Events in Wichita for Sept. 4-10, 2020
Confirm requirements for visiting and details of in-person events you plan to attend in case of last-minute changes. Protect yourself and others from COVID-19 by avoiding close contact, washing your hands often and covering your mouth and nose with a mask.
Free: First Friday virtual and in-person art events
various times and locations, virtual and in-person
The Wichita arts community continues to have both Final Friday and First Friday events, though neither date has returned to the quantity of events pre-coronavirus. Here’s what we’ve found advertised for today. All events require masks and the number of visitors in the galleries will be limited.
▪ Kookaburra Coffee is livestreaming its First Friday grand opening of a new retail market exhibiting art and handmade goods for sale by Wichita makers and artists. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday via Facebook Live, you can enjoy streaming music by instrumental duo TORIAN, interviews with local artists and makers and see the items in the market. Join the live stream by going to Kookaburra Coffee on Facebook, navigating to the event page and joining the grand opening event. You can shop the market online, purchasing items for local pick up, or starting Saturday the market will be open for in-person shopping during regular hours of the coffeehouse at 9414 W. Central.
▪ Gallery XII, 412 E. Douglas, is opening a joint exhibit that will run through Sept. 26. Melinda Weis’ most recent paintings and Eugene Stucky’s ceramic art. Event hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday.
▪ “Concept” opens Friday with a 6 to 8 p.m. outdoor reception at Harvester Arts, 215 N. Washington. This exhibition is the result of a regional art exchange program between Harvester Arts and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. Featured artists from Wichita are Amanda Pfister, Kevin Kelly, Micala Gingrich-Gaylord and Rachel Foster; the Oklahoma-based artists are Andy Mattern, Geoffrey Hicks, Naima Lowe and Sarah Ahmad. “Concept” will run through Oct. 16.
▪ Reuben Saunders Gallery, 3215 E. Douglas, is opening a joint exhibition that will display through Sept. 25. The opening is a come and go event from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Trisha Coates’ “Snapshots” is a new watercolor and collage series inspired by the artist’s childhood photos. Josh Tripoli’s “Small Works, 2018-2020” features more than 100 drawings.
▪ The Fiber Studio & Gallery, 418 Commerce, is having a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for Gary Carson, who is exhibiting his paintings and photography as well as artwork by other artists from Carson’s collected works of favorite artists.
Last chance: “Imaginate” at Exploration Place
through Sept. 7 at Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd.
The national traveling exhibit “Imaginate” ends its run at Exploration Place on Monday. Encounter the collision of two worlds−science and art−to spark curiosity, creation and innovation. Design new objects using everyday items, craft kinetic sculptures and direct stop-motion animation scenes, among other activities The exhibit is included with general admission: $11.50 adults, $10 senior and $8 for ages 3-11.
Last chance: “Shades of Strength & Beauty” art exhibit
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Kansas African American Museum, 601 N. Water
Saturday is your last opportunity to see “Shades of Strength & Beauty,” which includes 16 works by current Kansas artists as well as artists from The Kansas African American Museum’s collection. Paintings, lithographs and sculptures are among the artwork by women artists from Black, mixed-race, Asian and Latina heritage. Museum admission is $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 grades 6-12, $3 kindergarten-grade 5, free for preschoolers.
Southside Food Truck Rally
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Blood Orchard, 6346 S. Broadway
This monthly food truck rally is held in conjunction with the Blood Orchard Vintage Market. Come for the food, come to shop or do both. Market vendors sell handmade, homemade, vintage, rustic and shabby-chic items along with goods from locally owned small businesses.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” community theater
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday Sept. 4-27 at Kechi Playhouse, 100 E. Kechi Road #9069 in Kechi
It’s opening weekend for the third show of the 2020 Kechi Playhouse season: Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest,” a community theater mainstay known for witty dialog and absurdity. The plays subtitle is “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” and the plot relies on mistaken identities and false personas.
Tickets are $15 for evening shows and $14 for the Sunday matinees. Reservations are made by calling 316-744 - 2152 and are recommended while seating is limited. Audience members must wear masks and seating is limited due to social distancing; call ahead
Learn to perform the “Thriller” dance
3 p.m. Sunday at Sway Ballroom & Latin Dance Studio, 1019 W. Douglas
The dance studio is offering its “Thriller” group class now through Halloween for $10 per person per class or $75 upfront for eight one-hour sessions. All ages and dance levels are welcome, even beginning zombies. By the end of the class there will be performance opportunities. Call or text 316-619-3745 to reserve a spot, or visit swayballroomwichita.com for other fall group classes.
Free: Wichita State Opera Theater presents free outdoor concert
7 p.m. Thursday at the WSU amphitheater, behind Duerksen Fine Arts Center on the Wichita State University campus)
The Wichita State University Opera Theater is performing a free concert with highlights from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masterpiece “Cosi fan Tutte” as well as other great opera arias. Alan Held, international performer and College of Fine Arts professor, will direct the opera theater, and WSU alum Bridget Hille will accompany on piano.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets and find a comfortable space 6 feet from other groups on the grounds of the WSU amphitheater. Face coverings are required at WSU when a distance of 6 feet can’t be maintained.
Free: Labor Day country music marathon
Various times Sept. 5-7 on KPTS Channel 8
Get your DVRs ready to go: Wichita’s public broadcasting station, KPTS – Channel 8 is running a country music marathon over the Labor Day weekend that will give you a chance to catch all 16 hours of the Ken Burns docuseries “Country Music” as well as other documentaries and replays of live concerts.
Check out the schedule at kpts.org. Look for “Kansas Country,” showcasing Kansans’ contribution to country music from the beginning through today, and “Iconic Women of Country,” a PBS program highlighting Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and more legendary female country singers. There’s also legendary performances, from Johnny Cash’s concert at the Tennessee State Prison in 1974 to a Linda Ronstadt concert filmed at the height of her career in 1980.
Wheat State Revival concert at Crown Uptown
8 p.m. Tuesday at Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas, or virtual
The Crown Uptown Phase III concert series brings to the stage red dirt/Americana band Wheat State Revival, comprised of Jake Wingfield, Melissa Connell and Scott Olney. Pay $3 to attend in person; doors open at 6 p.m., full bar available, social distancing and masks required. You can also stream the concert from Crown Uptown’s Facebook page.
Free: Jacob Tovar outdoor concert
7 p.m. Thursday at Island Park, 200 N. Main Street in Winfield
Oklahoman Jacob Tovar will bring his roots country sound to the season-ending performance in Winfield’s Duck Jam in the Park Concert Series. Tovar’s distinctive crooning honkytonk vocals weave Americana, folk and old school country styles together. Gates open at 6 p.m. with opener Ken Pomeroy starting at 7 p.m. followed by Tovar at 8 p.m. Bring your own chairs or blankets; food and drinks are also permitted. Pork burgers, sides and desserts will be sold along with merchandise. Plan to wear masks at the park entrance and exit as well as in bathrooms, and find a space for your core group to sit away from others. Hand washing stations are available throughout the concert area.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 6:45 PM.