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Jerry Saltz, art critic and columnist for New York magazine, will speak on October 8 in Epperson Auditorium on the KCAI campus as part of KCAI alumni weekend. Formerly the senior art critic for The Village Voice, Saltz has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism three times. He was the sole advisor for the 1995 Whitney Biennial. Saltz has also served as a Visiting Critic at Columbia University, Yale University, and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He lives in New York City with his wife Roberta Smith, senior critic for the New York Times.
All details for the weekend will be in the next paper version of Alumni News.
Kathleen Collins, president of the Kansas City Art Institute since 1996, announced earlier this month that she will retire June 30, 2011. At the time of her retirement, Collins will have served as president of the college for 15 years, longer than any other president in the Art Institute’s 125-year history.
“This has not been an easy decision,” Collins, 65, said. “KCAI is an extraordinary place. I have been fortunate to have played a role in stabilizing the college so that it could begin to grow and thrive in new ways. The college is well positioned to attract a talented and accomplished person who can provide the leadership for the next major phase of growth and development.”
Asked which of her many accomplishments give her the greatest pride, Collins mentioned the creation of the H&R Block Artspace, as well as its programming, which has been developed over the last 10 years. She noted the Artspace, located at 16 E. 43rd St., signified a reaching out beyond the main campus at 4415 Warwick Blvd. and was the first important building project undertaken during her tenure. She also cited the development of the Jannes Library and Learning Center, which opened in 2002, as well as the Dodge Painting Building, which opened in 2006.
For a complete press release, click here. For letters from President Collins and Gary Gradinger, chairman of the board, to alumni regarding the retirement, visit www.kcai.edu/alumni.
The KCAI alumni relations office is pleased to announce the launch of a free, password-protected online directory for use by KCAI alumni. A postcard with instructions for logging on to the site will be sent to all alumni in April. The site will aid alumni in reconnecting with former classmates and in networking within the KCAI alumni community. If you have any questions about the online directory, contact Andrea Adams, director of alumni relations, at aadams@kcai.edu or 888-561-2586.
KCAI is working with Harris Connect, a leading alumni directory publisher, to produce the 2010 edition of the KCAI alumni directory, which will be available in hard and soft cover. Harris Connect will begin telephoning alumni in April to confirm contact information for inclusion in the publication. If you have any questions about the directory, contact Andrea Adams, director of alumni relations, at aadams@kcai.edu or 888-561-2586.
Additional information can be found on the KCAI alumni blog, here.
The fourth annual Art of the Car Concours will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 27 on the campus of the Kansas City Art Institute, 4415 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. The concours will feature a wide variety of vintage, classic and special cars belonging to Midwest area collectors. President Woodrow Wilson’s 1919 Pierce-Arrow Limousine will be on view at this year’s event. The car, which has been restored to full working order, is owned by the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, Va. Admission will be $12 at the door, and children age 10 and under will be admitted free. Proceeds benefit the college’s scholarship fund. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.artofthecarconcours.com or call 816-802-3483 or e-mail artofthecar@kcai.edu.
Winter intercession student mingles with gala patron.
Soundsuits performance by Nick Cave (’82 fiber)
Despite snowy weather, about 750 people attended the Kansas City Art Institute’s 125th Anniversary Gala, held in the Grand Ballroom of the Convention Center in downtown Kansas City. The event was a fundraiser for student scholarships, and it attracted the highest number of attendees of any student scholarship fundraiser in the history of KCAI. During the reception guests saw costumes modeled by KCAI students who had participated in a winter intersession class under the direction of Georgianna Londre, fiber department lecturer. After dinner, they viewed a video that recapped 125 years of KCAI history in a four-minute video created by Frank Oviedo (’04 design) and his colleagues at Liquid 9. The finale was a performance of Soundsuits created by Nick Cave (’82 fiber). To view a video of the Soundsuit performance, click here. Many alumni attended the event, including three generations of the Ponca family: Barbara Teetzel (’65 design), Wendy Ponca (’82 fiber) and Alexandra Ponca Stock (’09 painting).
