Four new exhibitions open at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on Sunday, May 4, and continue through July 20. They feature a large works invitational, a show of mixed media pieces by Rodney Wood of Hoisington, watercolors by Mark Grosserode of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and acrylic paintings by Virgil Penner of North Newton. A reception for the exhibitions will be on Sunday, May 4, 2:00-4:00pm, with exhibition talks beginning at 2:30pm.
In 2022 the Sandzén Gallery put together an exhibition called Small Wonders. It was a spectacular show that included tiny art by 164 artists from throughout the region. As one can imagine, working with that many artists can be challenging. For this invitational, the Gallery’s show committee decided to do a complete reversal and invited artists to create larger works that could be up to 32 square feet. The exhibition is titled SIZE MATTERS and includes 18 artists from throughout the region.
The Gallery is excited to present this exhibition and know that its namesake, Birger Sandzén, would be equally so since he often tackled subjects on a grand scale. His panoramic landscapes capture the awe-inspiring emotion of size and this exhibition will do likewise.
Rodney Wood’s exhibition, Sensorium, includes older selections along with new pieces making their debut. The term refers to the parts of the brain concerned with the reception and interpretation of sensory stimuli. Wood writes, “I am often asked questions such as ‘What media did you use?’ ‘How long did it take?’ ‘What does it mean?’ And my favorite ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ My life has not been linear nor planned. What a long and strange trip it continues to be… My artistic inspiration has a wide range of influences based on a variety of life experiences and an incurable curious spirit. Sensorium is a gathering of artwork that came into existence via my desire to share the result of that accumulation of stimuli within my head, heart, and soul.”
Mark Grosserude graduated with degrees from the University of Nebraska and University of Iowa before setting up his medical practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He retired from medicine in 
2012 and has painted full time since. He and his wife Ruth continue to live in Tulsa. His art practice began in 1983 when he started drawing with pencil. In the late ‘90s he took up watercolor and began showing his work in 2015. Award-winning shows have included Tulsa Mayfest, Independence Historical Museum & Art Center (Kansas), Artists of Northwest Arkansas Regional Art Exhibition, and Watercolor USA, where he was awarded the Robert E. Goodier Memorial Award for Traditional Transparent Watercolor in 2022. He is a signature member of the Watercolor USA Honor Society and after one more acceptance, will become a signature member of the American Watercolor Society.
Virgil Penner is known for his ink drawings of homes and buildings with an architectural perspective. Since retiring in 2009 he has focused on acrylic landscape paintings. Penner studied art under Marie Orr for four years in Newton 
High School. His paintings are colorful and bright. He constructs them from memory as he does not paint on location or from photographs. By doing this he can develop stronger balance and movement to suit his vision.
The Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery is located at 401 N. First Street. Hours are 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Saturday, and 1:00-5:00pm on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment.