October 22, 2024
On what would have been Dorothy Koelling’s 111th birthday, Exploration Place welcomed more than two dozen of her descendants to celebrate the rededication of her sculpture, Inheritance, which now graces the entrance plaza. This meaningful relocation, made possible by the DeVore Foundation, not only amplifies the visibility of her work but also enhances the experience of everyone who visits Exploration Place.
Exploration Place’s president and CEO, Adam Smith, reflected on his personal connection to Inheritance. Upon first encountering the sculpture in March 2020, Smith immediately recognized its significance. Tucked away on the far side of the property at the time, the sculpture nonetheless struck him deeply,
“In the blink of an eye, I knew it was something powerful that spoke to our mission,” he remarked.
Smith was determined to bring Inheritance to a more prominent location so that it could inspire every visitor entering the science center. After years of development planning for outdoor spaces, including the recent addition of the Wichita Foundation Amphitheater, the time finally arrived to move the sculpture to its new home in the entrance plaza.
Now, as visitors approach Exploration Place, they are greeted by Koelling’s creation, a testament to her artistic vision and the importance of exploration—a theme deeply embedded in the sculpture itself.
Dorothy Koelling took up sculpting at the age of 80, establishing her Never Too Late studio at Larksfield Place, a testament to her belief in the power of lifelong learning and creativity.
Among her notable works are Final Call, a firefighter memorial, and Jester outside Century II, which celebrates 25 years of Music Theatre Wichita.
Her son Jack Koelling recounted the inspiration behind Inheritance, a child embracing a globe. Dorothy had envisioned the piece as a reminder for people to care for the world, an ideal that deeply resonated with Dick DeVore, who originally saw the sculpture in its early stages and immediately knew it belonged at Exploration Place.
The plaque accompanying Inheritance features a special quote from T.S. Eliot, one that Dorothy herself selected while creating the piece: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
Smith expressed how powerfully these words reflect both the spirit of Exploration Place and the renewal of the center’s mission as it approaches its 25th anniversary.
“Those are powerful words for me,” Smith said. “We shall never cease in our exploring. What a statement as you go into Exploration Place.”
Dorothy Koelling’s Inheritance sculpture now stands proudly at the forefront of Exploration Place, serving as both a beautiful piece of art and a symbol of the enduring human spirit.
As the ceremony or rededication and remembrance concluded, Koelling closed his remarks by reminding everyone of his mother’s incredible life and her belief that “it’s never too late” to pursue dreams.
Exploration Place visitors will now be greeted with this message, ensuring that Dorothy Koelling’s legacy of exploration, creativity, and inspiration lives on for generations to come.
