GCCC Mercer Gallery to Host Exhibition by Elwyn Vatcher
[Garden City, KS] September 3, 2025 -- The Mercer Gallery at Garden City Community College proudly presents Alien Conversations – Futurian Houses, a solo exhibition featuring the newest works by acclaimed visual artist Elwyn Vatcher. Opening September 12 through 26, 2025, the exhibition showcases Vatcher’s evolving artistic vision through vibrant and imaginative pieces that explore futuristic domestic landscapes with emotional depth and visual flair.
A closing reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, September 26, with light refreshments provided. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the artist.
In this latest collection, Vatcher invites viewers to step into visionary worlds where architecture and emotion blend in dreamlike harmony. The show highlights his versatility across mediums—from realistic oil paintings and delicate watercolors to whimsical found-object sculptures and intricate stained-glass creations.
The Mercer Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building at GCCC. All events are free and open to the public.
About the Artist
Elwyn Vatcher has spent a lifetime immersed in the visual arts. Born in Exeter and raised in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, he discovered his love for art as a boy working on a dairy farm. Inspired by the farmer’s wife, who painted in her spare time and generously shared both her art and her desserts, that early encouragement sparked a lifelong pursuit, leading to state and national recognition in high school art competitions.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Vatcher attended the Art Institute of Boston and earned an Associate of Fine Arts degree. In 1989, he and his wife, Rosalee, settled in Goodland, Kansas, where he continues to create, teach, and exhibit his work. Over the years, his art has been displayed throughout western Kansas, earning numerous accolades, including multiple Grand Champion awards at the Northwest Kansas District Free Fair. His work has also been featured in the Kansas State Capitol, including several public murals and stained-glass commissions.
Vatcher operates Elwyn Road Studio and is a longtime exhibitor at the Carnegie Arts Center in Goodland, where he has served on the board of directors for over a decade.
About the Exhibition
Alien Conversations – Futurian Houses reveals Vatcher’s unique visual language through the use of pointillism, vivid color palettes, and expressive compositions. Influenced by Georges Seurat yet entirely original in theme and execution, the works explore emotive, imaginative, and sometimes surreal landscapes.
Audiences will encounter visionary interpretations of future dwellings surrounded by lush gardens, surreal celestial events such as eclipses and sun-moon collisions, and deeply emotional narratives woven into each detail. The variety of media on display—rich oil paintings in elaborate frames, delicate watercolors, and expressive sculptures—reflects the artist’s range and dedication to his craft. Standout works include a dynamic sculpture of two horses in full gallop and multi-figure pieces exploring friendship and human connection themes.
Vatcher’s vision of the future is visually captivating and deeply expressive, layered with meaning, memory, and imagination. This exhibition offers a rare and inspiring glimpse into the mind of a seasoned artist whose work continues to evolve with energy and heart.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the extraordinary creative journey of Elwyn Vatcher—past, present, and future—at Mercer Gallery this September.
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