Salina Community Art & Design Committee Summary
Week of July 23, 2026
Beloved 'Clarence' catfish sculpture restored following storm damage
City prepares call for artists to restore bronze public art
Fire Station No. 4 art project draws large community turnout
Festival 50 deemed a success despite storm evacuation
Festival print artist Jim Sherraden returns for Salina workshop
New printmaking work to debut at local First Friday event
Beloved 'Clarence' catfish sculpture restored following storm damage
SALINA, Kan. — A beloved public art piece named Clarence the Catfish was quickly restored after being crushed by a falling tree during a severe storm. A local resident donated a replacement wheel for the found-object sculpture, while artists Joe and Terry Malesky traveled to Salina to complete the restoration for a modest $800 fee. The updated sculpture, which now features a Kansas license plate donated by Salina Parks and Recreation employee Adam Breault, has been successfully returned to its location near the corner of South Street and Fourth Street outside Oakdale Park.
City prepares call for artists to restore bronze public art
SALINA, Kan. — The city is preparing a comprehensive package to solicit bids for the restoration of several bronze public art pieces, including Koko the Clown, the Watchdog, the soldier statues and plaques at the Oakdale Park north gate. The upcoming call for artists will require contractors to include the de-installation, transport and re-installation of the sculptures in their bids. Contractors will also be asked to provide itemized costs to help the committee prioritize the restorations, as repairing the soldier statues alone is estimated to cost between $7,000 and $8,000.
Fire Station No. 4 art project draws large community turnout
SALINA, Kan. — More than 100 community members are participating in the production of clay tiles for the upcoming identifier wall at Fire Station No. 4. An art camp enrolled 87 children to create the tiles, with an additional 34 family members signed up for a separate evening session. The tiles will eventually be fired and glazed at a local studio before being installed on the wall with custom lighting.
Festival 50 deemed a success despite storm evacuation
SALINA, Kan. — Organizers of the Smoky Hill River Festival reported a highly successful 50th anniversary celebration, highlighted by a popular interactive "Community Tangle" art installation and increased attendance resulting from a free Sunday admission. Although a severe storm forced an early shutdown on Saturday night, officials praised the swift and orderly evacuation. Organizers noted that intentional emergency planning protocols successfully guided attendees and artists to safety before dark.
Festival print artist Jim Sherraden returns for Salina workshop
SALINA, Kan. — Jim Sherraden, the artist behind the official Festival 50 print, is returning to Salina to host an artist talk and a collaborative print workshop. Sherraden will deliver a free public talk at the Salina Art Center on Friday, July 24, from noon to 1 p.m., followed by the community workshop on Sunday, July 26. His current exhibition at the art center, which features works inspired by the historic downtown United Building, will be taken down over the weekend.
New printmaking work to debut at local First Friday event
SALINA, Kan. — New printmaking artwork, created using recently acquired press equipment funded by a Salina Arts and Humanities Horizons Grant, will debut during Salina's upcoming First Friday events. The exhibition will be hosted at A Work in Progress downtown. First Friday events encourage residents to explore downtown Salina to view art, network and support local businesses.
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