IT’S THE LITTLETHINGS
CURATOR’SSTATEMENT
It’s the Little Things
This show came about as we were discussing shows that did not require identity-driven art and allowed for more playful, lighthearted work, as well as themes that many people across demographics could relate to. The phrase “It’s the Little Things-” was perfect, as it’s thought to pre-date the Roman Empire, but is still used so commonly in the English language today. It’s versatile in that there are many ways to complete the phrase; It’s the little things that matter, It’s the little things in life, It’s the little things that make the big things happen, and many more. The phrase may differ, but the core sentiment is the same: Pay attention to the small, mundane, fleeting, and overlooked details in life, as they are the building blocks of our conscious and subconscious existence. It could mean a flash of joy and/or pain, fragments of memories, encounters, lessons learned, moments of inspiration, or sudden understanding. In a more literal sense, it could mean all the tiny physical things that make up our universe; infinitesimal quarks and atoms that make up the largest objects, the cells that compose all life on our planet, the bricks in a building, or the dust motes that cause our biggest sneezes. Also, full transparency, everyone on staff loves tiny things, so we thought, “Um, yes, please, the perfect excuse for a small works show.”
As this phrase can mean so many different things, I was glad to see such a large and unexpected variety of work come in. You’ll, of course, see tiny paintings and sculptures, but also huge renderings of small things or ideas, short poems and performances, and conceptual pieces that do not focus on physical size. Just as we’d hoped we’d find, It’s the Little Things means a lot to a large number of people.
Co-Curators - The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
Wolfe Brack Artistic Director
(L) Amy Amy McKune
Curator/
Sr. Manager of Collections
(R)
Madeline Rislow Curator/ Sr. Manager of Learning and Engagement
This show is in partnership with and co-curated by the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City.
COLLABORATION FUNDING
Performances related to this exhibition are generously funded by MidAmerica Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
SPONSORSHIP
Our exhibition sponsor for our 2024 rotation is provided by the Health Forward Foundation. Health Forward supports and builds communities where racial equity and fair access to health are the norm.
ALLISON BOWMAN
www.allisonbowman.com
@amaranthineartist
Through my mixed media collage I am exploring the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. My pieces often contain images of birds, butterflies, and plants, which serve as symbols for the connection between the two. Birds and butterflies represent the conscious mind, with their ability to soar and navigate the world with intention and clarity. Plants, on the other hand, represent the subconscious mind, with their deep roots and hidden growth that occurs beneath the surface.
Mixed media collage
x 5"
Mixed media collage
x 5"
I bring these two elements together by creating a visual representation of the connection between our thoughts and our deeper, more instinctual selves. By using a variety of materials and techniques, I seek to convey the complexity and depth of this connection, inviting viewers to explore their own inner worlds and the ways in which they are connected to the world around them. Ultimately, my hope is that my art serves as a reminder of the beauty and power that lies within each of us, and the potential for growth and transformation that is always present, whether we are aware of it or not.
Azure Enchantment
Within A Dream
AMANDA VAHLE
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
As an artist in residence at Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists, Amanda Vahle is always creating. Every brushstroke and choice is meaningful. Amanda loves color palettes and layered compositions that challenge the eye to settle in chaos. She uses painting to express her emotions and is constantly evolving and trying new techniques. Mountain Pool is one of a series of abstract representations of mountain landscapes. Traditionally Amanda works on very large compositions and loved the challenge of depicting large subject matter on a small scale.
Mountain Pool
acrylic on canvas
4"x5"
$75
AMI AYARS
amiayars.wixsite.com/ami-ayars @amiayars
The inspiration for this current body of work is informed by the ongoing scientific exploration and enduring mystery of the ocean floor - we know more about Space than Earth’s oceans! These small-scale organic forms made of polymer clay relate to tenacious deep sea organisms, such as the giant tube worms known as Riftia. Along with the delicate yet resilient corals, many of these creatures have been acting as types of biosensors for the planet’s changing climate, each with their own unique set of selfdefense mechanisms. The bright, neon hues of these sculptures reflect the truly bizarre phenomenon of ‘fluorescence’ undertaken by stressed corals. Corals are animals too, and they're fighting for their lives in an oddly beautiful way as if to purposefully catch our eyes. In this way, I also hope to catch the viewers' eye and bring awareness to these unsettling behaviors and their global consequences.
Terrarium Riftia
Polymer Clay, Iridescent
Acrylic Paint, Shell, Sand, Preserved Moss, Bits & Bobs, Glass 6" x 6" x 6" $180
Neon Reefscape
Polymer Clay, Iridescent
Acrylic Paint, on found asphalt
(L)4" x (W)3.5" x (H)3" $150
Remaining Fragment (Miniature Reefscape)
Polymer Clay on Glass Bead
(L)1" x (W)1" x (H)1.5"
$35
AMY ISENBERG
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
Cactus City watercolor
3.5"x5"
$45
Amy's artistic journey is a testament to the power of creativity in managing stress. Through her art, she finds a sanctuary where stress dissipates, and her inner self finds voice and form. Amy works two days a week at Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists where she creates abstract meditative pieces as well as focused commissioned animal portraits inspired by colorist portrait artist Alice Neel. Cactus City is a piece that Amy created when she was ill. Focusing on a new tiny technique helped shift her view during a tough time.
