 The
Nature of Art with Mark Manning and Friends will be presented for
the third time at the Turkey Creek Streamway Park in Merriam, Kansas.
On Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd, the public is invited
to stroll along the mile and a quarter path and view art in the very
setting that inspired it. |
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Accessible
Arts is proud to be counted among Mark Manning’s friends. A
watercolorist, Mark Manning developed his talent as he rehabilitated
from a spinal injury thirty six years ago that left him paralyzed
from the chest down. Using as his models the butterflies, birds
and flowers that literally live in his backyard along the Turkey
Creek Streamway Path, Mark has painted twenty five paintings that
will be exhibited in the show on trees and easels along the pathway. |
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The
City of Merriam continues to sponsor this event every other year,
but the show would not be possible without the help of Mark’s
large family. (He has 10 brothers and sisters.) The entire extended
family assists with setting up the show on Saturday morning. Then
they take all the artwork down for the evening before setting it
all up again the next morning. Mark’s nephew, Joseph Manning,
is a world class Irish Step Dancer who offers a number of performances
during the weekend. |
| Mark
first exhibited his work in the Merriam Community Center in 1998.
Visitors of the show commented that they recognized many of the locations
in the paintings and thought it would be pleasant to view the painting
on the actual site where they were painted. Two years later with the
City of Merriam as a major sponsor, Mark presented the first Nature
of Art on the Turkey Creek Streamway Path. |
| Mark
has developed the art show into an event for all families. Young and
old alike can come and enjoy not only the art but music and inexpensive
refreshments as well. There will even be a demonstration of wild birds
from the Ernie Miller Nature Center. Accessible Arts will be participating
for the second time with a hands-on activity of building bird houses
donated by Home Depot and a large loom to be woven with fabrics donated
by Cy Rudnick’s of Crown Center. |
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| Mark
Manning is a well-known Kansas City artist who has been featured in
newspapers and on television. This is the second year of his exhibits
along the pathway. The park is between 67th and 75th streets in Merriam,
Kansas. You will also have an opportunity to visit with Mark and several
artist friends. Mark will have more than 100 pieces of art based on
nature and scenes found on the parkway. His art, and that of his friends,
will be exhibited and on sale during the hours of the exhibit. There
will also be wonderful entertainment for your enjoyment. |
| Other
friends of Mark Manning who will be exhibiting art include Jim Hamil,
Crandall Vail, Mark Weber, Cindy Eaton and Diana Werts, to name a
few. Please come visit all of us on October 2nd and 3rd from 12:00
PM to 5:00 PM on the Turkey Creek Streamway Path at I-35 between 67th
and 75th streets. If you need directions, give us a call at Accessible
Arts, (913) 281-1133 or check out our web site at www.accessiblearts.org. |
Manning's
work and additional details about entertainment can also be viewed here:
Driving
directions: I-35 to 67th St. Exit. West on 67th Street over the railroad
tracks. Immediate left turn onto Knox. Park is on the right with parking
along the street. The full pathway is 2-3 miles long.
Or, from I-35, take the 75th Street Exit and go West to the first right,
Frontage Road. Turn right onto Frontage Road, then turn right at the next
corner. There is a small parking lot at the south end of the walkway