By now you may have strolled through the Meadow, the small parklike native plant garden north of the museum. You may follow the Meadow blog, accessible through the museum’s website. What you may not have heard is that the Meadow is part of a larger cluster of activities called the Prairie Studies Initiative (PSI). Other PSI programs include the Museum’s annual Open A.I.R. (artist in residence) program, an interactive technology installation in the galleries called Touch the Prairie, and a variety of speakers, film screenings, and other events that have taken place over the past year.
PSI is a venture of K-State faculty, staff, and students from a range of disciplines. What brings this group together is a passion for our region – its unique ecosystems, culture and history. These researchers also share an interest in places where the arts/humanities intersect with science, technology, and engineering. PSI enriches the intellectual life of the campus and invites our regional community to explore the meaning, identity, and value of the Flint Hills and prairie grasslands. The Beach Museum of Art serves as a locus for many of PSI’s public offerings, with McCain Performing Arts as a frequent collaborator. These university venues are designed to welcome public audiences; they can serve as windows into the creative work of the campus.
Since its founding, the Beach Museum of Art has had a regionally focused collecting mission. That mission makes the museum a perfect gathering place for people who love this landscape and its history – and who want to help imagine its future.
See you in the galleries,
Linda Duke, Director