Straight Arrow, works by Marc Bosworth

Straight Arrow – Marc Bosworth @ Gallery One Nine
Greteman Group’s own Marc Bosworth introduces multi-layered works that take on themes such as role models and gender stereotypes. In his works you can find references to such styles as abstract expressionism and pop art.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
@ Gallery One Nine
125 N Market St, Wichita, KS (18th Floor)

Judith French Millard – In Memoriam @ Gallery XII
A long time member of Gallery XII, the venue, her friends and husband will being paying tribute to her art in a memorial showing this Final Friday. Judith was a Kansas native, WSU Grad and an award winning artist in oils and pastels.

6:00pm
@ Gallery XII
412 E Douglas Av, Wichita, KS

Negative – Ryan Moran
Artists at Old Town will be presenting works by innovative artist Ryan Moran. Created using a unique technique, he begins by stapling several layers of paper together, and then cuts away layers to create his pieces.

6:30pm
@ Artists At Old Town
412 E Douglas Suite C, Wichita, KS

Reminiscing – Karen Scroggins and Trinity McKown @ Riney Fine Arts Center
A mother and daughter collaboration, this exhibit features mixed media works produced by Scroggins solo, with additional works in which she is joined by her six year old daughter.

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
@ Riney Fine Arts Center – Friends University
2100 W University St, Wichita, KS

Paintings by Elly Fitzig, Elizabeth Rowley and Hugo Zelda-Romero @ Bob Schwan Studios
A painting exhibit by three talented, local painters.

6:00pm
@ Bob Schwan Studios
111 S Ellis St, Wichita, KS

Cre•a•tiv•ty
Planning for CREATIVITY began with the announcement that USD 259’s art departments were at risk for severe budget cuts. It was organized to raise awareness for the arts, as well as a fund-raiser attempt for the art department.

6:00pm
@ The Diver Studio
424 S Commerce, Wichita, KS

I am a Kansan, born and raised. I grew up in Augusta, a community of 9,000 located about 25 minutes east of Wichita. I proudly attended the University of Kansas – Go Jayhawks! – and came home each summer while I interned at Bombardier Learjet. I loved coming home during breaks, but I was dead-set against moving back to Wichita after graduation.

So I moved to Dallas. I went to work for Bombardier Flexjet where I had an amazing experience as a marketing coordinator, planning unique events for high-networth individuals. I loved living in the big city with food, shopping and all the entertainment one could ask for. But it also took me 30 minutes to drive about 8 miles, my husband and I couldn’t come close to affording a house and it certainly wasn’t as friendly as I was accustomed to – it was a crapshoot whether or not people would even respond when you said, “hello!”

When my husband received a job offer that would move us back to Wichita, I honestly thought he was crazy. We were living an urban lifestyle. I had a great job. And it definitely felt much cooler saying we lived in Dallas rather than Wichita.

I was wrong. Moving back to Wichita is the best step we could have made both professionally and personally. We’ve each had tremendous career opportunities, established community connections and fostered some incredible friendships. It may not be the “big” city, but Wichita offers us the kind of life we could never have had living in Dallas.

I found out this morning that I was selected as a Wichita Business Journal 2008 40 Under 40 honoree. Recognition such as this provides encouragement and added motivation to get involved. To make a difference. To stay in Wichita.

We all know that workforce development and retention of talent are key issues facing our community. I wouldn’t trade my experiences in Dallas, but I know what that starry-eyed 22-year-old had yet to learn. There’s no place like home.

So to all you hip, young individuals living the life in Wichita: why do you like it here?