From 0 murals to 25 murals in 2 years seems like an impossible task, but that is exactly what they’ve done in Clay Center Kansas. Today I’m talking with Brett Hubka who has been spearheading the effort. 
I’m no art expert, but I feel like I’ve noticed a resurgence of murals in towns across the country and it is a welcome trend. Coming into a new town, looking at the murals on the downtown buildings gives you a sense of the history of the town, the things that are important, and an overall sense of what the town is like. 
Over the years, we’ve interviewed or highlighted artists across the state, and it is really a testament to the people of Kansas that we have such a rich art tradition in our state. 
So, this episode is about art, and about how a town can come together to accomplish something amazing in as little as 2 years. It is also about how much pride Kansans have in our state and how much life is being lived in our smaller rural communities. 
Show Notes
Mural Movement Facebook Page
Mural Movement Instagram - Mural Movement Clay Center
Mural Interactive Map
Clay Center Kansas
15-24 Brewhouse website
Tasty Pastry Bakery - they don’t have a website
Little Mill Creek Trail
Sept 2018
Get to Know a Kansan
Medicine Lodge
Peace Treaty Festival
Gypsum Hills
Episode 0108: Big Kansas Road Trip
Bill Snyder Stadium
Dwight D Eisenhower Museum
Kansas Speedway
Learn a little more about Dwight D Eisenhower in this episode: Kansans Favorite Kansans
What You’ll Learn in this Episode

• How the Mural Movement got started in Clay Center
  
• How many murals are there in Clay Center?
  
• How a brewery and the mural movement partnered
  
• Why Clay Center Kansas is a great place to live 
  

How to Support the Podcast:
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Buy a Kansas Travel Journal 
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Cottonwood Falls is a small town - population about 800 - a nationally and internationally known town for its music. The well known Symphony in the Flint Hills is based in Cottonwood Falls and so is the Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills. When you think of Kansas, opera probably isn’t in the top 10 - or even 100 - things that come to mind. 

But, thanks to my guest, Martha Sharp, people come from across the country, and even from other countries, each July to attend the Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills. In our conversation, you’ll learn about the workshop, how it is tailored to the attendees, and maybe a little bit about opera along the way.
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We also talk about Martha’s career in Europe and her move to Kansas, which is a really interesting story as well.

Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills website
Episode 0110: Chase County Christmas
Episode 0503: Dynamic Discs
Episode 0212: Publishing in Kansas: Emanuel Haldeman-Julius
Chief Theatre in Coldwater Kansas
Granada Theatre in Emporia
Folly Theater in Kansas City
Lyric Opera in Kansas City
Disc Golf World Championship website
Girard History Museum

What You’ll Learn in this Episode

• How the Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills started
• How a small town comes together to support the Opera
• How an opera workshop helps build skills 
• How you can support Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills

How to Support the Podcast:
Tell a friend about us
Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook
Buy a Kansas Travel Journal 
Send us a recommendation for an episode
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This month Rachel uncovers another story about a Kansan, Nancy Overmyer. Rachel (and Geoff) met Nancy while they were volunteering for the Lenexa Art Show in May 2019. And Rachel immediately fell in love with Nancy’s artwork.
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In this episode, Rachel sits down with Nancy, a gourd artisan who also did a stint as a librarian. They discuss the origins of the gourd, the intricacies and nuances of the gourd as (artistic) medium, and how Nancy’s path meandered and branched out to include making gourd jewelry, as well as carving and decorating. And you’ll learn what it means to ‘love the 745s’ and how Nancy sees unique patterns in each gourd. Nancy’s passion and commitment to her artistic development is evident in this interview and in her artwork (see photos). It’s no wonder her creations have been highlighted and showcased in magazines. Being a library geek herself, Rachel encourages Nancy to share with listeners her experience as a librarian as well as her personal picks and favorites from around the Sunflower State.

