Informality writes about the four new artists at Studios Inc
Kansas City’s Studio Inc announces the arrival of four artists selected for their three-year residency program at its East Crossroads location. (Click here to read the article on Informality’s blog)
The artists include Judith G. Levy, Marie Bannerot McInerney, Yoonmi Nam, and Kevin Townsend.
Executive Director Courtney Wasson says in a formal announcement, “Studios Inc in Kansas City is a nonprofit arts organization that offers pivotal three-year residencies to mid-career artists who are poised to significantly expand their careers by following the career goals articulated in their residency application. Its competitive application process, sharp focus on career advancement, and commitment to serve the under-served population of mid-career artists set Studios Inc apart from other artist-support organizations. Studios Inc offers a unique immersion experience for resident artists, who use their studio and exhibition space to produce and exhibit work, network and learn from one another, and attract and cultivate relationships with art patrons, collectors, and arts professionals.”
Judith G. Levy is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the complexity, commonality, and contradiction in personal stories, historical narratives, and socio-cultural issues. She uses her queer gaze to examine memory, authenticity, and desire…” Her recent awards including an Inspiration Grant from ArtsKC, a Charlotte Street Fellowship for an Art Omi Artist Residency, and a Vermont Studio Center Fellowship.
Says Marie McInerney, “I have developed my practice and enjoyed growing opportunities to show my work nationally and internationally. I am interested in working within a prestigious studio that provides access to collectors, curators, and the community.” McInerney is an Assistant Professor of Fiber at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Yoonmi Nam states, “With access to a large studio space and support from Studio Inc and the Kansas City community, I want to establish a more permanent presence in Kansas City, and continue to pursue national and international opportunities.” Nam is interested in the fleeting nature of the present moment and the common and extraordinary way we structure our surroundings within it.”
Kevin Townsend is an artist and an educator with 18 years of experience who doesn’t allow a single exhibition or institution to define his artistic practices. Townsend seeks to refine his craft, engage new communities, and cultivate a new modular-structure based body of work to push his practice to the next level. Townsend states that “Refining my craft, engaging new communities, and cultivating a new modular-structure based body of work is among the next steps I must take to push my practice to the next level.”
Studios Inc. was launched in 2003 to serve mid-career artists…Operating within Studios Inc are five unique but inseparable programs. These are the Residency Program, the Exhibition Series Program which exhibits resident artist works throughout the year free to the public, the Internship Program which offers students a custom designed internship experience that is immersive, fun and resume-building, the Patron Program which matches patrons to artists providing the opportunity for greater connection between patron and artist, and studios.gallery which leverages Studios Inc’s permanent collection to increase exposure for past and current resident artists and offers program support via sales.
Written by Blair Schulman