Stauth Memorial Museum

Cardboard Creations by Jessie Montes
2017-06-11 - 2017-09-03 | Stauth Memorial Museum, 111 N. Aztec, Montezuma, KS, 67867, United States
Jessie Montes, Artist

Jessie Montes is a western Kansas folk artist who creates his artwork from corrugated paperboard. He is an extraordinary example of the phenomenon of a sweeping all-consuming and obsessive involvement with art-making that can overtake a person at any time, at any age and with no apparent warning. With no schooling in art, and no previous history of art-making, Mr. Montes created complex visual statements with simple materials.

Over 40 years ago Jessie Montes, the only survivor of five sets of twins, migrated to the United States from Mexico. Having no formal education, Montes worked as a custodian for the Dodge City school district. When Montes’ son and daughter were called to duty for the Persian Gulf War, he quickly tried to find a way to relax. “One day I just started cutting cardboard,” said Montes. “I eventually made a picture frame for my sons photograph,” said Montes. Soon Montes started to experiment with different designs and themes.

He began to fill in frames with landscapes, designs and portraits. Three dimensional sculptures came soon thereafter and his artistic career in this unique medium was launched!

Montes’ tools consist of cardboard cut in 1/4 inch strips, tweezers, a sharp razor blade, and paste. Montes’ subject matter include mixtures of ethnic and social influences, architectural themes, and popular culture references. The work varies from portraiture to landscape, it sometimes includes architecture and it always functions as excellent abstraction. In other words, the work is totally consistent, but also has incredible range. Jessie Montes (1935-2013)

Remembering: Quilts of Patriotism and Quilts of Valor
2017-09-10 - 2017-11-11
Kansas Quilters

We will be hosting a very special patriotic quilt exhibit in remembrance of the 15th Anniversary of 9/11. We want to display quilts that have a patriotic theme or are made from the patriotic colors of Red, White, and Blue. Along with the quilts that will be loaned to the Stauth Museum for the exhibit, we would like to encourage southwest Kansas quilters to make quilts that will go directly from this exhibit into the Quilts of Valor program. These quilts are awarded to military service members and veterans who have been touched by war. QOVF does not provide quilts to organizations for permanent public display or to serve as bed covers for hospital beds. A Quilt of Valor is a lifetime award to say “thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor” in serving our nation. Since these quilts are meant to be lifelong heirlooms, they need to be made to certain specifications. Quilts of Valor are to reflect the best possible workmanship and use of quality materials consistent with the Foundation’s core value of “Promoting Excellence.”

If you are interested in loaning a quilt or making a quilt or quilt top for this celebration of America’s patriotism, please contact the Stauth Museum as soon as possible! If you have any questions or know of anyone who has already made a patriotic quilt that they might want to loan for this seven week exhibit, please don’t hesitate to call. By entitling the exhibit, Remembering: Quilts of Patriotism and Quilts of Valor our goal is to remember and honor these brave men and women during this exhibit by filling our gallery with amazing, Quilts of Patriotism by those quilts loaned for the exhibit and then honor them into the future by those specifically made for the Quilts of Valor Foundation by sending as many quilts as we can from southwest Kansas!

If you know of any service men or women who should receive a Quilt of Valor, please contact the Museum or go to the Quilts of Valor website for more information or to submit a request.

Quilts of Valor Presentation Ceremony & Reception
2017-11-12 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Ten of the Quilts of Valor that are on display will be presented to area military service veterans at an Awards Presentation Ceremony & Reception that will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday, November 12th. We would like to encourage everyone to come to the presentation ceremony to watch these quilts be presented to 10 area veterans and witness how much they appreciate and cherish the quilts. Please come to this amazing event and share with these veterans how much you thank them for their service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.
For more information contact the museum. If you know of any service men or women who should receive a Quilt of Valor, please visit the Quilts of Valor website for more information or to submit a request.

