Museum News (November 3, 2025)

The Hansen Museum is thrilled to present Morris Engle’s I Love a Piano III: From the Spotlight to the Silver Screen on Sunday, November 9, at 3:00 p.m. in the Hansen Museum Community Room. This year’s concert features beloved songs that first lit up Broadway before finding new life on the silver screen, including timeless favorites such as Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, The Pink Panther Theme, Over the Rainbow, and Beauty and the Beast. With his signature touch, engaging performance style, and insightful commentary, Morris Engle brings each piece to life, leaving audiences smiling and reminiscing long after the final note.

The Hansen Museum is also delighted with the enthusiastic response to its inaugural Open Call Christmas Quilt Exhibition. To date, the Museum has received 30 beautiful submissions, including table runners, wall hangings, Christmas tree skirts, and quilts—each showcasing remarkable creativity and craftsmanship. Due to scheduling conflicts, the submission deadline has been extended to Sunday, November 16, 2025. All entrants will be notified of their display status by November 20 via email. This juried exhibition welcomes both Christmas- and winter-themed works, with generous prizes available. To enter, visit www.hansenmuseum.org and click on the Exhibit tab. Those who are not tech-savvy or who would like assistance submitting their entries may contact the Museum at 785-689-4846 for help.

The Museum is honored to feature the remarkable work of Sondra Jonson in its current exhibition, From Miniatures to Monuments. A Nebraska-based sculptor known for her emotionally resonant and finely detailed works, Jonson brings history and humanity to life through bronze and clay. Her art spans intimate tabletop pieces to large-scale public monuments, each infused with storytelling and a deep reverence for her subjects.

A highlight of the exhibition is “Going Home,” an 11-foot-tall bronze monument originally installed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The City of Sioux Falls commissioned the piece to honor hometown hero Green Beret Robb L. Rolfing, who was killed in action in Iraq. In this moving work, Jonson depicts an angelic figure carrying the fallen soldier triumphantly to Heaven. The two figures rise together, buoyed by a flowing American flag that drifts on a bank of white clouds—a powerful symbol of life beyond life and love beyond love, representing the eternal journey of one who has laid down his life for his country.

The sculpture on view in the Hansen Museum gallery is not the full-sized monument, but rather a four-foot bronze study Jonson created while designing the original piece. Themes of American pride, service, and sacrifice resonate throughout her work, making November—the month we honor our veterans—a particularly meaningful time to showcase these tributes to courage and devotion.

Make plans to visit the Hansen Museum soon to experience the exceptional artwork of Sondra Jonson. Stay up to date with Museum news and events by following the Hansen Museum on Facebook. The Museum is located at 110 W. Main Street in Logan, Kansas. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00; Saturday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00; Sunday and holidays, 1:00 to 5:00. The Museum is fully handicap accessible, and thanks to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, admission is always free. For more information, call 785-689-4846. We hope to see you at the Museum soon.