Story by Joe Vinduska

The Shafer Art Gallery will unveil its next exhibit “Wendy Tan: A Hidden Kingdom” with a reception at 2 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Gallery, which will feature a short artist talk, comments by the director and light refreshments. Admission is free.

Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes said Tan’s work is a fascinating glimpse at the overlooked details of nature and the stories our imagination can tell about them.

“This family-friendly exhibition runs through the holiday season and we hope the community will take the opportunity to come and visit Wendy Tan’s beautiful and whimsical ants and other beasties,” he said. “Wendy takes a close look and discovers an otherworldly beauty.”

Tan said her works have been greatly influenced by nature and that she loves small flowers and plants, specifically dry and curly leaves.

“They are small but may still have unique values that are attractive,” she said. “For example, they own beautiful, detailed lines, textures, and forms; however, we easily ignore as we do not pay close attention to them. Only if we magnify them, their insignificant values appear to attract our attention.”

Tan has received numerous awards throughout her artistic career including the “Best of Show” Award from the Yosemite Museum Gallery, the “Best of Photographer” Award from Forum Magazine, the Cash/Merit Awards from The Municipal Arts Councils and the Art Study Tour Award in Switzerland. She has exhibited her work in prestigious galleries and museums nationally and internationally such as The Huntington (Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens) in San Marino, Calif., Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, Calif., Kings Arts Center in Hanford, Calif., Carnegie Art Center in Turlock, Calif., Gallery 5 at Gallery Row in Oakhurst, Calif., Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dannis, Mass., Wallowa Valley Arts Council in Joseph, Oregon, Mark Arts in Wichita, CityArts Art Gallery in Wichita, Wesleyan University Art Center in Salina, Hays Arts Councils in Hays and the Fine Art Asia in Hong Kong.

The Shafer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. For more information, contact Barnes at barnesd@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9342.