Art in the Loop: Celebrating Ten Years of Revitalizing Downtown KC with Public Art takes a new look at the organizations’ successful projects and reveals their plans for the future.
Why is public art important to Downtown Kansas City? How do local projects help emerging artists? The exhibition at the Box Gallery will answer these questions and explain the detailed process of site-specific public art commissions – uncovering the complexity of the projects and the creativity of the artists involved. The exhibition will include a display of artist sketches, project photographs, site plans, sculpture models, and materials. The show also includes a video about Art in the Loop’s program through the voices of local artists and the foundation. A walking tour map of public art in the Downtown Loop will be provided for free.
Founded in 2004, Art in the Loop is an established 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization recognized for commissioning outdoor public art for Downtown Kansas City. The organization’s strength stems from its unique partnership with three prominent Kansas City entities: the Kansas City Art Institute, the Kansas City Municipal Art Commission and the Downtown Council of Kansas City. Common ground is found in a shared belief that the development of the downtown area and the enhancement of the cultural life of our city are directly linked.
Over the past decade, Art in the Loop has partnered with a large number of local businesses, non-profits, foundations, and arts organization, and has commissioned the following artists and architects: Cortney Andrews, Julia Cole, Marcus Cain, Laura DeAngelis, Dominique Davison, Dylan Mortimer, Amy Myers, Leigh Rosser, Ross Sawyers, Ascot Smith, Sean Starowitz, Jamie Warren, Davin Watne, and Allen Winkler.
As Art in the Loop moves into its second decade, the mission of the organization continues to focus on commissioning permanent public art. However, the organization is also introducing temporary projects that invite artists to actively engage the community with temporary visual art installations and performances, or “creative placemaking.”
