Friday, August 11 through September 23, 2023
Potential Futures: Prototypes is a decentralized exhibition model that brings together visual artists, designers, and change-makers. Instead of centering the gallery space as a framework for an exhibition, the works of this exhibition are dispersed throughout Kansas City and beyond. Each of the projects approaches a particular set of issues—such as affordable housing, shared community space, environmental sustainability, human relationships to land—from a contemporary artistic lens. In these case studies, artists are problem-solvers: they are seeing a need in their community or neighborhood, envisioning changes, and building prototypes.
This exhibition invites viewers to make change in their own neighborhoods. With a fold-out map designed by artist Zach Frazier, visitors will pinpoint specific sites of socially-engaged projects in Kansas City. Audience members are encouraged to visit these sites, organizations, and educational centers. This exhibition advocates for grassroots efforts that exist in community, and prioritizes small actions that will lead to impactful social change.
Featuring: Amy Cantrell and Ponkho Bermejo (Asheville, NC), Mikal Floyd-Pruitt (Milwaukee, WI), JC Franco (Kansas City, MO), Zach Frazier (Kansas City, MO), Sia Joung (Kansas City, MO), Sydney Pursel (Lawrence, KS), and Carl Stafford (Kansas City, MO)
Programming
Friday, August 11 from 6:00-9:00 PM | Charlotte Street Gallery
Please join us for the opening reception for Potential Futures: Prototypes.
Friday, September 8, 2023 from 5:30-6:30 PM | Charlotte Street Kemper Library
As part of the public programming for Potential Futures: Prototypes, artist Mikal Floyd-Pruitt will speak about his project HomeWorks: Bronzeville. As a co-founder of HomeWorks: Bronzeville in Milwaukee, Mikal curates programming opportunities that can help engage and amplify the community in which the initiative operates. His balance of creative practices allows him to navigate the positive and negative dualities of change. Mikal approaches development as a way to house and stabilize entrepreneurial pursuits, with the proximity of creatives catalyzing its creative economy.
Sunday, September 10 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Boon Area 1 (3400 E 72nd St, Kansas City, MO 64132)
Curator Kimi Kitada invites you to Second Sundays at Boon Area 1 for a day of volunteering. Boon Area 1 is an environmental, interactive art installation created by artist Carl Stafford, acting as a community garden and social gathering space. Every Second Sunday, Stafford mobilizes the surrounding neighborhood for a day of planting native plants and beautification. The future goal for Boon Area 1 (and Boon Areas throughout the west side of District 5) is to generate enough revenue to fund neighborhood programs and projects.
Exhibition Details
