THE BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLUMBIAN ARTISTS
April 28, 1997 – At a lunch meeting held in Wamego that included artists Margaret Buie, Dennis Southwick and Gene Ernst. A discussion arose that developed an interesting concept for a group of local artists, primarily 2-D, which might meet monthly at the Columbian Theatre. Such a group may have an occasional program, paint together, and show-and-tell about recent work for critiquing. Perhaps 1 or 2 group shows per year would be organized. Speculation was made that 10 or so folks with similar interests would band together, some individual growth would result, or they could just trade stories and share a few tricks.
December 28, 1998 - A letter on the Columbian letterhead was mailed out to approximately 70 professionals, working artists, and folks who paint, pot, and sculpt around Wamego, Manhattan and Clay Center , inviting them to an organizational meeting for the 12th of January 1999. They were asked to respond to an enclosed questionnaire.
January 12, 1999 - This was the 1st organizational meeting for the group, artist Margaret Buie presided and Gene Ernst took notes with enthusiastic support from the fifteen interested individuals that attended. Consensus was reached early that the group would be informal, have little structure, and have no By-Laws , however annual dues of $15 (now $20) would offset newsletter printing and postage costs.
February 11, 1999 – 23 members came to Wamego for a great meeting. At least a dozen potential names for our group was bantered around, with a March deadline for a final selection. Our first “Members Show” was scheduled for May 1999 at Espresso Royal Café in Manhattan and a 2nd juried show in Oct. 1999 at the Swogger Gallery in Wamego.
March 3, 1999 – The first paid membership list was published of 34 artists and included: Sue Atchinson, Margaret Buie, Bob Bullock, Jim Coffinan, Kelli Dillinger, Nelda Elder, Gene Ernst, Jim Ginaven, Norlene Gregory, Charles Hall, Lila Hanson, Jeanette Hargstreit, Sal May Heilman, Marsha Jensen, Fran Johnson, June Kabnel, Richard Kinsman , Oscar Larmer ,Linda & Dennis Law, Raeford Lewis, Eugene McGraw, Jean Moore, Lucy Muironey, Rosella Ogg, Gwen Owens-Wilson, Ernie Peck , Jean Ponte, Karen Schmidt , Dick Simpson, Mary Prague Sistine, Lindsay Smith , Dennis Southwick and Mary Jane Wright.
March 11, 1999 - 11 members attended the meeting and voted on the groups name and COLUMBIAN ARTISTS took the prize.
May 1, 1999 - The first Saturday morning Plein Aire Painting and Sketching field trip was planned for the Beecher Bible & Rifle Church in Wabaunsee.
May 13, 1999 – The first Art At The Wall included 16 pieces from the first Saturday outing Plein Aire in Wabaunsee.
July 27, 1999 – Paid memberships raise to 45. Recently Added members include: Pat Dillingham, Rachel Fontenot, Ralph Fontenot, Brian Griffiths, Margan Hayes, James Jones, Liz Kelly, Barbara Nelson, Jay Nelson, David Norton, Susan Oviatt, Meg Perry, and Gray Woodward.
August 8, 1999 - The C.A. First Annual Late Summer-Early Fall Potluck was held At Margaret Buie’s home in Wamego. It was announced that Fran Johnson would teach a “Landscapes in Clay” Workshop Saturday September 18.
December 9, 1999 - Our first holiday meeting included snacks, beverages, spouses and guests as well as a small wrapped art exchange.
January 11, 2000 - We met at Strecker —Nelson Gallery Jay Nelson gave a stimulating Talk About current works on display, followed by a discussion on art-and-the-viewer/ collector. He Distributed an article by Jan-Erik Ebbestad Hansen , et al , entitled KITSCH AND ART . Kitsch Being defined as ... In bad taste. It was agreed that C. A. Folks Do not do this sort of works!
January 13, 2000 - We celebrated our FIRST COLUMBIAN ARTISTS BIRTHDAY PARTY
February 10, 2000 - Metting at Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan for a first annual gallery talk by Jay Nelson.
February 19, 2000 - Columbian Artist members visited Topeka Artist Phil Hershberger in his Studio. Phil gave a demo of ”Encaustic Painting”. We then toured the Mulvane Museum-Galleries on the Washburn University Campus.
April 2000 - Announcement was made that a 12’ x 31’ space directly north of the Columbian Theatre was available for the Columbian Artist Group to set up a sales gallery. C.A. members would staffed the area and volunteers worked to spruce up the interior and façade. The space was rent-free with a 30% commission on sales to the Columbian Theatre. There was also an announcement that the Lobby of the Radiation Oncology Office, Manhattan Medical Center, would accommodate 6-8 paintings for a monthly rotation exhibit for C.A. folks.
May 6 - 27, 2000 - Show at the Commerce Bank, Manhattan.
The next 9 years were great, with at least a dozen workshops; 10 plein aire outings; 10 juried shows and 10 membership shows; 8 annual meetings at Strecker-Nelson Gallery; and 7 annual meetings at the KSU Beach Museum. Our December holiday parties and small art exchanges continue as well as the August & September pot luck suppers. Art at the wall is still ongoing and the critiques have been friendly, beneficial and everyone agrees that all participating have grown their art talents and techniques.
In addition to the annual membership shows, special C.A. shows have been at McPherson College, Commerce Bank, Cafe Espresso, the 2002 Wamego Farmer's Market, KSU Student Union... Other rotating and ongoing shows by members include: Kaw Valley State Bank and Radiology Oncology of Manhattan.
April 2013 - The Columbian Artist took over the Swogger Gallery in the Columbian Theatre, Wamego, KS on a full time basis.
October 2017 - The Columbian Artist Group floods the Swogger Gallery with their themed exhibit "Dorothy's Closet" their first annual OZtoberFest Oz themed exhibit.