ANDREA DUBBERT
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
4"x6"
$95
Andrea Dubbert is a methodical renderer who begins with pencil then adds layers of paint or ink to create geometric interpretations of real images. Andrea is often working on commissioned pieces and has a loyal fan base as a resident artist at Johnson County Developmental Support Emerging Artists. Andrea is a three time winner of the Interhab KS Art Awards. Climb exhibits Andreas love for simplified color and shape exploration even in the small scale.
Climb
Acrylic on canvas
ANDREA SHONNA SIMON
Painting serves as a mediation on prioritization and preciousness. Making tiny paintings forces slow attention to detail for precision. The exercise in noticing helps me stay present on a daily basis, and helps me enjoy the little things
Downtown Days
Gouache and Watercolor
2.5"x3"
$160
Andreashonnasimon.com @andreashonna
Finding Blair and Sam
Gouache and Watercolor
Summer Dogs
Gouache and Watercolor 3"x2.5"
$160
Jason and Tanner
Gouache and Watercolor
ANNERAUTH
www.annerauth.com
Tiny Ants is a tribute to the ingenuity of the littlest of creatures, and also a tribute to those that have gone before us. Honoring the past helps us embrace the future with excitement and not trepidation.
Tiny Ants
(withanodtoMaryOliver’spoem,“ThisWorld”
Theantsboreintothepeonybud
Attheoldcountrycemetary
Tothesouthofthechurch.
Theantsboreintothepeonybuds
Thatlinedthecemetaryfence
Andthebushesbythegravemarkers.
Theantsalsoboreintothethepeonybushesatourfarmhouse
TheyweretrimmedbymymothereveryMemorialDayasshemadebouquets
Totaketothecemetary
Savingcoffeecansallyear
Coveringthemwithfoil
Lovinglyarrangingthepink,maroonandwhitepeonybuds,
Whichofcourse,alsoincludedtheants.
APRIL MARIE MAI
APRILMARIEMAI.COM
@APRILMARIEMAI
My approach to printmaking is both methodical and joyful, born out of love for the methods. While playing with mono printing (materials are built up on a plate, then transferred to paper, so there is only one copy of that print), I experimented with different techniques and “Apparition” was born as a ghost print (any materials left on the plate after creating a print are transferred from the plate to the next paper). This ghost print is shimmery and alive; it commands its own presence. Its title is a playful nerdy artists’ joke. What do you see in it? If it were an apparition you came across in real life, what meaning would it have to you?
Apparition
Monoprint: Acrylic on Bristol
Art Paper 5"x7" $125
BRAD FRIEDMAN
@jcds_emerging_artists
Captain Fisherman
Acrylic on Canvas
4"x6"
$75
Brad is a prolific artist influenced by popular culture and the celebration of everyday activities. He has an encyclopedic memory of fonts and logos but is also often working on commissioned silly pet portraits Brad is an artist in residence in Johnson County at JCDS Emerging Artists Captain Fisherman is one in a series of superhero inspired characters making majesty out of the mundane
BRIAN DIVELBISS
Through the lens of digital artistry, I embark on a journey to capture the essence of our planet by revealing hidden treasures and reimagining familiar landscapes. Employing innovative post-processing techniques, I unveil the unseen, beckoning viewers to venture beyond the robotic nature of our busy lives. Rooted in a reverence for nature's majesty and the shared humanity that unites us, my work serves as a testament to the beauty of diversity and the interconnectedness of all living things. By inviting contemplation and curiosity, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the richness of our planet and to awaken a sense of wonder and exploration, both within ourselves and in the vast expanse of our world.
@reallygreatsite
BRITTANY NORIEGA
I am a multi-disciplinary artist inspired by the complexities of human emotions and the natural world, with insights from Neuroaesthetics and Psychology shaping my creative process. My work reveals the intricate connections between our inner thoughts and the external environment, inviting viewers to reflect on the beauty and complexity present in both realms.
In ‘The Journey Through,’ I explore the cyclical nature of grief through the life cycle of a cecropia moth, illustrating how transformation and renewal can arise from even the most delicate and challenging moments in life.
The Journey Through 48" x 56"
Graphite on Canvas 2100
CALLIE PARROTT BOWER
@CALLIEPARROTTBOWER
My artwork is an investigation of both the interior and exterior landscapes in which I inhabit. My interior landscape references a wide variety of lived experiences: childhood, motherhood, feelings, memory, and intuition. Observations of the outer world, such as the changing of the seasons, the rolling hills of the Central Plains, or even an ordinary shadow cast on a wall, comprise my exterior landscape.
Most recently, I have been exploring collage-making. This new working method has opened up new possibilities in my art, affording unpredictable outcomes. By intuitively responding to different media, my personal sensibility is revealed.
The repetitive nature of my art calls forth a time when, as a child, I found such satisfaction and joy by using my hands to create things. Whether I was writing calligraphy in a notebook or sewing cross-stitch on long car trips, my art is reminiscent of those experiences.
Revealing Mixed media on paper 6" x 8" (Unframed); 9" x 11" (Framed) $250
CANDI PHILLIPS
In the 1980s I created and sold belts, pins and bracelets from vintage buttons. Because I bucked a trend that was just starting in California, I was able to go to estate sales and buy large jars of buttons for only a few dollars. Over the years I have divested all but a few Art Nouveau buttons... I THOUGHT!... until I found a tin box with the buttons that inspired this work.
