By Mary Hladky
It’s right around the corner. Get ready to enjoy a day in the park, strolling down shaded sidewalks discovering LOCAL artists offering an eclectic mix of art—from paintings to pottery, from wood to leather, from jewelry to greeting cards.
Our fair is an invitation to visit returning artists and discover new ones. The show “Every Woman,” on KKFI, 90.1 FM, on Saturdays, 3-4pm, on Aug. 10 covered the following art companies and their artists coming to the PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair this Sept. 21-22.
Seeds and Chevron, a woman-owned business, creates wearable art. In the beginning, for Karis Rosell and Teresa Rice, their art was a relaxing and fun activity for a break from social work and health care. Today, after being encouraged by PeaceWorks fairgoers, they have an art business—SeedsAndChevron.com—alongside their regular jobs and sell their jewelry at every PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair.
Iryna Stroganova, from Ukraine, creates traditional ornaments, such as decorated eggs for Easter and tree ornaments for Christmas. She does acrylic paintings and also has a comic book, a supernatural-based comic based on Ukrainian culture. Iryna’s SuperNova Art Studio in social media displays her wares.
Kristin McGill blends her own aromatic anxiety relief oils, using wood oils—they were so popular last year that many of them sold out. Her art also includes magnolia smudge wands, magnolia fans, and home accessories made from tree elements.
Ariel and Rachel Rose, at DesigningRose.com, have had a booth at the fair for several years. Mother and daughter create handmade artwork, jewelry, ceramics, clothing and accessories. I buy something from them every year.
The fair also highlights many of our hardworking social justice groups and nonprofits doing amazing work in the Kansas City area.
The 2024 PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair is held–complete with 3 food vendors–at Theis Park, on Oak and Emanuel Cleaver Blvd., Sat., Sept 21 (10 am – 6 pm) and Sunday, Sept 22 (10 am – 5 pm). PeaceWorks runs a free shuttle to and from the nearby UMKC Cherry Street Parking Lot, located at Oak and 51st St., where parking is also free.
Art is for everyone. Hope to see you at our fair!
–Mary Hladky is vice chair of the PeaceWorks KC Board.
