KCAI Blogs

President Kathleen enjoys some fun with KCAI students at the 125th Anniversary Gala

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. 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 montage 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, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/PrinzDigital#p/a/u/0/isyJKJaozK0.

The strength of today’s fiber department at the Art Institute derives from faculty who are passionate about themselves as artists and educators. Fresh in their approach to teaching, fiber faculty members focus on the whole student.  Professor and chair Jason Pollen is quick to extol the skills developed by students with the discipline and focus to excel in fiber.  Students hone analytical skills, becoming designers and problem-solvers in an interdisciplinary environment.

Consider the lineage of KCAI’s fiber department.  In October of 1940, with war on the horizon, Time Magazine wrote of the Art Institute as the first school to launch a civilian and industrial research camouflage training program.  In the following years, the fashion design department furnished approved uniforms for defense workers.  Although the school had a steep drop in enrollment during the WWII years as both students and faculty went to war, the school’s efforts to prepare for the post-war enrollment surge included adding studios to the fashion design building, Epperson House, in 1945.  In 1948, a young Robert Rauschenberg enrolled as a student of the fashion design department.

Fashion design class, 1948

Through the school’s ups and downs, both fashion design and interior design remained as active courses until a curriculum reorganization in 1960, in which the fashion design course was eliminated, and interior design was moved to the industrial design program.

In the mid-1970’s, fiber was added as a major in a newly created crafts department under ceramic artist Ken Ferguson.  Studio space dedicated to fiber became a reality in 1978, when a wing was added to the foundation building. Professor Jane Lackey joined the Art Institute in 1980 to lead the fiber program within the crafts department.

Fiber professor Jane Lackey with Sherry Cromwell-Lacy, director of exhibitions, setting up an exhibit in the Kemper Gallery, early 1980s.

Jason Pollen, fresh from teaching stints at the Pratt Institute and the Parsons School of Design, came to the fiber department in 1983 for a one-year appointment that has extended to the present day.  There were 13 students in the program in 1983; Lackey’s focus was weaving, while Pollen’s was surface design, printing and working with dyes.

Textile printing in fiber studio, with professor Jason Pollen, 1995.

The expanding fiber program became a separate department in the mid-80’s, with Jane Lackey as chair.  The fiber department benefited from increased administrative attention and institutional support, plus an abundance of creative talent in both faculty and students.  Lackey’s tenure at the Art Institute continued until she became head of textiles at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1997.  Jason Pollen was appointed chair of the fiber department in 1998, and continues in that role.  Currently enjoying a sabbatical year, Pollen reports that he is spending focused and productive time in his studio.

Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, associate professor and acting chair of the fiber department, joined the faculty in 1997 after teaching at the University of Kansas, having received her MFA from KU in textile design in 1995. She has developed and heads the area of constructed textiles and is a leader in the use of new technologies in hand-weaving.  Tracy Krumm, assistant professor, was a lecturer in fiber at KCAI from 2003 to 2006, had a 2-year stint teaching at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and returned to the college in 2008.  Krumm is acclaimed for her site-specific large scale textile-based installations.  Kim Eichler-Messmer, special instructor, received her M.F.A. in textiles from the University of Kansas in 2007. Her large- and small-scale quilts for the wall are hand dyed and screen-printed.  Special instructors, lecturers, and visiting artists of diverse backgrounds and vision have enriched teaching and learning in fiber over the years.

As the college celebrates its 125^th anniversary year, the fiber department is flourishing, having welcomed the largest incoming sophomore class in its history.  Pollen speaks of the dedication and passion of the faculty as artists and educators in creating a marvelous learning environment; Verbeek-Cowart points to the exciting resurgence of new materials (think conductive thread), interest in DIY (think smart textiles), and the revival of craft as a hands-on medium.  Both relish the interdisciplinary opportunities afforded to students of fiber art.   Take a look at this wonderful clip of fiber student Stefanie Dlugosz talking about her experience in the fiber department: http://www.kcai.edu/academics/majors/fiber/studio-life.

Alumni memories of the fiber department

Meghan Kelly (’02 fiber and art history), an alumna who attended the Chicago KCAI alumni/prospective students gathering on Feb. 11, took some time this past weekend to reflect on her KCAI experiences.

Give us three words you would use to describe your time at the Art Institute (and why) :

intense, sensory-overload, belonging

The professor or course that most affected your work (and why):

Pauline Verbeek-Cowart once asked me why I was in art school. The question rattled my bones, and I questioned myself and my intentions. And then I found myself making conceptual work that both made aesthetic sense and mattered emotionally to me. I had answered her question. I can’t thank her enough for driving me to find and accept my art.

