Ascension
Current Exhibition
This photo is on display in Contemporary Visions of the West, a juried exhibition at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Daum is an exceptional museum and an important cultural resource for the region, boasting a distinguished permanent collection and a reputation for thoughtful, beautifully curated exhibitions. The museum has created a remarkable space for experiencing contemporary art, bringing artists, their work, and the public into meaningful conversation. I am particularly proud to have my work shown there. The exhibition brings together artists from across the country whose work explores the history, mythology, landscapes, and evolving identity of the American West through a contemporary lens.
Contemporary Visions of the West will be on view from August 12 to December 20, 2026.
I am especially grateful to Executive Director and Curator Garry Holstein, Administrative Assistant Allie Martin, and the staff and volunteers of the Daum for creating opportunities like this, as well as for their commitment to artists and meaningful engagement with contemporary art.
The exhibition shares a special connection with this year’s National Cattle Trails Conference, held in Sedalia from October 22 to 24. The conference celebrates the great cattle trails alongside the people, communities, and railroads that helped shape the West—including Sedalia’s historic role as a hub where cattle trails met railroad.
Please join us if you can for the Contemporary Visions of the West artist reception at the Daum on Friday, October 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
I am delighted to be part of an exhibition that brings contemporary art into conversation with the history of the American West, and with Sedalia’s own remarkable place in that story.
On August 15, I invited my favorite people to come up to see the Daum. They braved the hundred degree heat and the state fair traffic; they drove an hour and a half or more. Such wonderful friends! It was a fun gathering and crazy to see my photo in a museum.
This made me very happy.
Image courtesy of Diane Huneke
Diane said my photo was placed in a prominent area in the exhibition. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Other people said they liked my work better than anything else in the exhibition, but they are no doubt prejudiced. Of the 24 friends who came up to see the exhibition, I would guess that three-quarters of them didn’t previously know about the Daum, so now we have more Missourians and a couple of Iowans who know what a great museum it is. We strolled around and toured the museum and had a great time.
Photo courtesy of David Austin
Photo courtesy of David Austin
Photo courtesy of David Austin
19 Stayed for dinner and all seemed satisfied that the meal was very good.
Image courtesy of Mark Palmer
All in all, it went well. I have to say one more time, I am grateful to the museum for creating the exhibition, to Jeanette Small who insisted that I submit my work to this show, to my wonderful friends for celebrating with me.