Submitted By CHANDLER REICHExecutive Director of Hays Arts Council
The Hays Arts Council invites the public to experience By Seed & Spirit, a new exhibition featuring the work of Fort Hays State University alumni Taylor Wiens and Justin Miller.
The exhibition opens Thursday, July 30, at the Hays Arts Council Annex Gallery, 1010 Main Street, and will remain on view through September 5. Although separated by more than 25 years as FHSU graduates—Miller earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2000 and Wiens completing her Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 2026—the two artists share a deep appreciation for the people, places, and values that define life across the Great Plains.
Raised on a multi-generational family farm in Nebraska, Wiens creates ceramic works inspired by rural landscapes, family history, and agricultural traditions. Miller, a western Kansas printmaker and educator, explores themes of faith, hope, and spiritual discovery through images of saints, birds, and biblical symbolism.
Together, their work reflects the enduring relationship between land and faith in the Midwest. From the rhythms of planting and harvest to seasons of drought and renewal, By Seed &Spirit invites visitors to consider how perseverance, tradition, and hope continue to shape rural communities.
A public reception with both artists will be held during the Hays Arts Council's Fall Art Walk on Friday, August 28, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.
By Seed & Spirit will be one of the final exhibitions presented at the Hays Arts Council Annex Gallery before the temporary location closes mid-September as the organization enters Phase II of its downtown renovation project. The Hays Arts Council will continue to offer programs and exhibitions throughout the renovation, including the Five State Photography Competition & Exhibition, which will open during Winter Art Walk on December 5 at the Schmidt Gallery inside Hays Public Library.
Admission to the exhibition is free. For hours and more information, visit www.haysartscouncil.org or call the Hays Arts Council at 785-625-7522