Great Bend’s Art & Wine Walk returns this Friday, May 6. Shoppers are invited to visit downtown stores from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. to sample wine and enjoy works by area artists. Twenty-four locations will participate.
The Great Bend Tribune, located at 2012 Forest Ave., will feature four artists:
Ron Weathers
Ron Weathers has been doing landscape and scenic photography since 1995, selling his works at festivals in northern New Mexico as well as online.
He started in 1977 at Brannon’s Studio in Great Bend as a custom black and white printer and continued when Dale and Betty Riggs purchased the place.
“It was a good situation, getting to work under an old master and then a younger Brooks Institute grad,” Weathers said. “I went on to other jobs until 1993 when I escaped the corporate world and moved to Red River, New Mexico.”
Ron and his wife Lisa purchased a hotel in 2007 and after its sale bought a house here in Great Bend where they spend a good part of their time.
Greg Maxwell
Greg Maxwell, Ellinwood, displayed a passion for the outdoors from a very early age and has expressed those interests in his artwork his entire life. Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, he was constantly inspired by the landscape and wildlife. While living in Kansas, he continues to pursue his love of the mountains with yearly trips to the high country. He relives these experiences through his paintings and drawings.
His love of the Kansas landscape and wildlife also developed very early in his childhood and is one of the major reasons he chose to attend college in Kansas and ultimately raise his family in Ellinwood.
His 2D work depicts many of the memories and events he has experienced in the outdoors in both locations.
The pottery Maxwell produces is simple in design and function. He is intrigued by creating functional forms that perform specifically to his likings while ultimately connecting to his hunting and fishing lifestyle.
Kaleb Beckham
Kaleb Beckham will show ceramic pieces at the Tribune. He is one of two artists from the Beautiful Minds Art Studio (BMAS) who will be featured in the Art & Wine Walk.
Beckham works in a variety of media and has been drawing for a long time. He is fascinated with dragons and his ceramic pieces include incense burners where the smoke goes through the dragon’s mouth.
He now works in the studio and he is able to assist clients with pieces they are working on.
Bailey Foster
Bailey Foster will show ceramic pieces and bracelets. She is the other artist from BMAS to be featured in the Art & Wine Walk.
Foster loves to go on walks and think about nature and how it will be incorporated into her art. “Looking at things helps me figure out what I want to do,” she said.
She also paints and finishes bisque ceramic pieces. Her work is very detailed.
She used to make lanyards to sell and a few months ago started making bracelets. She works at the UPS Store in the Westside Market.
More art
The Beautiful Minds Art Studio opened in 2020 for clients of Sunflower Diversified Services. Classes in pottery, drawing, sketching and/or painting are scheduled at the studio.
Joni Carr with Westside Market notes that Beckham and Foster aren’t the only Sunflower clients who enjoy creating art in the studio. “These are two of our artists but there are several more.” People can come see their work any time in the Westside Market, 5523 10th St.
Here are the stores participating in Friday’s Art & Wine Walk, and the featured artists:
• Rosewood Furniture Gallery - 1607 Main
Jordan Willinger - Ceramics, Mixed Media & Paintings
• That Hipster Place - 1519 Main
Sage Martinez - Photography
• Kustom Floor Designs - 1515 Main
Dan & Tami Branham - Wooden Earrings, Prints & More
• Rana Luna Boutique - 1910 Broadway
Miraya Starnes - Paintings
• Images by Emily Photography - 1419-A Main
Carla Ryan - Reverse Glass Paintings
Christy Tustin - Paper Crafts & Folding Art
• Renue Salon, Spa and Fashion Boutique - 1419-B Main
Jackie Sharpe - Oil & Watercolor Paintings
• Sweet Dreams Candy Shop - 1403 Main
Kimberly Becker - Paintings & Woodworking
• Great Bend Tribune - 2012 Forest Ave.
Kaleb Beckham - Ceramic Pieces
Bailey Foster - Ceramic Pieces & Bracelets
Ron Weathers - Photography
Greg Maxwell - Paintings
• Forest Avenue Antiques - 2025 Forest Ave.
Melanie Ryan - Canvas Art
• The Gallery - 2021 Forest Ave.
Loretta Miller - Hand Sculpted Santas & Witches
Jan Watkins - Noggins Sculpted Dolls
• Poppy Petals Boutique - 2015 Suite 101 Forest Ave.
Justice Messersmith - Acrylic Paintings & Graphite Drawings
• The Buckle - 1313 Main
Maddison New - Acrylic Canvas Paintings & Door Hangings
• Dawson Jewelers - 1301 Main
Cristen Markovich - String, Stain, Paint, Quilting Art
• Bling - 2019 Lakin
Rachel Miller - Multimedia Block Printing
• Yours Truly Gifts & Flower Shoppe - 2017 Lakin Ave.
Yuchen Wang Boswell- Handmade Clay Jewelry & Postcards
• Great Bend Coffee Co. - 2015 Lakin Ave.
Don Crouse - Ceramics
• Rosewood Bargain Barn - 1215 Main
Erica Roth - Wooden Home Decor Pieces
• A440 Music - 1207 Main
Jalyn Lear-Drawings & Paintings
Patrick Heath - Fine Art, 2D Designs
• Golden Belt Bicycle Co. - 1111 Main
Bob Mix- Metal Art
• Heart of Kansas Mercantile & Miss Pretty Pickles 1212/1214 Main
Barry Bowers - Wood Carvings
• RePerks Coffee Shop - 1216 Main
Jennifer Christiansen - Pottery
• The Wright Place - 1913 Lakin Ave.
Susan Wright - Handmade Jewelry
• Crest Theater- 1905 Lakin Ave.
Alisha Markley - Cups, Pens, Canvas, Vases & More
Rhea Grandon - Acrylic Paintings
Rebecca Wason - Blacklight Acrylic & Pour Paintings
• Rosewood Wine Cellar - 1901 Lakin Ave.
Various Members - Soap, Wine & More
