The Missouri Valley Impressionist Society
"Weakness can only encourage strength from those who seek support." Imagine being an artist in a city rich with art and culture, a city in a kind of art renaissance as it's being known. Where art districts thrive, art publications promote, exhibitions and festivals scatter the metro, galleries and studios open their doors and attract crowds of people certain days of the month. Sounds encouraging, doesn't it? Now, imagine being an artist who witnesses these year after year, month after month, and in some ways week after week, only to find the type of work you do seems diminished. How can that be in an art community so big and vibrant? Especially for a well admired style? This is a question that motivates me to make changes.
I cannot speak for every town or city because they vary. Impressionism is rare in some places just as it is well accepted in others. The city I am referring to in this blog entry is Kansas City.
I like to think of KC as a foundation for the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society (MVIS), considering many of the reasons that brought us together comes from what we observe and experience in the local art scene. Impressionism has faded, becoming obsolete where an overwhelming market for the nonrepresentational and the abstract are able to gain recognition. Organizations and galleries emphasize the more modern imagery, weakening the support for representationalism that is the very foundation for all visual art. Weakness can only encourage strength from those who seek support, and the MVIS is a result of that.
Impressionism is an admirable style, popular with many. It's a shame to see Impressionists, the artists who truly paint their cities/regions and beautify the walls with local images, standing in the shadows of other talents. In a way we are historians, recording the life that surrounds us through hand painted images we call our own impressions. Those who think otherwise, just crack open any book on Impressionism---the artists in their time often portrayed life as they saw it back then. Paintings of the areas in which we live bring a sense of quality of at-homeness, and those who hang them on their walls show an appreciation for the effort. If communities and their organizations are not careful how they show their appreciation for what we do, paintings of the local scenery may become lost and almost nonexistent.
But I cannot point fingers entirely toward the community nor its organizations. I have a feeling that many of us as artists are limiting ourselves to loyalties such as certain galleries and few annual exhibits. Loyal to certain spaces is fine, there's nothing wrong with that. From a marketing standpoint, your artwork is a business depending how far you want to take it. The further you push it, the more recognition. Kansas City has potential, probably more than what we know. There are certain areas that are harder to reach and we know that. Our fine art society is working on it. Those who join our organization I hope are wanting to seek new opportunities. The MVIS plans events so members can reach new markets and experiences. If you have never exhibited your work in Kansas City's prime and most well known art community, the KC Crossroads Art District, then prepare yourself. We are striving for events that make us better and more involved. Whatever the barriers are and who ever put them up, we hope to break them down so we all can fit in.
Since the establishment of our fine art society, a spotlight has began to shift. Something is happening in Kansas City. The Impressionists have united. Since then the art community is getting closer to our finger tips. Kansas City art writer Steve Brisendine posted. "While I might be loath to declare 2012 'The Year of the Impressionist,' it's safe to say that with the recent founding of the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society, it should be a big year around here for the style and those who work in it." With that being said, in the first few months of MVIS's existence, the community has shown its interest. Individuals and several organizations have welcomed us as we begin to grow. A local art publication is willing to follow us, galleries have invited us, and we've been looked at by organizations for participation in a local art event. It is still too soon to tell, but something is definitely happening.
Impressionism is an admirable style, popular with many. It's a shame to see Impressionists, the artists who truly paint their cities/regions and beautify the walls with local images, standing in the shadows of other talents. In a way we are historians, recording the life that surrounds us through hand painted images we call our own impressions. Those who think otherwise, just crack open any book on Impressionism---the artists in their time often portrayed life as they saw it back then. Paintings of the areas in which we live bring a sense of quality of at-homeness, and those who hang them on their walls show an appreciation for the effort. If communities and their organizations are not careful how they show their appreciation for what we do, paintings of the local scenery may become lost and almost nonexistent.
But I cannot point fingers entirely toward the community nor its organizations. I have a feeling that many of us as artists are limiting ourselves to loyalties such as certain galleries and few annual exhibits. Loyal to certain spaces is fine, there's nothing wrong with that. From a marketing standpoint, your artwork is a business depending how far you want to take it. The further you push it, the more recognition. Kansas City has potential, probably more than what we know. There are certain areas that are harder to reach and we know that. Our fine art society is working on it. Those who join our organization I hope are wanting to seek new opportunities. The MVIS plans events so members can reach new markets and experiences. If you have never exhibited your work in Kansas City's prime and most well known art community, the KC Crossroads Art District, then prepare yourself. We are striving for events that make us better and more involved. Whatever the barriers are and who ever put them up, we hope to break them down so we all can fit in.
Since the establishment of our fine art society, a spotlight has began to shift. Something is happening in Kansas City. The Impressionists have united. Since then the art community is getting closer to our finger tips. Kansas City art writer Steve Brisendine posted. "While I might be loath to declare 2012 'The Year of the Impressionist,' it's safe to say that with the recent founding of the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society, it should be a big year around here for the style and those who work in it." With that being said, in the first few months of MVIS's existence, the community has shown its interest. Individuals and several organizations have welcomed us as we begin to grow. A local art publication is willing to follow us, galleries have invited us, and we've been looked at by organizations for participation in a local art event. It is still too soon to tell, but something is definitely happening.
The Missouri Valley Impressionist Society is developed to help gain interest, appreciation, recognition, and to support and preserve the spotlight of today's Modern Impressionism. As an art society there are certain traits that local art councils, associations, and coalitions are unable to provide, one specific---is fellowship. I find organizations that emphasize less variety provide more support. As an Impressionist society we are able to focus our attention on those who paint under the characteristics that define Impressionism and help them through their journey.
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