During the installation of Convergence, as each new piece arrived, I kept thinking, “Man—people are going to love this show!” And they did. A lot.
Some of our earlier visitors included YMCA’s Camp Hammond, Richard Pitts’ Wonder Workshop, and a local community center. Midway we had Brewster Place, librarians from Drones and Bonner Springs Public Libraries, several area church groups, and just yesterday, Laura Dalrymple’s art appreciation classes from Allen County Community College.
7,323 people saw this exhibit and as the weeks and conversations came and went, I started to get a sense of why I think it was so popular.
Like a lot of people these days, my life is tailored to my individual needs, from my Gmail home page and news outlets, to pizza toppings and my 24-hour gym. As much as I enjoy the ease of having the world revolve around me, it’s made my entire existence, at times, myopic.
I don’t think I’m alone in this, which is why it was unifying to see, literally, thousands of strangers from all walks of life find common ground at Convergence. We’ll debate Bill Self v. Frank Martin and FOX v. MSN until the cows come home, but we Kansans know a solitary barn, summer grass burning and a peaceful back country road when we see one. We agree on something.
Convergence closes tonight at 9 PM. If you missed it, you can still visit online here. Thanks to everyone, including our wonderful artists Jim Brothers, Dan Coburn and Louis Copt, for making this show the third most attended* exhibit since we reopened as the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery in 2003.
*First place goes to Marc Brown’s Arthur (c. 13,000), and the silver goes to Ray Howlett’s Dichroic Glass Sculpture (c. 8,000).
FROM THE GUESTBOOK
Impressed with your gallery and library!
Terry S. / Lexington KY
Love this gallery.
Teresa S.
Fun show!
Jason N.
A nice collection of multimedia works…
Matthew D. / Seattle WA
It’s nice to see the work of local artists.
Emily R. / Seattle WA
Beautiful fires. Disturbing mental health exhibit.
Melissa R. / Topeka KS
Very nice!! I enjoyed it very much!
Eleanor V. / Richmond VA
Great job. Wonderful work.
Laura D. / Topeka KS
Very interesting work—enjoyed seeing this.
Virginia E. / Topeka KS
DANIEL!
Rob Y.
God-like.
Name and address withheld
Beautiful—especially the war memorials.
Reanna R. / Topeka KS
I loved the paintings.
Taryn W. / Berryton KS
Thanks TSCPL!
Rick B.
Very nice exhibit!
Malinda P. / Topeka KS
This is the neatest collection ever!
Sara W.
Loved it!
R. S.
Wonderful collection!
Nicole P. / Topeka KS
Enjoyed 
June J / Topeka KS
Dan—Great Show. “Armanda” is a “killer” image!
Dave H. / Topeka KS
Show was AMAZING!
Christina H.
I agree—amazing—looks like you can step into the frames. Metalwork great too.
Cindy O.
Thought the faces that light up in different psyches was weird, unnatural and inappropriate for a family centered library.
Name and address withheld
Love it!
Shannon A. / Topeka KS
Very good.
Elly
Unbelieveable—art—in all its forms—explains so much to us.
J. H.
Wow. So creative and beautiful.
Name and address withheld
The modern day sculpture caught human life well. We try and get to the top and once we get there we just sit there.
K. H.
Just plain awesome!! I used to work with Dan. He does great work whatever the medium. B&W is awesome!
Name and address withheld
Great.
Mike S.
One of your best!!
J. P.
Really enjoyed the black and white photos by Coburn!
Terri S.
I loved the exhibit!
Carol C. / Topeka KS
I have a showing at the Aaron Douglas Art Fair and at the Uptown Gallery.
Toni T. / Topeka KS
Awesome! Thanks for the exhibit! (Much better than Girl Culture).
Rebecca P. / Topeka KS
Like it. Kinda creepy.
Name and address withheld
I grew up with TSCPL, and love coming back to visit. It’s an extraordinary library!
Karl S.
Thank you for immersing us in refreshing Kansas experience after escaping from Arizona.
Rita A. / Topeka KS
Enjoyed the exhibit—lots of fires but they were all different.
Emily W.
Awesome.
Name and address withheld
Ambient quiet. Farm. Dangerous. Thank you.
Gray / Topeka KS
Thank you. My favorites: Coburn’s “Armada”, Brothers’ “Bradley abd Copt’s “Ode to Marti”.
Name and address withheld
Art is cool.
Catherine C. / Centennial CO
Finally—something of value to see—Jim Brothers is excellent!
Name and address withheld
I love the sculptures.
Lola E.
Quilting or mixed media.
Lettie K. / Topeka KS
Thank you!
Olivia & Taj D.
Great!
Gary M. / Topeka KS
Wonderful!
Max Y. / Topeka KS
The art is beautiful!
Yessica M. / Topeka KS
Glad you’re here!
Kolene D. / Lawrence KS
Very good.
Rod K. / Pomona KS
Absolutely amazing. It was great to be able to meet and greet the artists as well. Thank you!
Kate W.
LOVE Mr. Coburn’s photos!!
Phyllis H.
Daniel Coburn’s photos give me chills they’re so beautiful.
Mary R. / Topeka KS
COOL.
Zachary L.
Wonderful! Thank you, my kiddos and I loved looking at the works together!
Lizette D.
Don’t put the nudes right at the front door—it made me turn away and then I came back—the best is in the back!
Name and address withheld
It was good.
Melissa S.
I truly appreciated the art! The photographs are stunning!
Carol M.
Sherry—thanks for showing us this wonderful exhibit! What a very unique combination of art—loved it!
Diane H.
This is the most exquisite show!!
Jeanne H.
Wonderful exhibit.
Naomi I. / Brighton MA
Dan Coburn—loved the exhibit regarding mental treatment for depression. Nothing really works well and/or they all work the same. Jim Brothers—Awesome sculptures presented here. Enjoyed story about the buffalo hair on the Library’s website. My favorite was endangered species, “American Farmer”.
Norma J., RN