The Mirror of the Martyrs
2017-11-19 - 2018-01-21
On Display November 19th – January 21st, 2018
The Mirror of the Martyrs is an exhibit inspired by the discovery in 1975 of thirty copper plates used in the printing of the 1685 edition of the Martyrs Mirror edited by Thieleman van Braght. This second edition included illustrations by the Mennonite artist Jan Luyken. Seven of the plates, thought to have been lost in World War II, were brought to the United States by Amos Hoover, Denver, Pennsylvania. In 1989 the remaining 23 plates were obtained by Robert Kreider, Kauffman Museum, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas, and John Oyer, Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, and placed in the possession of the Martyrs Mirror Trust. In 2011 another plate was discovered and made available to the Trust.
In 1989 the construction of an exhibit based on the new acquisition of plates was begun. The exhibit was designed as a traveling exhibit, modular in design with self-contained lighting. It features eight copper plates with additional images produced from the 1685 edition, four editions of the Martyrs Mirror (1660, 1685, 1748 and 1780) and various other artifacts that illustrate the times in which the events of the Martyrs Mirror took place. Added to the exhibit, are stories of contemporary martyrs and prisoners of conscience. The exhibit opened at the Kauffman Museum in 1990 after which it began a journey that has taken it across North America. The exhibit has been on display in 68 locations in at least twenty two states and five Canadian provinces.
A 10-page Youth Study Guide is available and encouraged for schools or youth groups who come tour the exhibit. Please call in advance to schedule a tour! Study Guides are also available prior to bringing your students to the exhibit but must be requested no later than one week prior to your scheduled visit.
The exhibit is not just for Mennonites, it is a testimony to principle and conviction, ideals and beliefs. This exhibit offers a welcome change from the insatiable quest for sensationalism in society today. The martyrs depicted in this exhibit are people strong in principle and loyal to a higher power who were willing to sacrifice their lives for this loyalty. The display emphasizes dialogue. Questions are woven into the text for visitors to read, stimulating thought about such questions as: Is the teaching of love one’s enemy practical counsel? Why do good people torture and kill good people? What beliefs are worth dying for? These questions are as important today as they were when the Martyrs Mirror was created! More Christians have died for their beliefs in the 20th century than any other century in history. The Anabaptist martyrs have a universal story with a contemporary message.
The internationally-touring Mirror of the Martyrs traveling exhibit will be on display at the for 9 weeks. This exhibit is sponsored by Martyrs Mirror Trust, Kauffman Museum of North Newton, Kansas and Mennonite Historical Library of Goshen, Indiana. This exhibit was displayed at the in 1996 and drew record crowds.
We are expecting many tours for this exhibit so please call in advance for groups of 5 or more! Tours/groups welcome by appointment, call 620.846.2527 for information or to set up a tour. Business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm, and on Sundays from 1:30pm-4:30pm. We are closed on Mondays and all major holidays including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day so staff may spend time with their families. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime exhibit!

To My Plate and Beyond
2018-03-11 - 2018-05-27
Purdue University Agriculture Exhibit Design Center

Explore the world of healthy eating with Max & Munch! This exhibit provides exciting opportunities to experience hands-on benefits of healthy eating habits! How many vegetables should you eat? Do you eat that many fruits? What are grains? Can chocolate milk be a dairy serving? And fish, poultry and meat are protein – right?
Join Max and Munch as they find the answers to these questions and more through their exploration of the world of MyPlate, simple guidelines for healthy eating put out by the USDA in 2011. MyPlate offers a tasty new way to think about breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Max and Munch are happy to hop on board for a fun-filled ride!
This exhibit illustrates the five food groups that are the building blocks for a healthy diet. MyPlate uses a familiar image – a meal place setting – created by the United States Department of Agriculture.

"Hang-In" Of Art for the Western Kansas Art "Hang-In" Exhibit
2018-06-01 - 2018-06-02
The Art “Hang-In” Concept = All artwork will be “hung” as it comes in the door. Art will be “Hung” or placed in approximate order of arrival, hence the term “Hang-In”! Three-dimensional artwork will be displayed on tables, pedestals or enclosed vitrines as they come in the door.
Bring your art these two days for the chance to have it displayed in the exhibit. Artwork must be brought in between 10AM-12PM and 1PM-4PM both days. We will be closed and not accepting artwork from noon to 1PM on both days for a brief lunch break.
When the exhibit space is full, no more artwork will be accepted. If the exhibit space is filled on the first day, no more artwork will be accepted on the second day. The art will then be on display for three weeks from Sunday, June 3, 2018 through Sunday, June 24, 2018.
For more information about the Art “Hang-In” guidelines click here.
To download and submit a registration form, click here.

Western Kansas Art “Hang-In” 2018
2018-06-03 - 2018-06-24
This exhibit is designed to give the many talented artists in Western Kansas a showcase to exhibit their work. Amateur and professional participants will display beautiful 2 an 3 dimensional art including paintings, drawings, woodcarving, metal arts, mixed media, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, drawings and more! This is not a juried (judged) art exhibit, but just a fun way to showcase the many talented people in western Kansas. Come see the talent western Kansas has to be proud of and vote for your favorite piece. Art will be displayed from artists from many western Kansas communities. Please contact Museum Staff to get your name on the mailing list if YOU are interested in participating in this exciting exhibit. Western Kansas Artists.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

This exhibit is designed to showcase the many talented artists from our area. Southwest Kansas participants are encouraged to bring and hang or display art they have created. All art pieces will be accepted on a first hang and display basis. Are you interested in showing off your ORIGINAL Art? Student, amateur and professional artists are encouraged to participate in this exhibit. All media 2 and 3 dimensional are eligible to participate. This includes, but not limited to: painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, woodcarving, mosaic, mixed media, jewelry, glass art, collage, weaving and textiles, printmaking and more. All work must be original and entered by the artist. All work must have been created in the last 5 years. Whether you are a professional artist or just dabble for enjoyment, we want to see your creativeness and share in appreciation of your art. Please contact Museum Staff to get your name on the mailing list so you can participate in this exciting exhibit. Western Kansas Artists.
You can view the guidelines for entering your art here as well as download and fill out the registration form.

Deadline to Submit Quilt Information Sheet
2018-06-19
If you want to have your quilt displayed in the next exhibit, To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions, that will include 25-30 Kansas quilts, return your Quilt Information Sheet by 4:30pm TODAY!
You can submit your completed form and a photo of the quilt in the following ways:

Bring your completed form to the Stauth Memorial Museum
E-mail it to stauthm@ucom.net
Mail it to the museum at PO Box 396, Montezuma KS 67867-0396. (If you are in a time crunch, use one of the top two method to submit your form as forms received after the June 19th will not be accepted.)