Visit the 125th anniversary blog for information on the history of KCAI, details on anniversary events and some alumni “share your memories” submissions. http://blogs.kcai.edu/125/
All alumni “share your memories” submissions can be found on the alumni blog. http://blogs.kcai.edu/alumni/
A pull-out containing information on alumni exhibitions during 2010 was featured in the Jan. issue of Alumni News. An online version can be found online: click here.
The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City has presented new ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Awards providing funding for projects by eight local artists. Award winners include Julia Cole, assistant professor and chair of interdisciplinary arts; Robert Heishman (’09 photography and art history); Peregrine Honig, who studied at KCAI; Linda Lighton (’89 sculpture); and Michael Schonhoff, assistant curator at the H&R Block Artspace at KCAI. Cole received funding for equipment for public programs and community arts projects to be offered through the Southeast Community Center as an extension of her earlier, collaborative installation of public art at Swope Park and in conjunction with a new teaching internship program. Heishman received funds to purchase a high definition video camera to use in recording his personal reconstruction of an episode of the 1980s prime time soap opera “Falcon Crest” that aired on the day he was born. Honig’s award will help cover promotional expenses for the launch of a major new print project with Landfall Press, entitled “Widow.” More information may be found below. Funding for ceramic artist Lighton will help pay for special lighting equipment to be incorporated into hanging ceramic sculptures created for the exhibition “Luminous,” which opens this spring at Greenlease Gallery at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. Schonhoff received funding toward gallery installation costs and special equipment rental for the exhibition “You’re Such a Good Sport,” which he is curating at Paragraph Gallery and Project Space.
“Widow,” Peregrine Honig
KCAI alumna Peregrine Honig previewed and signed “Widow” in February at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. “Widow” is formatted as a limited edition glossy magazine and is Honig’s third collaboration with Landfall Press, owned by Jack Lemon (’63 painting). It explores and challenges fashion culture and commercial standards of beauty. “Widow” includes selections of Honig’s work as well as work by 18 artists, musicians and photographers, including Kacy Maddux (’02 painting). Alice Thorson of The Kansas City Star lauded the piece, describing it as “sweeping in scope, yet with a laser focus on the absurdity of consumer culture’s expectations and ideals regarding women.” For more information about “Widow,” visit www.widowmagazine.com. For more information about Honig’s work, visit www.peregrinehonig.com.
Ming Fay (’67 sculpture) will exhibit new installation work in “Ming Fay on Orchard Street,” April 27 through June 6 at the Lesley Heller Workspace, 54 Orchard St., New York. There will be an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. on April 27. This exhibition will include the latest incarnation of Fay’s “Jungle,” an installation of trees, vines, fruits and other hanging oddities. Additional smaller pieces harvested from the artist’s “Jungle” will be installed on the gallery walls. Fay received his M.F.A at the University of California in Santa Barbara, and he is currently professor of sculpture at William Paterson University in New Jersey. He has received commissions for many public art projects, and his sculptures and installations have been shown all over the world.
“Forever People,” Ascot Smith (’05 photo/new media)
In February, Art in the Loop announced the latest art commission for the ARTwall, “Forever People” by Ascot Smith (’05 photo/new media). The ARTwall is a custom-designed billboard structure located on the south-facing side of the Town Pavilion parking garage at 13th and Grand Streets in Kansas City, Mo., and was created to exhibit a rotating display of super-sized contemporary art. “Forever People” is the fifth work of art to appear on the ARTwall since it began in 2006. “Forever People” includes a fictional story that Smith presents in a series of audio episodes. Viewers are encouraged to call the free phone number listed on the ARTwall billboard to hear the audio recordings. A new audio episode will be updated every other Monday and for nine months. To listen to “Forever People” call 816-412-1798 and enter the three digit code 111 followed by the pound (#) sign. The ARTwall is a project of the nonprofit Art in the Loop Foundation, a partnership of the Downtown Council of Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Kansas City Art Institute and the Kansas City Municipal Art Commission.
