Opens concurrently with 50th Anniversary Conference for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
The upcoming exhibition – 50 Women: A Celebration of Women’s Contribution to Ceramics – is a landmark exhibit featuring all women ceramic artists, including local, national and international figures.
The exhibition will be held at The Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St. from March 16 to May 13. The Exhibition Opening Reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 at the Jazz Museum.
The event, sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City Women’s Center and the American Jazz Museum, will open concurrently with the 50th Anniversary Conference for National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA).
“The significance of this exhibit is immeasurable. We wanted to organize an exhibit for only women to give them a space where their unique achievements in the ceramic arts can be showcased and celebrated,” said Arzie Umali, assistant director, UMKC Women’s Center. “UMKC is a co-sponsor of this historic ceramics celebration, which opens in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Conference of NCECA. We’re featuring 50 women because this is the 50th Anniversary conference. Never before in the conference’s history has an exhibit of this scale, featuring only women, been presented.”
Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, the new executive director of the Jazz Museum, shared her delight in hosting the exhibit.
“The American Jazz Museum is proud to be partnering with the UMKC Women’s Center, and we’re excited to have the 50 Women exhibit in our Changing Gallery,” said Kositany-Buckner.
This 50 Women exhibition is in partnership with independent curators Alex Kraft and Anthony Merino, two nationally-renowned artists, and was organized in Kansas City by Umali.
“The ‘50 Years / 50 Women: A Celebration of Women’s Contribution to Ceramics’ looks to do two things,” said Merino. “To celebrate the diversity and excellence of the many generations of women ceramic artists working today, and mentor the next generation of women artists. Nothing emboldens the spirit like seeing people who you identify with do great things.”
“In the nearly fifty-year history of NCECA, there has never been a major exhibition exclusively featuring the work of women artists. Our exhibition provides a new model of engagement reaching far beyond individuals in the fields of ceramics, art and craft,” said Kraft.
Local artists in the exhibition include Linda Lighton, Cary Esser and Bernadette Esperanza Torres.
These programs are made possible through support from ArtsKC, UMKC Department of Art & Art History, KCMO Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, UMKC Women’s & Gender Studies, UMKC Union Programming Board, UMKC Multicultural Student Affairs and UMKC Multicultural Student Organization Council.
This exhibition is under the auspices of “Her Art Project,” a Women’s Center project that supports the achievements of women artists of all disciplines to advance the equity of women in the arts in Kansas City.
Additional 50 Women events are listed below.
Monday, March 7 – Saturday, March 19
Makers Curate/Curators Make
Locations: UMKC Gallery of Art, 5015 Holmes St., 204 Fine Arts Building
Reception: Friday, March 18, 3 – 5 p.m.
Gallery hours: Vary daily. Visit http://info.umkc.edu/art/umkcgallery/contact/ for more information.
Featured artists include Kraft, Merino, Pam Luke, Sonie Joi Ruffin, Melanie Shaw and
Arzie Umali.
Wednesday, March 16 – Friday, May 13
50 Women: A Celebration of Women’s Contribution to Ceramics
Location: The Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St., KCMO
Gallery Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sundays
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 17, 6 – 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 17
Artist Salon: The State of Women in the Arts
Time: 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Location: The Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St., KCMO
Join the conversation as we discuss the status of women in the art world. Hosted by local
artist Sonie Joi Ruffin. Discussion facilitated by Renee Blanche, host of Night Tides
on KCUR 89.3 FM. Light refreshments served.
Saturday, March 19
Roos in the City: Exploring Art and Culture on 18th & Vine
Time: 12 – 4 p.m.
Location: The historic 18th & Vine District; bus boards at UMKC
Join this excursion to the historic 18th and Vine District and visit the American Jazz
Museum, Negro Leagues Museum and Black Archives. You will receive a guided tour of the art exhibit 50 Women Exhibition. Museum admission, lunch and bus transportation are included.
This event is open to current UMKC students only. Space is limited. Text @UMKCUPB to 816-482-3257 for weekly updates and instant notification when sign-up is available.
For more information contact Arzie Umali at 816-235-5577 or umalia@umkc.edu or go to https://www.facebook.com/50years50women.