You can view the guidelines, download the Quilt Information Sheet, and read the Sample Loan Agreement form here.
Thank you!

Quilt Drop Off
2018-06-22 - 2018-06-23, 2018-06-25 - 2018-06-27
Delivery hours to drop off quilts to be displayed in To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions, will be from 10:00am-12 Noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm Friday, June 22nd thru Wednesday, June 27th. We will not be accepting quilts on Sunday, June 24th as that is the day of the Artist Reception for our current exhibit, Western Kansas Art “Hang-In” 2018.
If you are unable to bring your quilt at those times, special appointments for an evening delivery time may be arranged. If you have not received a call to set up your quilt delivery after we should have received your Information Sheet, please call (620)846-2527 to set up your delivery time.
For more information about having your quilt displayed in the upcoming exhibit, please read the guidelines, download the Quilt Information Sheet and review the Sample Loan Agreement here.

Art Hang-In Artist’s Reception
2018-06-24 15:00 - 16:00
The Western Kansas Art “Hang-In” exhibit will close with an Artist’s Reception at 3:00PM on Sunday, June 24th. This reception is for all of the artists who participated in the exhibition and for anyone who might want to meet them. A People’s Choice Award certificate will be give to the artwork which received the most votes from Museum visitors during the exhibition.

Refreshments will be served and we wish to extend an invitation to everyone to come meet the artists and share in our appreciation of the arts and the very talented artists in western Kansas.

Artists will be able to take their artwork home after the reception and the following Monday.

To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions
2018-07-08 - 2018-09-30
Of the many North American Indian expressive art forms, perhaps one of the least well known is quiltmaking. This exhibition celebrates quilting within diverse communities and pays homage to the artists who have expressed their cultural heritage and creativity through this art. Quiltmaking in Native communities was first learned through contact with Euro-Americans. Native peoples became adept at quilting and began to use quilts for purposes unique to their own cultures. Quilts have been used as bed and shelter coverings, infants’ swing cradles, weather insulation, and as soft places to sit on the ground. In some communities, quilts play important roles in tribal ceremonies, such as in the honoring of individuals.
To Honor and Comfort has 29 quilts from all over the country, including examples by Cherokee, Sioux, Navajo, Ojibway and Native Hawaiian quilters. Other components of the exhibit include hands-on activities, a listening station where visitors can listen to tape-recorded stories from some of the quilters, videos of quilting activities in two Native communities, and a series of panels with photographs and explanatory text. A companion book is also available.
Developed by Michigan State University Museum, To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions is based on an exhibition originally created by Michigan State University Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, in collaboration with Atlatl, Inc., a national service organization for Native American arts (Phoenix, AZ). A board of museum specialists working in both Native and non-Native museums across North America were instrumental in helping to design this version specifically created to tour to smaller museums, tribal museums and cultural centers.
Kansas quilts are also on display to enhance the exhibition and to showcase the talent and creativity of Kansas quilters.
BRIGHT STAR | by Paula White, Ojibwa | 1996 | Bena, MN
INDIAN BOYS AND GIRLS QUILT | by Tsali Manor Sr Sewing Club, Cherokee | c1990 | Cherokee, NC
Exhibit provided by the Traveling Exhibit Services of the Michigan State University Museum.
The press release for this exhibit is available here.

Quilt Pick Up
2018-10-02 - 2018-10-04
After the exhibit, To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions closes on September 30th, please remember you will need to make arrangements to pick up your quilt. You may come in anytime on Tuesday, October 2nd, Wednesday, October 3rd or Thursday, October 4th between 10am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:00pm to pick up your quilt. If you are unavailable during these times, please call the Museum at 620.846.2527 to schedule a specific quilt pickup time.
We do not have a place to store the quilts while we prepare for the next exhibition, Christmas Traditions of Southwest Kansas 2018 that will open on October 14, 2018. All quilts must be picked up no later than 5:00 on Wednesday, October 4, 2018. Again, no one other than the owner will be allowed to pick up the quilt from the Museum.
Thank you for your participation in our exhibit!

Christmas Traditions of Southwest Kansas 2018
2018-10-14 - 2018-11-26
This very popular biannual exhibit presents a fun way to enjoy Christmas, get decorating ideas and share in the joy and wonder that is the season before getting bogged down with all the promotional hype of the Holidays. Southwest Kansas individuals, clubs, groups, organizations, and merchants created 12-15 mini-exhibits featuring holiday themes, collections, family heirlooms, homemade family mementos, and more to share with YOU! These exhibits bring back fond memories of Christmas’ past, show you where to find the newest trends in holiday decorations, and inspires ideas for fun ways to create new memories. These exhibits are created and decorated by southwest Kansans thus bringing the traditions and spirit of “Christmas in Southwest Kansas” to the museum and its visitors. This beautiful, uplifting exhibit is a must see, memorable experience for all ages.
The exhibit will close with the NINTH annual Twilight Holiday Happening on Monday, November 26, 2018, from 7:00PM-8:30PM. The evening will feature Christmas fun, treats and giveaways. You don’t want to miss out on this exhibit or this great event celebrating Christmas in our community!

Twilight Holiday Happening
2018-11-26 19:30 - 20:30
More information coming soon!

