February 3, 2017
State of the World Opens at H&R Block Artspace
State of the World, opening February 10 and running through March 18, presents work by 14 artists whose projects invoke and explore the symbolic power of the flag as a means to understand and question the power structures they represent and, at times, create imaginative new proposals for alliances and allegiances.
The 14 artists featured in the exhibit are Vito Acconci, Sonya Clark, Edith Dekyndt, Mounir Fatmi, Komar & Melamid, Pedro Lasch, Lucy + Jorge Orta, Georgia Papageorge, Mike Sinclair, Allison Smith, James Woodfill and Yara Said for The Refugee Nation.
Employing artistic strategies including abstraction, representation, and performance, these artists investigate ideas relating to identity, alienation, nationalism and citizenship as they confront issues pertinent to global culture today and respond to social and political stress and the unrest of our time.
Go to http://kcai.edu/artspace for more information and exhibit hours.
Anne Boyer Wins Second Major Literary Award
KCAI is proud to share exciting news about one of our very own, Assistant Professor of Liberal Arts Anne Boyer, who has won two major literary awards just months apart! Anne was recently recognized as one of ten emerging writers by the Whiting Foundation in the category of Non-Fiction, Poetry. The award of $50,000 is based on early accomplishment and the promise of work to come. In January, she received the inaugural $40,000 Cy Twombly Award for Poetry from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Her recent book of personal essays, Garments Against Women, has been highly-praised and spent six months at the top of the Small Press Distribution list in Poetry. Two new collections, A Handbook of Disappointing Fate and The Undying are in the works. Her achievements have received international press and put KCAI on the global stage. One of the hallmarks of KCAI is our liberal arts education, which is taught by our accomplished and gifted faculty. Anne has set a new precedent for inspirational teaching and artistic talent–please join us in congratulating her for this tremendous recognition. We can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish next!
Artist Joyce J. Scott Speaks at Inaugural Hoffman Visiting Artist Lecture
Come hear a relevant voice for our time at the Inaugural Hoffman Visiting Artist Lecture featuring Baltimore-based artist Joyce J. Scott who is known for her artistic commentary on issues regarding race, politics, sexism and stereotypes. The lecture is from 6-7 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in Epperson Auditorium on the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) campus, 4415 Warwick. Scott is a printmaker, weaver, sculptor, performance artist and educator, but she is probably most well known for her work in jewelry, beadwork and glass. Her art reflects her take on all aspects of American popular culture, her ancestry and the immediate world of her neighborhood. Scott will be exhibiting in Open Spaces this fall. This free public lecture is underwritten by the Hoffman Visiting Artist Endowment and was established as part of a 2:1 Match through the $25 million “Great Gift” by an anonymous donor. The purpose is to bring nationally recognized artists who focus on contemporary art practices to give an annual talk to KCAI students, faculty and the Kansas City community, as well as work with students and faculty in their studios. The Visiting Artist is selected through a process administered by a select group of representatives from KCAI, members read more…