Don't Sleep on the Art in Meadowbrook Park

Art by Carol Kiefer Johnson

​By Bob Bahr, Prairie Village Arts Council member

You may be familiar with the display of art in the halls of the Prairie Village municipal building, where exhibitions curated by the Prairie Village Arts Council showcase talent from the KC metropolitan area, with an emphasis on our town. But another venue, with even more attractive gallery space, presents a healthy handful of work by the same featured artists.

Art by David Coss

The municipal building that houses the R. G. Endres Gallery--the locale for the bigger shows put on by the PV Arts Council--hosts hundreds of people coming to City Hall to take care of various kinds of personal, legal, and professional business, but the Clubhouse offers a more relaxed vibe. Mong says the art on view at the Clubhouse is appreciated by a wide swath of society. "We welcome thousands of visitors to the Clubhouse every year," she says. "There are four major user groups for the facility. There's the community space that's available for rental for events. There's the Natureplay Preschool. There's the 50 Plus programs that serve the senior population but also serve families. The fourth group consists of park users who come in there to use facilities, rent structures, or ask questions."
 
Currently in the gallery space at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse are pieces by three area artists. Bryce Holt's straightforward, graphic approach leaves the viewer with the not-so-simple task of connecting the images with some knowledge of the scriptures. The sheer size of his acrylic paintings fills the eye with bold statements. David Coss makes three-dimensional pieces that utilize laser-cut wood to create intricate shapes of light and shadow. He speaks of blending old and new, technology and woodworking, but the balance between organic shapes and streamlined precision offers even more to ponder. Carol Kiefer Johnson brings an obvious knowledge of art history to her acrylic paintings, with passages of thin paint application contrasting with rich and colorful patterns in cloth, wallpaper, or other pictorial elements. Klimt-like women lounge with both common and uncommon pets, with a sense of abundance creating a feeling of calm and comfortable luxury.

Art by Bryce Holt

A choice selection of pieces from the three artists is on view and will stay on view at the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse until July 6.

Art by David Coss