Norman Rockwell and the American Family
2018-12-06 - 2019-01-19
Norman Rockwell and the American Family
On Display December 6th, 2018 – January 19, 2019
The Norman Rockwell Museum presents Norman Rockwell and the American Family, part of a series of traveling exhibitions celebrating the art of Norman Rockwell. “The traveling exhibitions extend the Museum’s print and archival collections beyond our walls to audiences who may not have the opportunity to visit the Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.” says Museum Director Laurie Norton Moffatt. This exhibit will be on display for a short 6 week exhibit period over the Christmas holiday, making for a great outing with family and friends and a wonderful way to pass these amazing images onto the next generation!
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, commissioned illustrator Norman Rockwell to create scenes reflecting American family life for its national advertising campaign. These popular images appeared in leading publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Time, and Newsweek, with text that inspired readers to consider purchasing life insurance. Many of Rockwell’s Stockbridge neighbors, and the artist himself, appear as models in the series. The images constitute the largest group of works created by the artist for any single commission.
For more information about this exhibit, click here.
You can view the press release for this exhibit here.

Small Wonders: Insects in Focus
2019-01-29 - 2019-03-16
Small Wonders: Insects in Focus

On Display January 29, 2019 – March 16, 2019
In the air, water, and even under foot, insects inhabit every domain of our daily lives, performing essential functions that balance our fragile ecosystem on earth. By using cutting-edge technology and custom methods, artist Bob Sober created this exhibition of breathtaking beauty that allows viewers to see this hidden world like they’ve never seen it before. It aims to inspire, in an artistic way, our natural curiosity to understand the form, function, and diversity of nature. Creating human-scale images of insects, with resolution so high that every hair, dimple, and tiny structure is clearly revealed, was impossible prior to the technological advancements of the past ten years. High-resolution digital cameras, fast personal computers, economical digital storage, and powerful software applications capable of assisting with the assembly of hundreds or thousands of individual photographs create the opportunity to capture accurate images of insects as they truly exist. These new ways of seeing confront viewers with the idea that insects display the elements we attribute to good design or beautiful artwork. These tiny creatures are indeed artwork, in every sense of the word. The exhibition is organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
We are expecting many tours for this exhibit so please call in advance for groups of 5 or more! Tours/groups welcome by appointment, contact 620-846-2527 for information or to set up a tour. Business hours for the Stauth Museum, 111 N Aztec Street, Montezuma KS are Tue -Sat 9-12 1-4:30. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for this incredible exhibit!

This exhibit is partially funded at the Stauth Museum by a grant from The Arthur and Cornelia Scroggins Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas.

You can view the press release for this exhibit here.

100 Faces of War
2019-04-02 - 2019-06-22
100 Faces of War
On Display from April 2nd, 2019 – June 22nd, 2019
Don’t miss out on this exhibit that showcases the American experience of war from the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition at the Stauth Memorial Museum.
The American military in the 21st century is diverse and reflects the complexities of the country and the current times. “100 Faces of War,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian, presents the stories of those who served the U.S. in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
“100 Faces of War,” organized in collaboration with artist Matt Mitchell, features 100 oil portraits of Americans representing a cross-section of home states, military branches, jobs and backgrounds. Each painting includes a candid, unedited, firsthand account of war. The statements take many different forms, including emails and letters to loved ones and poems and words written specifically for this exhibition. The portraits symbolize 100 different and highly personal ways of looking at valor, sacrifice and the human experience of war.
From 2005 to 2014, Mitchell, who did not have any connection to the military, felt compelled to connect with veterans in a meaningful way when he read an article in a local newspaper about an Iraq veteran coming home. He started painting the portraits of those who served and collecting their personal statements. Through this exhibition, visitors will come to know the veterans’ courage, fears, warmth and humanity. More than 2 million Americans have served in the theaters of war in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 through 2014.
100 Faces of War is an exhibition organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES).
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
We are expecting many groups for this exhibit, so please call in advance to schedule groups of 5 or more. For more information contact (620)846-2527. Business hours for the Stauth Memorial Museum are: Tue – Sat 9-12, 1-4:30. Closed Sundays, Mondays & all major holidays. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

The press release for this exhibit is available here.

America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66
2019-07-09 - 2019-10-05
America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66
On Display July 9th, 2019 – October 5th, 2019
Route 66 is emblematic of the American experience. Nearly every aspect of 20th century United States history is reflected in the story of the people and events along the Mother Road. Those who take the journey down Route 66 today can still explore the Main Street of America. Nearly a hundred years of highway culture can be found, whether a thriving relic or decaying ruin.
Thousands of people from around the country and around the world drive all or portions of the Route each year. The highway stretches 2,448 miles and crosses through eight states, tracing the migration of people from the Midwest to the Pacific coast. It showcases the stories of people, places, and events from 1926 until today. The topics are relevant to anyone who wants to learn more about our country and its history. Themes that run through the exhibit include the history of Route 66, evolution of automobile travel, innovations, communities and populations, as well as accounts of travelers and more. The exhibit guides visitors to a greater understanding of Route 66 and its role in American history. The narrative travels from 1926 through the present day. Interactive displays include a map showing how the population changed over time, a drive-in theater experience, and more. An exceptionally well-maintained, original and non-restored Ford Mustang travels with the exhibit. This car was used on a Route 66 road trip during the summer of 2010. The Mustang hails from the heyday of Route 66 and captures the spirit of the road. America’s Road also features a photo essay created by photographer and author, Russell Olsen. Olsen researched and photographed 75 classic Route 66 service stations, motor courts, cafes, etc. and has compiled them into two volumes, from which images and text are used for the exhibit. The sites and structures are shown both as they appeared during the mid-20th century and as they appear today. The marvelous visual and descriptive elements comprise a unique, state-by-state look back at America’s Main Street. Exhibit developed and toured through NRG! Exhibitions.

