Don Lambert, CCCC alum, donates artwork to Library

Don Lambert, a 1970 graduate of Cloud County Community College has donated three pieces of artwork to the college’s Library.

The pieces, which all focus on diversity, are all on display in the library. To date, Lambert has donated 46 pieces of artwork to the college, all of which are produced by Kansas artists.

“We are very fortunate to have these unique pieces of art on display for our students, faculty, staff, and our community to enjoy,” said Jennifer Schroeder, Director of Library Services.

“White Wash,” is a lithograph created by Roger Shimomura of Lawrence. A retired professor from the University of Kansas, Shimomura exhibits his work in museums across the country. He and his family were among the Japanese-Americans placed in internments camps on the West Coast during World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many of Shimomura’s works deal with the tension between Asian-Americans and others. In “White Wash,” the artist attempts to obliterate his past and stereotypes, by white-washing them.

“Hope,” is a photograph created in 2020 by Rusty Leffel of Mission Hills. The photograph was taken during a Black Lives Matter event on Troost Avenue in Kansas City. For decades, Troost Avenue was a boundary between rich and poor and Black and white. Leffel, a retired lawyer, exhibits his photographs frequently online and in exhibitions.

“I was horrified at the images of a Black man with an officer’s knee on his neck,” Leffel said in explaining “Hope,” and other photographs in the series called “I Can’t Breathe. “I saw and was a witness to this killing. Our nation saw and was a witness to this killing.”

“La Sonrisa del Catrin (Catrin’s Smile)” is an acrylic, ink and mixed media on canvas piece created by Hugo Ximello-Salido, a self-taught Mexican-American artist. His work explores cultural identity, personal identity, communication, connection, and more. Ximello-Salido’s early work was primarily inspired by traditions and colors of Mexican culture. Through a fusion of folkloric symbols, old-world history, and contemporary social issues, the artist creates a dialogue about identity and culture that abouts with color and texture. He finds inspiration in the intersection of various communities, especially the LGBT community, and strives to convey distinct yet universal perspectives to the viewer.

Lambert began donating artwork to the library in 2008, the year he was named CCCC Alumn of the Year. That piece, titled “Clouds Over Cloud County,” a photograph by Lawrence artist Oz Wille. At graduation that year, Lambert said the one thing that was lacking during his time as a student at Cloud was art. To fix that problem, he purchased and donated Wille’s piece, and has since continued to add to the collection.

“Many of these art pieces deal with our land and others call attention to the diversity in our nation and in the CCCC community,” Lambert said. “Thus, for the last 50 years, I have continued to promote art, particularly from Kansas and for Kansas.”

In 2012, Lambert was also named the recipient of the Marion Cook Legacy Award, presented annually by the Cloud Humanities Division to exemplary supports of the arts and education within the community.

“I have personally enjoyed getting to know Don over the years, and his kindness, generosity and passion for sharing the arts is inspiring,” Schroeder said. “It is remarkable that for the last 50 years, Don has generously promoted art, particularly from Kansas and for Kansas. Don’s generous donations continue to support the arts and education, and we are extremely grateful.”

PHOTO CUTLINE: One of the pieces of artwork donated to the Cloud County Community College Library by Don Lambert, titled “La Sonrisa del Catrin (Catrin’s Smile).” It is an acrylic, ink and mixed media on canvas piece created by Hugo Ximello-Salido, a Kansas-based artist.