Young artists work featured in new Front Door Gallery exhibit

A group of young artists who are likely to see the 300th birthday of the United States are sharing their impressions on the nation’s 250th anniversary in a collection of images comprising the latest exhibit at the Finney County Historical Museum’s Front Door Gallery.

Entitled “Happy Birthday USA,” the 32 works of art, based on U.S. history, were created by children participating in summer programs at Garden City Arts, taught by Ariana Wheet and coordinated by GCA Executive Director Katy Guthrie.

In a session called “Red, White & Create,” boys and girls ages 6-7 produced images inspired by American symbols, as well as traditions that make the nation unique.  

In a segment called “Stars, Stripes & Stories,” those ages 8-10 created works celebrating what the nation means to each young individual.

Arranged at the museum by Robin Valenzuela, also of Garden City Arts, the display will remain in place until Nov. 18.  The pieces range from tempera paint on canvas to mixed media, watercolor paintings and chalk pastels.

Some children created more than one image each, with titles such as “250th Anniversary,” “The Eagle,” “American,” “The First American Flag,” “Friendship,” and “George Washington America.”  Several children based their work on the Liberty Bell, the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty and additional themes.

The museum is located at 403 S. Fourth Street, adjacent to Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City’s Finnup Park, and admission is free.  Exhibit hours are 1 to 5 p.m. daily.  The Front Door Gallery is a small space just inside the museum’s main entrance, where four to six temporary exhibits go up each year, supported by the Steve Stone Memorial Fund.

 “We want to encourage everyone to stop by the museum and see how these young artists have interpreted this important milestone in American History,” Guthrie said.

 “Happy Birthday USA” follows a recently-concluded exhibit marking the 100th anniversary of the Garden City Community Mexican Fiesta.  The museum has hosted two prior semiquincentennial exhibits this year, one coordinated by the Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution and the other sponsored by the Humanities Kansas organization.

The museum and Garden City Arts have collaborated on three previous history-related exhibits over the past decade.