Art Lovers Affair & Auction

Lindsborg Arts Council

February 7

Floral Design by Sue Peterson, from the 2024 Annual Art Lovers Affair & Auction

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lindsborg Arts Council at their 32nd annual Art Lovers Affair & Auction! In addition to the silent and live auction of one-of-a-kind pieces donated by local artists and businesses, the Lindsborg Arts Council will also be celebrating the 2026 Artist of the Year: Bill and Beth Olson.

The evening will feature a buffet of appetizers and desserts, light entertainment, and a diverse arts auction including both live and silent offerings. Tickets are $30 per person and may be purchased in advance on the Lindsborg Arts Council websiteor at the door while supplies last.

Bill and Beth Olson are honored for their significant, lifelong commitment to the Lindsborg community, both individually and as a couple. Their decades of volunteer service, leadership, and artistic contribution have touched nearly every corner of the local arts scene. Read all about the Olson's and their contributions to the Lindsborg art scene in the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Prepare to be inspired and entertained at the council's largest fundraiser for high school arts-related scholarships and community grants. Doors to the J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center, 102 N. Main Street, open at 6:30pm! Watch for updates and photos of artwork donations on the LAC Facebook page and on the LAC website.

128th Annual Midwest Art Exhibition

Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery

January 26-April 19

Five exhibitions comprise the 128th annual Midwest Art Exhibition, which opens at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on January 25 and continues through April 19.

The shows include paintings by Tim Stone and prints by Marco Hernandez, both of Wichita; woodcarvings by Glenn Knak of Salina; mixed media pieces by Genevieve Waller of Denver; and selections by Gretchen Elliott’s art students at Smoky Valley High School. The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Saturday, February 7, from 2:00-4:00pm, with guest artists' talks beginning at 2:30pm.

The Midwest Art Exhibition was founded in 1899 by three local Lindsborg artists – Birger Sandzén, Carl Lotave, and G. N. Malm – as a complement to the annual Messiah Festival held at Bethany College. Today, it represents the longest running annual art exhibition in Kansas and features works by artists invited by the Sandzén Gallery or from the Gallery's permanent collection.

The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located at 401 N. First Street. Hours are 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday, and 1:00-5:00pm on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Docent guided tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment. For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions click here or phone (785) 227-2220.

Retrospective: Rose Marie Wallen

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center

January 30-March 1

A retrospective of artist Rose Marie Wallen will fill the Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center January 30-March 1. The exhibition, Been Around the Block: Prints et cetera from my 75 years, will have an artist reception, 2:00-4:00pm on Sunday, February 1.

Known primarily for printmaking, Wallen also works in painting, photography, and occasionally jewelry or stained glass.

For the exhibition, she has selected a sampling from her 93 editions as well as the Christmas card collection that she has produced every year since age nine. Wallen is drawn to the strong impact of block print images and because of the detail required, she makes linoleum cuts more often than woodcuts. For her other work, she is attracted to wildlife and landscapes, usually local scenes.

Wallen participates in the Christmas Artists’ Studio Open House and the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery’s Holiday Gift Show each year and donates her work to the Art Lover’s Affair and Auction for the Lindsborg Arts Council. Wallen has also been a docent at the Sandzén Gallery for 25 years. Some of her other interests include archeology, Mexican culture, historic preservation, environmental issues, and travel. Read more about Wallen in the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, a volunteer-run organization, is located at 114 1/2 S. Main Street. Business hours are Friday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. SVAFC is supported by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, the McPherson County Community Foundation, and the Raymer Society.

Karla Prickett, Artist-in-Residence

Red Barn Studio Museum

Februrary 3-11

Salina artist and visual arts consultant Karla Prickett will return as the Artist-in-Residence at the Red Barn Studio Museum, February 3-11. During her residency, Prickett will develop new works of art while organizing and preparing for a exhibition in 2026.

Of her practice, Prickett says that, "For the past four years I've been engaged in a Zoom Studio with a group of (practicing) artists and teaching artists (Art Yard Brooklyn), Brooklyn, NY. This exchange has proven a learning experience which pairs an immediate visual response with my own studio processes which are more tedious and complex. I have come to refer to this dichotomy in conceptualizing as "My Two Studios." I will be displaying collage works from both processes and working predominantly in collage during the residency."

