Kansas Women’s Mural-Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Meeting to discuss the new Kansas Women’s Mural, Saturday, March 8th at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
February 14, 2014
Topeka, KS – Artist Ashley Laird will lead an informational meeting and discussion about a new Kansas Women’s Mural for the Great Mural Wall of Topeka. The meeting will be at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Saturday, March 8th at 2:00pm. Laird, the lead artist for the project, will give a presentation about her previous work and the community-based process she uses to create murals. Following her presentation, the group will be asked to give input and ideas about the history, accomplishments and current issues facing women in Kansas. The meeting is open to the public, all ages, and no art experience is necessary.
The Kansas Women’s Mural will be the eighth panel created for the Great Mural Wall, a project facilitated by the Chesney Park Neighborhood Improvement Association to celebrate a People’s History and Vision for Topeka. The Women’s Mural project will begin in March with community meetings and design workshops. Painting will start in late April. A dedication is planned for late May. Previous panels on the wall have focused on community leader Grant Cushinberry, Central Park, the Kansas Free Fair, Brown v. Board, the Elmhurst Neighborhood, Endangered animals of the region and the local arts scene.
Ashley Laird is a muralist and studio artist based in Lawrence, Kansas. After graduating from Washburn University with a BFA in 2011, she has worked on numerous public projects including murals in Joplin, MO; Arkadelphia, AR; Waco, TX; Queens, NY; Songdo, South Korea and Sioux Falls, SD. In 2012, Laird was honored with the Arts Advocate Award from the Topeka YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment.
The Great Mural Wall is located just west of the Kansas Expocentre on the retaining wall of the Topeka Water Division at 20th and Western.
Media Contact:
Ashley Laird
ashleyjanelaird 