As Director of Visual Arts at Newman University, Werner believes "the rewards of teaching are great. It gives me a continued opportunity to share my enthusiasm for thinking creatively with students who are just starting the investigation of making art in a serious way." As a professional artist she is active in exhibiting regionally and maintaining a studio. Her current work is part of a continued investigation of her own peculiar view of the world through the window of the dress: one of self-respect and humor. Werner has displayed her work in more than three dozen exhibitions, including numerous solo shows, throughout the state of Kansas since 1993. An instructor of visual arts since 1996, she joined Newman in 2003 after a teaching appointment at Wichita State University. Her academic and community service have included special projects with Arts Partners, Kansas Art Commission, and American Culture Association.

Artist Statement

My current work is part of a continued investigation of my own peculiar view of the world through the window of the dress.

The work deals with images from nature in a nexus with the animated form of the dress, incorporating flat and patterned qualities that create a timeless space. I have investigated this path in two and three dimensional work using actual clothing items sculpting and gluing and screwing these items to canvas, working in charcoal, watercolor, and pastel as well as oil on canvas.

Clothing as subject continues to be a reoccurring theme not only in my own investigation but also by artists around the world. The use of clothing to tell a story, document an important event or make a political statement continues to stir my thoughts and interests in exploring this theme from my own sensibility.

My process begins with a sentiment that I want to build upon. I gather resources and perhaps create a collage or a sketch, but sometimes I am ready to move directly to the canvas and let the process unfold.

When visiting museums I am inspired by the displays of clothing items used not only in an artistic way but also in an historical context. I collect clothing items like one hires a model, and keep fabric samples as part of my resource file. The finished work is often colorful and makes a unique connection to its title.

The dress paintings are an expression of this collective experience; a manifestation of how strong the connection is in the dialogue of social image and personal message.

Teaching and Related Experience

• 2006 Scholarship and Publication Award, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2003-Present Director of Visual Arts, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2003 International Baccalaureate Portfolio Review, East High School, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2003 Wichita State University, Board of Trustees Excellence in Teaching, and Academy for Effective Teaching Nominee.

• 2002 Wichita State University, College of Fine Arts Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee.
• 2002 Kansas Art Commission Mini Fellowship Recipient in 2-D.
• 2002 Southwest Texas/Pop Culture Association/America Culture Association Presenter, Regional Meeting, Albuquerque, NM.

• 2001-2 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Visiting Assistant Professor in Painting and Drawing.
• 2001 Kansas Art Resource Group (KARG) Participant.
• 2001-2 Arts Partners Guest Lecturer, Wichita High School East, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2001 Kansas Folklore Society Conference Presenter, Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kansas.
• 2001 Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Fine Art, Wichita State University, Brown Bag Lunch Lecture, Faculty Biennial Exhibition.

• 2000 Wichita State University, Art Education Thesis Committee/Mary Appleman, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Adjunct Faculty in Design I, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Newman University Renaissance Faire, Education Director Arts and Sciences Pavilion, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Newman University, Art History, Instructor, Art History, 20th Century Art, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Center for the Arts, Community Arts Program, Instructor, Watercolor, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1999-2000 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Introduction/Intermediate Watercolor, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1999-2000 Newman University, Studio Arts, Instructor, Painting for Non-majors, Painting I and II, Art for Occupational Therapy: Painting and Art Appreciation for Occupational Therapy, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1998 Trees for Life, Wichita, Kansas, Judge: Trees for Life Children’s Poster Design Competition, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1998 Friends University, Wichita, Kansas, Guest lecture for Art Appreciation Course, Women in the Arts, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1996-1999 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Adjunct Faculty, Foundation Drawing I, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1995 Wichita Oil Painters Society, Wichita, Kansas, Lecture and slide presentation.
• 1995 Women in the Arts, Wichita, Kansas, Lecture and slide presentation.

• 1994 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Foundation Drawing I, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1994 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Slide presentation, The Progression of Work Past to Present, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1994 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Foundation Visual Arts, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1993 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Foundation Drawing I, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1993 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Foundation Visual Arts, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1992 Wichita State University, School of Art and Design, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Foundation Drawing I, Wichita, Kansas.

