This project was perfect for me. For many photographers across the city, such projects are rare, so it's no surprise that Portrait of a City was so popular. I enjoyed working alongside fellow photographers (most of whom I had not met before). The book came out beautifully, so it felt like the project culminated quite successfully. The staff was wonderful! I attended nearly every meetup, gallery talk, etc. and was thrilled with how well organized everything was and how knowledgeable everyone was. And so friendly! I could go on and on about the positive aspects of this project. It was an honor to take part."

—Program Participant | Portrait of a City, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

"It was magical! Just being in the space and then being transformed into a place of community! It didn’t feel stuffy… It felt like a brave/safe space."

—Attendee | Night/Shift at the Nelson-Atkins

"These gatherings are always so full of enthusiasm by the people involved. Positive attitudes are catching and you really understand this. I appreciate the time and planning involved for such successful outcomes. It was all like a wonderful dance."

—Program Participant | Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

"I want to thank you, once again, for the wonderful time together with my two American Studies 100 sections this week. I expected a lot knowing the caliber of professionalism the Spencer is known for, but your creativity, astute lines of questioning, invitations to participate, and intellectual rigor around the issue of disability and art far exceeded my expectations. We had a great time with you and I just wanted to thank you for your work."

—University Instructor, Spencer Museum of Art

Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed and profited from the workshop. It made me think and write, to say nothing of being fun. And I have rejoined the museum, having let my membership lapse...

—Workshop Participant

"I liked how the events branched out from the focus of the exhibition on Hokusai and his artistic lineage, and introduced us to other ink art practices in Meiji Japan. I also appreciated the pairing of lecture and hands on experience. I would love to have more events like this! Thank you!

—Program Participant | Riding Hokusai’s Line: Lessons from the Ultimate Wavemaker, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

“This morning, I had a wonderful walk through Marvin Grove, moving and musing among the trees, from one work of art to another. What a wonderful exhibition the Spencer has inspired! The integration of trees, sculpture, and poetry is stunning, and walking among human creations and natural creations was like being in a newly conceived museum…. Some of the pieces insisted on my interacting with them, which I so enjoyed doing. I was especially glad to read the poem which encircled several trees and to pluck an origami seed packet from another work. Yes, it will be grand to be back in the building, but in the meantime, you and the Spencer do not stint in finding ways to stimulate our minds and hearts. Many thanks for organizing this contemplative, participatory, memorable exhibition during these bizarre times.”

—Board Member | Spencer Museum of Art

“My little friend was finally able to get her mom to bring her over yesterday afternoon...the air was certainly full of excitement. What fun to have something to puzzle over and figure out…. Her mom wrote me a note this morning and said she couldn’t stop talking last night about being a secret agent…. They’re really motivated after getting that fun peek at the possibilities…especially with a budding secret agent urging them on! Many thanks for the gift of excitement for a kid in the middle of summer.”

—Participant | PSST Curious Kids Network, Spencer Museum of Art

"I've been deeply pleased with the museum's responses to these dreadful and challenging times. I loved Conference of the Birds - the idea - the support for students' work—and the work itself. I recently had a long text conversation with [a friend] who had spent some time going through the Grove - she said the nests were wonderful and that she is so impressed with the work the museum has been doing during Covid."

—Board Member | Spencer Museum of Art

"I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude for your Sense of Place presentation and workshop. It was a great father-and-daughter experience and we left with a great looking, and pleasant smelling, bouquet of fresh cut flowers! They look great on our kitchen table and make the kitchen smell wonderful. You helped create a memory that will not soon be forgotten."

—Workshop Participant | A Sense of Place in the Palm of Your Hand, Spencer Museum of Art

"Thank you so much for this opportunity. I enjoyed so much the whole process as well as seeing my classmates works. It will be something I will hold with me for the rest of my life and that I will reference in my professional career."

—Project Awardee | Conference of the Birds, Spencer Museum of Art

“Last night looking out my window, I recalled the magical and uplifting evening of movement and music in the Spencer Museum when Voyager filled the spaces. It was such an ambitious and thoughtful work. Please know that the sound is still reverberating in my mind and also the freedom of movement that you granted us as we listened and watched from several perspectives. Thank you for the creation of this work and for the pleasure of experiencing it at the Spencer Museum of Art.”

— Attendee | Voyager, an evening-length work for percussion octet. Ben Justis, composer. KU Percussion Studio, Michael Compitello, director. Spencer Museum of Art

Everyone loved the program you set up. Our guests were delighted by the performance, the gallery tours were engaging, and it was clear that our guides were excited to be with us. It felt like this was our museum.

—Community Partner

Thank you for another wonderful Curiosity of Cabinets program! I appreciated the chance to show you my flapper dress. My grandmother would've worn it in the 1920s, as a teenager. . .The dress was in one of two closets that survived when my apartment in Omaha was burned down. . .Today's session inspired me to take better care of her things. Or use some of them, as she did, though I don't think I could pull off the flapper dress! It was lovely to spend an hour with all of you and learn about preserving personal treasures just as the world is changing so dramatically.

—Program Participant | A Curiosity of Cabinets: Collections Care at Home, Spencer Museum of Art and KU Libraries

"I am participating in an Art and Natural Resources Residency with Johnson County Parks and Rec…I thought you might like to hear about this because participating in the Spencer’s Understories program not only increased my confidence in taking on such a project but allowed me to showcase that I was capable of following through…. Programs like this are enriching to students and important to their professional development."

—Project Awardee | Understories, Spencer Museum of Art

“The Spencer Museum’s Level Up celebration was so much fun. I’ve never seen an art museum so open to fun and laughter…”

—Community Member | Reopening Celebration, Spencer Museum of Art