APPRAISAL FAIR COMING TO GARNETT - SATURDAY, MAY 12

Jason Roske, is an expert appraiser on TV's National Treasures and he will be HERE to appraise!

The Walker Art Collection Committee will sponsor an appraisal fair in conjunction with the 40^th annual BPW Square Fair on Saturday, May 12, 2012.  The doors at Town Hall Center, 129 W. 5^th Avenue, will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m.  The following appraisers will be in Garnett that day: 

    ●  Jason Roske, owner/auctioneer of the KC Auction Company. Jason is an expert appraiser on television’s National Treasures.

    ● Ron Brown, a native Ottawan, is owner of Betterbooks.  He is an expert appraiser on books, magazines and maps.

    ● Pamela Hoelzel is a professional appraiser of rugs and textiles.

    ● Nick Carter, owner of Nick Carter & Company and appraiser for David Rago Auctions will appraise painting and prints.

    ● Chris Bennett is an expert appraiser of Pre-Columbian, Native American, African and Asian Art & Artifacts.

    ● Also, locally known appraisers, Charlotte Cox and Karen Reevy, will appraise glass and Chinaware, and Gary Browne, owner of Blue Beard’s History House Antique Gallery will consult on toys and games.

  The cost to have item(s) appraised will be $5 per item or three for $10.  All proceeds will go to the Walker Art Collection Committee to be used for scholarships and continued conservation of the art collection that is located at the Garnett Public Library. 

  Curator Robert Cugno says, “To have Jason Roske come to Garnett for this event is outstanding.  He is an expert appraiser and we are glad that he and the others have agreed to help our committee”.

 
(Photo by Sheri Hopkins)

Special THANKS to the members of the Chamber Players Community Theatre for their 2 free performances of "Spoon River Anthology", written by Garnett born writer/poet Edgar Lee Masters.  The CPCT opened the Thelma Moore Community Playhouse to the public on August 21, 2011 and again during Garnett's 150th Celebration on October 8th, bringing to life this amazing rendition of Masters' famous writings. The City of Garnett appreciates their community spirit!

The Walker Art Gallery
  Housed within the new Walker Art Gallery lies the Mary Bridget McAuliffe Walker Art Collection. Established in 1951 by Maynard Walker in honor of his mother and given to the city of Garnett, Kansas.   

  This collection of mostly early twentieth century American paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings is renownly one of the most extraordinary art collections in the Midwest. The collection includes works by John Steuart Curry, Robert Henri, Arthur B. Davies, Walt Kuhn, Henry Varnum Poor, Luigi Lucioni, Boardman Robinson, John F. Carlson, Kenneth Callahan and Theodoros Stamos. Artists from the Midwest include Frederick James, Merrill Gage, Pauline Shirer, David Overmeyer, Adeline Peers, John F. Helm, Dwight Kirsch and his son, John Kirsch. England is represented by the animal drawing by John Skeaping and a collection of caricature drawings of cats and dogs by Louis Wain. George Grosz, Edouard Manet and Jean Baptiste Corot are European artists whose works are also included.
  Some may call it a stroke of luck that the Walker Art Collection came to be in Garnett. Mr. Walker, a prominent art dealer in New York during the 1930’s and 1940’s, had received a letter from Marguerite Jackman of Garnett, who was compiling letters of famous persons. In the letter she asked him if he were born in Garnett and if he would write a letter verifying that fact to be kept on file at the library. Mr. Walker responded with such a letter, then months later wrote asking if the library would be interested in having some of the paintings he owned, offering them on loan. Later, Maynard Walker gave them outright and then prompted the additional donations by artists and individual collectors.

  The original Mary Bridget McAuliffe Walker Art Collection consists of 70 pieces. A new collection entitled, “The Garnett Art Collection” contains additions to the original collection of more than 140 pieces, including graphic by Joseph Albers, ceramic by Karen Karnes, and glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly.

  At the entrance way to the Walker Art Gallery visitors will find the Local Artists Gallery where displays of artwork created by local artists or by an occasional traveling exhibit can be enjoyed. These works of art are rotated on a monthly basis.

  The Walker Art Gallery located at the west entrance of the Garnett Public Library, 125 West Fourth Avenue in Garnett, Kansas, and can be viewed daily. Gallery hours are in conjunction with the Garnett Public Library: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Docent tours are available by pre-arrangement and free of charge by contacting the Garnett Public Library,(785) 448-3388; e-mail:  garnettlibrary@yahoo.com.

    
“In giving them up, I feel I have lost nothing, but rather, if from time-to-time some youngster or some oldster gains something by seeing them, I shall feel richer.”- Maynard Walker

Garnett Public Library
125 W. 4^th Avenue
(785) 448-3388

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