The KCAI special programs department is looking for local alumni who would be interested in offering in-service training sessions on the topic of their choice to area high school art educators. School district art coordinators are looking for interesting training sessions for their educators’ professional growth and development. These are held during the day twice a year. Participants could decide what they wanted to teach, how long their workshops would last and when they would be available. The workshops could be all lecture, all hands-on or a combination of both. This is a good way to give back to KCAI in a non-financial capacity and share your expertise with high school art teachers. If you are interested in this new venture, contact Shirley O’Leary, associate vice president for special programs, at 816-802-3445 or soleary@kcai.edu.
The Kansas City Art Institute has published a book that showcases work by members of the college’s full-time faculty. Entitled “Kansas City Art Institute at 125: A tribute to our faculty,” the book is now available for $19.95 at the college’s Art Supply Store, 4415 Warwick Blvd.; in the Museum Store at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St.; or by contacting info@kcai.edu.
- “As a college of art and design, our proudest moments are those when our graduates are able to thrive in their chosen fields,” Kathleen Collins, president of KCAI, wrote in her foreword. “Without a doubt, much of their success is directly linked to the deep commitment their faculty at KCAI have had to excellence in teaching and to their own growth and development as artists, designers and scholars.”
Each of 46 two-page spreads features two works by an individual faculty member, along with a brief biography and photograph. Many of the spreads include a series of questions and answers, in which the faculty member reminisces about such topics as their favorite moment at KCAI, what aspects of art and design they feel may most profoundly affect the future and what makes KCAI a unique school. The book also includes a preface by Mark Salmon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, and a summary of a round-table faculty discussion moderated by Maria Buszek, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history. The book was edited by Elizabeth Murray, communications manager at KCAI, and designed by Mary Lou Brous, who holds a B.F.A. degree in graphic design from the college and who also serves on the KCAI board of trustees. The 112-page perfect-bound book measures approximately 9.5 inches by 9.5 inches and was printed by Mpress in Kansas City.
Carl Kurtz (’66 design), professor in the School of the Foundation Year, received the Excellence in Teaching award at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Kurtz, along with Hal Wert (who was featured in last issue’s faculty spotlight), professor in the School of Liberal Arts, and Wilbur Niewald (B.F.A ’49, M.F.A. ’53), professor emeritus, attended the alumni gathering in New York on April 9. A KCAI faculty member since 1973, Kurtz also has exhibited extensively and received several awards for the arts.
His work has been shown in numerous solo, group, juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and Russia. Kurtz's work has been published in the Time/Life Library of Photography series, Print, U&Lc, Letter Arts Review, Scripsit, Calligraphy Review, Lettering Arts and Art in America.
His works are included in the collections of the University of Nebraska; Wellesley College, Massachusetts; Central College, Iowa; J.B. Speed Art Museum, Kentucky; Madison Art Center, Wisconsin; Spiva Art Center, Missouri; Galleria D'Arte Del Cavallino, Italy; Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City; Watson, Ess, Marshall & Enggas, Kansas City; H&R Block, Inc., Kansas City; The Collected Image, Chicago; The Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry, Florida; The Newberry Library, Chicago; Belger Cartage, Kansas City; Sprint Corporation, Kansas City; Dodge City Community College, Kansas; and Graphic Design Associates, Delaware.
Kurtz also has received KCAI's Distinguished Achievement Award, a Fulbright-Hays Grant, an Alliance of Independent Colleges of Art Faculty Research Grant and several Mellon Faculty Enrichment Grants.
This issue’s alumni spotlight is dedicated to the Founders of the Club 125 challenge, listed below, who donated gifts of $1,250 or more in order to create an alumni challenge grant for the 125th anniversary year. The combined sum of the founders’ gifts will create the opportunity for Club 125 member gifts to be matched. More than 70 alumni have taken part in the challenge so far. KCAI is very grateful for the generous support of alumni.
