KCKCC’s The Gallery prepares for new exhibits this semester

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s The Gallery is starting 2016 with a new slate of art exhibits that will sure to attract interest from throughout the community.

“There are several works the college owns that I enjoy seeing every day,” said Curtis Smith, professor of biological sciences and co-chair of the Campus Art Committee. “They are transcendent and therapeutic for good health and demeanor.”

The College Collection is rotated throughout the year and includes art pieces that individuals have donated or that the college has purchased since 1962. Of the 25 art pieces currently on display, there are six new pieces, including:

• Cat Eyes by Steven McDonald
• Crab Apples by George Mayfield
• Clearing Sky by Doug Edwards
• Wild Card Draw by Alexander Austin
• Luke Hochevar by Alexander Austin
• Advising Students at KCKCC by Ion Paleologue

“One simple pen and ink that academicians should see is a donated piece from 1962, ‘Advising Students at KCKCC’ by former art faculty Ion Paleologue. It is a throwback historical reminder of the old days of crowded face to face open enrollment back when our college was still in downtown Kansas City, Kan.,” Smith said. “Our permanent collection is highlighted by a remarkable work of modern art expressionism by Jim Leedy, father of Kansas City Crossroads District. It is titled simply, ‘Untitled 1-10.’ The subject is his witness of the blood of 10 spilt on the ground after serving as American soldiers in the Vietnam War. A priceless, powerful and stunning work of modern art by a nearly legendary local ceramic artist who owns and operates the Crossroad’s Leedy Gallery.”

The first exhibit of the year is by Adam Tillery and will be open from Feb. 4 to 27. Considered to have a unique perspective, Tillery’s exhibit will feature illustrations from his book “Mischievous: Ghost Stories and Illustrations.” The book takes a look into Tillery’s own supernatural experiences as well as looks into some original ghost stories. Each of the stories includes original art. In addition to his own interpretations of the paranormal, Tillery has painted still life’s, murals and portraits as well as cartoon and caricatures. An opening reception is at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4.

“Adam is a paranormal specialist. He has spent his life visiting many locations where spirits are said to haunt. These paranormal explorations and listening to other people’s ghostly experiences inspires his visual interpretations of ghosts he sees in his mind, and then puts on paper in the form of charcoal drawings,” Smith said. “He also will exhibit his still life’s, portraits and fantasy landscapes at his show.”

The second exhibit of the Spring Semester opens March 3. It is the Unspoken Violence Project, which coincides with the 1StruggleKCProject. These art pieces will focus on ending violence against women. Smith said the project was conceived and converted into a regional art grant by local KCK artist George Mayfield, whose own artwork was exhibited at The Gallery last fall.

“Mayfield’s idea was to locate and sponsor the visual arts to express cases of artists/people who experienced the trauma of spousal physical abuse. He has organized the work of several artists he admires for the exhibit,” he said. “At the same time there will be another local grant funded organization, 1StruggleKC, that uses performance poetry and the ‘live mural painting’ to process healing from physical abuse. Their organization will ‘perform’ outside the gallery before the Unspoken Violence Project art opening.”

The final exhibit of the year will highlight local fiber artist Valerie Doran-Bashaw and opens April 7. Doran-Bashaw owns Woven Wind Studio in Kansas City and has almost 30 years of experience in printing, dyeing and embellishing silk fabric. According to her website, www.wovenwind.net, she uses the Japanese shibori resist method and bamboo resist techniques to create garments, wall pieces and silk scarves. She is also an educator and has had pieces featured in the Strecker Nelson Gallery in Manhattan, Kan.; the Shirley Stiles Gallery in Westwood, Kan.; the Campanella Gallery at Park University and at locations throughout the region including William Woods University, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and the University of Kansas Medical Center. In 2007, she was commissioned by KCKCC to create “Four Seasons on the Kaw River.”

To schedule a private showing of The Gallery, contact Barbara Clark-Evans, director of the Campus Art Gallery. At 913-288-7504. The Gallery is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday beginning Jan. 20. If interested in joining the Campus Art Committee, it meets at 2 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month in the The Gallery, located on the main KCKCC campus, 7250 State Ave. The Gallery is located next to the College Deli in Lower Jewell.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.