The Ulrich Museum of Art welcomed guests for its spring exhibitions despite the cold, breaking in the new year and semester with a celebration.
The festivities were certainly reminiscent of a New Year’s ball, with familiar Ulrich halls decorated in blue, silver and gold in the event’s theme, “Ad Astra.”
The theme was a nod to the event date coinciding with the celebration of Kansas Day. Kansas’ motto, “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” is Latin for “to the stars through difficulties.”
According to pamphlets handed out at the event, the spring exhibitions unite to “explore identity, history, and community in diverse exhibitions that offer a rich tapestry of perspectives and invite reflection and dialogue.”
“It’s a goal to get everyone thinking,” Taryn Trapani, the Ulrich’ art registrar, said.
Faces both fresh and familiar join the Ulrich this semester, with “Anne Samat: Avatars” and “Taiomah Rutledge: Origins/Evolutions” on display. The solo artist exhibitions are accompanied by the faculty exhibit, “SYMBOLS OF GREATNESS: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History;” the final phase of the Ulrich Co-Lab, “With, Not For: Centering Community, Connection, and Identity;” and the Ulrich Docents Pop-Up Exhibition.
“Avatars” and “Origins/Evolutions” explore cultural history and modern identity, while “SYMBOLS OF GREATNESS” and “With, Not For” question the responsibilities of a museum and its mission to its people. The Ulrich Docents Pop-Up shares the inspiration found by the Ulrich docents, who act as voluntary guides, in the Ulrich Collection.
Taiomah Rutledge performed using his family drum with his brother, Kineu. Rutledge participated in the third Ulrich Co-Lab phase, “Homegrown,” and is now part of a new series, “In Place.” “In Place” features Wichita-based solo artists and will reflect the diversity of experiences and creative processes in the Wichita art community.
Rutledge is the first and only returning artist for “In Place,” with the other three featured artists being new to the Ulrich.
“It’s a huge opportunity, and it’s a huge honor, and it’s also very intimidating at the same time,” Rutledge said.
Alongside Rutledge were a number of faculty creatives from the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries. This year’s faculty exhibit takes its name and theme from Executive Order 14253, which targeted historical revisionism and “other improper partisan ideology”, and was conceptualized by former Ulrich curator Jo Reinert.
“To me,” associate professor of photo media Jennifer Ray said, “there has long been a movement in all of the museums I have worked in and been familiar with, to broaden the range of voices that are represented and to specifically look for voices that haven’t historically made it into the history books. I think that’s one thing this show is trying to address. To me, that is the point of museums.”
The Faculty Exhibition, formerly known as the Faculty Biennial, is also a venue for ADCI faculty to show the work they do outside of education.
“We try to represent the university all over the place,” Robert Bubp, graduate coordinator and professor of painting and drawing, said. “That means that oftentimes our work isn’t as visible locally, so it’s really important – and we’re fortunate – that the museum allows us to do this. We aren’t only teachers. We’re also making art as well.”
The opening celebration marks the beginning of a full spring schedule with the full list available in the Ulrich’s physical newsletter and on its website.
“We’re all excited to be back for the semester,” Trapani said.