This exhibit is partially funded at the Stauth Museum by a grant from The Arthur and Cornelia Scroggins Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas.

Entry Form For Quilt & Textile Art To Accompany Wandering Spirit Exhibit Due!
2019-09-24 08:00 - 16:30
If you are interested in showcasing your quilt or textile art in the next exhibit, Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints, the entry form must be submitted by 4:30pm today! Entry form, guidelines and more information can be found here.

Deliver Quilts & Textile Art That Will Accompany Wandering Spirit Exhibit
2019-09-27 - 2019-10-09
Please schedule a time to deliver your quilts or textile art to be showcased along with the next exhibit Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints sometime between September 27th through October 9th. To schedule your delivery, call the Stauth Museum at 620.846.2527 or email the director atstauthm@ucom.net.
Delivery hours will be from 10:00am-Noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, September 27th through October 9th. We will not be accepting any ITEMS on Sundays unless no other day can be arranged. If you are unable to bring your ITEMS at those times, special appointments for an evening delivery time may be arranged. If you have not received a call to set up your delivery after we should have received your Information & Registration Form, please call 620.846.2527 to set up your delivery time.

Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints
2019-10-22 - 2019-11-30
Wandering Spirit: African Wax Prints
On Display October 22nd, 2019 – November 30th, 2019
Batik is a Javanese word that refers to a traditional technique of wax-resist dyeing, in which a pattern is made on both sides of cotton fabric with warm liquid wax applied by a tjanting, a small brass cup with a spout. After the wax cools and solidifies, the cloth is dyed with a primary color and the wax is then removed, revealing the pattern where the wax had once been.

J.B.T. Prévinaire, a Dutch cotton printing mill owner, was instrumental in developing a machine that could print imitation batiks industrially. In 1854, he unveiled “La Javanaise,” a converted French printing machine that could print an imitation of the Javanese batik using resin instead of wax.
Despite the technological advance, “La Javanaise” produced imperfections in the print that did not appeal to the Javanese buying public, so the European printers found themselves looking for new markets around the world. After many years of transcontinental exploratory travels and investigations, they identified Africa as the new potential market for their wax prints.
The success of the wax prints on the African scene is driven by many factors, such as the culture, taste, and desires of the African consumers. Clothing in Africa serves an important means of communication, sending secret messages and retelling local proverbs. Clothing also depicts a person’s social status and position, political convictions, ambition, marital status, ethnicity, age, sex, and group affiliations. The names and stories associated with the fabrics differ from country to country and region to region. One fabric may have different names in different countries, depending on the symbolism that the consumer can read in the fabric.
The history of the African wax print is a history paved along colonial trade routes and globalization in the post-colonial era. Though not originally African, these textiles have become ingrained in African culture and society, and loved and identified as their own. A program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance with The Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

This exhibit will also feature quilts and textile art from local Kansans. If you are interested in having your quilt or artwork displayed with this exhibit, review the guidelines and find the entry form here.
This exhibit is partially funded at the Stauth Museum by a grant from The Arthur and Cornelia Scroggins Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas.

Pickup Quilts & Artwork Provided For Exhibition During Wandering Spirit Exhibit
2019-12-03 - 2019-12-11
Please make arrangements to pick up your ITEMS from 10:00am-Noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, December 3rd through December 11th. Evening appointments may be arranged as well.
We have changed our pickup policy, if the owner cannot come in person to pick up their ITEMS, they may send a representative to pick up their ITEMS. These arrangements must be pre-approved by the Director.
All ITEMS must be picked up no later than 5:00PM on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 as we do not have a place to store the quilts and we will be preparing for the next exhibition, Best In the West: The Art of Ronald Smith, Colleen Sternberger and Robin Valenzuela that will open on December 11, 2019 and be on display until January 18, 2020.
For questions or more information call 620.846.2527 or email the Director at stauthm@ucom.net.

Best In the West: The Art of Ronald Smith, Colleen Sternberger and Robin Valenzuela
2019-12-10 - 2020-01-18
Best In the West: The Art of Ronald Smith, Colleen Sternberger and Robin Valenzuela
On Display December 10th, 2019 – January 18th, 2020
The West Comes to Life in Art Exhibit
The Stauth Memorial Museum of Montezuma is proud to announce an amazing exhibition of three exceptional Garden City artists. Best in the West: The Art of Ronald Smith, Colleen Sternberger and Robin Valenzuela will be on display from December 10, 2019 through January 18, 2020 in the Special Exhibitions Gallery.
Ronald Smith creates 3-D images with abalone shells, as well as wood, metal, turquoise and Native American beaded rosettes and medallions. As a self-taught artist he feels his art is a gift from God. Mr. Smith has no Native American heritage, but he has developed a kinship with many who do, discussing and sharing beliefs and legends. Every object in nature has a spirit, according to some Native American beliefs. Ron tries to convey that spirit in his art linked to the tribes of the Plains and Southwest. His images include historic shapes such as turtle, bears, geckos, buffalo, thunderbirds, and Kokopelli, the flute player figure of ancient petroglyphs.
It is believed that turquoise brings good fortune, strength, and helps overcome illness. Turquoise got its name from Levantine traders call “Turks”; these were the people who brought the stone to Europe from Persia via Turkey centuries ago. The turquoise Ron uses in his art comes from the American Southwest.

