Painting donated to Cowley College to be displayed at Sumner Campus
Pictured with the painting are, from left, Stephen Butler, Mark Flickinger, and Cowley College president Dr. Dennis C. Rittle.
by Rama Peroo, Cowley College Public Relations — A one-of-a-kind painting by Mark Flickinger, Cowley College Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, was recently donated to be displayed at the college’s Sumner Campus in Wellington.
The name of the painting is Flint Hills. The painting was made during the IMPACT Banquet on April 25. Flickinger completed the painting of the Kansas Flint Hills in only 20 minutes while Stephen Butler played music on the keyboard.
Flickinger and Butler have been teaming up for events for the past 15 years.
“It’s fun, but also a challenge to try to come up with something in a fixed amount of time,” Flickinger said.
Butler echoed those sentiments.
“It is kind of like walking a tight rope without a net,” Butler said.
Flickinger and Butler invoke comedy throughout their performance, while also turning serious.
“Music has an emotive quality about it and it affects your mood,” Flickinger said. “The final result of the paintings I do with Steve is not where I started. I have a plan going in and know it will not go as planned.”
The duo has other performances lined up, including an upcoming performance for Emprise Bank in Wichita.
“One of the things that are really cool with the paintings is that it is something that lasts,” Butler said.
