Artists of the month Denise Collette and Diana Barnhardt are queens of repurposing. These two inventive ladies gather unwanted glassware and discarded bottles and upcycled them into lovely yard art. On display and available for purchase are bottle wind chimes, bird feeders, bird baths, butterfly feeders, sun catchers, and other decorative items for your yard and garden. A little eclectic and highly ingenious, these ladies have created gorgeous items to dress up your outdoor space. Stop in throughout the month of April to see their unique goods.
The flatworks in our current exhibit, Art and the Animal are phenomenal, but please do not count out of the sculptures. My personal favorite among the three-dimensional pieces is Gary Eigenberger’s Prey Mantling depicting a barred owl carved out of buckeye burl wood. Mantling is what birds do after they capture their prey to protect it from other watchful eyes. When a bird exposes its “mantle” they spread their wings out over their prey. The buckeye burl wood Eigenberger used to carve the barred owl’s habitat is a beautiful hardwood that is actually softer and easier to carve than other hardwood varieties. The natural coloration of the wood collaborates well with the owl’s plumage. It is a beautiful wood carving that really looks like it is carved out of stone. There are fourteen other sculptures included in this exhibition and each is excellent. Come in to choose your favorite.
The Hansen Museum’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 28th. This year our featured guest is Phillipsburg’s own Sally Brandon. Owner/ operator of the Shepherd’s Studio, Sally is a respected fiber artist in Phillips County and beyond. During her presentation at the Museum, Sally will take the audience on her journey into her voyage into the fashion industry. Along with the interesting information, those in attendance will get to review pieces that graced the catwalk at the Kansas City Fashion Week along with a glimpse into the collection Sally is currently designing. Join us for a delightful afternoon of celebrating two of Phillips County’s gems: Sally Brandon and the Hansen Museum.