Art Update

Hello friends,

I’m a little bit late with this 2019 recap but I thought that those who have supported/encouraged my artistic endeavors would enjoy a succinct review of the progress made in 2019.

I obtained endorsement/sponsorship from Dominator Fireworks, an international fireworks company based in China. They sent me to Atlanta, where I spent a weekend at an international fireworks exposition. Alice Thorson visited my studio and wrote an amazing piece about my work. It was published as a seven-page spread in KC Studio Magazine. I won first place in the Buddy Lit Magazine fine art competition and my work was showcased on the cover of their 6th issue. My artwork was also published in the Aesthetic Apostle Art magazine, Sand Hills Literary Magazine and Kansas City Voices Magazine. I exhibited over twenty pieces of art in a solo-show at the Vulpes Bastille gallery and over a dozen artworks were selected to be exhibited in six other group shows. I sold over a dozen pieces of art via gallery sales and commissions. I sold artwork at the Kansas City Art Institute’s Art and Design Auction and at the Annual Juried Art Auction for the Cascade AIDS Foundation in Portland, Oregon. I completed the Mid-America Arts Alliance program, Artist INC. I was a guest on the NeanderTalk Podcast, episode 65, Kyle “firework art” Selley. I was paid to give an artist talk and firework art demonstration for the AP art classes at Olathe South High School and I got my first opportunity as a lead set designer/stage builder for a theatre production by KC Melting Pot at the Just Off Broadway Theatre.

What a year! I’m very grateful for the opportunities that I was granted in 2019. Thank you to everyone who provided support and encouragement last year.

So far, for the year 2020, I have a solo-exhibition scheduled for November and I will most likely have duo-exhibitions in July and October. I’m creating new work and collaborating with Kansas City based painter, Ben Parks. We plan to exhibit our collaborations alongside our individual artwork in multiple duo-exhibitions. I also plan to get more involved with the new Englewood Arts District and continue to give artist talks/firework art demonstrations for local high schools. I’m in the process of applying to exhibitions, grants and residencies. I can’t wait to see what else 2020 brings! Thank you for paying attention to my artistic endeavors and reading my newsletter.