 Mixed media, artist's book 6" x 7" Margot Lockwood 19-24 Lawrence, ks University of Kansas Creation, 2020 Mixed media ecosculpture 15.5" x 9" x 6.5"

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Bonnie McEachren 19-24 Kansas City, mo Kansas City Art Institute Girls Night Out, 2019 Terracotta, glaze 24 x 28 x 5 Angel Cake, 2020 Stoneware, glaze 9" x 11" x 11" Jesus Mier 19-24 Garden City, ks Garden City Community College Nature’s Plain, 2020 Watercolor dry brush 6.75" x 17" Taylor Miller 19-24 Lenexa, ks Anhedonia, 2020 Oil on wood panel 12" x 9" Emily Monson 19-24 Salina, ks Kansas Wesleyan University A Moment in History, 2019 Photography 7" x 15" each Cold Case, 2019 Charcoal on paper 7" x 15" Maddie Mullen 19-24 McPherson, ks McPherson College Fried Eggs, 2019 Acrylic on canvas 24" x 30"

Lauren Myers 19-24 Lenexa, ks University of Missouri-Kansas City Paper Thin Stability, 2020 Handmade synthetic hair paper, Kozo paper casting 64" x 8" Collar of Miniature Fictions and Truths, 2020 Matboard, fabric, pen on paper 2.5" x 17" Kailin Neilsen 19-24 Hays, ks Fort Hays State University Honey?, 2019 Oil on Rives BFK paper 22" x 15" Hana Rose North 19-24 Salina, ks Salina High School Central Integrated, 2020 Acrylic with graphite under-drawing on panel 21" x 31" Matthew Olson 15-18 Newton, ks Newton High School Tired, 2020 Digital painting 6.5" x 8.5"

Bethany Panhorst 19-24 Hays, ks Day Four, 2020 Ceramic 5" x 8" x 5" My Brother His Keeper, 2020 Ceramic 4.5" x 6" x 17.5" Yejung Park 19-24 Emporia, ks Emporia State University Waste Culture, 2019 Archival pigment print 24" x 36" each My Home: Emporia, 2020 Archival pigment metallic print 17" x 11" each Brooke Petefish 19-24 Topeka, ks Washburn University Shatterbrained, 2019 Charcoal, pencil, colored pencil, crayon, india ink wash, india ink, on paper 18" x 24" Katie Peterson 19-24 Fremont, ne Fort Hays State University Daily Planner, 2020 Pastel on Rives BFK paper 20" x 24" Morning Routine, 2020 Oil on Canvas 24" x 36"

Genevieve Prescher 19-24 Lawrence, ks Pandemic Family Portrait, 2020 Oil paint on wood panel 11" x 14"

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Chandler Reich 19-24 Russell, ks Fort Hays State University Kayak, 2020 Colored pencils, watercolor, and collage 16" x 11" Emily Redding 15-18 Salina, ks Salina High School Central Sea Biscuit, 2020 Red clay, drift wood, glaze, and red iron oxide 16" x 16" x 2"

Zephra Rice 19-24 Mcpherson, ks Bethany College Northern Paper Wasp Nest, 2020 Glazed and underglaze painted and marbled buff clay 12" x 9" x 9" Golden Orb Weaver, 2020 Underglaze painted and glazed buff clay 9" x 12" x 12" Libby Richey 19-24 Lawrence, ks Untitled (Spoonbills), 2019 Oil on unstretched canvas 36" x 53.5" Quinn Sothers 15-18 Courtland, ks Pike Valley High School The Key to a Piano, 2019 Oil pastel 16" x 20"

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Olivia Stinson 19-24 Hays, ks Fort Hays State University Unfamiliar Reflections, 2020 Engobe and slip on ceramics 28" x 10" x 12" Passenger, 2020 Engine and slip on ceramics 19.5" x 11.5" x 6"

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Talon Strouhal 19-24 Leavenworth, ks Baker University Talon, 2019 High fired clay 8" x 7" x 5" Kourtney Sweet 19-24 Salina, ks Fort Hays State University Attention Indulgent, 2020 Watercolor, tissue paper, and ink pencils on watercolor paper 20" x 30" Kaitlyn Tibbitts 19-24 Hays, ks Fort Hays State University Always Keep Fighting, 2019 Charcoal and soft pastel 60" x 30" Glenda Trevino 15-18 Garden City, ks Garden City Community College Habrientos de Vanidad, 2020 Watercolor and acrylic 16.3" x 10.5" Brenda Vargas 19-24 Wichita, ks Butler Community College 15 Minutes, 2019 Acrylic on canvas 40" x 32"

Victoria Hernandez Velazquez 19-24 Emporia, ks Emporia State University Children of Immigrants, 2020 VanDyke with DASS transfer on Stonehenge 8.5" x 10" each

Image Credits

Jordyn Vincent 15-18 Grinnell, ks Reflecting Camping Adventure, 2019 Colored pencil 8.5" x 11.5" Counting Up Harvest Blessings, 2019 Adding machine, sand, acrylic paint, wire 3" x 9" x 6"

4. Emily Kohls, Is She Pretty Inside, 2019

Khendal Wimberly 19-24 Hays, ks Fort Hays State University Solace, 2020 Oil on canvas 11" x 15"

