Events
WAM Nights: Inside the Documentary “Safer Waters: Artist Stephen Towns on Paradise Park”
April 17, 2026 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Featured Event, FREE Event, Safer Waters: Picturing Black Recreation at Midcentury, WAM Nights
Cost: Free | Open to the public
About this Event
inside the gallery: Safer Waters: Artist Stephen Towns on Paradise Park
Free and open to the public
About the curator: Dr. Tera Lee Hedrick was appointed curator at the Wichita Art Museum in 2018. A native of Wichita who grew up visiting the museum, Hedrick holds a PhD in art history from Northwestern University and earned a BA and MA in art history from the University of Kansas. Before joining WAM, Hedrick taught art history at Kansas State University and Binghamton University. Her research interests include material and memorial culture as well as sensory studies. Collaborating on exhibitions with contemporary artists and working to bring their visions to life are particular highlights of her curatorial practice. She has organized exhibitions including Beth Lipman: All in Time (2022), Robert Peterson: Somewhere in America (2024), and Safer Waters: Picturing Black Recreation at Midcentury (2025). Hedrick’s scholarship has appeared in the journals Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Convivium, and Art History Pedagogy & Practice.
About WAM Nights: We’re open late on Fridays until 9 pm. Start your weekend with after-hours access to the galleries, shopping in the Museum Store, and a stop at EAT for dinner and specialty drinks. WAM Nights feature programs with artists, musicians, and performers, offering a dynamic way to experience the museum. The building comes to life with local creatives during WAM Nights—an energizing, creative start to your weekend. WAM Nights are generously supported by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
