Kansas city, MO
partner: cory imig, melaney ann mitchell
Maura Conry and Ione Angilan at the Maura Conry Gallery Circa 1978
Project Description
Our edition of Impractical Spaces documents the history of Kansas City's artist-run spaces with a focus on exhibitions that take place in non traditional spaces like public parks, homes, or once-neglected storefronts. The timeline spans from the Kansas City Society of Artists at Lighton Studios in the 1930’s to spaces currently in operation that began in the late 70’s.
In a city that thrives on collaboration, the artist-run space has thrived in Kansas City. In this publication we look at spaces like the Kansas City Artist Coalition, Leedy Voulkos Art Center, and smaller spaces with equal impact like Dirt Gallery, The Green Door, Open House, and Locus Solus. Impractical Spaces KC tracks this history through interviews with artists, and commissioned essays by local artists and critics. In sum, this book will tie the history of these spaces to the larger cultural narrative of Kansas City's visual art scene over the last several decades, which has been defined by large and inexpensive warehouse space, cross disciplinary practice that extends to music and performing arts. Through a mix of midwestern generosity, and tapping into creative performative practices that require collaboration the Kansas City art community has become defined by adaptability and ingenuity.
Partner Biographies
Melaney Ann Mitchell is an artist, writer, and organizer based in Kansas City, MO. She was the Founder and Senior Editor of Informality Blog, an online platform for documenting the conversation about Kansas City contemporary art and culture. In addition, Mitchell was a resident artist of The Drugstore, Co-Director/Curator at a PLUG Projects, and Director of Subterranean Gallery. Her practice examines dialogues around contemporary art, artist-run spaces, and digital culture.
Cory Imig (b. 1986) is an artist based in the midwest. Her work takes the form of large scale installations that alter spaces physically, visually, and temporally. These installations are made through a process of building, moving, observing, and rearranging the assembled spaces that surround us. Imig has exhibited in numerous exhibitions across the United States, in spaces such as Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art, Hardesty Art Center, and the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute. She has attended residencies at Art Omi International Art Center, The Vermont Studio Center, and ACRE Artist Residency. In addition to her studio practice, she is a founding member of PLUG Projects, a curatorial collaboration in the Stockyards District of Kansas City, as well as Say Uncle, a nomadic residency and exhibition program. Imig is co-director for Beyond Alternatives, a symposium which focuses on artist-led organizing outside of large metropolitan areas.
Links
Money raised
$6000.00
fundraising Goal
$22,000