Perspective · Kansas City

James Brinsfield · Patrick Clancy · Norma Cowdrick · Russell Ferguson · Stefan Lindfors · Karen McCoy · Amy Myers · Michael Rees · James Woodfill

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In an effort to increase exposure for Kansas City artists on a national level and to stimulate local dialogue, the JCCC Gallery of Art will present its first Perspective: Kansas City biennial, an exhibition featuring the work of nine area artists. The gallery guide essay is by Dan Cameron, Senior Curator, New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York.

Artist James Brinsfield was born in 1949 in Chicago; he lives and works in Kansas City and teaches at the Kansas City Art Institute. Brinsfield earned a BFA from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 1974, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1976.

Patrick Clancy was born in 1941 in Hornell, New York. Clancy received a Bachelor of Science in 1964 from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, in 1967. He has been professor and chair of photography and new media at the KCAI since 1986.

Norma Cowdrick was an associate professor of art at Kansas City Kansas Community College for 11 years. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she graduated from the KCAI with a major in painting and a minor in drawing in 1969. For 12 years she designed cards, puzzles and posters at Hallmark Cards, and then continued her studies at American University.

Russell Ferguson was born in 1955. Ferguson received his BFA from the KCAI and his MFA from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.  He is a professor in the printmaking and foundations departments at the KCAI. 

Stefan Lindfors was born in 1962 in Mariehanm, Finland, and he graduated as Interior Architect & Furniture Designer from the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH), Finland in 1988. Lindfors is the Joyce C. Hall Distinguished Professor of Design and Chair of the Design Department at the KCAI.

Karen McCoy was born in 1951. She earned a BA from Northeast Louisiana University in 1972, an MA from Northern Illinois University in 1977, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1978.

Amy Myers was born in 1965 in Taylor, Texas. She received her BFA from the KCAI in 1995, and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999.  She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Michael Rees is the director of the Center for New Art at William Paterson University, where he is also a tenured professor. He was born in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri, and earned his BFA in 1982 from the KCAI. Rees went on to earn an MFA from Yale University in 1989.

James Woodfill was born in 1958 and graduated from the KCAI in 1980. Woodfill currently holds the position of assistant professor in the painting department of KCAI.

Acknowledgments

We are extremely grateful to the artists who are included in this exhibition. At the same time, we extend our sincerest thanks to all artists who participated in the curatorial process, as well as Heidi Bilardo (public art administrator for the City of Kansas City, Missouri) and Mark Spencer (director of the Albrecht Kemper Museum, St. Joseph, Missouri) for their assistance.

Dan Cameron is also owed our deepest thanks for so enthusiastically embracing this project. His insight, energy and humor were greatly appreciated during the organization of this show.

Finally, we are indebted to Barton P. and Mary Davidson Cohen for so generously underwriting this exhibit through their endowment for the performing and visual arts.