KCMO Art Community: Enthusiastic and Candid

To contact us Click HERE

Cory Imig, Kelsey Karper, Blair Schulman, & Julia Kirt
(OK Art Writing Fellows with OVAC staffers) at Plug Projects

OVAC Associate Director Kelsey Karper & I have just returned from a jam-packed weekend inKansas City, MO viewing art, visiting galleries and museums, chatting withartists and building on regional partnerships.  
We will post about specific spaces and conversations soon. Meanwhile, Iwanted to reflect on some of the primary qualities that made the KCMO artscommunity so striking.
First of all, the arts community rolls out the welcome. Everyone wemet, whether planned or spontaneously, received us with enthusiasm andcuriosity. From individual artists to commercial gallerists, they were excitedto discuss their art activities and inquire about ours (along with a reasonableamount of OKC Thunder talk).

KC artists work as part of the 2012 Kansas City Flatfile at H & R Block Artspace

Artists and other arts leaders express a pride in the city and thecommunity’s art while simultaneously addressing the gaps and areas forimprovement in their arts ecology candidly. This combination of acknowledgingthe strides already taken, while refusing to remain comfortably in the present,is exciting and healthy.
I was especially inspired by their openness about aspirations for thecommunity and for artists in their community.
Thanks for having us Kansas City! More later…