1. Marisa Kistler, Battle of Comfort, 2020 2. Yejung Park, Waste Culture, 2019 3. Hana Rose North, Integrated, 2020

5. Saigen Conrad, Silver Lining, 2020 6. Timothy Fey, Ebb and Flow, 2020 7. Amy Baber, Heal, 2020 8. Layna Kinnaird, What’s Wrong with You?, 2020 9. Katie Peterson, Daily Planner, 2020 10. Maddie Mullen, Fried Eggs, 2019 11. Taylor Miller, Anhedonia, 2020 12. Taryn Carroll, Comfort, 2019 13. Bethany Panhorst, Day Four, 2020 14. Olivia Stinson, Unfamiliar Reflections, 2020 15. Emily Monson, A Moment in History (detail), 2019

In the call for the Sunflower Biennial we ask artists to consider the issues and challenges that they face, and this year’s submissions did not disappoint. The works, from artists ranging in age from 15-24 and living and attending school across the state, conveyed a strong sense of purpose and an acute awareness of the world around them. The feminist slogan of “the personal is political� often came to mind; young artists grappling with decisions and policies being implemented by preceding generations and understanding the impacts that will have on their future, along with a willingness to step up and lead change. While looking through the works I found myself reflecting on parallels to the multitude of young voices that we hear in the media today: Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, and recently Amanda Gorman, to name a few.

iety, issues of identity, and digital media also take center stage. Other artists focus on their personal lives and homes, reflecting on Kansas landscapes, agriculture and farming, close-knit communities, and family ties. As a platform to celebrate the accomplishments of young Kansas artists, the Sunflower Biennial provides the viewer with a chorus of strong voices and a sense of great things to come.

Thank you Nelson Smith for his sincere and thoughtful process in curating this exhibition. Thank you to all of the young artists that submitted; please continue to ask questions, seek answers, and bravely offer your work to the world. Your voices are needed now more than ever! Thank to the Salina Art Center staff, notably Daniel Picking, SAC Gallery Manager, the Board of Trustees, and the Exhibitions Committee for all of their hard work behind the The 2021 Sunflower Biennial features 60 scenes. artists representing 28 communities and over 26 schools, colleges, and universities Gretchen Boyum across the state of Kansas. The depth and Director of Exhibitions and Programs breadth of work covers a wide variety of media and touches on issues ranging from the personal to the political, demonstrating how young artists can deliver powerful content while honing their technical skills and expertise. Masks make an appearance in several pieces, as artists grapple with the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Environmental anx-

About the Juror Nelson Smith has received wide-spread recognition for his work as a painter and sound artist. He has been awarded four state Michigan Council for the Arts Individual Artist Grants, the national Art Matters grant, several artist residencies including a Residency Fellow at Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Ireland, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Senior Artist in Residence, Harvestworks (New York), Vermont Stu-

dio Center, and many other honors and commissions. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Cranbrook Academy of Art. His paintings are included in many significant public and private collections including the Museum of Modern Art's Artist Book Archive, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and University of Kansas Medical School.

A heartfelt thank you to the “SAC Circle of Patrons� for their generosity: Bill and Jane Alsop Bob and Marcia Anderson Roy and Donice Applequist Mike and Mary Nell Beatty Bennington State Bank Bruce and Marilyn Benyshek Mike and Debra Berkley Karen Black Blue Beacon International, Inc. Shannon and Jo Buchanan Bill and Ruth Cathcart-Rake Clark, Mize & Linville, Chartered Mark and Angie Coble John and Debbie Divine Bob and Mary Exline Rob and Kelli Exline Jeff and Lynn Gillam Great Plains Periodontics John and Kristin Gunn James and Brigid Hall Saralyn Reece Hardy Matt and Brenda Hemmer Wes and Joan Jackson George Jerkovich Peter and Sara Johnston Mark and Carolee Jones Gary and Lana Jordan Paul and Carol Junk Jeff and Paula Knox

Mary V. Lemon Dahx and Colleen Marrs Joe and Mary Lou McKenzie Robert and Kim Moeller Sallie and Richard Morrison Dusty and Wendy Moshier Bill and Kathleen Pierson Martha Rhea Sid and Susy Reitz John and Alison Riekhof Rex and Carol Romeiser Bob and Linda Salem Salina Vortex Corp.

Mary Shaffer Boyd and Heather Smith Morrie and Sydney Soderberg Melanie Terrill and Mike Soetaert Connie Stevens Dan and Marilyn Stone Paula Fried and Brad Stuewe Keir and Ashley Swisher Harley Hamilton and Guy Walker Patricia Traxler and Pat Wallerius Mark and Carolyn Wedel Gary and Mary Anne Weiner Margie Wilson Mary Berkley and Eryn Wright Travis and Melanie Young

2021 Sunflower Biennial is funded in part by these generous supporters:

Shannon and Jo Buchanan Giving Tuesday Donors Founded in 1978, the Salina Art Center is a 501(c)3 creating exchanges among art, artists, and audiences that reveal life. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Art Center's galleries, Art Center Cinema, and Warehouse are located in the heart of downtown Salina, KS. Learn more online at www.SalinaArtCenter.org.

Supporters include artists, educators, and community members who envision a center to engage people in art experiences of quality, relevance, and significance to our global community. A heartfelt thank you to our patrons, sustainers, advocates, and benefactors for their generosity.

Salina Art Center exhibitions and programs are supported in part by donors, members, underwriters, foundations, the Salina Art Center Endowment Foundation, the City of Salina, the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe Ave, Salina, Kansas SalinaArtCenter.org Catalog published by Salina Art Center to accompany the exhibition, 2021 Sunflower Biennial | Through Their Eyes February 4 — April 11, 2021 Closing Reception April 10, 2021

Text by Nelson Smith & Gretchen Boyum Design by Abby Crawford All images courtesy of the artists Distinguished Juror, Nelson Smith Exhibition design by Nelson Smith