The best class or project you ever participated in:

Juan Ormaza’s figure sculpture block class in foundation. He worked us so hard that we had little time to think about anything else. After that class, I could see form and proportion and perspective in a new way. I could render in pen and pencil beautifully, something I had trouble doing before his class.

The course that was the most challenging and why:

Liberal arts classes in general were challenging because though I loved to read, I hated tearing myself from working on my studio art. Now I realize that besides the actual information learned, the class structure itself was a lesson in time management that would very much carry into the real world.

One lesson that you learned at KCAI that still guides your career:

If you want something, make it yourself.

Tell us which classmates were your best friends and how you’ve kept in touch since college:

Jessica (McNeilis) Braum. Even though she lives in Hong Kong and I live in Chicago, we e-mail and visit each other when we can. We can still tell each other anything and discuss openly our work.

Your college sweetheart: Kyle Sears

Favorite hang-out on-campus:

Fiber studio and, later, senior fiber studio.

The craziest thing you did while at KCAI:

Broke into haunted houses to take spooky pictures.

The funniest experience at KCAI: Beaux Arts Fashion Show

Tell us about the moment that you truly knew that you were an artist/designer:

Probably the first all-nighter I spent finishing and perfecting a project due for class.

One moment here at KCAI that you will remember for the rest of your life:

I was a freshman and an upperclassman friend of a friend snuck me into the fiber department so that I could do a foundation self-portrait project using silk and dyes. I was happily dyeing away when Pauline (though I didn’t know her then) stormed in and banished me from the studio immediately.  My acquaintance had to rinse out my piece and covertly bring it to me! But from that moment, I knew where my heart lay and that I’d be joining the fiber department next year.

The hardest lesson:

That I have to struggle against my wavering self-discipline and self-doubt.

Other special memories:

The other students were the single most influential aspect of the school. Collectively and individually, we were amazing.

KCAI alumni: Share your memories and learn about upcoming gatherings at www.kcai.edu/alumni.

Letter to Applicants

The Fine Arts Institute of Kansas City was incorporated on Feb. 1, 1907. This signaled the beginning of a new era for the school, one of expansion and redefinition. The school moved for a short time to 1026 Walnut Street. In November 1907 it moved again, taking over the second floor of 113 Wyandotte. During this time the institute served Kansas City as both school and gallery. Exhibits were placed in storerooms and office buildings and were held in cooperation with the Arts and Crafts Society and other organizations. By 1916 the Institute had almost 300 members. The curriculum expanded to include sculpture. The financial base of the school expanded as well due to the generosity of several prominent citizens of Kansas City.

Image from 1915-1916 Catalog

In 1915 the school expanded to include Saturday classes for talented school children. Among those taking part was 14-year-old Walt Disney. Disney continued taking classes at the Institute until 1917.

Image from 1915-1916 Catalog

The first Beaux Arts Ball was in 1917 and immediately became synonymous with the social and artistic life of Kansas City. The ball took place in the old Casino between 10th and 11th streets on Broadway and its invitations were issued in imitation Sanskrit. The ball was wildly successful, but was not held again until 1931 due to the interference of World War I. During World War I faculty and students sold their work for the Red Cross Relief Fund and students made enlistment posters for the Navy.

A special six-page section on the Kansas City Art Institute was published last month in The Kansas City Star.

In case you missed it, visit http://newspaperads.kansascity.com/SS/Tiles.aspx?type=kcartinstitute.

On Feb. 20, Nick Cave (`82 fiber) will direct a performance of his Soundsuits at KCAI’s 125th Anniversary Gala. Nick Cave was recently featured on the cover of The Kansas City Star’s FYI section.  If you missed it, here is the link to the online version:

http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1714460.html

To purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.kcai.edu/gala.

Throughout the year, we’ll share with you information and alumni remarks about each academic department. To learn more about the foundation program, click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/foundation-video.

