Campus Connection: July 9, 2019

The agreement also involves new initiatives at both universities that will facilitate the transfer of technology between government and academia, industry and federal laboratories and the ultimate commercialization of these technologies for the benefit of the Army. Further future efforts are expected to include joint research efforts and faculty and student exchanges.

The MOU is an outgrowth of the creation and development of FirePoint Innovations Center at WSU, a partnership intermediary formed to support the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile (CCDC AvMC). The AvMC is located in Huntsville.

“Wichita and Huntsville both have long and successful histories in aerospace development and research, so the MOU between WSU and UAH is a natural partnership of complementary expertise,” said Robert Lindquist, UAH interim vice president for research and economic development.

“Both universities are actively working with the AvMC, and we believe a partnership can only strengthen WSU and UAH and subsequently allow us to serve the Army at a higher level,” said Peter Perna, FirePoint director.

The overall objectives of FirePoint and the common goals of both universities include: 

Collaboration and partnering: the development and growth of environments necessary for fostering innovation and collaboration for the current and future technology challenges with Army areas of interest.

Technology transfer and transition: engagement and collaboration with various centers of excellence in identifying, transferring, developing and transitioning new techniques and methodologies between small businesses and U.S. Army stakeholders.

Innovation: evolving and refining processes, resources and avenues for collaboration, innovation and technology development of advanced technologies, systems and operational concepts.

The event will include a NASA video premiere, remarks from Moran and Bridenstine, and a panel on getting back to the moon addressing topics such as STEM and workforce initiatives.

The event is hosted by Wichita State University in partnership with WSU Tech and the Cosmosphere. There will be an area reserved for space-related displays. Email ksharkey@niar.wichita.edu to reserve a spot.

The exhibition of the same name opened at the Ulrich in April and will remain on display in all of the museum’s galleries until August 11. The catalogue, which features more than 100 color reproductions, including four fold-out views of major works, captures 30 years of Mullins’s career and includes installation shots documenting the exhibition. Five insightful essays by David Butler, former Ulrich director; Elizabeth Dunbar, former Ulrich curator; Bill North, director of the Salina Art Center; art critic Mike Odom; and artist David Reed are featured along with an introduction by Dan Rouser, who co-curated the exhibition with artist Ann Resnick.

Known for his lyrical, repetitive patterns, and as a brilliant colorist of complex luminous surfaces, Mullins said in an artist statement that his work was an attempt to illustrate transcendence, adding: “I believe that repetition is the foundation of clarity.”

Leslie Brothers, director of the Ulrich Museum, said the exhibition and catalogue were ways for the museum to fulfill its mission of serving the community.

“Celebrating Kevin’s diverse and beautiful body of work is a way for the Ulrich to give back to the community valuable and essential scholarship on one of its very important artists while at the same time highlighting the value of collecting and supporting the arts in Wichita," Brothers said.

Mullins was a beloved figure on the Wichita art scene long before his work started to receive international attention. From 1995 to 2010, he served as the curator for exhibitions at the Ulrich while still maintaining an active studio practice. In 1997, he and Resnick opened Project, an art gallery near Douglas and Hydraulic, helping to revitalize that area of town while also introducing world-class artists to the Wichita community.

"Kevin's work was fully engaged in the art of our time," said Resnick. "The depth of his vision reflects not only formal innovation but a great appreciation of the forces that shaped art as we have come to understand it in the 20th and 21st centuries, actively challenging us to evaluate how we see and think about the world."

Copies of the catalogue, published by the Ulrich Museum of Art and designed by Howerton+White, will be on sale at the launch party. Co-curators Rouser and Resnick will be on hand to sign copies.

“ShiftSpace is a real-world learning environment for students,” said Kristin Beal, ADCI gallery manager. “We’re looking forward to engaging with the community from this new space.”

Groover Lab co-founders Curt Gridley and Tracy Hoover want to create a collaborative environment.

"At Groover Labs, we envision a new space for Wichita where people with big ideas — including artists, makers and entrepreneurs — can feed off others' energy and creativity,” said Gridley. “We are delighted to have ShiftSpace as our first partnership.”

The new location will afford more opportunities for engagement, said Beal.

“We love the area and the vision Curt and Tracy have for Groover Labs,” Beal said.

“This move is going to open up all kinds of new opportunities for our students.”

The partnership will give the student-run gallery more space and allow for expanded visitor hours. ShiftSpace will also be able to use other areas of Groover Labs for special events.

Since its founding in 2005, ShiftSpace has occupied multiple downtown locations, including one adjacent to Old Town Square and two on Commerce Street. The gallery has been located at 416 S. Commerce for the past four years.

ShiftSpace will introduce a fresh visual identity alongside its new location. Nick Lawrence, a graphic design student at WSU, created the logo and branding materials.

“We’re spending the summer planning programming to match our new location and new look,” Beal said. “We’ll definitely have some surprises in store.”

After parental consent and teen assent has been obtained, teens will be asked to participate in a survey that gathers information on demographics and perceptions of dating relationships.

Flexible locations for study participation are provided:

• In person at 417 Jabara Hall
• In person at an outdoor public meeting place
• Through email
• Through mail

A small prize will be offered as compensation.

Interested? Contact the Inspyre Research Lab at inspyre@wichita.edu or call 978-6180.