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Salina Today
By the People, for the People
50th Smoky Hill River Festival to Feature Community-Built Art Installation
The 'Community Tangle' installation will evolve over the three-day festival through hands-on collaboration.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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The 50th Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Kansas will feature a large-scale communal art installation called 'Community Tangle' that invites festivalgoers to co-create a structure using natural materials like branches, vines, and grass over the course of the three-day event from June 11-14, 2026.
Why it matters
The 'Community Tangle' installation aims to celebrate the 50-year history of the Smoky Hill River Festival by bringing the community together through a shared creative experience that will result in a visual representation of the connections and creativity fostered by the long-running festival.
The details
Prairie Works Design will lead the 'Community Tangle' installation, which will evolve in real-time as festivalgoers of all ages contribute to building the structure using natural materials like branches, vines, twine, grass, and cattails. Prior to the festival, an adult class will be held on March 13, 2026 at the Salina Art Center Warehouse to provide a hands-on activity using natural materials that will eventually be incorporated into the final installation.
- The 50th Smoky Hill River Festival will take place from June 11-14, 2026.
- The adult class 'Ethereal Artist Talk & Activity' will be held on March 13, 2026 from 6PM to 8PM at the Salina Art Center Warehouse.
The players
Prairie Works Design
The design firm leading the 'Community Tangle' installation at the 50th Smoky Hill River Festival.
Salina Arts and Humanities
The organization overseeing the Smoky Hill River Festival and collaborating with Prairie Works Design on the 'Community Tangle' installation.
Ann Zerger, Chip Parker, and Timothy Parker
The artists leading the adult class on March 13, 2026 in collaboration with the Salina Art Center.
Salina Art Center
The art center hosting the adult class on March 13, 2026 in preparation for the 'Community Tangle' installation.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The 'Community Tangle' installation at the 50th Smoky Hill River Festival represents a unique opportunity for the Salina community to come together and collaboratively create a work of art that celebrates the festival's rich 50-year history and the power of shared creativity to bring people together.