CLARISSA KNIGHTEN
RISSASARTISTICDESIGN.COM
I am a passionate jewelry artist who enjoys creating heavily embellished wearable sculptures. These sculptures are rarely planned in advance but are instead dictated by the materials I have on hand. I am inspired to create large wearable art designs that can be seen from any point of view. I intentionally make work to spark a dialogue with the viewer.
Andromeda
Jewelry
$2500
In "Andromeda," I knew I wanted to create an art piece with only four materials and textures: brass, wire, buttons, and seed beads.
The brass base was the starting point and it holds the entire form. Then I began adding the crocheted antique brass artistic wire in various places. The clusters of tiny seed beads created a spiral reminiscent of a galaxy. Buttons were added simply because I have a zillion.
Andromeda represents a recognizable style that can be seen in a large percentage of my art.
Farnese Bottle
Stoneware and glaze
9" x4" x 4"
$300.00
I am intrigued by by the universality of ceramics and the many cultures throughout time that have found expression through this medium. The anthropomorphic form appears throughout history. In particular, the Mangbetu peoples of Central Africa in the early 1900’s employs this treatment of a clay vessel with a human head. In my
Farnese Bottle I contrast the Mengbetu approach of creating an earthy clay “body” as vessel with its extreme cultural opposite the opulence and excess of 18th century France. I employed the ship motif coiffure of Marie Antoinette who wore this style to celebrate the victory of the French frigate, Belle Poule, over the British in 1778.
DANIEL BAXLEY
fromthelodgewithdaniel.com @danielbaxleyarts
I am inspired by the natural world, spirituality, abstract expressionism and by intuition in my art. I work with a variety of mediums including fused glass, mosaics, painting, and sculpture.This sculpture was inspired by the various stages we go through in our lives, and what may happen when we transition. The piece is composed of some found objects, and many in the interior that were cast from molds, through the sculptural process poured with hot metal to form the objects, many of which were also stained and colored with various materials. Look within the piece and see how it relates to you and your life journey.
Life, Death, and Moving through the Unseen Realms
Sculpture 13x13x15
$500
ELI HUXTABLE @BABYBIGFOOTDESIGNS
My method stems from my belief that art should be accessible to everyone. No one needs the highest quality art supplies to create something they love. I typically find objects around the house, somewhere outside, or at recycling centers, so most of my supplies are cheap or free. I’ve been known to dig through the trash to find the perfect whatchamacallit for a planned piece. I also believe that art should be enjoyable! I discovered needle felting in 2022 and was so amused with it that I couldn’t stop creating. I hope that the finished products reflect how much fun I have during the process.
Bull in a China Shop
Needle Felting, Found Objects
3.5x3.5x3.5
$50
Kangaroo Court
Needle Felting, Found Objects
3.5x3.5x3.5 $50
Elephant in the Room
Needle Felting, Found Objects
EM WHITE
@MINT_WORM
This piece was a part of a portfolio where I explored how contemporary artists view themselves and experience the world around them. Pursuing art is full of self-doubt. Questions like “Am I strong enough to make this a career?” “Am I making the wrong choice?” “What if I am throwing my future down the drain?” So much is left up in the air and I constantly worry that I am doing it all wrong. But there are brief moments when I see someone else who is dressed in crazy colors with neon dyed hair, sketching in a coffee shop, carrying a cartoonishly large portfolio, out in the world living their life and I am comforted knowing that I’m not alone in this dream. Those encounters push me forward, and I hope someday I can help push others to pursue their dreams.
FRANCIS CIAMPI
@ARTHEARTS2005#
It's Always Sunny Somewhere Mixed Media Sculpture; clay, aluminum foil, wire, glue, wood, paint.
5 x 5 NFS
When I started making this piece I knew it was going to be my favorite little sunny alien, I wanted people to see what I see when seeing the color yellow endless possibilities. I made this piece with wire and tin foil and then held it together with a bit of hot glue and paper mache and painted it with bright yellow and neon orange.
I have always been fascinated by miniature works of art. As a figurative sculptor I try and capture moments in time in a permanent medium, however with this piece, I tried to capture a time and place, in miniature, using recycled and leftover materials found around my house. I really enjoyed the process of using cardboard, string, and sticks left over from having to homeschool my son during 2020. I hope it transports you to a different place and time.
Cabin
Wood, string, cardboard, paint, glue 29 by 27 by 8 $750
#1
HANNAH LANE
hlaneartist.wixsite.com/hannahlaneartist @hlaneart
In my art, I use modern technology such as code, AI, and 3D modeling alongside Renaissance art techniques to incorporate the human hand back in. I use these components to talk about how technology has interconnected us all but, more importantly, how it has created a unique reality for each of us. I specifically comment on how the “grid” or square is used to influence us. From our infrastructure to how technology is made, the grid helps communicate ideas and influence our lives. I abstract the grid formation, making it seem like tiles or even small pixels that make up a bigger picture. The title and colors of this piece specifically come from a photo from a high-end fashion photoshoot that features a child of nepotism. My art comments on my identity/feelings and how technology has shaped and changed those just as it has for billions of others.
