Tucked away under layers of dust in a forgotten corner of an old maintenance building on the McPherson College campus an interesting object was recently uncovered. Although the discovery appeared to expose a long-lost piece of American history, it turned out to be another page in the narrative of Kansas City-based artist Randy Regier’s latest creation.

Regier, a sculptor, designs pieces that play with fact and fiction. The centerpiece of his multi-media exhibition, which is currently on display in Friendship Hall at McPherson College, is a 1960’s styled, fictional civil defense emergency warning scooter. At first glance, the scooter and its story seem very plausible. However, as viewers examine the piece closer they will uncover fiction mixed with the facts. For example, the seat of the scooter is actually a stadium chair mounted on an old overhead projector, the fenders are taken from a 1950s Plymouth, and the headlight is really a plastic champagne flute.

From the early 1940s through the late 1970s, the United States government made various efforts through offices of civil defense to educate and warn citizens about the threat of attack from hostile nations. The artist draws from this history for period-correct details such as the color and logo designs that were used by the civil defense. Regier said everybody who sees the exhibit has a right to interpret what it is for themselves.

“Many artists see it as their social responsibility to make people aware, think and critically analyze–contrary to most mass media” said Michaela Valli-Groeblacher, professor of art and gallery director. “This exhibit deals with the use of propaganda, fact, fiction, lies, and truth. It connects rather recent history with today.”

Also on display is the art of William Counter. Counter is a regional artist whose studio is located on a family farm outside of Chapman, Kansas. The group of paintings on display is a reprise from shows over the past three years, the subject derived mainly from mass media publications. Counter’s paintings explore the often contradictory messaging that occurs between news and advertising. The majority of the source material is vintage, and selected because of its relevance to current affairs.

The unique exhibit spans several academic disciplines, including history, English, communication, philosophy, psychology, sociology, auto restoration, and art and design, and will have appeal to a wide audience. The exhibit will be on display through October 13 and can be viewed during regular business hours. A closing reception for the artists is being planned.

The McPherson College Theatre Department will present “The Clean House,” on January 31, February 1 and February 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mingenback Theatre at McPherson College.

The piece by Sarah Ruhl focuses on Matilde, a Brazilian cleaning woman set on inventing the perfect joke. Ruhl blends the mundane with the extraordinary in this deceptively simple piece about love, loss, and laughter. It was a finalist for the 2005 Pultizer Prize.

“I’ve been looking forward to producing this show since I first read the script,” Jd. Bowman, McPherson College theatre professor, said. “Ruhl’s work is amazingly metaphorical and just sublimely written. The script’s treatment of forgiveness and depression are unlike what I’ve seen previously.”

The cast includes: Micaila Curtis, Courtney Weesner, Maddie Mullins, and Liz Thornton. It is directed by Bowman who is assisted by Bailey Short, technical director; Harvey Yeoman, stage manager; J. Tanner Trigg, set; Tomi Simmons, lights; and Erin Fralick, costume and props.

First-Nighters, the theatre’s season ticket holders, can dine on California cuisine all three nights beginning at 6:15 p.m. To make reservations, contact the ticket office at (620) 242-0444 or email [email protected]. Tickets for the performances are $5 or $3.50 for seniors and students.

Alexander Heffner, host of “The Open Mind” on PBS, will be on the McPherson College campus to speak to the public from noon to 1 p.m. in Mingenback Theater on Wednesday, October 17. He will discuss the effects of divisiveness on discourse and governance and the impact of social media, fake news, and filter bubbles that polarize information intake.

Heffner has covered American politics, civic life, and Millennials for leading newspapers and magazines, and has authored a book titled, “A Documentary History of the United States.” His work has been profiled in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times, and he has lectured at universities around the world. He founded and edited the first-ever online national student newspaper covering the 2008 presidential campaign and Obama presidency, and directed a civic education initiative for which he taught in under-served classrooms.

