KATHRYN MESSICK

Lakewood Artist Chosen for Parade of Hearts

By Patti Browder Back

Once again, a talented Lakewood Artist has been chosen for a special recognition. Kathryn Messick was recently selected as one of 40 artists to participate in the 2023 KC Parade of Hearts heart. Her website blog tells the journey she has followed from being selected for the Parade of Hearts, transporting the 120 lb. heart to her home, carefully fitting it through the door, and then securing it for sketching and painting. She describes the anxiety of beginning the actual painting process and then the feeling of “getting the hang of it” as her creativity began to flow. As you admire it front to back, the finished heart is a beautiful work of art with meaningful and detailed local symbolism. On April 15, all 40 of this year’s hearts were on exhibit at Hale Arena. Kathryn’s KC Heart was chosen to be sponsored by Lee’s Summit Honda. After a two-week public display in the City Market, the heart can be seen after May 1 at the Honda dealership on Colbern Road—nice and close for Lakewood fans to visit and enjoy in person.

The “Parade of Hearts” is a project designed to unite the region through a widely visible public art experience. The heart has long been a part of Kansas City’s history and persona—reflecting both its central location and the sincerity in character of the mid-west population. Beginning in June 2021, artists across the region were invited to design one of the fiberglass hearts. The finished hearts are auctioned off to raise funds for the project’s charitable beneficiaries and then displayed in the KC area. Kathryn has lived in Lakewood for nine years with her husband and twin boys. Kathryn earned a BSED in k-12 Art and Design Education at Missouri State University and a MSED in Athletics and Activities Administration at William Woods. Just recently, she earned a second MSED in Special Education. Kathryn has been teaching Art Education and Social Science for 18 years and currently teaches at Bernard Campbell Middle School. She and her husband, Ryan, a teacher at Blue Springs South High School, also enjoy coaching athletics at their respective schools.

Kathryn has contributed to the local art community through her work and exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, the Kansas City Museum, and the Mattie Rhodes Center. She is available for commission work and you can see more of her art on the website, kathrynmessick.com. The Messick family frequently spends family time on their farm in Southwest Missouri, hunting, fishing, and raising cattle. Every summer, they can be seen around one of the Lakewood pools soaking up the sun.

Kathryn describes her art as graphic design, and her painting as illustrative and heavily influenced by design principles. She favors mandalas in much of her work using radial symmetry to create balance. This originality and imagination are evidenced by the detailed design of her