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Best of 2015: Local Art Shows

Ulrich Museum of Art

 

    

“Best of” lists are popping up everywhere, so here is my top 5 local art shows of 2015.

Postdate: Photography and Inherited History in India at the Ulrich Museum tops my list as the most significant contemporary art exhibition I’ve seen in Wichita. Not only were there contemporary artists like the Raqs Media Collective and Pushpamala N, but the show had an intellectual rigor that most exhibitions here lack.  

The Wichita Art Museum featured many landscapes this year, from the contemporary art of Liza Lou, Stuart Allen and Shawn Decker to 19th century landscape paintings and their new Art Garden. But it was their daguerreotype show, Photographic Wonders, that was so captivating, beautifully installed and with such precious objects.  

Summer feels far away now, but when I think about Wayne White and the Riverfest Parade it warms my heart. Thanks to the tour de force partnership between Harvester Arts and Wichita Festivals, artists, students, and the community worked together with Wayne to create fantastic cardboard puppets.

One of the most ambitious Final Friday shows was The Six Machinations of Art Expo at Diver Studio. This spectacular show transformed the space while also making it easy for people to engage with the artists, and people found the point of sale easily, which I think contributed to this show’s success.

Lastly, Wichita saw an explosion of murals thanks to the ICT Army of Artists, Brickmob, MakeICT, and the artists and volunteers who participated in the Douglas Design District’s Avenue Art Days. Our city is a canvas and it’s looking better all the time.