Kansas State University

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its opening, the museum has unveiled a new look for the permanent collection galleries. Drawing on the twentieth anniversary celebration theme “You Gotta Have Art,” the galleries feature works from a range of periods, displayed together to highlight particular themes and stimulate dialogue. Expect to see gallery favorites by John Steuart Curry and Shirley Smith alongside works re-emerging from art storage after a long hiatus. Also on view are new acquisitions by significant contemporary Kansas artists, such as Roger Shimomura, Jane Booth, and Andrzej Zieliński, as well as promised gifts to the collection borrowed for this festive year.

You Gotta Have Art (detail), Elizabeth Layton

October 11, 2016—January 7, 2017

The Beach Museum of Art’s twentieth anniversary theme, “You Gotta Have Art,” was inspired by the words printed on caps worn by Elizabeth Layton and her second husband in many of her self-portraits. The caps were gifts from her friend Don Lambert, the Ottawa Herald reporter who discovered her work in 1977 and helped to establish Layton as an important American artist through his writing and curation of exhibitions.
The succinct phrase encapsulates how art was a positive force in Elizabeth Layton’s life. After an unstable marriage that ended in divorce, the death of a son, a lifelong battle with manic depression, and thirteen debilitating electroshock treatments, Layton took her first class in contour drawing and discovered how art could help her heal. Her drawings examined universal human experiences such as aging, death, social injustice, and love through the lens of her own life and body. She demonstrated the power of art in forging personal connections and developing understanding and empathy.

Related program: Gallery Walk with Don Lambert, November 3 at 5:30 and 6:15 p.m.  Free and open to the public, pre-registration required, call 785-532-7718 or email beachart@ksu.edu Continue reading “Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton: You Gotta Have Art” →

Thursday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.

The Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous, or LASER, is a national program of evening gatherings that bring artists and scientists together for informal presentations and conversation with an audience.  Speakers at this event will be:

John Briggs, Division of Biology, K-State

Michael Veeman, Division of Biology, K-State

Taryn Hampton, Department of Art, K-State

Carlos Castellanos, Department of Art, K-State Continue reading “Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous” →

Thursday, October 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Everything comes to life during this #KState student celebration of the museum’s 20th anniversary. Co-sponsored by 91.9 KSDB. Join us for art activities, snacks, and live music. Check back for event updates.

Sven Birger Sandzén, Haunted Trees, 1934

Thursday, November 10, 5:30 p.m.

Enjoy this Oscar-winning bio-pic starring Clare Danes as the animal scientist who has worked to make humane practices more prevalent in the handling of animals raised for food. Complimentary snacks provided. Free and open to the public.

Mark your calendars for a Temple Grandin Book Signing and Reception on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m.!

Now open!
20th Anniversary New Installation of the Permanent Collection

Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton: You Gotta Have Art
October 11, 2016—January 7, 2017

Civil War Era Drawings from the Becker Collection
September 10 – December 17, 2016

2016 Common Work of Art
August 23, 2016 – May 13, 2017

Stan Herd: Cairns on the Beach
Fall 2014 – May 2017

Image: Charles Soule, Jr., Camp Sherman (detail), 1861, courtesy of the Becker Collection, Boston, Massachuset

The Museum hosts a variety of classes and workshops throughout
the year for all ages!

Fall 2016 ARTSmart celebrates The Beach Museum of Art’s 20th birthday with an exploration of the reinstallation of the permanent collection. Each class will include a Visual Thinking Strategies discussion or activity and an art project inspired by visiting an artwork in the museum. We can’t tell you which works because it will spoil the SURPRISE!

Next classes:

October 26-28

Call (785)532-7718 or email klwalk@ksu.edu for reservations.

The museum is open Tues, Wed, Fri, 10a.m.-5p.m., Thurs 10a.m.-8p.m., Sat, 11a.m.-4p.m.  Free admission.  Free parking.

The museum will be closed Thursday, October 13 from 5-8 p.m. for a private event and November 24-25.

Visit us online at beach.k-state.edu

See all upcoming events

Check out The Beach Blog for behind-the-scenes information, event info, and guest posts.

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