This post is currently a work in progress, and I would welcome additions or corrections in the comments below. If you have actual pictures of any of these, please send them to me. I’ll try to get a map together after we get the list nailed down. Oh, and I’m very open to anyone who wants to rewrite any of these descriptions.
- Grain Elevators of Seward County. Cattle Bank, on the courthouse square in Seward has a collection of about 20 watercolor paintings that they commissioned Marxhausen to do in the late 1900s. (The quickest way to get someone to give you the correct information on the internet isn’t to ask a question; it is to post incorrect information and wait for them to correct you.) They are hung in a conference room upstairs, and the person at the information desk has always been willing to open it when I’ve asked.
- There’s a very nice mural at Jones Band on the Southwest corner of the courthouse square in Seward. The very large and fascinating burnt wood and tile mural can be seen in the West entrance to the bank.
- Holy Spirit / Open Book, On Concordia University’s campus, there is a large art installation to the West of Link Library that you can see as you drive past Weller Hall. 1959
- Are the carved brick benches that were in the basement of Weller Hall still there? I’m 90% sure I saw a picture of Marxhausen and someone else working on them.
- Note: I’m not sure what the Marxhausen Gallery in Jessie Hall (to the South of Weller) has on display. As I recall, it is just a little bit as you go into the gallery (which typically displays student or faculty work, but occasionally shows items from their permanent collection).
- The Center for Liturgical Arts is located due South of Concordia University and stands on the location of the Marxhausen residence. The front door of the center is the original burnt wood front door of the Reinhold and Dor ris’ house. Well worth stopping to see. The Marxhausen Studio is on the South side of the property and has been restored to once again be a working art studio (video of the studio when Marx used it). The Center also has several of Marxhausen’s works on display. They would be happy to show them to you.
- The entire side of the ??? building on the South West corner of the courthouse square is a huge painted mural by Marxhausen with the text from his friend, Pulitzer Prize winner, Ted Kooser. It was restored about 20 years ago, but could probably use some TLC again.
- At St. John Lutheran Church, the altar, pulpit, and baptismal fonts are ceramic tile mosaics created by Marxhausen. He also did the communion cross which is generally on the altar during communion services. I also think he did the processional crosses and the stained glass windows, but I could be wrong about that.
- The Law offices next to Red Path Gallery on the Seward courthouse square have about 20 Marxhausen pieces on display in the front window. I rotate them when I remember and can get back to Seward before they close. While you’re there, why don’t you stop by Red Path Gallery, have a drink, look at the art, and ask them why they don’t have a little Marxhausen display.
- St. John has a fairly extensive collection. It is not housed in a state that is really fit for viewing, but if you’re in Seward, drop me a line, and we can probably arrange for you to see it. You can also view about 70% of the pieces online.
Have I missed anything? Do you have any corrections or additions? Just rewrites to make this sound better? Links to photos? Please add them in the comments.