April 28, 1997 – At a lunch meeting held in Wamego that included artists Margaret Buie, Dennis Southwick and Gene Ernst. A discussion arose that developed an interesting concept for a group of local artists, primarily 2-D, which might meet monthly at the Columbian Theatre. Such a group may have an occasional program, paint together, and show-and-tell about recent work for critiquing. Perhaps 1 or 2 group shows per year would be organized. Speculation was made that 10 or so folks with similar interests would band together, some individual growth would result, or they could just trade stories and share a few tricks.
December 28, 1998 - A letter on the Columbian letterhead was mailed out to approximately 70 professionals, working artists, and folks who paint, pot, and sculpt around Wamego, Manhattan and Clay Center , inviting them to an organizational meeting for the 12th of January 1999. They were asked to respond to an enclosed questionnaire.
January 12, 1999 - This was the 1st organizational meeting for the group, artist Margaret Buie presided and Gene Ernst took notes with enthusiastic support from the fifteen interested individuals that attended. Consensus was reached early that the group would be informal, have little structure, and have no By-Laws , however annual dues of $15 (now $20) would offset newsletter printing and postage costs.
February 11, 1999 – 23 members came to Wamego for a great meeting. At least a dozen potential names for our group was bantered around, with a March deadline for a final selection. Our first “Members Show” was scheduled for May 1999 at Espresso Royal Café in Manhattan and a 2nd juried show in Oct. 1999 at the Swogger Gallery in Wamego.
March 3, 1999 – The first paid membership list was published of 34 artists and included: Sue Atchinson, Margaret Buie, Bob Bullock, Jim Coffinan, Kelli Dillinger, Nelda Elder, Gene Ernst, Jim Ginaven, Norlene Gregory, Charles Hall, Lila Hanson, Jeanette Hargstreit, Sal May Heilman, Marsha Jensen, Fran Johnson, June Kabnel, Richard Kinsman , Oscar Larmer ,Linda & Dennis Law, Raeford Lewis, Eugene McGraw, Jean Moore, Lucy Muironey, Rosella Ogg, Gwen Owens-Wilson, Ernie Peck , Jean Ponte, Karen Schmidt , Dick Simpson, Mary Prague Sistine, Lindsay Smith , Dennis Southwick and Mary Jane Wright.
March 11, 1999 - 11 members attended the meeting and voted on the groups name and COLUMBIAN ARTISTS took the prize.
May 1, 1999 - The first Saturday morning Plein Aire Painting and Sketching field trip was planned for the Beecher Bible & Rifle Church in Wabaunsee.
May 13, 1999 – The first Art At The Wall included 16 pieces from the first Saturday outing Plein Aire in Wabaunsee.
July 27, 1999 – Paid memberships raise to 45. Recently Added members include: Pat Dillingham, Rachel Fontenot, Ralph Fontenot, Brian Griffiths, Margan Hayes, James Jones, Liz Kelly, Barbara Nelson, Jay Nelson, David Norton, Susan Oviatt, Meg Perry, and Gray Woodward.
August 8, 1999 - The C.A. First Annual Late Summer-Early Fall Potluck was held At Margaret Buie’s home in Wamego. It was announced that Fran Johnson would teach a “Landscapes in Clay” Workshop Saturday September 18.
December 9, 1999 - Our first holiday meeting included snacks, beverages, spouses and guests as well as a small wrapped art exchange.
January 11, 2000 - We met at Strecker —Nelson Gallery Jay Nelson gave a stimulating Talk About current works on display, followed by a discussion on art-and-the-viewer/ collector. He Distributed an article by Jan-Erik Ebbestad Hansen , et al , entitled KITSCH AND ART . Kitsch Being defined as ... In bad taste. It was agreed that C. A. Folks Do not do this sort of works!
January 13, 2000 - We celebrated our FIRST COLUMBIAN ARTISTS BIRTHDAY PARTY
February 10, 2000 - Metting at Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan for a first annual gallery talk by Jay Nelson.
February 19, 2000 - Columbian Artist members visited Topeka Artist Phil Hershberger in his Studio. Phil gave a demo of ”Encaustic Painting”. We then toured the Mulvane Museum-Galleries on the Washburn University Campus.
April 2000 - Announcement was made that a 12’ x 31’ space directly north of the Columbian Theatre was available for the Columbian Artist Group to set up a sales gallery. C.A. members would staffed the area and volunteers worked to spruce up the interior and façade. The space was rent-free with a 30% commission on sales to the Columbian Theatre. There was also an announcement that the Lobby of the Radiation Oncology Office, Manhattan Medical Center, would accommodate 6-8 paintings for a monthly rotation exhibit for C.A. folks.
May 6 - 27, 2000 - Show at the Commerce Bank, Manhattan.
The next 9 years were great, with at least a dozen workshops; 10 plein aire outings; 10 juried shows and 10 membership shows; 8 annual meetings at Strecker-Nelson Gallery; and 7 annual meetings at the KSU Beach Museum. Our December holiday parties and small art exchanges continue as well as the August & September pot luck suppers. Art at the wall is still ongoing and the critiques have been friendly, beneficial and everyone agrees that all participating have grown their art talents and techniques.
In addition to the annual membership shows, special C.A. shows have been at McPherson College, Commerce Bank, Cafe Espresso, the 2002 Wamego Farmer's Market, KSU Student Union... Other rotating and ongoing shows by members include: Kaw Valley State Bank and Radiology Oncology of Manhattan.
April 2013 - The Columbian Artist took over the Swogger Gallery in the Columbian Theatre, Wamego, KS on a full time basis.
October 2017 - The Columbian Artist Group floods the Swogger Gallery with their themed exhibit "Dorothy's Closet" their first annual OZtoberFest Oz themed exhibit.