Dec. 22 Wichita Eagle article about exhibit:
"Sitting pretty: The beauty of simple objects"

Cowtown invites you to explore the temporary exhibits on display year-round in the Empire Hall Exhibit Gallery. There is no additional charge to view the exhibits. Your admission to Cowtown is all it takes to explore this attraction!

Through March 17:
"Have A Seat: An Exhibit of Period Seating from 1825-1895" 

This exhibit includes more than a dozen chairs -- many from parlor sets -- from the Victorian era (no reproductions). The chairs are part of Cowtown’s archival collection as well as from private collections.

The most notable part of the show is a display of authentic longhorn steer chairs and stools made by Wenzel Friedrich in 1890 (pictured below). Friedrich was well known at the time for his craftmanship. He even sold pieces of longhorn furniture to Queen Victoria. Cowtown has an original catalog that listed his items for sale, and that catalog is on display with the chairs. 

Cowtown chose the topic of chairs for its winter exhibit because they are so often overlooked as pieces of art. Several of the pieces are nearly 200 years old, and they provide an invaluable glimpse into the daily lives and artistic tastes of people in the 19th century.

"The variety of chair design from the era is just amazing," said Cowtown director David Flask. "It's extremely interesting that so much attention to detail was given to something as simple as a chair."

Undoubtedly, this is a unique exhibit that people won’t find anywhere else.

Upcoming Exhibits:

March 18-June 30 –                    
"Believe it or Not: True Medical Stories from the Wichita Frontier"

April 1–July 30–                       
"How the Garden Grows: The Original Organic Garden"

July 1-December 1 –              
"Ice in Summer: Victorian 'Refrigeration' ”

August 1-December 1 –            
"The Votes Are In: Presidential Elections from Lincoln to Garfield"