The forum is free and made possible through the support of the Mohler-Flory Lecture Series. Those attending are welcome to bring a lunch if they like. There will be time for questions at the end of his presentation. Heffner will also be speaking to students in classes throughout the day.

Celebrating Kansas artists and the quality of art in our state is the what two exhibits and a two-day art forum intend to do this summer. ART Kansas, a celebration of creating, curating, and collecting Kansas art, will feature some of the state’s most successful and creative working artists in exhibitions during June and July and in workshops and presentations on June 8-9 at McPherson, Kansas.

ART Kansas will include:

• Gallery exhibit, “The Invitational,” May 29-July 29 in Friendship Hall on the McPherson College campus, featuring the works of more than 65 Kansas artists and curated by Jay Nelson, recently retired director of the Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan.
• Gallery exhibit, “Four Apart,” May 29-July 29, at McPherson Museum, featuring the works of Louis Copt, Stephen Johnson, Carol Long and husband and wife artists Barbara Waterman-Peters and Larry Peters.
• ART Kansas Gala, June 8 at 5 p.m., Mingeback Theatre, McPherson College. Artists receptions at Friendship Hall and the McPherson Museum will kick off an evening, which will also feature a gala dinner, Keynote Speaker Chuck Comeau, owner of Dessin Fournir in Plainville, Kansas, and the premiere of Larry Hatteberg’s video, “Banking on Art,” in celebration of Mike Michaelis, Kansas art collector and CEO of Emprise Bank. Tickets for the event are available online at www.mcpherson.edu/artkansas.
• ART Kansas Forum, June 9, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., McPherson College. The forum will feature workshops and presentations by Kansas artists who will both demonstrate and speak about creating, collecting and curating. All workshops and presentations are free and open to the public.

The event was conceived by Michaela Valli Groeblacher, assistant professor of art at McPherson College, in collaboration with Jay Nelson, long-time director of the Streckler-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan, and Karla Prickett, studio artist and visual arts consultant of Salina. Groeblacher said she was inspired by the state’s rich art history and the quality of art produced by its artists.

“I think some people discount the quality of art in our state,” she said. “Kansas has a long history of art and we have very talented artists creating art today. We want to showcase that and help people become more aware of the quality of work in our state.”

Kansas art has historical roots in McPherson and made sense for the event to be hosted here, according to Groeblacher. In the early 1900s, Carl Smalley, the son of a McPherson seed dealer, launched one of the most significant periods of Kansas art. He started collecting and selling prints in his father’s seed store and eventually his art dealings took over the entire business. He started friendships with many of the artists, including Birger Sandzén, and helped found the Prairie Printmakers, arguably the most famous and influential group of artists in the state’s history.

Smalley’s influence can be seen today as it inspires other collectors of Kansas art, like Emprise Bank President Michaelis, who will be honored at the ART Kansas gala dinner. Michaelis has been collecting and sharing Kansas art for decades. Much of his collection, which includes the works of more than 500 Kansas artists, is on display in Emprise Bank locations. Art from the collection has also been displayed at art galleries and libraries across the state. A documentary about Michaelis has been produced by Larry Hatteberg and will be premiered during the ART Kansas gala dinner on Friday, June 8.

“As an artist, you need the support of collectors,” Groeblacher said. “Mike Michaelis has been collecting the works of Kansas artists for decades and also shares his art with the public. We are very excited to celebrate his years support of Kansas art.”

Celebrating Kansas art will continue on Saturday, June 9 with a day full of workshops and presentations by Kansas artists. Presenters include the artists and curator of the “Four Apart” exhibition and topics range from ceramics demonstration to the “context of creativity” to the “art of curating.” All workshops are free and anyone can attend.

“The workshops on Saturday are not just about making art,” Groeblacher said. “They will cover the entire spectrum of art. Artists, collectors, art lovers, anybody can attend. There will be something for everyone.”

More information about all of the events can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/artkansas.