Nepobaby Wading in Water AKA Nepobaby I
Acrylic on canvas
@JGRANT_FINEART
My miniature landscapes are intimate windows into the vast beauty of nature, specifically the oftenoverlooked gems found right here around Kansas City. I came across this beautiful scene during an early morning drive through rural Missouri and was captivated by the peaceful serenity of the farmland bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun.
I enjoy experimenting with various surfaces and materials, and recently, copper has become a particular favorite for my miniature paintings. Its smooth surface allows for fine detail and adds a subtle warmth to the paintings. I applied only a thin layer of paint in the sky to allow the copper color to provide the warm glow of the morning sky.
Gower Farmland Oil on Copper 3" x 4" $85
JAEDYN ROBERTS
@lovecommajaedyn
Paper Trail began in an effort to celebrate the beauty of the mundane and of life’s fleeting moments, things that don’t last forever but leave a mark nonetheless. Each of these pieces is handmade; many are replicas of real-life objects. Items like receipts, tickets, postcards, and birthday candles hold cherished memories that often only their owner knows. On these objects, community members were invited to write messages of love and affirmation. Their words not only deepen the meaning of the already sentimental objects, but also highlight how conversations and spoken words are often lost to time, much like the objects themselves. This project highlights sentiment and sincerity and making an effort to remember the things that can easily slip through our fingers. It is a collection of things that not only reflect memories and experiences, but the feelings that accompany them.
ISABEL FLORES
www.isabelfloresart.com
@isabelfloresart
As a Mexican woman who grew up in a society of Catholic values and even studied in a religious school during my formative years, images of saints and prayers were part of my life. With these two pieces I get in touch with those forces that surpass me. With “Exvoto to Thanks Mom: A Caregiver”, is a contemporary votive offering to give thanks to my mother, who for me personifies a caregiver. I painted her for what characterizes her, she gives you love through food, she is in her kitchen with her kitten Darby, who is already in heaven. I think it is very important to make visible this work that many women assume and that in reality is a socially assigned role. Women like my mother, who in addition to working a full day when she returned home, continued to work without pay. I relate it to the image of ants, they are small but they lift up to 50 times their weight, so my mother spent all day working outside and at home. However, it is often assumed to be an obligation and we are even born with this predisposition. My mother learned that from her mother. And with the “Pocket Alter to Pray to My Mexican Goddesses of Creation” to entrust myself to my Mexican creator goddesses. I consider stereotypes of Mexican women internally and socially block many who have transgressed traditional roles. The women in these portraits are Mexican artists who have received little recognition for their brilliant work in comparison with the “genius” men artists. They were even blocked by men with power who considered them insufficient. They are: Elena Garro, Maria Izquierdo, Rosario Castellanos, Aurora Reyes and Pita amor.
“Pocket Alter to Pray to My Mexican Goddesses of Creation” Mixed media 7.5x10 in. $250
“Exvoto to Thanks Mom: A Caregiver” Oil on wood. 8x6 in.
$250
JAMES RAMIREZ
JANICE "JWOO" WOOLERY
@jwoo668
This piece began with an antique book that had been thrown into the trash. The front page in the book was a gift dedication that had been lovingly written, using calligraphy, and then rebound with the book. I took that page, glued it to the canvas, and slowly painted over it with acrylic.
I hope the spirits of those unknown to me appreciate the piece.
Untitled Paper and Acrylic 16x20
$150
JASON COMOTTO
@_MEATPOPSICLE_
This work is a love letter not only to analog media, but to my family. These pieces are from a body of work that explores the weight of inherited stories against the ones they naturally contain. When I see one of these cassette tapes I think about my parents old Astro van and morning drives with my Mom.
Jason Ondersta’s work centers on human figures, still lives, and surreal scenes, exploring the complexities of the human condition.
Onderstal’s artistic identity is characterized by a profound and familiar engagement with the theme of mental health. His work is meticulous and extremely focused. The artist exhibits a proclivity for recurring motifs in his creations, such as prescription medications and intimate locations that display a sense of symbolic depth and allegorical richness. Onderstal’s paintings on linen, canvas, and wood panels are known for depicting both his life long struggle and ongoing attempts at mental health recovery.
JASON ONDERSTAL
jasononderstalart.etsy.com
@Jason_onderstal_art
JOHA BISONE
Lately I have been pushing myself to work larger. To step out of my own comfort zone. So thinking about this show, I went with it in regards to the size of the actual work and also I am a sucker for tiny details so it really IS the little things that make me excited inside a painting, no matter how big or small the actual piece is. Details are everything! At least to me. I have a few smaller pieces going at a time while working on something bigger. The two pieces submitted have been by my side for awhile now and I finally finished them for this show. They both contain bright colors, fluid forms, and textures that get me really excited. I take this information and create otherworldly landscapes. Hints of realistic imagery are intertwined with organic abstract elements. Using intuition and curiosity to lead the way!
Inwards and Upwards Acrylic
WWW.JOHNECK.COM
@RAFTER.E.STUDIO
“Trained and practicing as an architect, my work in clay is naturally influenced by many of the same principles I explore in architecture: geometry, proportion, repetition, texture and scale. However, freedom from architectural program allows me to further explore ideas of architectural archetype and “remembered form”— monuments and mausoleums, ruins and excavations, cliff dwellings and geoglyphs, constellations and topography forms and patterns that are embedded in our memories through our individual life experiences. These experiences, in turn, might lead each of us to relate to and interpret the abstraction in this art in different and unexpected ways.”
