Location: McKnight Art Center, Clayton Staples Gallery, Room 205

The Clayton Staples Gallery is proud to present A World Away.

The collaboration between JB Burke and Kariann Fuqua forms an artistic "ecotone"—a transitional space where distinct yet intertwined narratives of place converge. Despite being unknowingly raised in the same city in Kansas, it wasn’t until later in life that their paths crossed. Their work reflects a shared fascination with the concept of home as a construct. Both use drawing to explore imaginative world-building that have been shaped by reading, compulsive collecting, ordering, and arrangement.

Burke’s work draws from children’s literature, crafting fictional realms that offer a form of escape. These worlds, rich in iconography, invite viewers to explore, though they remain perpetually out of reach. In contrast, Fuqua’s obsessive mark-making represents environmental systems in perpetual flux, expressing a longing for a grounded connection to place. Her drawings, marked by their labor-intensive process, capture the fragility of ecosystems and the elusive nature of memory.

Together, Burke and Fuqua create a dialogue that navigates the complexities and implications of "place," using their art to explore and seek meaning within the shifting landscapes of our shared experiences.

The Clayton Staples Gallery is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This project has been supported by a grant from the Wichita Arts Council.