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This past Saturday's "Meet the Artist" reception was a tremendous success. Humble, personable, engaging, and undeniably talented, Thomas Zimmerman, the artist behind our current exhibition Kansas From 400’ or Less, captivated guests with his stories and insights. Zimmerman personally interacted with attendees, sharing the fascinating details of his work.
One of the most exciting aspects of the event was hearing about his aerial pursuits and learning how he operated his drone to capture such stunning photographs. Zimmerman embarked on an impressive journey to create Kansas From 400’ or Less, completing 342 flights over a span of time. During these flights, he traveled a total of 159 miles and logged 57 hours in the air. However, the project was not without its challenges. Zimmerman recorded 112 failed photos, and encountered three crashes, including one dramatic incident where his drone was completely submerged in water, requiring repairs from the manufacturer.
An especially intriguing part of Zimmerman’s talk was learning about the unpredictability of his process. He had no way of knowing if a photograph had turned out well until he returned to his digital darkroom. Zimmerman also delved into the technical aspects of drone photography, explaining the importance of shutter speeds and how essential it was to keep the drone completely still while taking multiple photos at a particular shutter speed. Considering the challenges of flying a drone against Kansas’s winds, attendees gained a newfound appreciation for the level of skill required to capture these incredible images. Zimmerman also shared his editing process, noting that he takes multiple photos of the same scene to properly expose different areas. Creating these images is far more complex than simply pointing and clicking.
In other news, the dance class is officially underway. This year’s beginner group is so large that instructor Kerry Ferguson had to line up the dancers east to west in the Logan City Building, a testament to the high level of interest. The first lesson focused on basic footwork for the two-step and four-count swing. After an hour, the intermediate class began, where students were introduced to new patterns and turns, adding flair and fun to their swing. The advanced class wrapped up the day with a focus on the cha-cha, learning open and closed swivels, working on turns in the triple-time East Coast Swing, and reviewing the West Coast Swing. The ultimate goal is to help dancers transition smoothly from the East Coast to the West Coast Swing. It was a fantastic start to the course, and we’re excited to see how much progress all the classes make over the next six weeks.
Kansas From 400’ or Less will remain on view through January 26, 2024. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. We are closed on New Year’s Day. The museum is handicap accessible, and admission is always free, thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us at 785-689-4846. We hope to see you at the museum.
