Board considers art work for county courthouse

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By Brandy Nance (Contact)

Originally published 01:55 p.m., May 1, 2008
Updated 01:55 p.m., May 1, 2008

The Lyon County Courthouse’s artwork soon will get a facelift following a presentation to Lyon County commissioners Wednesday morning.

Students from the Introduction to Museum and Gallery Studies class at Emporia State University presented commissioners with two proposals for art displays around the courthouse. The first proposal includes work that encompasses a variety of mediums including paintings, free-standing sculpture, realism, abstract, pop, etc. The collection includes works from students, alumni and faculty. Commissioner Bob Davis commented on one of the fiber pieces that reminded him of a quilt he had as a kid.

“We’d piece together what we could and keep warm in the wintertime,” he said with a smile.

The second proposal includes works that are reminiscent of Kansas and its landscape. There also are some fiber pieces in the collection.

Commissioners are to choose one of the two proposals, to be installed starting on May 5. The collection would be there a year before being changed. Davis questioned whether both collections could be placed in the courthouse. Rachel Downs, of the ESU art department said no. There are too many pieces in each proposal.

“The whole thing I was after was to get my blankie back,” Davis said jokingly.

There is good news for Davis: The fiber pieces overlap in the two proposals, so it is likely he will get to see his quilt on a daily basis.

Commissioners were set to make a decision during today’s commission meeting.