JOHN ECK
Constellation 2
Stoneware, Slip and Gold Luster
6" x 6" x 1.5"
$150
Constellation 1
Stoneware and Porcelain Slip
6" x 6"x1.5" deep
Texture Tile 2
Stoneware and Porcelain Slip
5 5" x 5 5" x 1 5" deep
$150
$150 featured in
$150
Texture Tile 1
Stoneware and Porcelain Slip
5.5" x 5.5" x 1.5" deep
KAREN CASE
@artbyk.case
I am a representational painter based in the Kansas City area. Oils are my paint of choice, and I typically paint from life in studio and outdoors. 'Slider' was the first painting I completed while my mom was in hospice care in late June 2024. It is a tiny painting of an insignificant object, but painting it made things a little less bleak. For a few hours, I focused on applying paint to canvas and nothing more. Sometimes the process of creating art is more important than the result.
Slider Oil
KATEOFFILLART@GMAIL.COM
@KATEOFFILLART
What started with a simple gift of milkweed seeds to my mother has evolved into a cherished tradition of nurturing caterpillars and celebrating their transformation into butterflies. “Monarchs” reflects on the beauty of small beginnings and their potential to inspire growth and connection, illustrating how little things can ripple out to create meaningful, transformative experiences.
Monarchs oil
16 x 12
$330
Creating small dioramas allows me to capture the essence of an idea in a confined space. They offer a way of transforming imagination into a visible reality and encourage closer examination. Each diorama is a snapshot of a narrative, a moment that invites viewers to step into their story.
KATIE ZEMEL
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
While serving as an artist in residence at Johnson County Developmental Support Emerging Artists, Katie Zemel loves working with colorful palettes found in nature. She translates her inspiration through a unique lens, often cropping the source images or reframing the point of interest on the canvas. Katie does not really like to explain her individual pieces. She finds the art is a language in and of itself.
Sunset acrylic on canvas
5"x5"
$85
The Huntress mixed media 5"x7" $75
KELLY SCOTT
@KELLYSARTTHROB
My artistic practice serves as an avenue for my personal reflections and inner meditation. Expressing complex emotions and concepts through the interplay of colors, lines, and textures on paper helps me find the language to clarify them.
This watercolor, ink, and acrylic painting delves into the detailed elements that form a unified whole, while suggesting that each "whole" is part of a greater interconnectedness. Regardless of one's perspective, there is always more waiting to be discovered.
I invite viewers to immerse themselves in each circle, exploring its unique marks, patterns, and hues, and then to step back and contemplate the entirety of the piece. My intention is for this artwork to inspire a sense of wonder at the delicate intricacies that surround us, routinely overlooked, and to prompt reflection on how these intricacies harmonize within the broader world
KIM LINDABERRY
Infinity - They They
Infinity - He He
My art challenges traditional notions of beauty and reimagines our connection to each other and the universe. My "Infinity" humanoid figures serve as portals into realms where time, gender identity, and cosmic narratives intertwine. Echoing the spirit of Janus, the Roman god of duality and transitions, these figures embody both the past and future while existing in the present. Fusing mythology, science, ritual, and everyday life, my work pulsates with the essence of the cosmos. Through my art, I invite exploration of gender identity, existence, and the layers of our shared human experience. I invite you to join conversations and explore the mysteries of existence, and reflect on the myriad layers of our shared human experience. Infinity - She He
LAURA KING
www.laurakingfinearts.com
@laurakingfinearts
My paintings play in a world of impressionistic realism and abstraction. I love to use lots of materials: watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pastel, collage, graphite, ink, medical exam paper and more For this exhibit, I've taken a more traditional approach with watercolor, Flashe acrylic and gouache, painting ordinary foods in stillness, deep color and moody atmosphere. Do you like breakfast for dinner? Perhaps adding a cosmo twist? How about lamingtons? I dream of traveling to Australia, home of lamingtons, and recently did a deep dive into recipes for this little cake. Decided to paint some instead. I'm in my art playground and loving it! I hope you will too!
Breakfast for Dinner
Flashe acrylic on paper
11" x 15" framed to 18" x 22"
$250
Lamingtons Down Under watercolor on paper 9" x 12" framed to 12" x 15"
$195
LEE GIESLER
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
Lee Giesler is a driven talent currently working as an artist in residence at Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists. Interested in complex characters, landscapes, and color combinations, Lee is constantly sketching and building up his visual vocabulary. When asked to reflect on Magic Remote Lee wrote, “This is a one-handed remote controller… for old wild west to change to toddler wild west and tiny babies wild west… and change back to old wild west.” Lee is a proud uncle who used this opportunity to create a little magic thing for his tiniest magical family members.
Magic Remote
acrylic on canvas
3"x9"
$75
LINDA JURKIEWICZ
HTTPS://LIZZER58.WIXSITE.COM/LINDAJURKIEWICZ
@LINDAJURKIEWICZ
My name is Linda Jurkiewicz. A woman’s challenge of self-determination dominates my mind and work. I grew up on the cusp of the Second Wave of Feminism and I believed that I was on the tipping point of women getting their rights. I was sure that my generation was going to be the recipient of this new open-mindedness and fairness for women. Today, I continue to be reminded that the scale not only did not complete its tip but has reversed its course in many areas of women’s lives.
