By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
With work priced from $15 to $7,000, the fourth annual Hillside Art Show Friday and Saturday in Larned has something for all collectors. The show takes place at Hillside Envisions, the former Hillside Elementary School, at 502 W. 5th Street in Larned. Hillside Corporate Secretary and Treasurer Dody Burkey said work from 30 local artists will be on exhibit.
"Our mission is to empower through education, skill development, and business opportunity," she said. "The art show is free to the public. We don't charge the artists anything and we don't take any commission on it."
Friday's reception will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with hors' d'oeuvres prepared by Executive Chef Erick Richards from Sterling. The show resumes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery will include art from students and professionals. Of the 30 artists involved, 15 have Larned ties, including students from Larned elementary, middle, and high schools. Other artists include clients of Beautiful Minds Art Studio in Great Bend.
"It's really amazing to me that the professionals absolutely love that we have student participation," Burkey said. "You never know, there may be major talent emerging onto the artworld stage."
The youngest artist at this year's show is 12 years old, and the gallery also features work from various former and current gallery directors who have shown their work nationally and internationally.
Burkey thanked the many sponsors who make the show work. Prairie Arts Unlimited is contributing the wine for Friday's reception. Dawn Martin at OPI did the 2024 variation on a theme of our original 2021 poster. Michelle at Santa Fe Liquor Mart selected the wine, and Leah Pinkston, a senior graphic art specialist at Larned High School, did the signage.