Kris Putter is the Sumner Center Artist of the Month.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow – Bringing a splash of art culture to the Wellington downtown, the Sumner Center at 101 S. Washington is now featuring works of local artists.

This week’s featured artist is Kris Putter, an artist known for oil paintings of Woods Park. You can view his paintings with a window display on the west side of the building on the sidewalk at the southeast corner of the Harvey and Washington Ave. intersection.

Putter is the second artist to be featured at the Sumner Center. Local professional photographer Rhonda Newberry also had a window display in February and March. Sumner Newscow writer Amber Countryman did a feature on Putter in 2025, focusing on his work painting at Woods Park.

The Sumner Center is the brainchild of Barry Dicker of Overland Park, who has worked extensively in Wellington for both the City of Wellington and Sumner County as an employee of the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He is assisted by Nelson P. Nelson, who owns a tattoo business next door and is a commercial neighbor of Sumner Center.

“I wanted to help stimulate activity and artistic culture in downtown Wellington,” Dicker said. “What better way to do that than to feature local artists?”

Putter is known for his oil paintings, ink, pencil art, and album covers. He will have 50 art pieces to purchase at the Artist Drop-in, whose date has yet to be determined.

“This is one display you don’t want to miss out on,” Nelson said.

Rhonda Newberry’s window display in February.

Newberry was the featured artist in February and March. Her business, “R. Newberry Photography,” featured eight paintings – originally photographs – on canvas throughout February/March, available for purchase. Two of them were sold while being part of the window display.

In the bio, Newberry, the daughter of Chester and Ada Baker of Wellington, has been a professional photographer for more than 15 years.

Rhonda Newberry

“My portfolio reflects the things I love most,” she wrote. “I began with nature and wildlife, later expanding into the high-energy worlds of sports and live music.”

She has spent 10 years as the official photographer for the Wellington Heat and the sole photographer for the first year of the revival of the Wellington Daily News. She has also photographed for Sumner Newscow.

“When I am not behind the camera or exploring my creative side through digital editing, I am enjoying life with my amazing husband of 41 years, Kenten. We are devoted animal lovers, sharing our home with three rescue dogs.”

On March 4, the Sumner Center group held its first artist drop-in. This gave people a chance to catch up with and talk to Newberry about her work. This was an informal, come-and-go meet-and-greet in support of the artists and the art community.

An April Artist Drop-in is coming soon. No date has been established currently.

People who gathered for the first artist drop-in on March 14 with featured artist Rhonda Newberry.