Ron’s interest in abalone (paua shells) dates back over 50 years, when he was first introduced to the brilliance of the shells. Abalone shells have been treasured by many ancient tribes throughout the world as a magical gift from the sea and are believed to stimulate fertility of the mind and body; as well as providing protection against negative attitudes and actions. Ron started collecting shells with the dream of someday creating breathtaking pieces of art. After putting his artistic ability on hold to provide for his family, he has revitalized his artistic talents and has fulfilled his interest and passions as shown in his Southwestern art. Appreciating the beauty of God’s creations is a part of Ron’s life.
Colleen Sternberger is a fine art photographer who specializes in photographs of The American West.
It seems she has always had a camera in her hand – Kodak Instamatic or Polaroid to start with – snapping away on family vacations and gatherings. She came late in life to the world of Fine Art Photography, but has embraced it with a passion. Mostly self-taught, her inspiration comes from the places she travels to and the people she meets along the way.

Using her digital darkroom she elevates her photographs with painterly qualities. “I want to guide the viewer of my images toward the “story”, the one I found hidden away waiting to come to life,” says Colleen. Adding depth and dimension with light and shadows it draws the viewer into the image. Her work has won numerous awards and is included in private and corporate collections.
Robin Valenzuela has practiced as a professional artist since 2008, showing at Kansas area galleries and multi-state juried art festivals. Being mostly self-taught, Robin currently utilizes acrylic paints, particularly using the blending powers of high flow acrylics. She loves how the colors combine to create organic shapes and how they flow together to make textural values.

Robin comes from a very creative background, with family members who made sure she experienced art, photography, and writing. She is a product of her family’s influence, having been given the many tools as a youngster to be creative. Robin has two associate degrees, one from Garden City Community College and one in Apparel Design & Illustration from Wade College, Dallas. She now works full time in her dream career as an artist, artrepreneur, and freelance graphic designer.
Prior to 2017, she worked (over 15 years) as a graphic designer and pre-press expert for a small printing company. There, she learned a great deal about the printing process and now incorporates that skill to reproduce many of her artworks, along with digital art, into other products for your home. She is an active member with Garden City Arts and keeps a retail display within the downtown gallery. She also teaches several art workshops throughout the year. Robin has a colorful presence on social media and loves to follow other artists around the world.
Be sure to see this once in a lifetime group of Western Artists from southwest Kansas. We should all be very proud to have three such amazing, gifted artists in our area. The Stauth Museum feels it is our mission to provide cultural enrichment to the community not only through art but by sharing new experiences that they cannot find anywhere else. It is important to support the arts, encourage and promote area artists, and be proud that they are from southwest Kansas. This is a great exhibit to share these three artists’ unique art and very special talent with family and friends who visit for the holidays.

Western Kansas Scholastic Art Competition & Exhibition 2020
2020-01-28 - 2020-02-20
Western Kansas Scholastic Art Competition & Exhibition 2020
Western Kansas Jr. & Sr. High Art Students
Enjoy award winning works of art from extremely talented Western Kansas students. The TWENTY- FOURTH Annual Competition and Exhibition will include over 240 art works of all kinds; photography, sculpture, metals, glass, drawings, paintings, ceramics, graphics and much more. American Vision will be awarded for best of show, Gold Key, Silver Key and Merit Award winners will be displayed. The exhibition will culminate with an Awards Ceremony/Closing Reception for the winning students at 1:00PM on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the South Gray High School. Please come enjoy the award winning art work of these talented young people from Western Kansas.
The WKSA Awards contest is open to students in grades 7-12 from the following counties: Cheyenne, Clark, Decatur, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Rawlings, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

K is for Kansas: Exploring Kansas from A to Z
2020-03-10 - 2020-08-15
This exhibit leads visitors on an alphabetic journey across the Sunflower State, from “aviation” to “Z-Bar Ranch.” The exhibit was developed by Kauffman Museum, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas.
“K is for Kansas” uses the letters of the alphabet to illustrate significant features of the natural and cultural history of Kansas. Composed of big alphabet blocks that surround a large-scale carpet map of Kansas, the exhibit seeks to increase appreciation of the unique people, places, animals, plants and everyday things of Kansas.
Each of the 26 alphabet blocks provides in-depth coverage of a word meaningful to Kansas. These words are represented in various ways from maps and historic photographs to the real object. Preschoolers can play with an ornate box turtle shell or a toy Sante Fe locomotive. School children can learn about James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and first University of Kansas basketball coach, by playing a mini-game at the “N” block. Everyone will appreciate the breeze of the Vornado fan invented in Kansas, and a carving of an upland sandpiper by Newton artist Ray Cook.