​A note from our co-producer, Geoff: Uncovering Kansas never requests or expects compensation, in any form, from guests appearing on the show. Rachel fell for Nancy’s creativity and purchased a necklace while volunteering at the Lenexa Art Fair. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Nancy brought another necklace to the recording of this episode and presented it to Rachel as a token of appreciation and kindness. Rachel accepted the gift. While it was not a requirement of appearing on Uncovering Kansas, nor influence the content or direction of the recording, we believe it appropriate to share this information with listeners in the spirit of transparency and openness.

Gooseberry Lane (Nancy’s) Facebook Page(look for a picture with a gourd)
Nancy’s website

Sunflower Gourd Patch
Silver Lake Kansas
Lonnie Kruger
Maple Leaf Festival
Baldwin City Kansas
Baldwin City Lumber Yard Arts Center
Lake Wabaunsee
Coronado Heights Castle
Tallgrass Prairie
Cottonwood Falls
Emma Chase Friday Night Concerts
Amelia Earhart

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival, which takes place each September in St. Marys, Kansas. For 2019, the festival features Twelfth Night along with an artisan village of about 50 craft and food booths along a forest path. The festival is a volunteer led event, another example of the power of people coming together to make something happen.
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Our guest is Ben Moats, the President of the festival, and he and Rachel talk about the festival, the history of St. Marys, and the importance of bringing culture to towns across the state. The festival is in September (2019). Event and ticketing details can be found at the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival website. (Bring your own chairs and wear appropriate shoes for walking through the woods -- Shakespeare out in the open, as intended)
Facebook
St. Marys Kansas

We are working on a project to create a group in Kansas City for Flint Hills enthusiasts. We'll meet every few months to enjoy a drink, socialize, and talk about our love of the Flint Hills. If you would like to be notified once we have the details worked out, please let us know below.

Most of us have experienced that always exhilarating, and sometimes frightening, feeling when we end up doing something we never quite expected doing. Chris Alexander's path took her from theater to stained glass to metal working. As co-owner of Alexander Artworks, Chris has found herself busier than she ever imagined as she and her co-owner husband try to keep up with orders. Rachel and Chris talk about metal working, the importance of personal connection, and what it's like to be a business owner in a small town. Chris' answers and responses during the Get to Know a Kansan section impressed, and Rachel captured her insights so our listeners can add to their list of places to check out when exploring Kansas.
 
Alexander Artworks
Morris County Community Arts Council
Strong City Rodeo
Council Grove
Wichita
Washunga Days
Bloody Bill Anderson
Huffaker Family
Kaw Mission
Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park
Rails to Trails
Kanopolis Drive In
Salt Mines
Lost City of Etzanoa
Dwight Eisenhower

Angie Pickman is a Kansas artist with a national reputation. Angie imagines and creates  artwork in her Lawrence studio that is a modern twist on the traditional Chinese art form of paper cutting. Her love of nature is front and center in her work and growing up in Kansas provided her with a wealth of inspiration. In this Uncovering Kansas episode, Rachel talks with Angie about her round trip journey from Kansas to New York. While travelling her creative path Angie built both her talent and her fanbase, her career flourishes as a result. Rachel and Angie discuss how several stereotypes about Kansas aren't true.To learn more about Angie, please visit her website, Rural Pearl.

Other things we talked about:
An Example of Lotte Reiniger’s work
Lawrence Art Walk
Atchison Kansas
The Sallie House – Haunted Home
Amelia Earhart Birthplace
The Smallest Presidential Library
Chalk Pyramids (aka Monument Rocks)
William Stafford​

Once upon a time…

That’s a classic way to begin a story. And it’s the right way to begin this episode.

We’re certain listeners will uncover something interesting about this Kansas event. Please note that this year’s event is scheduled for April 26 and 27, 2019.
Kansas Storytelling Festival website

In this episode of Uncovering Kansas, we talk with Kate McNair, Managing Editor of Elementia Literary Magazine, a publication written, edited, and produced completely by teens.