112 E 11th . Hays, Kansas . 785-625-7522
The exhibit
Exhibit Description
The Hays Arts Council is proud to present By Seed & Spirit, bringing together ceramic artist Taylor Wiens and printmaker Justin Miller, By Seed & Spirit explores the enduring relationship between land, faith, and the stories that shape who we are. Rooted in Midwestern agriculture and Christian symbolism, their work reflects on memory, resilience, stewardship, and the traditions carried across generations.
Though working in different mediums and perspectives, Wiens and Miller are engaged in a shared conversation. Wiens draws from the lived experience of a multigenerational family farm, preserving fragments of rural life through clay, architecture, and imagery that honor the people, places, and labor that sustain the land. Miller turns to saints, prophets, birds, and sacred symbolism to explore revelation, spiritual truth, and the search for meaning beyond the visible world. Together, their work speaks to the rhythms of life on the Great Plains, where cultivating the land has long been intertwined with cultivating hope. In a landscape shaped by seasons of abundance and drought, planting a seed has always been an act of faith—a belief in what cannot yet be seen. Through ceramics and printmaking, the artists invite viewers to consider the connections between earth and spirit, labor and belief, memory and discovery, and the ways both land and faith continue to nourish communities across generations.
Justin miller
About the Artist:
Justin Miller is a printmaker, teacher, husband, and father. He grew up in western Kansas and studied with Frank Nichols at Fort Hays State University (B.F.A. 2000). For more than twenty-five years, he has taught high school and junior college art in Colorado and Kansas. Justin is captivated by antique machinery and has restored several printing presses he uses to make his artwork. He has a small print studio at his Topeka home and is pursuing his Master of Fine Arts degree.
“As an artist, I am captivated by the intersection of the physical and spiritual worlds. My work explores the desire to justify lived experience with heartfelt faith. Whether through reimagining familiar stories or representing the act of receiving direct inspiration, my prints capture the strain or contentedness that comes with discovering truth. ‘
I see prophecy as parallel to the act of creation, bringing something into the physical world from a source that exists above or outside this phenomenal plane. Artists are the present-day tellers of truth. Like the prophets of old, this ability to know and share truth places artists outside of society. In my images of saints and prophets, I am exploring this idea of otherness, of being set apart. I am asking, “How is it that someone receives access to spiritual truth?” “How does it feel?” “Who else experienced this?” “Is this good?” I represent the supernatural communication of truth as a burning coal. The figures in my work have access to it, but do not themselves control the power of the flame.
Ultimately, my goal as a printmaker is to create images that resonate with viewers on a spiritual and emotional level. Whether it's through the graceful lines of a bird or the knowing gaze of a saint, I hope to create works that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.”
taylor wiens
About the Artist:
Taylor Wiens is a ceramic artist and educator from Beatrice, Nebraska and was raised on a multi-generational family farm. Wiens received her Bachelor of Arts in Art from Doane University in 2019, along with a minor in Graphic Design. She later completed her teaching endorsement in K-12 Art and earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction through the Doane Graduate Program before receiving her Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Fort Hays State University in 2026.
"My body of artwork explores the deep-rooted traditions and emotional resonance of life on a three-generation family farm. By merging my expertise in graphic design, ceramics, printmaking, and glaze research, I have developed a unique method of printing on clay with underglazes, creating layered and nostalgic imagery that tells the heartfelt stories of my farm family. My inventive forms—tiles, architectural structures reminiscent of farm buildings, portraits, and figures—capture the overlooked yet essential aspects of rural life, portraying both the relentless challenges farmers face and the profound sense of belonging and tradition inherent in farm life.
Earth-toned clay represents the soil, with rigid, abstracted forms that piece together to create a mosaic of "memories." Dominant colors like yellow and green reflect the hues of my childhood and the enduring elements of farm life. Yellow evokes fields of winter wheat, piles of corn and soybeans, and the sunlit optimism of my family, while green signifies growth, vitality, and the iconic John Deere equipment. The incorporation of small mixed media elements, such as wire and worn farm objects, adds texture and context, enriching the narrative.
Through my art, I seek to honor and preserve the legacy of my family and other farming communities across the Midwest, showcasing the deep connections, resilience, and significant experiences that define agricultural life. My work not only highlights the visible aspects of farming but also invites viewers to feel the deep, meaningful traditions and emotions rooted in the life of a family farm.“
in the space
