The Hays Public Library will host “If These Walls Could Talk: Kansas Murals,” a presentation and discussion by Dave Loewenstein at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the library’s Schmidt Gallery. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the Hays Public Library at 785-625-9014 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Explore the artists, meanings, and stories, behind the state’s rich collection of public murals as part of Hays Public Library’s Everything Kansas series. From the iconic John Steuart Curry murals in the Kansas Statehouse to the post office murals of the New Deal, these works tell us much about the people involved. Led by muralist Dave Loewenstein, this presentation explores the history of murals and examines the efforts that go into capturing a community’s story in public art.
Dave Loewenstein is a muralist, printmaker, arts organizer, and co-author of Kansas Murals: A Traveler’s Guide. In addition to his more than twenty public works of art in Kansas, Loewenstein’s murals can be found across the United States, Northern Ireland, South Korea, and Brazil.
“Kansas has more than 1,000 murals,” Loewenstein said. “They are our great outdoor museum, and tell us much about our history, hopes, and dreams.”
“If These Walls Could Talk: Kansas Murals” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
For more information about “If These Walls Could Talk: Kansas Murals” in Hays, contact the Hays Public Library at 785-625-9014 or visit hayslibrary.org.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
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