Published January 4, 2021
From Jan. 14 through Feb. 28, Dodge City Community College (DC3) will be one of only six Kansas locations to host “The Art of Voting” pop-up exhibition. Based on an original exhibition created by the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, the display is designed to inform Kansans about the history of electoral engagement and the right to vote.
“The Art of Voting” exhibit explores the last 150 years of the American vote, beginning with the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870 that made it illegal to deny U.S. citizens the right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” And a companion brochure to the exhibition explores the landmarks of voting legislation, including the 19th Amendment, the Indian Citizenship Act, and the Voting Rights Act.
“The exhibit will be displayed outside, near the south doors of the library,” DC3 LRC/Library Director, Holly Mercer, said. “This location has a sidewalk as well as a lawn area, and the display will be staked into the lawn near the sidewalk. This will also allow viewers to walk along the sidewalk and see the exhibit.”
Mercer said that an outdoor exhibit will work well at DC3 for a couple of reasons: It will help ensure proper social distancing during the continuing pandemic, and it also will be visible to campus visitors from the Lake Charles parking lot.
In addition to DC3, the pop-up exhibition also will be on display at the following locations: Abilene Public Library, McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation, Coronado-Quivira Museum in Lyons, Sharon Springs Public Library, and the Wyandotte County Museum in Kansas City.
For more information about “The Art of Voting” in Dodge City, contact Mercer at (620) 227-9287, or visit the library’s website at sites.google.com/dc3.edu/library/home.
“The Art of Voting” is presented by Humanities Kansas as part of the “Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” initiative, which is administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
About Humanities Kansas: Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, their pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with their partners and supporters, they inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. humanitieskansas.org
By Lance ZieschDC3 Media Specialist