My insights are transmitted through personal narratives, mine, and others. I want the viewer to be reminded of the daily conflicts experienced by women in our culture; unequal domestic expectations, unpaid roles as caretakers, sexualization and exploitation of women and girls, and generational struggles with body image.
6% Jackpot - For Anne, Who Never Managed to Hit it Once Fiber, applique, embroidery 43" x 43"
$600
I’m a multimedia artist working with both 2D and 3D formats. I am inspired by nature, observation, and silly musings. My art merges the physical world with my thoughts and humor, creating whimsical stories and capturing magical moments. I use common and often overlooked animals and plants to show that wonder and beauty are never far.
In my ink work, using contour lines to create form and texture gives me the technical challenge I seek and opens me up to new creative solutions. I like to work small for the challenge in my sculptures and create pocket-sized art mementos.
My work aims to recreate the fun and wonder we had as kids and appreciate the many little good things around us.
I Was the Walrus Ink
x 3.5" $50
GoldenToad
Devil'sTower
LISA HEALEY
WWW.LISAHEALEY.COM @LISAWILDHEALEY
Photography creates a magnifying glass that emphases details of the world around us. The play of light and shadow captured by the camera gives depth to these images. This medium creates a vehicle for illustration, expression and narrative.
My art is the expression of the beauty I find in nature in attempts to draw people into understanding the importance the natural world. Using macro photography can bring people in to a closer examination of natural objects. Galaxy is a microscopic photograph of citric crystals using a polarizing filter. Maybe my photography of natural objects can move people to take responsibility and action to do what we can to appreciate and conserve nature.
Galaxy photography 11"x17"
MACKENZIE FULMER
mackenzieillustration.com @mackenzieillustration
MacKenzie Fulmer's sketchbook practice and penchant for collecting vintage objects informs her painting practice. She explores the distortion of memory and nostalgia through studies of domestic objects. What started as technical exercise became a new way of capturing herself more honestly than a portrait. They are her likeness built by ever-changing tastes and share insight to her inner world.
Toy Pigeon
MELANIE NOLKER
Melanienolkerart.com
Fascinated by stained glass that I enjoyed on a trip through Italy, I sought to create my own contemporary take on the medium. Using my palette knife and oil paints I experimented with two-sided glass pieces that I would paint on one side while looking on the other side with each stroke to see if that also pleased my eye. Once dry, I sandwiched the paint with another pane of glass and set the miniature landscapes in a block of wood as a small table ornamentation. The small paintings (3x3 and 4x6) can be viewed from either side, creating different effects and moods.
Birch under Glass Oil on glass
4x6
$125
Mirrored Poplar Oil on glass
4x6
$125
MICHELE RENEE SHERLOCK
I am fascinated by the way in which abstraction and geometric forms allow a person to define a painting from their own point of view. Watching the connection happen between the viewer and the painting is an exciting thing to observe. My inspiration for my paintings comes from my love of design, architecture, color, cultural connections, and my worldwide travels. The mediums I use are acrylic paints, oil pastels, graphite, and texture paste. These mediums allow me to tell stories in my paintings through larger paint strokes, and smaller elements that surprise the viewer when they see the painting up close. My compositions are based on the square, straight lines that intersect, and at times organic forms that create spatial environments. I focus on the elements of geometry, harmony, and movement. My creative process is representative of the way I create my life, layering on meaning as I learn and grow.
Geometric #1
Acrylic on Canvas 12x12
$135
Geometric #2
Acrylic on Canvas 12x12
$135
MOLLY FARRIS
@SATALIZAR
I began creating smaller vessels, bowls and vases, not really understanding how they took my energy, but knowing they held a little of my story. I wrote poems, burning them and putting the ashes in the tiny pots, and although they all soon crumbled, I learned the process was healing.
My vessels contain the stories of my childhood; the stories we try to hide from even ourselves. When you hold one of my pieces, you experience the sadness of a young girl or the fear of a child making a mistake.
My piece, Mother’s Vase, for example, was created from bright and colorful glaze that gives off the impression of warmth. But underneath the glaze is warped imperfection. The outside appearance is only a fraction of the truth of anyone’s story, and only by looking close are we able to see any of the imperfections often hidden inside our vessels
NATASHA RIA EL-SCARI
NATASHA RIA EL-SCARI
Seven small poems about the big life of women and the work we do:
Woman’s Work 1
The dirt in my nails…
The lint between my toes…
The sweat between my breasts must live there one more day
‘Cause I got shit to do.
Woman’s Work 2
The dishes in the sink
Birth the laundry
Birth the scum in the shower
Birth the dust bunnies
Steal the sleep of women.
Woman’s Work 3
Appointments, expresso, programs, crackers,
Zooms, leftovers, meetings, wine, Conferences, Xanax…repeat.
Woman’s Work 4
Sleep or make love
Rest or make love
Errands or make love
Make love or pass out
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Woman’s Work 5
Rest is the resistance to keep going even when you said You’d rest You announced to everyone I AM RESTING!!!!!
After I, after I, after I, check my emails.
Woman’s Work 6
Saturday is the new Monday. 21 is the new 15. 25 is the new 10.
Grown kids are the new monsters. 48 is menopause rising… dryness below and sweat above.