Anonymous (3)
Thomas Barrow (’63 design) and Laurie Barrow
Mary Lou Brous (’82 design)
John E. Buck (’68 sculpture)
Elaine Grove Christensen, in memory of Dan Christensen (’64 painting)
Dorothy Curry (’93 painting)
Ming Fay (’67 sculpture)
Suzie (’92 design) and Jim Harrison, in honor of
their son Robert ParkeHarrison (’90 photo/video)
Mamie Kanfer Stewart (’04 ceramics) and R. Justin Stewart (’03 ceramics)
Machiko Kashiwagi (’65 design)
Linda Lighton-Adkins (’89 sculpture)
John D. Muller (’73 design)
Wilbur Niewald, professor emeritus (’53 painting)
Margaret Silva (’85 sculpture)
Michal Sparks (’88 fiber)
John Starr in honor of his mother Irma Starr (’71 ceramics)
Patricia Stegman (’74 painting)
If you would like to submit an update for the e-newsletter, fill out the online form at www.kcai.edu/share-your-news by Feb. 15, June 15 or Oct. 15. The publication comes out three times a year in March, July and November.
Several KCAI alumni were featured in “Black & Blue: Kansas City’s Grit & Grace,” an exhibit that was on view through March 26 in the John A. Day Gallery at The University Art Galleries at The University of South Dakota in Vermillion. The exhibition was curated by Michael Schonhoff, assistant curator of the H&R Block Artspace at KCAI, who will also serve as a visiting artist for the USD Department of Art. The exhibit includes the work by the following artists: Anne Pearce (’88 attended), Archie Scott Gobber (’88 painting), Christopher Leitch (’84 fiber), David Ford, Davin Watne (’94 painting), Dylan Mortimer (’02 painting), Jaimie Warren (’02 printmaking), Jason Myers (’98 painting), Jay Norton, Jess Owings, KCAI lecturer of printmaking, John Carroll, Kent Smith, Laura Berman, KCAI assistant professor of printmaking, Megan Gallant (’02 sculpture), Peregrine Honig (’98 attended) and Schonhoff.
“Surroundings,” an exhibition featuring work by Jon Scott Anderson (’69 painting), John Ferry (’92 illustration), Richard Mattsson, professor in the School of the Foundation Year, Wilbur Niewald (B.F.A. ’49 and M.F.A. ’53 painting), professor emeritus of painting, and Jane Voorhees, instructor in the continuing education department, was on display through March 6 at Dolphin Gallery, Kansas City, Mo.
“Two Feet of Snow in NYC,” G. Augustine Lynas (’64 design)
G. Augustine Lynas (’64 design) created a snow sculpture, “Two Feet of Snow in NYC,” in response to the Feb. 10 snowstorm in New York. For information on the artist’s sculptures and other work, visit www.sandsong.com.
Jeanne Danforth (’68 painting) opened her own studio in Chateaugay, N.Y. in 2007, where she paints, draws and creates mixed media works. She exhibits her work frequently, and she co-manages an annual local arts festival.
Carlos Setien (’72 sculpture) unveiled two permanent sculptures acquired by J.E. Dunn Construction Co. and exhibit 12 new painted steel sculptures and four new monotypes on April 8. The exhibit, entitled “New Sculptures,” will be on view through May 28 at J.E. Dunn Construction Headquarters, 1001 Locust St., Kansas City, Mo. Purchasers of the work are invited to designate that either KCAI or Rockhurst University, receive 60 percent of the proceeds. Setien earned his M.F.A. in 1996 at Rockhurst, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Sales and donations will be administered by Douglas Drake of Drake Fine Art in Kansas City, Mo.
Nancy Purington (’73 painting) exhibited work in “Meditations on the Mississippi” through March 27 at the Art Salon at the Figge in Davenport, Iowa. Purington also will exhibit work in “Twelve Views of Water” May 28 through Aug. 8 at the Dubuque Museum of Art in Dubuque, Iowa. The exhibit will be on view during October and November at the Clear Lakes Art Center in Clear Lake, Iowa.
