Submitted
“Buffalo in Denim,” a unique work of art by renowned Hays sculptor Pete Felten, will be on display Friday at the Ellis County Historical Society’s renovated gallery at 100 W. Seventh.
Felten, famous for his stone sculptures, completed his work of art of a buffalo covered in blue denim in the summer 1978.
It will appear to the public in his hometown for the first time in a long time during a Chamber in Hays event. The 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony will recognize the successful completion of the historical society’s brick-by-brick fundraising campaign.
Felten’s denim buffalo was created for an event at the Hays Public Library and later relocated to a school in Dodge City, then to a restaurant in Dodge City. The restaurant recently changed owners, and the buffalo was going to be thrown away before it was rescued and moved back to Hays earlier this month.
Regular summer hours start Friday for the gallery, which is opening for the first time since the major renovation. Those hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The buffalo will be joined on display Friday by a traveling exhibit from Smoky Hill Museum, “A Place to Call Home,” which features a replica of a covered wagon. The gallery also will be open Friday evening as part of the Hays Arts Council’s annual summer gallery walk.