The exploring theme is also reflected in the exhibit’s design, said Rachel Pannabecker, Kauffman Museum director, “In-depth information about grasshoppers is hidden until you lift flippers marked ‘pests?’ and ‘partners?’ while the definition and picture of a free state ‘jayhawker’ is revealed only when you push a slider.” Discovery packets with activity suggestions are available to orient families with children to the exhibit.
Hundreds of words were considered while developing the exhibit. “The exhibit reflects where we are and who we are–an exhibit team of parents, designer, teachers, scientists, artists and carpenters who, after a combined 200 years of living here, have come to love Kansas,” said Kauffman Museum exhibit designer Chuck Regier.
The words selected by the exhibit team included personal favorites that point to the quirky and fun sides of Kansas. For example, Dalton Gang, Dexter helium wells and dogbane are listed ad D words. But the exhibit also supports social studies and science standards established by the Kansas Department of Education including Kansas symbols and words such as dust bowl.
A 28-page, folding booklet featuring the Kansas alphabet provides the complete list of words included in the exhibit. The “K is for Kansas” booklet a bookmark and two postcards are available for free with the exhibit.

Material Pulses: Seven Viewpoints
2020-09-01 - 2020-10-10
Material Pulses: Seven Viewpoints, an exhibition focused on the art of quilt-making, presents seventeen works by seven fiber artists representing the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Curated by internationally renowned artist and teacher Nancy Crow, Material Pulses contributes to the dialogue of contemporary textile arts. Says Crow, “Material Pulses is the culmination of my mission to bring back the majesty, strength, and energy of textile works, particularly large quilts.”

Crow has seen trends in the medium follow a track of smaller quilts in more neutral colors, and asked, why? The pull of quilting lies in its large, forceful presence and the freedom to use color joyously. Making a quilt is a physical activity, involving piecing parts on working spaces that can span entire walls.
The exhibition features quilts, mixed media, and installation work. Quilts of up to 101 inches high will be featured, for dramatic scale of an art form that is often relegated to its functional qualities. The artists investigate color, pattern, and size through traditional and experimental quilt-making applications. The curator balances a focus on shapes with oversized works, exploring excellence in machine quilting and surface design.
The exhibition’s artists bring their techniques and vision to realizing this celebration of contemporary textile arts. Among them, Elizabeth Brandt balances large geometric and organic shapes, while at the same time flirting with a demanding dark palette. Jayne Willoughby’s work on one side seems contemplative, while the other spouts riotous color systems. Mary Lou Alexander has been exploring shibori (a Japanese dyeing method) for decades, and utilized this technique to exemplify the beauty of mark-making. Barb Wills printed her fabrics, both cotton and silk, with original woodcuts created from Shina wood, using cutting tools from Japan.
The exhibition artists are Denise L. Roberts, Albright, WV; Claire Benn, Surrey, England; Jayne Willoughby, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Mary Lou Alexander, Hubbard, OH; Christine Mauersberger, Cleveland, OH; Barb Wills, Prescott, AZ; and Elizabeth Brandt, Holland, MI.
Curator Nancy Crow has taught quilt-making as an art form in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United states. She is the cofounder of Quilt Surface Design and Quilt National. The exhibition is organized by Mid-America Arts Alliance and ExhibitsUSA.
Please be aware of and adhere to state mandated guidelines for COVID-19 while visiting the museum. Some staff members have compromised immune systems. Please practice social distancing, sanitize your hands properly and stay home if you don’t feel well. Do your part to make your visit safe for yourself, other visitors and our staff.
Please call in advance to schedule groups and tours of 5 or more so we can make sure the museum is fully staffed for you to have the best experience during your visit. Tours/groups welcome by appointment, contact 620-846-2527 for information or to set up a tour. Business hours for the Stauth Museum, 111 N Aztec Street, Montezuma KS are Tue-Sat, 9am-12pm & 1pm-4:30pm. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted to help pay for this amazing and future incredible exhibits!

Garage Sale Fundraiser
2020-10-31 09:00 - 16:30
Closets cluttered? Drawers stuffed? Storage space full? Kids outgrown their clothes? The Stauth Memorial Museum is hosting a community Garage Sale Fundraiser with all proceeds from this sale to help fund the Museum, it’s exhibits and programs. This sale will take place in front of the Museum on Saturday, October 31st from 9-12. Well this is a great way to clean out all that clutter and make a donation to the museum at the same time. If you have any items you would like to donate for this garage sale, please bring them by the Museum during our regular business hours Tuesday thru Saturday 9-12, 1-4:30.
THEN make sure to stop by for the Garage Sale on Halloween morning to pick up some winter clothes, get decorations for your home, find some great buys on kid’s clothes, household items, glassware, etc. The museum is free to all of you who come all year to see our amazing temporary and traveling exhibits that are displayed here, most of which would not be available to Montezuma, Gray County or southwest Kanas if not on display here. Be generous as all donations and proceeds of this sale will gratefully accepted to cover the rising costs of rental fees and shipping expenses of traveling exhibits! Please give generously to support this gem of southwest Kansas and to continue to keep the legacy of Claude & Donalda Stauth’s visions of bringing the world and its cultures to Montezuma. With your help we can keep it surviving and thriving into the future and for generations to come.

