Wichita author to share tricks of mystery writing

Wichita native Scott Phillips, author of “The Ice Harvest,” will talk about mystery writing and his new mystery “The Walkaway” at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vt.

Phillips’ first book, a best seller, was a finalist for The Hammett Prize and both the Edgar and Anthony awards. It also was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

“The Walkaway” begins on Christmas morning 1979 in Wichita, where Gunther backs his RV over and kills a stranger, then hides the stranger’s plane tickets, pistol and money. Ten years later, he walks away from his Wichita nursing home and sets off to find the hidden money.

Phillips’ appearance is sponsored by the library and The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Seventh St. Raven employees will be on hand with copies of Phillips’ books, which will be available for buying and signing before and after the presentation.

KU professor’s painting to hang in KC exhibition

Kansas City, Mo. — The paintings of Kansas University art professor Judith Burns McCrea will be among those featured in an exhibition that opens Friday at Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art.

The opening reception will be 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 2004 Baltimore Ave.

“New Works: Judith Burns McCrea, Sonya Clark and Melba Price” will present new monumental narrative paintings by longtime gallery artist McCrea, “body conscious” beaded and mixed media sculpture by Sonya Clark, and large-scale, psychological portrait drawings of iconic female subjects by Melba Price.

“New Works” will be on display during the First Fridays reception 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 7 and will remain on view through March 1.

Museums: Kemper celebrates recent acquisitions

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art will celebrate two recent acquisitions to its permanent collection at a brunch from noon to 2 p.m. today.

“Crying Giant,” a 14-foot high bronze statue, shown above, was created by Tom Otterness, a New York artist who was born in Wichita. He will make remarks at 1 p.m.

Also acquired was “Beth Rash,” an acrylic resin on canvas by painter Morris Louis (1912-1962).

The purchases were made possible by gifts from various Kemper foundations and the Kearney Wornall Foundation.

The reception will be at the museum, 4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.