- Sections :
- More
October 5, 2026
Museum News
There is something new to discover at the Hansen Museum this October as we welcome Kristin Johnson, owner and operator of Praisin’ Art of Hoxie, Kansas, as our October Artist of the Month.
Kristin is a talented artist who works in multiple mediums, but her business, Praisin’ Art, focuses primarily on the unique art of transforming gourds into beautiful decorative and functional pieces. Her Artist of the Month display showcases the incredible variety that can be created from this humble natural material. Visitors will find everything from jewelry and buttons to vases, bowls, and crosses—lots of crosses!
Kristin grows many of the gourds she uses herself at her home in Hoxie. Once they are ready to become works of art, she uses a wood burner to create intricate designs on their surfaces and then incorporates other mediums to add color, texture, and personality. Alcohol inks and a crackle medium are two of the primary embellishments featured in the pieces currently on display.
For Kristin, however, creating gourd art is about more than the finished product. Her faith is an important part of her creative process and the inspiration behind Praisin’ Art. In Kristin’s own words:
“When a scripture hits me hard, my impulse is to find a gourd and wood burn! What a privilege it is to work with one of God's most interesting creations.”
Kristin’s work is a wonderful example of how an artist can take something found in nature and, with a little imagination and a great deal of skill, transform it into something completely unexpected. We invite you to stop by during October, take a closer look at her creations, and perhaps find a favorite to take home with you.
Of course, Kristin’s artwork wasn’t the only thing bringing activity to the Museum this past week. Field trip season continued with visits from Hands of Heartland of McCook, Nebraska, Northern Valley’s PreK–3rd grade students, and Osborne’s kindergarten and first-grade classes.
There is something especially fun about watching a group of students enter Going Places for the first time. With so many buttons to push, challenges to try, and interactive components to explore, it doesn’t take long for curiosity to take over! Our visitors had loads of fun discovering some of the science, technology, and logistics behind transportation while learning through hands-on play.
To give students plenty of room and time to explore, we typically divide our larger field trip groups in half. While one group remains at the Museum to experience Going Places, the other heads across the street to the Logan Library for an exhibition-related activity. Halfway through the visit, the groups switch, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy both experiences.
And the field trip fun isn’t over yet. We are looking forward to welcoming more students through our doors this week and introducing another round of young explorers to Going Places.
You don’t have to be part of a field trip to enjoy Going Places! Visitors of all ages are invited to experience this hands-on transportation exhibition and explore the science and technology behind how we travel by land, sea, and air. From navigating a land yacht to testing your skills on a variety of interactive challenges, there is plenty to discover—and plenty of fun to be had—at the Hansen Museum.
The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.; and Sunday and holidays from 1 to 5 p.m. The Museum is handicapped accessible, and admission is always free courtesy of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For additional information, please call 785-689-4846 or visit www.hansenmuseum.org. We hope to see YOU at the Museum soon!