Considering the Commonplace: Prairie Towns Through the Lens of Bob Regier
2020-11-01 - 2020-11-28
Considering the Commonplace: Prairie Towns Through the Lens of Bob Regier is organized around eight themes: elegance, entrances, light & shadow, locomotion, sacred space, sentinels, signs & lines, windows & walls. The exhibit will be on display at the Stauth Museum until Saturday, November 28, 2020.

This exhibit features digital photographs by Kansas artist Bob Regier, Bethel College professor emeritus of art and Kauffman Museum senior design consultant. For twenty years, artist/teacher Bob Regier of North Newton, Kansas, traveled the main streets and backroads of Kansas with his wife Vernette and friends Keith and Aldine Sprunger. Regier’s photographs focus primarily on the built environment of the central Great Plains, particularly the common places of small Kansas towns, and reveal his training in modernist aesthetics and printmaking through his use of abstraction and color fields.
In this installation the artist and exhibit designer experiment with photo production techniques to creatively play with size and format of the digital prints and thereby move beyond the limits of conventional framed photography shows. The exhibit contains sixty-six photos, including large scale banner images.
Bob Regier – Regier studied at the School of the Chicago Art Institute and holds the master of fine arts degree in painting and printmaking from the University of Illinois. He retired from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, after teaching art for 32 years. Regier’s primary studio interest has been printmaking, preferably monotypes, and he also has actively pursued graphic design and photography. Since 1985 he has been part of the Kauffman Museum exhibit team, winning numerous awards for exhibit and graphic design. You can learn more about Regier and his artwork at BobRegier.com
For more information contact (620)846-2527. We are expecting many groups and tours during this exhibit, please call in advance to schedule a tour if you are planning to come with a group of 5 or more! Business hours for the Stauth Memorial Museum are: Tue – Sat 9-12, 1-4:30. Closed Sundays, Mondays & major holidays including Thanksgiving Day. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Please note that we require mask wearing and social distancing while inside the Museum to help keep staff members and other visitors safe. If you feel that you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days please save your visit to the museum for another time.

40 Chances: Finding Hope in A Hungry World, The Photography of Howard G. Buffett
2020-12-16 - 2021-03-06
Newseum Traveling Exhibits
In this powerful exhibit featuring the photography of Howard G. Buffett, 40 photographs document the world hunger crisis as part of a global awareness campaign. Traveling to more than 137 countries, Buffett turned his camera lens on the powerful forces that fuel hunger and poverty.
A philanthropist and farmer, Buffett believes that each of us has about 40 chances to accomplish our life goals, just as farmers have about 40 growing seasons to improve their harvests. His photography is a call to action to find lasting solutions to the world hunger crisis.
The compelling photography in the exhibit illustrates the causes and effects of hunger on five continents and reflects Howard G. Buffett’s belief that hunger is intertwined with poverty, fear, war and conflict, and the lack of opportunity for women.
The exhibit also includes an original Newseum film featuring Buffett and his work, and a tactile display that reveals the leading causes of death worldwide. Visitors can use a touch-screen kiosk highlighting five organizations working on solutions to world hunger and conflict to learn how they can be a part of Buffett’s 40 Chances campaign.
If you had the resources to accomplish something great in the world, what would you do? Legendary investor Warren Buffett posed this challenge to his son in 2006, when he announced he was leaving the bulk of his fortune to philanthropy. Howard G. Buffett set out to help the most vulnerable people on earth – nearly a billion individuals who lack basic food security. And Howard has given himself a deadline: 40 years to put more than $3 billion to work on this challenge.
Each of us has about 40 chances to accomplish our goals in life. This is a lesson Howard learned through his passion for farming. All farmers can expect to have about 40 growing seasons, giving them just 40 chances to improve on every harvest. This applies to all of us, however, because we all have about 40 productive years to do the best job we can, whatever our passions or goals may be.
In his new book; 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World Howard captures his journey. Beginning with his love for farming, we join him around the world as he seeks out new approaches to ease the suffering of so many. It is told in a unique format: 40 stories that will provide readers a compelling look at Howard’s lessons learned, ranging from his own backyard to some of the most difficult and dangerous places on Earth.
The exhibit and book present a way of thinking that speaks to every person wanting to make a difference. It’s a mindset, providing reasons to hope and actions to take. It offers new approaches that are desperately needed. 40 Chances gives us all inspiration to transform each of our limited chances into opportunities to change the world.
“40 CHANCES: Finding Hope in a Hungry World”
was developed by the Newseum in collaboration with Howard G. Buffett Foundation The Newseum is an affiliate of the Freedom Forum, whose mission is to foster First Amendment freedoms for all.
freedomforum.org

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is the exclusive sponsor of the “40 CHANCES: Finding Hope in a Hungry World” exhibit.
www.thehowardgbuffettfoundation.org
For more information contact (620)846-2527. We are expecting many groups and tours during this exhibit, please call in advance to schedule a tour if you are planning to come with a group of 5 or more! Business hours for the Stauth Memorial Museum are: Tue – Sat 9-12, 1-4:30. Closed Sundays, Mondays & major holidays. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Please note that we require mask wearing and social distancing while inside the Museum to help keep staff members and other visitors safe. If you feel that you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days please save your visit to the museum for another time.
