NCECA 2016
To celebrate the 50th annual convention for the National Council for the Education of Ceramics Arts (NCECA), Belger Arts Center and Belger Crane Yard Studios are hosting 10 exhibitions, showcasing the best in ceramics from local, national, and international artists.
Every semester: collecting KCAI ceramics 1995-2015
january 8, 2016 - march 19, 2016
at Belger Arts Center
Every Semester: Collecting KCAI Ceramics 1995 – 2015 celebrates two decades of the Kansas City Art Institute ceramics department as told by 14 regional collectors who acquired student works, often through the popular end-of-semester exhibitions. The selections demonstrate a wide range of artistic investigations and media that have long been a hallmark of the KCAI curriculum.
In addition to celebrating collectors, Every Semester gives a nod to the tenured and tenure track faculty who taught at KCAI during the same period by including works by Ken Ferguson, Victor Babu, George Timock, Cary Esser, Paul Donnelly, Jane Shellenbarger, and Misty Gamble.
desire: lighton international artists exchange program
february 5, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Arts Center
For the last 15 years, the Lighton International Artists Exchange program has fostered the sharing of ideas around the world. For this exhibition, 37 artists from 27 countries were asked the simple question, "what do you desire?" The answers, some shrouded by cultural restraints, reflect some of the most important political and social issues of the day.
the garden party
february 5, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Arts Center
Garden Party explores the fine line between the need to preserve and the need to re-imagine, re-configure, and re-contextualize the world around us. Tapping into the rich visual and symbolic history of the garden as muse, the selected artists question artificiality, preciousness, and romantic notions of the sublime.
Featuring Casey Whittier, Jessica Knapp, Kim Dickey, Kyle Triplett, and Rain Harris.
objectify
march 4, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
In Objectify, five artists utilize animal forms to mirror human psychology or serve as metaphors for social, political, or environmental issues. Beth Cavener suggests that primitive animal instincts "lurk in our depths, waiting to slide past a conscious moment."
By rekindling feelings of interconnection and wonderment, the artists challenge viewers to re-consider the idea of nature as something outside of themselves.
Featuring Beth Cavener, Peregrine Honig, Jenny Kendler, Lindsay Pichaske, and Merrie Wright.
decalomaniacs
march 4, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
Decorating with decals was once a highly technical process, invented and perfected by the ceramics industry. In the late 19th century, decals became a widely popular commodity, easily accessible to professionals and hobbyists alike. Decalomaniacs celebrates this tradition and explores how 14 artists incorporate "ready-mades" and custom imagery in their work through a variety of processes and applications.
Featuring Brian Boldon, Colleen Toledano, Erik Scollon, Jeremy Kane, Jeremy R. Brooks, Justin Rothshank, Mariko Paterson, Melissa Mencini, Meredith Host, Nathan Prouty, Pattie Chalmers, Rain Harris, Robert Lorenz, and Wesley Harvey.
the kansas city connection
march 4, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
From 1968 to 2001, Kansas City Art Institute professor Victor Babu inspired students through his unique views of art and philosophy and his sheer technical virtuosity. The Kansas City Connection pays homage to Babu by featuring work by three former students: Chris Gustin, John Balistreri, and Matt Long.
role models
march 4, 2016 - may 21, 2016
at Belger Arts Center
Celebrating the art of mentoring, the Morean Arts Center and Florida CraftArt invited 17 artists to select one person who mentored them and one person they mentored themselves. The resulting exhibitions, Role Models, demonstrates the power and importance of influence, inspiration, and trusted advice.
Featuring work by Adam Yungbluth, Alex Watson, Bede Clarke, Bonnie Seeman, Brice Dyer, Casey McDonough, Chuck Johnson, Chuck McGee, Devin O'Conner, Elizabeth Didonna, Helen Otterson, Holly Hanessian, Jeff Brown, Jeremy Wallace, Jill Foote Hutton, Jonathan Barnes, Kim Kirchman, Mark Fehl, Marlene Jack, Marty Fielding, Matt Long, Matt Schiemann, McKenzie Smith, Meghan Sullivan, Nan Smith, Norleen Nosri, Patti Warashina, Pavel Amromin, Ron Dale, Douglass Rankin, Will Ruggles, Stephan Heywood, Tammy Marinuzzi, and Ty Nicholson.
alumni gathering: red star studios past and current artists-in-residence
march 16, 2016 - March 19, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
Since 1998, Red Star's Artists-in-Residence program has allowed artists to explore their practice in a new setting with new people and new materials. In turn, each artist has enriched the program by adding their own unique experiences, techniques, and aesthetics. Alumni Gathering is a reunion of national and international artists who have influenced - and been influenced by - the Red Star Studios experience.
home base: red star studios member exhibition
march 16, 2016 - march 19, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
Red Star Studios has created an enhanced studio experience for emerging and professional ceramics artists for the last 18 years. Beyond providing acess to equipment and a place to work, Red Star supports each artist's creative process by encouraging experimentation and the sharing of experience and ideas. The resulting work is as rich and vibrant as the studio members themselves.
archie bray foundation: Resident and visiting artists
march 16, 2016 - march 19, 2016
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts was the first artist residency program for the ceramic arts in the United States. Since 1951, the Bray has hosted thousands of emerging and established artists from around the world.
Featuring work by Jennifer Allen, Crista Ames, Tim Berg, Rebekah Myers, Yoko Bove, Hannah Cameron, Chris Dufala, Christina Erives, Adam Field, Lauren Gallaspy, Perry Haas, Jeni Hansen Gard, Sarah Jaeger, Kerry Jameson, Tom Jaszczak, Kyle Johns, Gunyoung Kim, Adam Ledford, Heesoo Lee, Kelly Obriant, Kyungmin Park, Bonilyn Parker, Joanna Powell, Chris Riccardo, Kate Roberts, Shoji Satake, Yoko Sekino-Bove, Keith Simpson, Lauren Smith, John Souter, Bobby Tso, Mayu Ueda, and Bill Wilkey.