“Community Meeting,” Allan Winkler (’75 ceramics)
Work by Allan Winkler (’75 ceramics) and Michael Sinclair is featured on the “Artboards” at Missouri Bank’s Crossroads branch, located at 125 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. Winkler’s images of black and white paper-cut artworks, entitled “Community Meeting,” depict an eccentric cast of characters on the west billboards. According to Kate Hackman, associate director of the Charlotte Street Foundation, “Winkler’s wonderfully detailed pair of images exemplify the artist’s skillfulness in the medium of paper cutting as well as his ability to convey joy, delight and a deep sense of humanity using the simplest of means.”
“Brushpile 1,” Janet Niewald (’76 painting)
Janet Niewald (’76 painting), an artist and senior instructor of art in Virginia Tech’s School of Visual Arts, College of Architecture and Urban Studies in Blacksburg, Va., was selected for the 185th annual Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary American Art, on view through June 8 at the National Academy Museum, 1083 Fifth Avenue, New York. Niewald also is exhibiting work in a one-person exhibition, “Off the Bridge: Recent Oils and Watercolors,” through June 15 at the McCarthy Gallery at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
Lynn Rosenthal (’79 photography) exhibited an ongoing project, “Elephant Ear,” in January and February at Saint Joseph’s University Gallery in Lower Merion, Pa. Begun in 2005, the project pursues themes of fertility, aging and life and death in the cycles of the elephant ear plants that were grown in Rosenthal’s garden. www.inliquid.com
David Poindexter (’86 photo/video) exhibited two photographs in the 2010 Midland Arts Association Spring Juried Exhibition, on view through April 11 at the Museum of the Southwest, 1705 W. Missouri Ave., Midland, Texas.
Theresa Kasun (’88 painting) created a new wine still life that is being reproduced on a collection of kitchen products by CounterArt and will be sold at 250 Wal-Mart stores in Canada this spring. She also has a vineyard/wine calendar coming out in 2011 being manufactured and distributed by Pine Ridge. The artist organized a coffee and tea-themed group show at the 5th Annual Coffee & Tea Festival in February in New York. Kasun also exhibited new paintings at the festival. For more details, visit www.theresakasun.com.
Jessica Kincaid (’92 fiber) will exhibit “Habitations,” a group of new large-scale beaded works, April 30 through July 30 in the McCaffree Gallery at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan. www.jessicakincaid.com
Jeffrey Crowe (’93 ceramics) is exhibiting kiln-glass work in “e-merge 2010,” on display through June19 at Bullseye Gallery in Portland, Ore. www.jcroweart.wordpress.com; www.bullseyeglass.com/emerge/
Cat Thomas (’93 fiber) recently won the Outstanding Made for Television or Miniseries Award for her costume design work on the HBO film “Grey Gardens” at the 12th Annual Costume Design Guild Award.
‘jide Aje (’94 industrial design)
'jide Aje (’94 industrial design) presented “Paintings and Mixed Media Work by 'jide Aje” in January and February at 2739 Edwin, Hamtramck, Mich. ‘jide Aje is a Hamtramck-based artist who was educated in Nigeria and the United States and whose work reflects a deep interest in African culture and a constant experimentation with new creative processes. www.jideaje.com
“Portrait #1,” Christian Holstad (’94 ceramics).
Image courtesy of the Daniel Reich Gallery.
“The World’s Gone Beautiful,” an exhibition of work by Christian Holstad (’94 ceramics), was on view from December through February at the Daniel Reich Gallery in New York and garnered a review in the current issue of Modern Painters. Reviewer Steve Pulimood described the show as “a master magpie’s tightly focused production of bric-a-brac and brittle niceties,” adding, “The title Holstad chose for the exhibition, from a 1969 Malvina Reynolds folk tune that contemplates the world at its end, speaks to the binge and purge of conspicuous consumption, in which the users have used and the takers have taken.”
Jerry Lyles (’95 painting) exhibited work in a three-person show, “Allegories of Realism,” in February at Artbox Gallery in Indianapolis.
