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Category: Public Art/Murals Galleries & Exhibits (Indoor)

Solidarity: Amazon Army Mural

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308 N Walnut St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-8110

Located inside the Pittsburg Public Library, this 10’x12′ mural features St. Barbara, the patron saint of coal miners, and a number of the wives, mothers and grandmothers of miners who organized marches on coal mines throughout Southeast Kansas, protesting working conditions.

Called the “Army of Amazons” by the New York Times, their efforts essentially shutdown some of the largest coal fields in the world at the time and even forced the Governor of Kansas to temporarily move his offices to Pittsburg’s historic Hotel Stilwell.

To learn more about the Amazon Army and the women that led them, be sure to visit other Crawford County attractions, including the Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, the Miners Memorial, located at 2nd and Pine in Pittsburg or the Crawford County Historical Museum, just west of Pittsburg on US-69.

This mural was commissioned by the Pittsburg Area Arts and Crafts Association and the Pittsburg Arts Council, and was painted by Wayne Wildcat.

Harry Krug Gallery

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202 E Cleveland Ave
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-4305
pittstate.edu/art/galleries-and-exhibitions.html

Juried artists are selected from portfolios representing all mediums in the University Gallery. Displayed contemporary art comes from the University Art Department faculty as well as contributors from all over the United States, local artists and from graduate students.

Fun Zone Depot Murals

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104 N Locust
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 719-8390
FunZoneDepot.com

Historic building includes decades old 140′ exterior painted sign. Murals inside include coal fired kiddy-sized train & logos honoring local schools.

Since the 1880’s, this building has been repurposed many times. These murals were chosen specifically to honor that heritage.

The kiddy-train is a nod to the building’s early years, when it employed 350 workers and was used as an iron works foundry, then later built rail cars.

For decades, an open floor plan was perfect for a local printer – Pittcraft – whose exterior sign remains on the west, road-side wall and continues to be touched up to look like new.

This small county once had more than 100 schools due to the number of mining camps. The school districts who were consolidated and survived are honored with murals of their school logos.

Father Emil Kapaun Memorial Mural

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301A E Cleveland Ave St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-1138

Memorial to a Catholic priest from Kansas who served as a U.S. Army Chaplain during Korean War and was awarded the Medal of Honor; captured while choosing to remain with wounded men rather than escape; spent seven months in prison camp ensuring others survival as he himself fell sick and died as a POW denied medical assistance. A memorial for Father Kapaun is also located at the PSU Veterans Memorial.

Learn more at https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/father-kapaun/

Birger Sandzén Landscapes Gallery

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E Lindburg St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-7000

Landscape paintings “Autumn Symphony” and “Wild Horse Creek” by Birger Sandzén’s decorate the entrance foyer of McCray Hall on the campus of Pittsburg State University.

Sven Birger Sandzén was born in Blidsberg, Sweden on February 5, 1871. He immigrated to Lindsborg, Kansas at the age of 23 to teach at Bethany College. He taught French, Swedish, German and Spanish until 1899 when he become the principal art instructor at Bethany.

A true Renaissance man, he was the tenor soloist with the Bethany Oratorio Society (1896-1901 and 1903-1905) and gave many recitals with his wife, Alfrida Leksell Sandzén, a talented pianist. Sandzén was an accomplished writer as well, contributing articles and folktales to Swedish-American newspapers for many years. As a professional artist, Sandzén produced oils, watercolors, and prints which now hang in homes, schools and galleries throughout the United States.

In the early twenties and thirties he exhibited extensively, including two exhibitions at the Babcock Galleries in New York. In addition to his Kansas landscapes, he is famous for his paintings of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Utah and the Southwest. Birger Sandzén died in Lindsborg, Kansas on June 19, 1954.

Beverly Corcoran Art Gallery

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503 N Pine St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-7827

Located inside Pittsburg’s Memorial Auditorium, the Beverly Corcoran Gallery is a jewel within a jewel, and features the work of local, area artists and exhibits on loan from other galleries.

Individual artists and school classrooms are welcome to display their art for prominent viewing. Exhibits by some of the areas most talented artists are ever-changing. Expertly lighted and designed the Beverly Corcoran Gallery gives any art lover a great experience.

Bicknell Gallery

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1711 S Homer St
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-4536
bicknellcenter.com

The gallery’s high ceilings, flexible lighting grid and nearly 3,500 square-feet of display and work space provide incredible opportunities for artists and patrons alike. This space provides special exhibitions and also includes work space for an artist-in-residence and the flexibility to showcase multiple exhibitions at once.