Take a look into one of first art museums west of Mississippi River: Mulvane Art Museum

As a century of sharing art concludes, the Mulvane Art Museum is renovating and moving forward into a second 100 years.

In January 1924, Mulvane presented its first art exhibit, museum director Connie Gibbons said. Since then, the museum has shown thousands of art pieces and had visitors from all over the world.

After renovations over the past nine months, the museum is set to reopen May 16 with a photography exhibit featuring portraits of Black women who influenced America. The exhibit is titled "I Dream a World."

Railway executive gave money to start Mulvane

Mulvane was one of the first art museums west of the Mississippi. Joab Mulvane was the president of multiple railway companies and donated a lump sum, so the museum could be built.

"Some of the things that they were doing then, I think it's really kind of interesting and exciting to think about those early days," Gibbons said. "I mean, if you think about it, this is 1924. It was still kind of a frontier town and the campus had maybe 13 buildings. There was a group of people that were really dedicated and committed to creating this cultural, connection with the rest of the world."

Unlike other art museums at the time, it was created using pieces from various people in the community instead of one person with a vast collection.

A space to foster change and memories

Over the past 100 years, many things have changed for Mulvane.

Artist and Washburn University alumna Barbara Waterman-Peters recalled meeting her husband, Larry, while an art student. She said she met him in an art class and didn't like him.

"If someone told me that it would have been 24 years later, that I was going to marry that guy, I would have laughed my head off," Waterman-Peters said.

As the couple matured, they got married and shared their own art in the Mulvane. Waterman-Peters had multiple paintings shown while Larry Peters worked with mixed media.

Another pinnacle moment for the Mulvane is when the Mulvane Art Fair became what it is known as today, lifetime board member Richard Ross said.

"I started the patron program for the art fair, and that has been really what's created the ongoing success of the art fair," Ross said. "I'm just very proud of that."

Mulvane Art Museum has featured groundbreaking exhibits

Some art comes and goes while other pieces remain in the art vault to be displayed time and again.

Gibbons said one of the biggest art exhibits the Mulvane hosted was the LEGO exhibit in 2011.

"I think it brought in the most people we've ever seen," Gibbons said. "Before that show ended, we probably saw 40,000 people come through, which is a lot for a small museum staff."

Another art exhibit Gibbons said was important for the Mulvane was the photography exhibit by Pulitzer Prize winner and former Topeka Capital-Journal photojournalist Brian Lanker.

Ross said his proudest moment was when the collection of photos was on display in 2020. It was briefly on display before the museum closed because of COVID.

"I've been involved in obtaining different pieces for the collection, which now has over 6,000 pieces," Ross said. "The one I'm most proud of is an exhibit of 75 portraits, 'I Dream a World.'"

What comes next for Mulvane Art Museum?

Gibbons said she hopes to see further diversity in artists and art mediums at Mulvane in the future.

"As I've been working on things, I've been thinking about what the museum look like in 100 years," Gibbons said. "What will they be talking about then and these works that we're adding to the collection today we're laying the foundation for the next generation of people."

Ross said he hopes to see more support for the Mulvane in the future.

"I hope that we get a better support system and community support," Ross said. "That would be great. I think I wish there were more Friends of the Museum."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Mulvane Art Museum is 100. What's next for Washburn University site?