Exhibitions and related activity

• 2010 Newman University, Steckline Gallery, Two Girls, Four Shoes, One Guy, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2009 Egret Room, Exploration Place, Rocket Annie Comes Home, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2009 Adjudicate Portfolios for graduating Art students, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2009 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2009 Collective Art Gallery, Artists of Naked City Magazine, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2008 Commerce Gallery and Redline Gallery, Salon des Refuses, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2008 Hutchinson Fine Arts Center, Elegance des Couturieres, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• 2008 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2008 Hesston College, Fine Arts Gallery, Trick My Tiara, Hesston, Kansas.
• 2008 Friends University, Riney Gallery, Wistful Charm, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2008 Adjudicate Portfolios for Collegaite Invitational Art Review, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2008 Adjudicate Portfolios for graduating Art students, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2007 Bethel College, Fine Arts Gallery, Domesticity is Not as Carefree as it Seems, Bethel College North Newton, Kansas.
• 2007 Derby High School Art Workshop Leader, Watercolor, Derby, Kansas.
• 2007 Newman University Faculty Art Exhibit, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2007 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2007 Art Show at the Dog Show, Judge, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2007 Third and Final Joe Show, Lawrence Photo, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2006 Plane Crazy, Judge, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2006 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2006 Wichita Colorists, Chromatic Affectations, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2006 Art Aid 13, Art donation, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2006 Happy New Year Show, Fiber Studio, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2005 Colors of Tiffany, Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2005 Derby High School Art Awards, Judge, Derby, Kansas.
• 2005 12 WOMEN, City Arts Gallery, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2005 Restoration of Religious Painting, Presbyterian Church, Newton, Kansas.
• 2005 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2005 Professors Exhibit, Fiber Studio, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2005 Art Aid 12, Art donation, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2004 TINY works exhibit, Project Gallery, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2004 "One-Oh-One (101)," Grand opening exhibit at the new City Arts Gallery, Wichita, Kansas. One hundred and one regional artists invited to exhibit one piece of artwork.
• 2004 "birdsandfish," City Arts, Wichita, Kansas. A theme exhibit; use of imagery – birds and fish, curated by Maggie Rozycki-Hiltner and David Hiltner.
• 2004 Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Judge, Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2004 "Car Wreck," City Arts, Wichita, Kansas. An exhibition of regional artists new work.
• 2004 "Some Art, SemAntics: A Collaborative Exhibition of Visual Art, Writing, and Music," Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2004 Art Aide 11, Art donation, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2003 "Decaffeinated," Newman University Faculty Exhibit, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2003 "All Used Cars Are Not Lemons," Whittier Gallery, Friends University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2003 "Some Art, SemAntics: A Collaborative Exhibition of Visual Art, Writing, and Music," Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2003 Wichita Symphony Women's Association Violin Project. Ten area artists painted on violins for auction, proceeds going to the Wichita Symphony educational program.
• 2003 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art.
• 2003 Art Aid 10, Art donation, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2002 Newman Teaching Faculty Show, Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2002 "Sometimes My Tiara's Too Tight," LineSight Gallery, Wichita Kansas. One woman show,
• 2002 Flying Roller and Vicious Dog Print Portfolio. Collaborative portfolio of work by the Metro State College Press in Denver, Colorado and Flying Roller Press of Wichita State University.
• 2002 "Multiple Aspects Of A Single Vision," City Arts, Wichita, Kansas. An exhibition curated by regional collector Joe Goodwin, showcasing artists from his personal art collection. February 2-22.
• 2002 "Some Art, SemAntics: A Collaborative Exhibition of Visual Art, Writing, and Music," Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.

• 2001 "Delano, Tales from the Neighborhood," a work of historical fiction by Patrick O'Connor, published by Rowfant Press containing seventeen contemporary photographs and cover design by Mary L. Werner.
• 2001 Tiny Works, Project Gallery, Wichita, Kansas. A regional invitational exhibition of tiny works (8'x8') created specifically for this event. Theme: gratitude.
• 2001 "Heads Up," Portrait Exhibition, City Arts Center, Wichita, Kansas. A regional invitational exhibition of artwork featuring traditional and non-traditional portraiture.
• 2001 Painted Furniture Exhibition, Wichita State University, McKnight Art Center Atrium, Summer Workshop. An exhibition of uniquely painted furniture featuring student work done for the workshop class taught by Mary L. Werner. Exhibition included approximately 40 pieces including instructors work.
• 2001 Kansas Folklore Society Conference, Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kansas. Presentation of a collaborative work with Wichita State University Watercolor students. The conference theme "It Takes A Village" was used to develop a friendship quilt made of painted watercolor pieces.
• 2001 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art.

• 2000 "Some Art, SemAntics: A Collaborative Exhibition of Visual Art, Writing, and Music," Steckline Gallery, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Art Exhibition, Recent Works, Susan's Gallery, Wichita, Kansas.
• 2000 Wichita Colorists, City Arts Center, an exhibition of recent works by five artists, Tabithia Oplinger, Gwen Rose, Victor Rose and Mary Werner, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1999 Tiny Works/Little Licks, an exhibition of recent works by a group of artists form across the US, Project Gallery, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1999 Faculty Exhibition, Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, Kansas. Wichita State Faculty exhibit.

• 1998 Wichita Colorists, Century II Exhibition Hall, an exhibition of recent works by five artists, Charles Baughman, Phil Robel, Gwen Rose, Victor Rose and Mary Werner, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1998 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
• 1998 A show of "Painting Titles," Wichita, Kansas, Old Town. A one woman exhibition running concurrently with the Famous Dead Artist Fall Exhibition.
• 1998 "Regional Women Artists," featured eight Kansas painters and sculptors. The show ran concurrently with the national traveling show "Objects of Personal Significance." Center for the Arts, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1997 "Form and Image," David Long and Mary Werner, Evo Gallery, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1997 City Arts Center, Invitational Exhibition of 100 Regional Artists, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1997 "All My Neighbors Have Halos," a one woman show, Carriage Factory Gallery, Newton, Kansas. Sponsored by the Newton Fine Arts Association.
• 1997 One Woman Show, Blue Heron Gallery, Lawrence, Kansas.

• 1996 Faculty Biennial, Wichita State University, Edwin A Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1996 "Gender," an exhibition curated by Leigh Leighton-Wallace and Mary L. Werner, sponsored by a Delano Maggard Grant from Wichita State University Graduate School. Seven artists interpreted gender in personal visual images.
• 1996 Evo Gallery of fine Art, Wichita, Kansas. An exhibition of fifteen artists' new works.

• 1995 "Girlie," Big Sky Heights, Wichita, Kansas. An exhibition of recent works by twelve regional women artists.
• 1995 The Collective Works of Eight Local Artists, Evo Gallery of Fine Art, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1995 Two Woman Show Lori Bunton and Mary Werner, Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1994 "M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition", Clayton Staples Gallery, McKnight Art Center, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1994 "Some Art, SemAntics: A Collaborative Exhibition of Visual Art, Writing, and Music," Clayton Staples Gallery, McKnight Art Center, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.
• 1994 "A Gathering of Diverse Identities: M.F.A. Students," Clayton Staples Gallery, McKnight Center, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.

• 1993 "Call It Woman’s Intuition," Judy Higdon and Mary Werner, McFarland Gallery, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.