By Kathy Feist
You know you’re an artist when you have a passion to create. Oftentimes, though, that art doesn’t make it beyond the room it was created in.
Grandview and Belton are changing that. Both cities provide local artists at varying levels an opportunity to display their works to the public.
Grandview needs artists and help
The Grandview Arts Council was founded in 2013, became dormant and was recently revived at the request of Mayor Leonard Jones in 2022. The Council chose last year’s winning mural artist for the city’s new Department of Motor Vehicles building. It has also hosted a Main Street Christmas Tree decorating contest.
Additionally, the Council selects artists for two community art galleries: The View Community Center and the newly renovated City Hall.
On Thursday, December 11, from 5-7 pm, a public reception will be held at The View, 13500 Byars Rd., for three artists.
They include Nicole Vescovi, a transplant from Seattle (and Telegraph photographer) who paints vibrant abstract art; Babu Dutta, a commodities dealer raised in Malaysia, whose realism art was recently selected in a nationally juried show in Wisconsin, and Teresa Mastro , whose gothic-themed art was on display during the fall at City Hall.
The reception will include talks, food and drink and a performance by the Grandview High School Jazz Band.
Arts Council President Rosalyn Sykes says she would like to present two to three artists at least three times a year.
Grandview Arts Council is not funded by the city, unlike some municipal art commissions. It relies on donations, memberships and volunteers.
“We are needing human capital,” says Sykes. “People join but there are no soldiers.”
Last year, the Arts Council received its nonprofit status. Sykes, who is retired, created a basic website, but says she lacks social media experience.
“We need to attract young, energetic Grandview residents who want to take the Arts Council as far as it can go,” she says.
The Council is currently seeking local artists (and volunteers) from Grandview and the surrounding south Kansas City area. Artists can submit their work by emailing artscouncilgrandview@gmail.com.
Belton’s High Blue Gallery
This past fall, Belton’s newly formed Public Arts Commission did a call for artists and received submissions from 20 to 30 local residents.
On January 20, at least three of those artists will have their works displayed at the new High Blue Gallery Space at the High Blue Recreation Center, 16400 N Mullen Rd. A reception will include talks by the artists as well as food and drink.
The City of Belton created the Arts Commission in 2023 with the purpose of integrating art into the growing community.
“We want to bring at least one piece of art to the city per year,” says board member Mike Ekey who is also Assistant City Manager of Economic Development and Community Engagement.
Last year, the Commission’s first community project was selecting mural artist Dani Romay to paint the inside of a tunnel under I-49 near the heart of Wallace Park.
This year the goal was to create a community gallery featuring two to three artists that change seasonally.
With that nearly accomplished, Ekey says a future project might include selecting a sculpture for the entrance at 63rd Street off I-49.
Belton’s Public Arts Commission consists of nine members appointed by the mayor.
More information on submissions, go to belton.org.