Crossroads Arts District

Kansas City's Creative Neighborhood

Brush Creek Art Walk 2024 First Friday, March 7th, 2025

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During the weekend of September 13th-15th, 2024, Brush Creek Art Walk will celebrated it’s 13th Anniversary with a 3‑day weekend of Outdoor Painting. 40 pre-registered artists participated in the weekend event with three $500 (sponsored) Quick Paint Events offering Purchase Awards. At the conclusion of the event, artists submitted up to three original ‘framed’ works for judging.

Works have been on display since October’s Awards and Sale traveling from The Discovery Center (4750 Troost) to Lexitas Legal Services (1608 Locust) to their final location at ArtsKC (106 Southwest Boulevard) in the Kansas City Crossroads.

To find out more of our about our event, go to our website: https://www.bcawfoundation.org/ The public was encouraged to come by and see artists at work and the results of their efforts, and they certainly did. Remaining works are for sale (Online Only) via the Buttonwood Art Space https://buttonwoodartspace.com/show/bcaw-2024. Preview online, purchase and take your original home that evening.

Lisa Hamilton — Catching Sight

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Through the emphasis of mark making, texture, and movement I strive to create a kind of language which speaks to the peace and solace of nature. Like an offering I use metalwork to honor her distinct beauty. I am fascinated by the spaces, the poetry of shadows, those voids left by encroaching lichen, crisscrossing tree branches, and the paths of time. Catching Sight invites the viewer to see this world through the lens of my experiences.

Artist Statement:

As an infant I was placed in a hollow on the side of a hill under an old oak tree. The smells of the freshly dug earth, the sun dappling on my face, and the gentle rocking of the tree were my companions. Wind gusts rustled my hair, and leaves visited me while I gazed up and waved my arms in celebration. Acorns and bugs watched while the grasses danced and whispered me to sleep, leaving me kin to nature. This experience is expressed in my work through natural found objects and representational forms.

One afternoon, when I was twelve, I watched from my window as my neighbor welded. The arc of sparks was never-ending, beautiful, and mesmerizing. No matter how hard I tried I could not see his project through the bursts of light. I had no idea those bright flashes were permanently burning small holes in the backs of my eyes. Instead of a tragedy, it was an unexpected gift which left me with companion spots that live where I look. These multiple void shapes appear in my work through texture, repeated forms, piercings, and movement.

My current work reflects the ritual of disassembling the strata of these remembered events. I break them into the relevant pieces then like an offering, I add metalwork to honor their distinct beauty. This work speaks to the peace and solace of nature. They are a reflection of self through the lens of my life experiences. I am fascinated by the poetry of shadows, those voids left by encroaching lichen, crisscrossing tree branches, and the evidence of time.

Artist Bio:

Lisa Hamilton (b. Orange, California) uses her practice to examine the pull of the natural world. Through movement, texture, weight, she explores nature’s relation to the fragile yet resilient landscape of the body. Like an offering, she creates pieces that allow the personality of every natural object define its use. The ritual of wearing her work may be all that is needed to recreate the connection to the natural world she first experienced as a child. Her work has been exhibited Internationally and Nationally including The Santa Reparata International School of the Arts, Florence, Italy; Precious Collective, United Kingdom; Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, California; Agora Gallery, New York, New York; The Foundry Art Centre, Saint Charles, Missouri; Bluestem Missouri Crafts Gallery, Columbia, Missouri; Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Little Rock, Arkansas; The Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa; IncuArts Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii, and others. She received her BFA in Metalsmithing/Jewelry with a minor in Art History from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and her MFA with Honors in Metalsmithing/Jewelry at University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Lisa currently teaches Metalsmithing and Jewelry classes at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

The Essence of Joy — Celebrating the Art and Legacy of Lester Goldman

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The Leedy Foundation is proud to announce The Essence of Joy: Celebrating the Art and Legacy of Lester Goldman, the first exhibition in the newly established Leedy Foundation Legacy Series. This inaugural exhibition honors the profound impact of Lester Goldman, whose four-decade career spanned from early realism to a unique blend of abstract expressionism, installation, and performance art. The show will run from March 1 to May 30, 2025, and is curated with special input from Goldman’s family, capturing the spirit of his joyful creativity and bold inventiveness.

Lester Goldman’s work is celebrated for its vibrant, childlike energy, emotional depth, and playful yet profound exploration of artistic boundaries. This exhibition not only showcases his remarkable artistic evolution but also serves as a tribute to his nearly 40-year career teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute. On the 20th anniversary of Goldman’s passing, this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to revisit his most iconic works and reflects the lasting impact of his artistic and educational contributions.

About Lester Goldman:


Lester Goldman was a vital force in Kansas City’s art world, renowned for his ability to push the boundaries of artistic expression. His work, ranging from realist paintings to abstract installations and performances, reflected his ever-evolving artistic vision. As a professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, Goldman’s passion for teaching and nurturing creativity left an indelible mark on countless students, further solidifying his place as one of the region’s most influential artists.

About the Leedy Foundation Legacy Series:


The newly established Leedy Foundation Legacy Series highlights the achievements of artists whose work has shaped the cultural fabric of our community, ensuring that their contributions are honored and celebrated for years to come. 

The Essence of Joy marks the first of many Legacy Exhibitions that will explore the legacies of artists who have enriched Kansas City’s artistic community and beyond. This inaugural exhibition exemplifies the mission of the Leedy Foundation — to preserve, celebrate, and promote the legacies of visionary artists who continue to inspire new generations.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, a cornerstone of Kansas City’s contemporary art scene, is committed to showcasing exceptional and diverse works of art.

Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund
Crossroads Community Association

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