Friday, November 20th, 2009 from Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
Mythmakers, opening Friday, November 20, 6-9pm at Paragraph, 23 East 12th, embodies the youthful, make-your-own-fun, do-it-yourself-and-together spirit of the Kansas City art scene. Organized by artist/curator Megan Mantia, the densely packed exhibition will showcase a cross-section of emerging artists who place themselves at the center of their work, constructing mythic personas and fantasy narratives that fuse autobiographical aspects with illusions of grandeur, typically with a sizeable dose of humor thrown in as well. Featured artists are Drew Bolton, Spencer Brown, Cody Critcheloe, Kyle Devine, Ariel Hart, Hooliganship, Lamano, Dustin Maberry, Rah! Booty, Leone Anne Reeves, Elisha Stetson, Ryan Tacata, Jaimie Warren, and Ariel Williams.
While expressed through diverse media and formats, this personal mythmaking frequently involves performative elements, which this exhibition will emphasize. Opening night will feature “scheduled activations of personalities and installations,” says Mantia, who also notes that the collaborative nature of many of these artists’ work will encourage audience participation. Read full press release.
For photos of the event, check out our flickr.
Mythmakers features:
Megan Mantia graduated from Kansas City Art Institute in 2006 with a BFA in printmaking and art history and is an obsessive documenter of artists and events in Kansas City.
Drew Bolton is a 2006 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute. Chief Editor of the recent Grand Arts Film, SSION’s BOY, he lives and works in Kansas City.
Spencer Brown is a 2006 graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Based in Kansas City, he is currently touring with The Kinsey Sicks, America’s Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet.
Cody Critcheloe is a 2003 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute and a 2007 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Award Fellow. Founder/director of Ssion, he lives and works in Kansas City.
Kyle Devine is a 2009 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute and a sought-after drag performer. He lives and works in Kansas City.
Ariel Hart is a 2007 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute currently pursuing her MFA in experimental animation at The California Institute of the Arts. She lives and works in Valencia, CA.
Hooliganship is comprised of Peter Burr and Christopher Doulgeris. They are graduates of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. Currently are on tour in Europe, they are based in Portland, OR.
Lamano is Kyle Chapman and Jessie Laino. They attended Kansas City Art Institute from 2004-06 and now live and work in their native Miami, FL.
Dustin Maberry is currently pursuing his BFA at Kansas City Art Institute in Graphic Design.
Rah Booty! is currently comprised of 4 members: Nichole Hobbs, Megan Mantia, Mary Nichols, and Anna Zimmerman. This radical cheerleading performance troupe has lived and worked in Kansas City for almost 7 years.
Leone Anne Reeves received her MFA in performance from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a leading member of local Whoop Dee doo who recently relocated to Kansas City.
Elisha Stetson is a 2009 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute and head dancewear patterner at KC Costume. He lives and works in Kansas City.
Ryan Tacata is a graduate of School of the Art Institute of Chicago in performance. Currently pursuing MFA at Stanford, he lives and works in San Francisco, CA.
Jaimie Warren is a 2002 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute, a 2009 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Award Fellow, and founder/co-director of Whoop Dee Doo. She lives and works in Kansas City.
Ariel Williams is a 2006 graduate of Kansas City Art Institute. She lives and works in Dallas, TX.
