The K-State Beach Museum’s “In Bloom” exhibit showcases the importance and beauty of the K-State Gardens.
Peering through the garden gate north of Main St on the west side of campus, you can’t take your eyes off the beautifully organized flower rows. Even as you drive by in your car, your eye is drawn to the vibrant colors of the K-State Gardens.
Now the showstopping flowers have inspired a new exhibit at Kansas State University’s Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art commemorating the 150th anniversary of the gardens. “In Bloom”, part of the museum’s annual collaboration with Manhattan Public Library’s summer reading program, showcases floral imagery.
K-State student’s creative curation
The exhibit features talented artists like Dale Chihuly, George Braque, Renee Stout, Karsten Creightney, Kate Nessler and several midwestern artists and was co-curated by art history student Gabriella Randall, and Kathrine Schlageck, associate curator of education.
“We wanted to create a space that would resemble a garden,” Randall said. “We picked a variety of pieces from a wide range of artist backgrounds and styles to showcase both the diversity of nature and the diversity of art.”
Randall’s opportunity to co-curate came as part of a museum certificate program offered by K-State’s sociology, social work and anthropology department.
“I have dreams of working in the museum world, and this experience has taught me what that would be like,” Randall said. “This exhibit is close to my heart. As my first time curating, I could not have asked for a better experience. Kathrine always supported my ideas and let me take the reins. She said it was my exhibit just as much as it was hers.”
Kid collaboration
The museum also offers tours of “In Bloom” for elementary school students, focusing on botany and scientific drawing. As a part of the museum’s ARTSmart programs, students visit the meadow north of the museum to learn about pollinators’ importance, while creating colorful art projects that explore the harmony between creativity and the natural world.
By Kate Ellwood