Woman’s Work 7
Every God deserves a sabbath. Pull the covers over my head. Ignore the buzzing from my phone.
Cuddle with the Big N and binge. Rest is only when i hit the wall. Monday i start all over again.
NATHAN WALKER
As Kansas City's premier photographer of parking lots - I capture ordinary things extraordinarily. An anti-travel photographer, I confine my exploration to so called flyover country and wouldn't have it any other way.
I engage all aspects of the artistic process. I print my work at home in 13 colors with the highest quality pigments and papers I know of - Lucia Pro Inks and Hahnemuhle paper. Then I seal it twice to create a product that endures.
A Glimmer of Warmth
NETTIE ZAN
Play the Tune Again acrylic and
3'x3'
$300
The viewer is invited to hold, peruse, and rearrange this unbound book titled "the small gods of animals". There are 90 original paintings in the book, each with spiritual writing on the reverse. The book is primal and could be seen, read and used as an oracle deck. The large painting, Play the Tune Again, corresponds to one of the images from the book.
the small gods of animals leather, paper, ink, marker, acrylic, watercolor 5"x7"x3"
$1,500
NICOLE EMANUEL
www.nicoleemanuelstudios.com
My entire family has what I term "Memoraphilia". After escaping Russians, Bolsheviks, famine, several wars, murder trials and Nazis, they were able to keep and hand down a variety of treasures, documents and photographs. I feel the weight of these histories without a clear sense of how to manage the stories and artifacts. The idea for an exhibition begain in 2001, but after many starts and stops, I am not discouraged. Overwhelmed, yes, defeated, no. What is our responsibility to our family histories? I don't know yet. This miniature is an attempt to visualize how I would share it.
Memoraphilia
Mixed
36" square by 10" tall
PATRICK MITCHELL
Going with the theme of this show, my response is this “It’s the little things that make childhood great”. So this piece is a collection of items that I remember fondly from my childhood that I believe many from my generation can relate to as well.
Nostalgic Katamari Gouache on Wood Panel
36in x 37 in $1000
PHIL DUNN
@phildunnartkc
This is a big abstract painting of biological processes on a microscopic level. It evolved out out of layering several layers of color on top of each other. My final application was a combination of off white and graphite. I then used a masonry trowel to slowly scrape away layers to reveal colors underneath. The lines created began to evoke imagery of central nervous systems, organs and other biological forms being created out of the ether
This abstraction was created by adding layers of paint and then removing portions with a pallet knife. initially the figure was going to be completely humanoid that was passing through an x-ray device, however I made a mark on the top middle section of the first panel that looked like a hummingbird head. I realized that earlier that day my girlfriend and I were enjoying our coffee outside and watching our hummingbirds that we love hosting every year. My subconscious is the little engine that drives my work. Once the figure emerged I layered more paint on top and pressed the third panel onto the first while the second panel represents the image transforming on a molecular level before re emerging on the third
Just Passing Through AKA Hummingbird X-Ray
acrylic and Resin on canvas
16" x 36"
$650
Primordial Landscape
RYAN SIKES
@JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS
Ryan Sikes paints spontaneously. He is an intuitive painter meaning that he gets into “flow” and goes. He does not start with a plan or use specific inspiration images. Everything is improvised. For this piece Ryan chose to start by thinking about his little reusable glass lunch containers. From there he reflected on how he hopes to impact or not impact the environment through small daily actions. From this consciousness stream came Hand Jar.
Hand Jar
acrylic on canvas 10"x20"
SAMANTHA HERDMAN
In an overly digital existence, traditional art helps keep me connected to the physical experience of the world. Painting the frogs and toads has been a way of exploring the beauty in the ordinary, overlooked, and rejected. They're also just fascinating creatures.
SARA TAYLOR-HINDS
Sara Davina Taylor-Hinds is a textile artist from Overland Park by way of England. Textiles have always been her creative outlet but until recently none of her work has been public. Inspired by the “Art is Therapy” concept after a stay in the hospital and in seeing the call for the “Her Art Their Art” show Sara shared some of her work and received great encouragement. Creating art is therapy. Sharing art is therapy.
Around and Around in Circles Thread, mixed media
$175
It’s the Little Things That Matter Thread, mixed media
$80
Twinkling Little Star Lights the Night Thread, mixed media
$90
Midnight Flowers Blooming Thread, mixed media
$175
Rainbow Colors In Blue Thread, mixed media
$150
SHARON RODRIGUEZ
@RODPHOTO1022
Sharon Rodriguez, an awardwinning Photojournalist likes to tell stories with her Fine Art Photographs. This photograph, "Tank at the Vet" is part of Sharon's Recovery Story. She wanted a cat during her illness recovery. She watched this big black cat on Wayside Waifs Cam for several days.She put in an application for him.She got the call on the way home from a procedure. She had adopted a big black cat. That began the sweetest safest relationship she could have during the Pandemic. This picture was taken while Tank and Sharon waited for the vet to do a normal routine checkup. Just like Sharon has follow up checkups, so does Tank. They have been together for 3 years now. When she is resting, he lays on her chect or stomach to nap. Cats are compassionate!
