Salina Art Center's 'Departures' exhibition brings 23 artists' work on death, grief and remembrance; opening reception Nov. 6
Twenty-three artists, including four from Salina, have work in "Departures: The Art of Leaving this Place," an exhibition about death, dying, grief and remembrance in the Salina Art Center's South Gallery through Sunday, Nov. 22.
Many of the artists are from across Kansas, and others are from Montana, Massachusetts and Colorado, Misty Serene, the art center's executive director, said in an interview with Salina311 by email.
"Art can be a tremendous therapeutic tool, helping people explore and process the complicated emotions surrounding death, dying, grief, and remembrance," Serene said. "These are universal human experiences, yet we don't always create opportunities to talk openly about them."
An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., with tarot readers at the art center that evening, Serene said. The art center is also developing an "Art as Therapy" experience for Second Saturday, Nov. 14, exploring how creative expression can help people process emotions and experiences. The art center introduced the exhibition's themes in October with a free film screening and community discussion. All events are free and open to the public, she said.
The exhibition opened Oct. 21. The art center describes it as an exploration of "how we confront, commemorate, and create meaning around life's inevitable transitions," including aging, loss, spiritual renewal and ecological legacy. Each piece is displayed with the artist's own narrative describing the work's story or connection to the theme. The show includes drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, textiles, photography, performance, film and digital media, according to the art center.
Serene said the annual exhibition grows out of a longstanding partnership between the Death Care Collective and Heart Land Prairie Cemetery, which the art center describes as a prairie restoration burial site. "Sarah Crews began this project many years ago, and we're proud that these organizations have chosen to partner with the Salina Art Center to bring this meaningful exhibition to our community," she said.
Work was chosen through an open call that was open to artists of all ages working in any medium. Serene said the art center wanted to make the opportunity "as accessible and inclusive as possible, recognizing that experiences with death, grief, and remembrance are universal." Support for the exhibition and its related programming comes from a legacy gift created by Charlie Livingston through the Greater Salina Community Foundation, she said.
The art center also hosts the Death Care Collective's monthly Death Café gatherings, free, informal coffee gatherings for anyone who wants to talk about death, grief or preparing for the end of life, in its Wedel Financial Group Community Gallery. The gatherings have ended for 2026 and will resume in January, Serene said.
"We believe the Art Center should be a place where people can explore all aspects of the human experience, including those that can be difficult to discuss," she said.
Gallery admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, and private tours are available by request, Serene said. The galleries will be closed Saturday, Nov. 7, for a private event.
The Salina Art Center is at 242 S. Santa Fe Ave. Information is available at salinaartcenter.org or 785-827-1431.
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