June 8 through July 18, 2001
Curated by Raechell Smith, director of the Artspace
"Signs of the Times" explored the role of text and signage in contemporary art. Artists Jesse Howard, Jenny Holzer and Jack Pierson incorporated original, borrowed or found text in works that formally mimiced the strategies of mass communication. Each artist adopted a familiar method for communicating information, creating an alternate site for contemplating the intended message. The texts featured ranged from simple, open-ended words and phrases, to observations on daily life, personal and autobiographical statements and overt political commentary.
May 4 through May 19, 2001
Organized by Heather Lustfeldt and the Artspace
New work by more than 100 emerging artists graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute majoring in art history, ceramics, creative writing, design, fiber, illustration, interdisciplinary arts, new media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
March 9 through April 25, 2001
Curated by Melissa Rountree, curator at Hallmark Cards, Inc.
"The 1970s: Suites and Portfolios" from the Hallmark Collection presented a selection of artist prints from the 1970s. An especially significant decade for printmaking in the United States, the 1970s witnessed an exciting surge in innovative collaborations between artists and print workshops. Artists included Jennifer Bartlett, Romare Bearden, Helen Frankenthaler, Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Pat Steir, Frank Stella and Cy Twombly.
Jan. 19 through Feb. 28, 2001
Curated by Joe Amrheim, director at Pierogi, and Raechell Smith, director of the Artspace.
Pierogi, a Brooklyn based gallery, was founded in 1994 by owner and operator, Joe Amrhein. Featuring work by more than 600 artists from New York and beyond, the Pierogi Flatfiles showed artists’ works within portfolios inside of large flatfile cabinets, including works on paper, photography and mixed media. Viewers could browse through the files and view the work. This unique and interactive process allowed viewers to experience the art in a personal way. Pierogi Flatfiles was presented in Kansas City at the Artspace in 2001 in conjunction with the first Kansas City Flatfile.
Nov. 10 through Dec. 20, 2000
Curated by Raechell Smith, director of the Artspace
Lee Boroson, the first Artspace Artist-in-Residence, created a site-specific installation especially for the Artspace. "Windowbox" responded to the architecture of the gallery and addressed issues of design, aspects of navigation and perception and the psychology of space. This installation, created with more than 1,350 yards of translucent nylon fabric inflated by the building’s HVAC system and additional mechanized fans, altered and completely transformed the 3,000 square foot gallery space as it navigated viewers through a unique interior garden environment.
Sept. 22 through Nov. 1, 2000
Curated by Chris Acuna-Hansen, director of AH Gallery
Curated by Chris Acuna-Hansen, director of AH Gallery in Los Angeles, this exhibition featured new work by a group of young Los Angeles artists. This generation succeeds a now established generation of California artists –– including Charles Ray, Mike Kelly, Chris Burden, and Paul McCarthy –– that helped to redefine contemporary art coming from California. The artists included in "Under the Influence" claimed a wide range of influences upon their work. According to art historical sources and more recent trends seen in art from California, they add things like popular culture, consumer culture, surf culture and zine culture.
Artists featured in the exhibition included Michael Arata, Philip Argent, Maura Bendett, Lisa Bloomfield, Martin Durazo, Michelle Fierro, Chris Finley, Micol Hebron, Martin Kersels, Habib Kheradyar, Charles LaBelle, Kelly McLane, Megan McManus, Loren Sandvik, Stephen Shackelford, Brad Spence, Holly Topping, Dani Tull and Julie Zemel.
Aug. 12 through Sept. 1, 2000
Curated by Raechell Smith, director of the Artspace
This first biennial faculty exhibition organized by the Artspace featured site-specific installations by new faculty members at the Kansas City Art Institute. Included in the show were Marjory Amdur, Russell Ferguson, Dwight Frizzell, Adriane Herman, Leeah Joo, Juan Ormaza, Mark Sculer, Paul Sebben and Pauline Verbeek-Cowart.
The Kansas City Art Institute's viewbook provides an overview of KCAI's academic programs, students, faculty, alumni and campus. Download the viewbook here (PDF)