Ky Anderson (’95 fiber) exhibited work in a group show entitled “Paper!Awesome!” through March 27 at Baer Ridgway Exhibitions in San Francisco. www.baerridgway.com
Joshua Reiman (’95 sculpture) will show work in “Beyond/In Western NY 2010: Alternating Currents” Sept. 24 through Jan. 17 at Albright Knox Museum in Buffalo, N.Y. www.joshuareiman.com
Christina Ayala (’97 painting) exhibited “Telepathy Drawings” through March 10 at the Pinkard Gallery at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. For more information, visit the Baltimore Sun online.
Christy Georg (’97 sculpture) exhibited work in a group show entitled “EXPERIMENTS MEMORIES DEVICES Works That Measure Amplify Connect Define” in February at Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery in Fall River, Mass. She also exhibited work in “The Amazing Acoustaphotophonogrammatron” in March at Gallery 51 at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass. Georg received the Blanche E. Colman award in 2009. www.christygeorg.com
Ann Suellentrop (’97 photo/video) leads a Kansas City-based group against the use of nuclear power. For information about how to get involved, visit her at www.kcnukeswatch.wordpress.com, www.nukewatch.org/KCNukePlant.
Amy Dane Falkowski (’98 painting) and her husband, Andrew, gave birth to their second child, Walter Daniel Falkowski, on Oct. 26, 2009. The couple also has a 3 year-old daughter, Ginger.
Ellen Greene (’98 painting) will exhibit “The Last Unicorn Art Show” on April 16 at Tattoo Factory Gallery, 4443 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show honors “The Last Unicorn,” the novel and film written by Peter S. Beagel. To coincide with the gallery show, there will be a screening of the film “The Last Unicorn” on April 17 (Location TBD). A question and answer session will be conducted afterwards with Beagle. www.artbyellengreene.com
Sean O'Connell (’01 sculpture), studio manager for Genesee Center for the Arts & Education in Rochester, N.Y., exhibited functional pottery in “The Walking Hour” through March 27 at the Firehouse Gallery at the Genesee Center. www.seanoconnellpottery.com; genneseearts.org
Rachel Frank (’03 sculpture and painting) will present a theatrical performance entitled “Sleep of Reason” at 8 p.m. March 31 at the Vaudeville Park, 26 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. "Sleep of Reason" uses the allegorical narratives in Francisco Goya’s "Los Caprichos" and "The Disasters of War" series to examine the theatrical/performance implications of prisoner torture and abuse depicted in the Abu Ghraib photographs. www.rachelfrank.com
Kaitlyn Toronto (’05 fiber), owner of Hey Sailor! Hats, received the 2009 “Hatty” award from Hat Life, a leading head wear resource directory. Toronto, a resident of Vallejo, Calif., founded Hey Sailor! Hats in 2008. Since then, Toronto’s designs have been featured in two New York hat shows. Her designs also have been featured in national and international fashion magazines. For more information on Toronto’s work, visit www.hey-sailor.com.
Dan Bina (’06 painting)
Dan Bina (’06 painting) recently became engaged to fellow artist Katya Mezhibovskaya. For information on her work, click here. Bina also exhibited work in a group show entitled “The Hidden Wisdom: Free Range” in February at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, N.Y., and he was listed on Svartkonst magazine’s Web site. Visit Bina’s blog at www.danbina.blogspot.com.
The Charlotte Street Foundation has selected Ari Fish (’06 ceramics), Sonie Ruffin and Caleb Taylor to receive unrestricted cash awards of $10,000 each. The Charlotte Street Awards recognize Kansas City-based artists who are creating outstanding artwork and provide financial support, critical attention and increased exposure for these artists with the aim of fostering their continued artistic and professional development. Fish’s work bridges fine art and fashion, spanning from conceptually-driven costume and clothing design to drawing, performance and installation.
Rena Wood (’06 fiber) recently won an award of excellence at Art Saint Louis’s juried exhibition “Articulated Vision.” For more information, click here.