Visitors to the Red Barn Studio will have the opportunity to witness the early stages of Prickett's collage techniques, glimpse into her personal style of expression, and gain insight into her creative process.

The Red Barn Studio Museum, located at 212 S. Main Street, is open Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm and 1:00-5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit redbarnstudio.org.

Galentine Walk

February 13

Grab your gal pals for a night of fun, food, and shopping in downtown Lindsborg!

February 13, 4:00-7:00pm, participating downtown businesses will have:

• Make & takes
• Give-a-ways
• Drawings
• Photo ops and more!

Grab a coffee and walk the red bricks of downtown Lindsborg for an enjoyable evening with your besties. Check the Facebook Event for a full listing of activities by clicking here.

Lisa Riley, Artist-in-Residence

Red Barn Studio Museum

February 14-26

The Red Barn Studio Museum welcomes Lisa Riley, a fiber artist from Wichita, as the Artist-in-Residence February 14-26.

Riley will spend the majority of her residency focused on fiber-based work, creating clothing and accessories from handwoven fabrics made on her rigid heddle loom.

Throughout her stay, Riley will have a loom set up for an ongoing community Saori weaving project. Visitors are invited to weave a few rows into a shared textile using provided materials such as fabric scraps, yarn, and found objects, or bring their own. The project follows Saori weaving principles that encourage experimentation, individuality, and community participation. Her hope is to spark curiosity: to invite others to see the possibilities hidden in familiar materials, and to appreciate the wonder of making something entirely new with our own hands. “I am curious—both about how people will respond and about what we will create together. The unknown outcome feels alive with possibility.” Rilley says.

While fiber work will be the focus of her residency, Riley will also move between different projects and materials, working in a way that mirrors Lester Raymer’s own approach to making. Read more about Riley's work by going to the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Visitors are encouraged to stop in, observe the process, and take part in the weaving project.

The Red Barn Studio Museum, located at 212 S. Main Street, is open Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm and 1:00-5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit redbarnstudio.org.

Lindsborg Cultural Crawl

Ends February 7

Catch the last week of the Lindsborg Cultural Crawl. Ending February 7, residents and visitors alike are invited to pick up a Lindsborg Cultural Crawl Passport at participating organizations and stamp their way into a drawing for one cash prize of $250, two cash prizes of $150 each, and a children's gift basket worth $250.

The Cultural Crawl showcases six prominent organizations, encouraging participants to learn, explore, and engage with local nonprofits and cultural activities. The more stamps you collect in your passport, the more chances you have to win a prize! Get all the details and rules by clicking here for the Visit Lindsborg blog.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore and support your local cultural organizations. The Lindsborg Cultural Crawl is your chance to discover the treasures in our community and win exciting prizes, the greatest prize is avaiable for all: the world that opens as you explore artists, history, and more in Little Sweden, USA!

Participating organizations: Red Barn Studio Museum, Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center, Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum, Lindsborg Community Library, and the Lindsborg Arts Council. Hours for these venues vary so be sure to visit their websites for that infomation. 

American Legion Auxiliary is hosting their 4th Annual

Ugly Dress Ball on February 21. This year's theme is The Backwoods Ball. Tickets must be purchased ahead of the event for those 21+ years.

February 21

Learn about the Lindsborg Community Library Building Project! Phase 1 is complete and currently, the library is fundraising for phase 2. An informal presentation with the Director will be held at 11:30am. January 31

An event sponsored by Lindsborg Recreation Department, Ties & Tiaras is an evening of music, dancing, and fun with your children! February 28.

Registeration required.

Returning in April, keep checking the Visit Lindsborg calendar of events and Facebook page for the details on this exciting event.

While you're waiting, get those creative juices flowing!

Catch Jim Richardson's exhibition, Legacies, at Small World Gallery during business hours. Reflections on the wide range of subjects he has covered, both here and around the world, for National Geographic Magazine. 

Revel in hot waffles, waffle sandwiches, waffle desserts and more during this annual celebration of spring.

Low key and slightly offbeat, Lindsborg Våffeldagen enjoys serving up family fun.