What an inspiring day! It was Kansas Day at the capitol and the unveiling of the new mural by Phyllis Garibay-Coon, a Manhattan, Kansas resident, honoring the Kansas suffragists.
Women from the League of Women Voters of Kansas had done the preliminary work for the new mural for several years. Yet it was Phyllis' artwork that created a masterpiece.
The mural captures the pioneer and rebellious spirit of thirteen women and each one is depicted in her own unique way. Because of the work of suffragists, Kansas was the first state in the union to hold a referendum in 1867, on a proposed constitutional amendment to grant women the full right to vote.
Phyllis certainly did her historical background work in depicting those women. And her artistic talent is impeccable. She is the first woman painter to have a mural in the state capitol. She and Governor Kelly gave inspiring talks, emphasizing the need for women today to exhibit the same fighting spirit for their rights.
This event gave me and my wife the opportunity to visit around the capitol building and marvel at the magnificent artwork. It reminded me of the US capitol in Washington D.C. and made me think of the importance and the sacredness of such a place and made me feel proud of being a Kansan.
And then images of January 6, 2021 came to mind and I wondered: How could any true patriot who loves his state and his country, defile and damage such a place?! Is it not time to revive the passionate spirit of the suffragists?!
--Myster E
To read more about the mural, copy and paste this link: https://www.kssuffragist.org/
2 comments:
THANYOU! For sharing this!! Can’t wait to see the new mural n person. Had not heard about this. Women ROCK!!!
Thank you for your description of this momentous event. I just love that Phyllis Garibay Coon's well-researched and impeccably created mural shares wall space in the Kansas State Capitol with John Stuart Curry.
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