Tank at the Vet Fine Art Photography 8 x 10 $100
SHELLY PINTO
WWW.SHELLYPINTO.COM
SHELLYPINTO _ ART
For me, the circle is a symbol of our co-existence in multiple cultures that goes beyond what is. It is a shape of oneness that is complete and whole in itself. In my "Baby Eclipse" piece I have used the arches within the circle as an abstract shape that goes on infinitely beyond the edges and scope of any edge of the border. By working in circles, I find dual realities of cosmic rhythms and the unlimited possibilities that I like to explore in my art-making practice. In my creative process for "Kaleidoscope #60," I have incorporated a hand-transfer process of archival inks merged with acrylic paint onto a birch board panel then sealing with a layer of clear resin. I feel the resin coating intensifies the color and multi-layered effects of the layered mediums.
Kaleidoscope #60
Resin-covered acrylic paint and digital art transfer, hand-collaged on birch board panel. 6" diameter $150.00
Baby Eclipse
Acrylic Paint on birch board panel covered in Resin 6" diameter $175.00
SHERRI JACOBS
A Wisp of an Idea
Heartlandarttherapy.com
@heartlandarttherapy
One of the smallest things is the beginning of an idea. Newer technology allows this esoteric concept of size to truly be measured by observing activity in the human brain. Neural networks literally grow in size and complexity as an idea evolves.
The largest thing in the world is a fully articulated idea. This esoteric reflection of size is perhaps the primary component that separates Homo Sapiens from other living beings. The size and complexity of ideas might be challenging to measure in a concrete way, but easy to understand when reflecting on the impact of concepts such as war, peace, religion, inventions, innovation, and destruction. Each thing we have created in this world was once a tiny wisp in a person’s head, barely detectable with the most advanced technology.
SHIRLEY HARRYMAN
shirleyharrymanphotography com @stonehouse
Shirley Harryman’s photographs are attempts to capture moments from daily life and travels that evoke a sense of timelessness, reflection, and a hint of mystery. A native of Kansas City, Missouri and a lifelong artist, designer and photographer. Her interests also include alternative processes and photo-encaustic collage She has been working as an experiential graphic designer for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art since 2007.
Shirley has been doing group and solo shows of her photographic work since 2000. Since the pandemic, she has redirected her focus on photography as well as joining the board of the Kansas City Society of Contemporary Photography to help promote fine art photography locally and regionally
Photography, archival inkjet print on rag paper
20.5 x 20.5" $350
Photography, archival inkjet print on rag paper
20.5 x 20.5 $350
Photography, archival inkjet print on rag paper
20.5 x 20.5 $350
Calm Waters in a Toy Boat
Rough Seas in a Toy Boat
Campfire Contemplation
STEPHANIE DODSON
@summerwindstudio
After two decades as a graphic designer, primarily in a corporate environment, I gravitated toward fiber as a way to reconnect with art through the use of organic materials For this piece, I used small scraps from other, larger works, to create a pieced background. Not only were those scraps saved from the landfill, they also provide both depth and movement. The face and hair were fused and then quilted both by machine and by hand. The serpents represent how individuals rely on the power within themselves to overcome life’s challenges and obstacles. My artwork is designed to draw the viewer in close to see details not noticeable from a distance.
Untitled Fiber 14x14
$600
TARA KARAIM
https://tara-karaim.squarespace.com/ @tarakaraimart
This painting is the first of a new series called "Out with Friends," where I aim to celebrate the people who fill my life with joy. Through these portraits, I want to capture the beauty of everyday moments and visually explore the essence of friendship in today's world.
For example, in this painting of my friend Brittnee, I’ve portrayed a brief moment of introspection. I love this candid moment because it goes beyond the usual smiles and laughter of socializing it shows those quiet, genuine connections that make friendship so meaningful.
I hope these portraits resonate with others, offering glimpses of vulnerability and intimacy that we all experience when we're with friends. My goal is to capture these authentic moments and spark reflections on the richness of human relationships in our modern lives.
Brunch with Brittnee Acrylic on Canvas
24” x 36”
$1,500
TERRI POLLACK
Tiny Flowe i Relief Print 1.5" x 2.5"
Tiny Flower I with color Relief Print 1.5" x 2.5"
VICKI WATTS
Art has always been part of my DNA. After a long career with a greeting card company, I cracked open the chest in the basement and brought out my art supplies from college. Now that I’m retired, I have the time to paint and experiment with a wide variety of mediums and content. My work tends toward realism, admittedly too focused on the smallest details. But attention to detail comes in handy when painting a bee on a coneflower.
As an artist and animal communicator, my desire is to share what I have learned is possible when we move past mental limitations or belief systems and open to a bigger experience with all living beings. Each portrait comes with a narrative from that animal. The cut paper technique evolved from many years creating leaded glass panels and allows for subtle details of color and texture.
Yogi cut paper
27" x 28" (framed)
Zena cut paper
27" x 28" (framed) $3,500
WOLFE BRACK
wolfebrack.com
@wolfebrack
This piece is a fun little exploration of humanity, personalities, and the many different ways of being. I first started making these 20 years ago in the form of tiny African masks, which represent a myriad of spirits, ancestors, identities, and ideals. Gradually, over the years, they've become more free form and representative of people in general. They're playful, odd, and can vary almost infinitely, just like the humans they represent.
Hey, Everyone
Polymer clay and acrylic on wood
BLAM!
Ink and Acrylic on canvas
5.5 x 5.5
$300
POW! Ink and Acrylic on canvas
5.5 x 5.5
$300