Would you like more traffic to your individual Web sites? E-mail your Web site links to the alumni relations office at alumni@kcai.edu. They will appear on the alumni relations Web page. The following alumni have been added recently:
Bill Hesterberg (’60 printmaking)
www.hesterbergpress.com
Jon Scott Anderson (’69 painting)
www.jonscottanderson.com
Irv Tepper (’69 ceramics)
www.irvintepper.com
Lawrence McFarland (’73 photography)
www.lawrencemcfarland.com
Gogi Millner (’76 ceramics)
www.cornishhillpottery.com
Debra Peebles (’78 painting)
www.indigenousexchange.com
Wendell Wilson (’78 design)
www.designasaurus.com
Sandra Ure Griffin (’79 printmaking)
www.sandrauregriffin.com
Brenda Cole Seymour (’80 design)
www.muralarts.com
Eric Brightfield (’82 design)
www.imagefiction.com
Don Nakamura (’84 ceramics)
www.donhnakamura.com
Patrick McGee (’85 sculpture)
www.adequatearts.com
Karin S. Ronning-Meagher (’85 painting)
www.sumofmum.blogspot.com
Lucy Fletcher (’86 design)
www.perchhill.com
Laura Zeck (’87 printmaking)
www.ShortStoriesPress.com, www.ZincConcepts.com
Jessica Kincaid (’92 fiber)
www.jessicakincaid.com
Meg Levine (’93 ceramics)
www.meglevinedesign.com
Chris Kienke (’94 illustration)
www.kienke.com
Rebecca Hahn (’96 printmaking)
www.rebeccahahn.com
Susan White (’96 sculpture)
www.susanwhite1010.com
Christy Georg (’97 sculpture)
www.christygeorg.com
Ann Suellentrop (’97 photo/video)
www.kcnukeswatch.wordpress.com
www.nukewatch.org/KCNukePlant
Nemo Gould (’98 sculpture)
www.nemomatic.com
Ellen Greene (’98 painting)
www.artbyellengreene.com
Brian Stinemetz (’99 painting)
www.freshrefresh.com
Shawn Sanem (’00 painting)
www.ssanem.com
Adam Sirkin (’00 design/illustration)
www.ginkgosynthesis.com
Meredith Host (’01 ceramics)
www.meredithhost.com
Beth Allison Wickerson (’03 photo/new media and art history)
www.wickersonstudios.com
Travis Porter (’05 design)
tarviskc.blogspot.com
Erika Hanson (’06 fiber)
www.elhanson.com
Kat Dison (’07 sculpture)
www.katdison.com
Katie Watson (’07 photo/new media)
www.katie-watson.com
Ryan MacDonald (’08 painting and creative writing)
www.briefepigrams.blogspot.com
April Hernandez (’09 ceramics)
www.aprildhernandez.wordpress.com
Rachael Longgrear (’09 painting)
www.dirtyprettyartkid.blogspot.com
In what decade was fiber added as a major at the Kansas City Art Institute? (Hint: The answer can be found on the 125th anniversary blog: http://blogs.kcai.edu/125/.) The first to respond correctly to alumni@kcai.edu will receive a prize.
A) 1950s
B) 1960s
C) 1970s
D) 1980s
Patricia A. (Pat) George (’48 fashion illustration) of Kansas City, Mo., passed away on Dec. 20, 2009. After graduating from KCAI she taught several classes there, and she worked with students in an advisory role. She maintained a strong connection to the Art Institute and was an active alumna. George started her career as a fashion artist, illustrator and designer at Harzfeld’s in Kansas City in 1949. George excelled at this work and created many award-winning ads. She had a distinctive style and was recognized locally, nationally and internationally for her work. She was especially proud of an ad she created in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the Christian Dior Collection at Harzfeld’s. She received a response from Mr. Dior himself. While at Harzfeld’s, George designed and drew many covers for The Independent Magazine. In 1972, she began a freelance art and advertising career. She did work for many of the fine stores in Kansas City including Jack Henry, Gerhardt Furs, Au Marche, Superlatives and others. George also exhibited her paintings in many local art shows including the Plaza Art Fair and juried shows at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The Junior League and KCAI. She did a number of one-woman shows throughout the Kansas City area. Her work is represented in permanent collections of area businesses and individuals. George was preceded in death by her parents, J.D. and Jane George, and her cousins Peggy Sandifer and Fred Brower. She is survived by cousins Cheryl (Don) Hagedorn of Leawood, Kan., and their sons Brian and Brett; Carol (Larry) Young of Cleveland, Mo., and their children Erik (Hallie), Belton, Mo., and Andrea (Jessie), Kansas City, Mo.; Lottie Lee Coker, Bill Huddler and Judy Allin, Independence, Mo.; Linda Davidson, Lisa Lindsay and Chris Brower, all of Colorado.
