When artist and lifelong Wichitan Tabitha Oblinger Bean died, she left behind a fine legacy: an extensive personal collection of artwork created by many of the Wichita’s best-known and loved artists. 

Now those works are being offered to the public in Collective Intelligence, an art exhibit and fundraiser that opens at 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 at Vertigo 232 Gallery, located above Hewitt’s Antiques, 232 N. Market in Wichita. All proceeds from the sale of collected works will go directly to the Kansas Food Bank.

The show will continue through the weekend from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, and 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10.

Collective Intelligence will feature more than 125 eclectic works of art by nearly 80 area artists, including such notables as Wade Hampton, Marc Bosworth, Christopher Gulick, Charlotte Martin, Patrick Duegaw, Terry Maxwell, Lester Raymer, John Boyd, Neal Harrington, Curt Clonts and many more.

As a special exhibits coordinator for City Arts for nearly 15 years, Tabitha worked directly with 100s of local artists. Upon leaving City Arts she devoted herself to making and showing her own art while continuing to be an avid supporter of the arts community in Wichita. She died in November 2020.

To honor Tabitha’s generous and quirky spirit, the Oblinger family is hosting the fundraiser to raise money for the Kansas Food Bank. The show mixes her love of art and artists and her passion to help others who are in need. The Kansas Food Bank, an organization near and dear to Tabitha’s life philosophy, is a perfect fit and will receive 100% of the proceeds.

Please join us for an evening of celebrating the amazing, hilarious and wise Tabitha Oblinger Bean and raising money for the Kansas Food Bank. 

The Kansas Food is sponsoring two mobile food distributions in Wichita each month.

The first Friday of every month is at Evergreen Neighborhood Community Resource Center, 2700 N Woodland, starting at 1:00 p.m. (no distribution August 2021 due to a previously scheduled Convoy of Hope hand-out)

The last Friday of every month is at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2725 E 25th St, starting at 1:00 p.m.

Mobile food pantries are held drive-thru method and are made possible by very generous donors. Guests are asked to provide the total number of people in their household along with the number of seniors and kids.

The Kansas Food Bank, along with our partner pantries host produce distributions on Saturdays.

1st Saturday of the month: His Helping Hands, 1441 E 37th St N. 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 or until produce is gone.

2nd Saturday of the month: Iglesia La Resurrección, 2345 N Park Place, 7:00 am to 8:30 am.

3rd Saturday of the month: Bread of Life, 1301 E Galena, 11:30 am until produce is gone.

4th Saturday of the month: Currently no distribution – We are looking for a new partner to help with this project!

5th Saturday of the month: Any time a month has five Saturdays we are at HealthCore, 2707 E 21st St N. 9:00 am to 10:30 am or until produce is gone.

The Kansas Food Bank is honored to receive a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas for our Food 4 Kids Program in Crawford County. The Food 4 Kids program provides weekend hunger relief for children in grades kindergarten through grade eight. Their support will help more than 200 children in the upcoming school year have access to the food they need. Thank you!!!