Here's what you'll see at the reopened Salina Art Center — and it starts with a big sign

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·3 min read

After years of fundraising and months of renovations, the Salina Art Center celebrated its grand reopening Wednesday.

The art center was joined by dozens of community members at 11 a.m. Wednesday for a ribbon cutting hosted by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce for this official reopening of its main 242 S. Santa Fe Ave. location in downtown Salina.

Misty Serene, executive director for the center, said she was excited to see so many people come to the celebration, noting that most of the people there had a part in making this renovation a reality.

"The (Salina) Art Center is something this community has believed in, starting all the back to 1978," Serene said. "We would not be here without our members, our community and the people who donated over $1 million to bring this project to life."

The Salina Art Center's new sign incorporates the front window and large metal letters painted by Eric Montoy, a local artist. The center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.
The Salina Art Center's new sign incorporates the front window and large metal letters painted by Eric Montoy, a local artist. The center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.

What's new at the reopened Salina Art Center?

Serene said the idea to renovate and update the art center came after its board of trustees saw how the rest of downtown Salina was being revitalized.

"They knew we had to do something to sort of keep pace with everything that was happening in downtown Salina," Serene said. "We had to be ready to hold our spot as one of the cornerstones of our downtown corridor."

In addition to a refreshed look inside building, with places like the main gallery sectioned off more, the center has added a brand new feature to explore another aspect of the arts community with the JRI Kitchen, designed to teach, display and enjoy the culinary arts.

Part of the renovations to the Salina Art Center includes the addition of the JRI Kitchen, which will incorporate the culinary arts. The art center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.
Part of the renovations to the Salina Art Center includes the addition of the JRI Kitchen, which will incorporate the culinary arts. The art center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.

Finally, it wasn't just the interior that got a new look, but the outside now has a feature that the Salina Art Center has been missing since it originally opened — a sign.

"It's actually funny, we didn't have a sign before, so you kind of just had to know we were here," Serene said.

The new sign incorporates the windows of the building, which feature the words "Salina" and "Center" surrounding large metal letters mounted onto concrete the spell out "art," which were painted by Eric Montoy, a local artist.

Serene said Montoy is the first of possibly several to paint these letters, but she wasn't sure who or when the next artist might be next.

"We don't know how long the paint will last, it could months or even years depending on things like the weather," Serene said.

Community members who came to the Salina Art Center's reopening celebration also took a look at the "Mountain Plains," the Salina Biennial exhibit. The art center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.
Community members who came to the Salina Art Center's reopening celebration also took a look at the "Mountain Plains," the Salina Biennial exhibit. The art center reopened Wednesday after renovating and updating its building.

New exhibit helping with Salina Art Center reopening

The art center reopened full of art, with the fourth Salina Biennial exhibit, "Mountain Plains," already on display.

The center's website said this exhibit features more than 60 artists from the "Mountain Plains" region, to balance "the traditions and history of our region with a larger, global contemporary practice."

The opening reception for the exhibit will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the center, in its first official event after Wednesday's reopening.

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When is the Salina Art Center open for visitors?

To see the renovations of the center or this new exhibit itself, visit the Salina Art Center. The gallery, which is free to the public, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays or by appointment on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For more information about the Salina Art Center, including a calendar of events, programming and more, visit its website, www.salinaartcenter.org, call 785-827-1431 or email info@salinaartcenter.org.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Art Center celebrates reopening after months of renovations