Calvin Maglinger (’49 design) died Jan. 20. After his graduation from KCAI, Maglinger worked for 12 years as manager of creative services for Texas Gas Transmission Corp. He retired from the Evansville Courier and Press, a Scripps Howard newspaper, after 21 years as art director. More than 20 of Maglinger's paintings have had prints sold nationally. His Regional Art Series, popularized in the 1980s, has been well received and has won wide acclaim. A recipient of numerous awards, the artist has been honored with solo shows and his originals are in the collections of a number of Midwest art patrons. Maglinger was given a special medallion from the Indiana State Museum for the painting “Foggy Morn.” His painting “Quiet Time” appeared on the Artists of America calendar in 1995 and he completed historical paintings of the Ohio River for the Casino Aztar Evansville riverboat in 1999. Calvin was preceded in death by his infant son, Phillip Irwin Maglinger; and by siblings J.W., Woodrow, Hoover, Homer, William and Odelia. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; sons Stan (Cathy) Maglinger and Paul (Jenny) Maglinger; grandchildren Brad (Meredith) Maglinger, Jennifer (Kevin) Banning, Jessica Maglinger and Andrea Maglinger; great-grandchildren Alexis, Isaac and Isabella; and by siblings Fred Maglinger Jr., Ozzie Maglinger and Hazel Miller. He was lifelong friends with Hugh Walkinshaw (’49 design), who died the same day (please see below).
Hugh Walkinshaw (’49 design) died Jan. 20 at his home in Lexington, Mo. After graduating from KCAI, Walkinshaw worked as a commercial artist in Kansas City and Wichita before settling in Tulsa, Okla., in the 1950s as a freelance artist. In addition to commercial art, he was very successful with cartooning, with cartoons appearing in The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan and other leading magazines. He taught transparent watercolor painting in Tulsa and later expanded into watercolor workshops throughout the country. He was a member of the American Watercolor Society, Kansas Watercolor Society and many other art organizations. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Corps and served in WWII as a pilot. He is survived by his wife, Helen Jean; his son, Hugh, Jr.; his daughter Debra (Richard) Humble; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was lifelong friends with Calvin Maglinger (’49 design), who died the same day in Evansville, Ind.
Greg Graham (’72 sculpture) died at home Feb. 20 after a short battle with lung cancer. His wife, Christie Boulding, his daughters, Meredith and Emily, and his sister, Sherry Graham Nelson, were at his side. A native of Minneapolis, Graham graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota and a B.F.A. from KCAI. Graham was a creative entrepreneur who founded and ran four contracting companies. His specialty was residential renovation, although his most recent company, Graham Contracting Inc., also did commercial work. In the mid-1990s, Graham sold Graham Contracting to its employees out of a conviction that the people who did the work should share in the ownership. The firm was cited in John Abrams book, “Companies We Keep: Employee Ownership and the Business of Community and Place.” Graham remained active in the business until 2008. A passionate sailor and antique car enthusiast, Graham restored many antique cars and owned several sailboats during the course of his life. He raced sailboats and ice boats in Minneapolis from an early age. He and his family spent many summers on Buzzards Bay on their Alberg 35 sloop. In 2008 Graham and his wife bought a 45-foot Downeaster Schooner, had an estate sale to get rid of most of their possessions, rented out their house in Wayland and moved aboard the sailboat. They returned to life ashore once his illness was diagnosed. In addition to his wife, daughters and sister, Graham is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
