Charlotte Street Foundation identifies the needs and fuels the evolution of an ever-changing multidisciplinary arts ecosystem, acting as its primary provocateur. We cultivate the contemporary, the exceptional, and the unexpected in the practice of artists working in and engaging with the Kansas City Art Community
This residency year has gotten off to a wonderfully busy start. I’ve been cranking away doing lots of weaving following the busyness of teaching the Woodfired Ceramics class at the Lawrence Arts Center in coordination with the University of Kansas Ceramics Department. We had an amazing 100 hour Anagama firing with fantastic results.
We Are the Landscape, a project spearheaded by fellow CSF resident Amado Espinoza and his wife Karen Lisondra, recently debuted at Arts Asylum. It was a phenomenal performance spotlighting Indigenous ancestry, culture and liberation. The project came to embody over 20 different artists to bring the entire project to fruition. The beauty that resulted was deeply moving. I was honored to play a small part in the project by making a poncho for one section of the performance. CSF alumni, Cat Mahari, danced in the poncho and gave it so much life with her power, presence and abilities as an artist and dancer.
As I mentioned, I’ve been in the studio weaving like crazy for some upcoming shows and opportunities. I’ll be showing some weavings at Be Moved Yoga Studio in Lawrence, KS starting in early January. Here are some of my recent weavings. I’ve been doing a lot of experimentation and making smaller weavings than usual to do more testing.
I’m gearing up to head out to the Bay Area in mid January to teach an indigo dyeing workshop at Celery Space in Berkeley where I’ll also be having a pop-up exhibition of my latest wood-fired goods and weavings. Following that, I’ll head to LA to do a collaboration with a fellow weaver and then back home to the good ole Midwest. Following that endeavor, I am excited to be a part of a show, “the Head and the Heart,” at a new gallery space in the Bauer Building, Cumulus. The show will open for First Fridays on February 3rd. My wife, Monica George, and I will do a collaborative installation along with 2 other couples who will be making work. It should be an exciting and experimental project. Beyond that, I’m try to stay afloat amidst the current American climate while fighting for justice anyway and anytime I can. There is no short supply of things to fight for in our current day and at times it can be exhausting and discouraging. I am trying to focus and initiate change when and wherever I can. That being said, I’m planning a CSF collaborative project that focuses on just those things but with the power and skills of the CSF residents. More on all of this and everything soon. Thank you for reading/looking and I wish you all the best.
Live and Dye Naturally,
Neil