KANSAS CITY, KAN. --- The West Wyandotte Library welcomes Kansas author Thomas Fox Averill on Monday, June 24th from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
A related exhibition of forty-four works of art will be on display from June 1 – 30 in the fine arts gallery.
Thomas Fox Averill will lead a discussion about Kansas literature of the farm, from seed to harvest, from settlement to auction, from plowing to planting, from Dust Bowl to dry land agriculture, in short, from then to now.
The exhibit and discussion were coordinated by the International Fiber Collaborative (IFC). IFC, founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) and with established roots in Huntsville, AL and Topeka, Kan., develops community programs that create collaborative opportunities in the arts and humanities.
The IFC has partnered with the Kansas Humanities Council to organize five exhibitions coinciding with a series of public lectures and discussions.
Individuals who are contributing works of art as part of the exhibitions were asked to express, explore and reflect on their experiences of how agriculture has affected them, their families, and communities.
Using the theme ‘100 Years of Agriculture: Past, Present, and Future’ they have collected 100 interpretations shared through textile art accompanied by interviews and essays from individuals across Kansas.
Visitors to West Wyandotte Library will have an opportunity to view the works of art and accompanying stories representing individuals residing in eleven states including Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Tennessee and Nevada.
Works created by Kansans represent the communities of Baileyville, Basehor, Overland Park, Salina and Hugoton. IFC programs have successfully generated participation from schools, groups, and individuals in 515 cities, 50 states, and 19 countries.
Public programming has been a catalyst for creativity in health care facilities, libraries, schools, museums, and other locations, and has generated 18,528 submissions collected from an estimated 13,058 individuals as part of three major projects.
IFC’s current initiative, The Dream Rocket Project, has exhibited in 130 venues.