Here are three alumni quotes that address the School of the Foundation Year:

“I always looked at foundation being for people with too much art ‘training.’ It forces one to let go of former views, techniques and styles learned from earlier teachers and allows the student to experiment with his own new concepts. I had a hard time in it because I think my former teachers were very strong-minded and stylistic.”
-Leslie Brownstein (’75 ceramics)

“I really enjoyed the 2nd semester workshops in foundation. I did an architectural workshop where we built a stone wall structure behind the dorms.  The instructor was Dan Yarbrough (’80 sculpture) and the workshop was called “Visions in Stone.” The other two workshops were with Yoshiko Sato, one focused on light and the other one, sound.
-Jeffrey Crowe (’93 ceramics)

“Carl Kurtz, my foundation instructor, most affected my work. He is sensitive and brilliant.”
-Bronwyn McLain (’97 photo/video)

Imagine the Kansas City of the 1880s.  The city was in the midst of rapid population growth – from 55,785 in 1880 to about 125,000 in 1887. Main Street was unpaved, although sizeable portions had achieved the benefit of electric lighting.  A daily newspaper, The Kansas City Star, had been established in 1881 and was thriving. There was a Chamber of Commerce, and a board of health had been created to deal with sanitation problems. Troost Avenue was experiencing a real estate boom, especially after the Ninth Street Cable Company announced plans to put cable cars on that street.

The Deardorff Building at the southeast corner of 11th and Main housed a group of artists in the “studio quarters” of the city. At the suggestion of Mr. Fred Richardson, who was connected with the Fine Arts Institute of Chicago, the artists in 1885 formed a sketch club, “to consist of laymen and artists, meeting from house to house, to talk over art matters in general, and to judge pictures made by the members in illustration of a subject previously given out.” And the rest is history … specifically, KCAI history.

Seven artists and 24 interested citizens were listed as members in May 1886. An exhibition of the artist members, held in the Deardorff Building in the spring of 1887, was the first of its kind in Kansas City. Enjoying a large attendance, it catalyzed public interest, and served to boost support of the arts in our young city.

The sketch club became the Kansas City Art Association and School of Design, incorporated July 18, 1887, its stated purpose “to conduct a school for instruction in drawing, painting, modeling and designing, and the construction and maintenance of buildings suitable for such purposes.” A maintenance fund had been established by a group of 12 benefactors. A sum of  $2,065 raised for equipment went toward the purchase of a set of models and casts consisting of statuary, reliefs, architectural and anatomical fragments…,” together with “185 fine autotypes and photographs of noted statuary and paintings.”

The School of Fine Arts opened Jan. 2, 1888, in the Bayard Building at 1214 Main Street. Enrollment grew to 114 pupils in 1892, with members of the association numbering 264, and the school enjoying a reputation for providing fine facilities and equipment.

At some point in 1892, the school moved to 1012 – 1014 Walnut Street. This location proved to be disastrous for the fledgling art school. On the night of Jan. 12, 1893, all equipment held by the association was destroyed by fire.

In December of 1893, the Kansas City Times and Star reported “The Kansas City Art School, without a home the last few months owing to the disastrous Jaccard fire, is now located in the Y.M.C.A. Building.” 1893 was a year of financial depression, and supporters were not able to contribute replacement funds in the aftermath of the fire. The school continued in a limited way for the next 14 years.

In 1906, a movement to revive the art school idea, with the inclusion of a museum, took hold. The Fine Arts Institute of Kansas City was incorporated Feb. 1, 1907, as the successor to the previous association. Joseph C. Ford served as president. The next several years were times of relative stability, with the Kansas City Art Institute serving as both school and gallery.

1908 saw the publication of a work in three volumes: “Kansas City Missouri: Its History and Its People, 1808-1908″ by Carrie Westlake Whitney.  A chapter titled “Art Movements in Kansas City,” authored by Mrs. E. R. Weeks, covers in great detail the origins of what is now the Kansas City Art Institute. This summary is largely drawn from that account.

Welcome to the Kansas City Art Institute’s 125th anniversary blog!

When a group of Kansas Citians got together in 1885 to start a Sketch Club “to talk over art matters in general and to judge pictures,” they could not know they were creating an institution that would become a distinguished four-year college of art and design – the Kansas City Art Institute – or that in 2010 the entity they founded would be celebrating its 125th anniversary.

“Honoring the past/creating the future” is the theme for the college’s year-long celebration, and with that in mind, we plan to use this blog to share historical anecdotes, alumni memories, news stories and information about anniversary events.

We look forward to posting stories about important people in KCAI’s history, putting up lots of pictures and providing links to news articles. We plan to provide weekly posts while we chronicle the school’s history through the decades, share department memories and lots more.

Check back soon for our first post about KCAI’s start in 1885, but for now we’ll leave you with this image from 1914. From left to right, Mildred Davenport, Florence (Park) Vasconellos, Letha (Churchill) Walker and Margaret (Metzinger) Groener gather around The Saturday Evening Post during noon hour pastime in “life” classroom on a cold November day.