One of the benefits of looking for inexpensive things to do in Wichita is that your search often takes you outside your normal routine, and you discover places like Karg Art Glass.
Most of us in Wichita have probably heard of it, or may have seen the work of Rollin Karg, Wichita’s own “renowned glass artisan” and the owner of Karg Art Glass in Kechi. His blown-glass art and steel sculptures have been displayed in galleries across the country and he’s been featured by media outlets.
But what we may not have seen — and what we as residents of Wichita have a unique opportunity to see — is Karg and other glass artists at work in his shop in Kechi.
If you haven’t been, you should go. This isn’t a quiet experience. There are blazing fires in big metal furnaces, pulleys, steel, blow torches, and welding equipment. It’s not what I imagined when I first saw the colorful glass bowls, vases, and baubles.
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., it’s free to go in and watch the artists blow glass in the studio behind the gallery.
You just want to call ahead before you go, because the schedule changes frequently. You can also call to schedule a group tour.
In the gallery, a variety of items are available for sale in a range of prices, so you can usually find an affordable, one-of-a-kind piece of art to remind you of the experience. The gallery is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Thanks to Sherry on Facebook for reminding me to mention the Karg Art Glass studio here at Wichita on the Cheap.
Karg Art Glass Gallery
111 North Oliver, Kechi, Kansas
(316) 744-2442
Gallery Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artists at Work Hours (call ahead to confirm):
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 a.m. to Noon
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
