Folk Art

This lobby exhibit of folk art for November is from the holdings of Prairie Museum of Art & History ~ Thomas County Historical Society.

Terms that overlap with folk art are primitive art, tramp art, working-class art, blue collar art, and others. Folk art is made of a variety of media including cloth, wood, paper, clay, metal, and more.

Frequently folk artists use materials which are salvage, scrap, or found items. The artists use these materials to create replicas of objects they are familiar with - such as farm equipment and windmills included in this exhibit.

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This windmill metal sculpture was created by Lloyd White using square nails. The square nails are the type used to nail down hardwood floors. It took him about two days to create this piece using a painting by Erma Griggs Hamill as a pattern. 

 

 This rocking chair was made of horseshoes by W. L. "Red" Biggs

 What most people might see as junk, Dave Gruising saw as eventual art pieces. This Caterpillar tractor and driver is typical of Dave's creations.

As always, there is no admission to visit the lobby to see these temporary exhibits. If you would like to display your collection for a month, call Ray at 785-460-4590 for scheduling. 

Back to School

"Back to School" seemed like a timely theme for the August lobby exhibit. The items on display are out of the Prairie Museum of Art and History collection.

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 Lots of Tigers in Thomas County - Menlo, Levant, & Gem

 A couple of Bulldogs too - Rexford and Brewster

 Menlo basketball letter

 Brownville (not Brewster)

 Don't see a blue Colby Junior High School beanie very often!

If you have objects, photos, documents, and books from schools in Thomas County you want to get out of your closet space, please consider donating to Prairie Museum of Art & History / Thomas County Historical Society.

Are you a Thomas County resident with a collection of items you would like to share with our visitors? Please contact Ray at 785-460-4590 or registrar@prairiemuseum.org to schedule your own exhibit.

My Little Pony

This exhibit of 'My Little Pony' toys will be on display through July. They are on loan to us from Elizabeth Collins of Colby.

Liz got her first 'My Little Pony' in 2006 when one was given to her by her parents. She has since been given several ponies by her parents and relatives. She has also shopped on eBay for older incarnations.

Her collection now includes over 200 items including some ponies from the 1980s and special editions. They toys were introduced in themes or series and Liz's collection includes representatifes from nearly all the incarnations.

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"My Little Pony' is an entertainment franchise developed by Hasbro, originally as a toy line for girls. Following the original 'My Pretty Pony' toy that was introduced in 1981, 'My Little Pony' was launched in 1982 and became popular in the 1980s. They remain popular collectors items today.

1960s

This exhibit of 1960s memorabilia and photographs for June is from the holdings of Prairie Museum of Art and History - Thomas County Historical Society.

The 1960s were growth years for Colby. Colby Community College was expanding rapidly and many other buildings were going up as well. Some of the new construction included KXXX Radio, Thomas County National Bank, Pioneer Memorial Library, Good Samaritan Center, gas stations and motels near I-70, and much more.

The Vietnam War, the war on poverty, the fight for civil rights, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy were just a few of the top news stories.

Trends were also being set in music, fashion, and lifestyles.

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Col. Forest Kimsey's Air Force Jacket

 

 Thomas County Diamond Jubilee and Kansas Centennial

 Teen Entertainment & New Construction

 Kids Music and Movies

 What's New?

 Thomas County in the '60s

 1960s Toys

Please share your memories of the 1960s with us!

New Testaments plus Military Camouflage

The May lobby exhibit is split between two exhibitors.

This collection of New Testaments and books are on loan to us from Marian Ballard. Marian's father, John Hood, collected most of them starting with his own during World War II. Marian has also acquired a couple of them from the 1800s to add to her collection.

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These camouflage items were accumulated by Dave Rodriguez.

 "Woodland" camouflage used about 1980 - 2000.

 "Desert" camouflage used about 2005 to present.

 "Digital" camouflage used about 2005 to present.

 "Modified Digital" camouflage.

Dave made this Ghillie suit which would be used by military snipers. The ghillie suit was developed by Scottish gamekeepers as a portable hunting blind.

As always there is no admission to visit the lobby exhibit. Also plan to check out all the new items Kelsi has been adding to our gift shop.

Sand and Rock Samples

The exhibit in our lobby this month is a collection of sand and rock samples on loan from Shannon Kenyon. Shannon is Assistant District Manager at Northwest Kansas Ground Water Management District #4 located in Colby, Kansas.

Her collection started in about 2000. Shannon has collected many of the samples herself. While her father was in the military, Shannon's mother (Ginger Bromley) collected many samples of foreign sand and rocks during her travels.

Shannon also has an extensive collection of fossils and larger rock we hope she will share with us at some time in the future. 

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Spring has sprung and Kelsi is adding new items to the Museum Mart. Stop in and check out some of the new gift items she has found made in Kansas.