Four KCAI students and Randy Williams, senior director of corporate programs, are heading to Baltimore August 10-12 for Make48. Mol Mir, Kevin Heckart, Zane Smith, all seniors in Interactive Arts and Joseph Canizales, (Junior, Sculpture) will have 48 hours to come up with an idea, create a prototype and promotional video and then present their idea to a panel of judges from QVC, Ace Hardware and other industry giants. They’ll join 11 other college teams from Georgetown, Rice, Tulane, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Miami, University of Connecticut, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois-Champaign, K-State Polytech, and Michigan Tech. Season three of the Make48 documentary series will be filmed in Baltimore. Season one was filmed on our campus and followed the KCAI winning team and two other teams through the competition and getting their products ready for market. Binge watch season one by going to Amazon Prime Video, PBS.org or Make48.com. Season 2 premieres in September on local PBS/APT (American Public Television) stations across the country. About Make48 Make48 is the brainchild of a group of Kansas City-based inventors who have been developing and launching products for decades. Their passion for inventing and problem-solving lead read more…
Lead Bank Announces Emerging Artist Awards
Lead Bank, a leader in financial technology, an advocate for small businesses, and the recent winner of the coveted Mr. K Award continues to show its support for the arts by sponsoring the Kansas City Art Institute’s Sponsored Studio Program by the creation of the “Lead Bank Emerging Artist” award. This award was recently given to the following four KCAI students: Vivian Becks (Sophomore, Animation), Anella Fernandez (Sophomore, Fiber and Social Practice Certificate), Lisa Bjornstad (Junior, Sculpture) and Rachel Tucker (Sophomore, Fiber). Each year, Lead Bank commissions KCAI students to create artwork for their Community Art Panels located in their Crossroads branch parking lot. These panels were specifically erected so the Bank can give back to the art community by showcasing local artists’ work throughout the year. These four Emerging Artists’ artwork will also be featured as a 2D mural on the Community Art Wall each quarter at 1801 Main Street in the Crossroads as well as inside the Main Street Bank lobby. Each award winner received a $500 scholarship and the nominating department received $200. The community is invited to view each of their work beginning in October 2018, which will feature Vivian Becks animation and sound design called read more…
KCAI Breaks Ground on Student Residence Hall and Dining Center
The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) will break ground on a new student residence hall and dining center on Thursday, July 12 at 9 a.m. Located along Warwick Blvd south of the campus gates, the building will house a 244-bed residence hall, the Wylie Dining Center and the Café Nerman. The residence hall went from wish list to reality following a $10 million lead gift by an anonymous donor, given through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation last year. The new facility is designed by award-winning Helix Architecture + Design. Helix designers Doug Stockman and Alissa Wehmueller, along with Christopher Carvell of Denver, Colo., designed the new building to look beyond traditional student housing models and nurture the creativity and wellbeing of art students. Featuring ouble-occupancy semi-suites with private baths and cozy gathering spaces, plus a student gallery, large living room and gaming center, the building celebrates the unique individuality of each student while creating a sense of community. Kansas City-based JE Dunn Construction is the general contractor for the project. “The contemporary student coming to KCAI to study deserves the best possible living space and the residence hall will be exactly what the students and their parents want – read more…