Ruthie Ingram, “Flight,” Pastel on sanded paper
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art will be exhibiting the work of two Kansas City artists beginning Sept. 21. “From the Canoe: Steve Snell” includes paintings and video created during the artist’s solo trip along the entire length of the Missouri River. “Draw Closer: Ruthie Ingram” explores the personal interests of the artist after her 40-year illustration career.
Steve Snell, Associate Professor of Art and the Sosland Family Chair of Foundation Studies at the Kansas City Art Institute, set out in the summer of 2022 to travel the entire 2,341 mile-length of the Missouri River in a canoe. The Missouri River is deeply ingrained in the communities along its length, including St. Joseph and Kansas City, but is also taken for granted. Snell describes this “somewhat absurd vision of adventure” as a way to confront both the nostalgic past and stereotypical ideas of American history while also recognizing the beauty of current life along the river.
Most people who live along the Missouri River have not travelled directly on it. Snell’s project provided him with a close connection to the river and the changing landscapes and experiences along its length. He painted over 100 watercolors along the route. The simplicity of these paintings, many created using water from the river itself, reflect the spontaneous fleeting nature of the experience and record views that are outside the experience of many viewers, even those who live near the river. The exhibition is also accompanied by video footage of his travels.
Since retiring from her career as an illustrator, Ruthie Ingram has focused her art on the beauty she sees in the world with a focus on figures and nature. She has won multiple awards at the AKMA’s Annual Membership Exhibition for her paintings, pastels and graphite drawings, all media that will be included in this exhibition. These works encourage viewers to engage with the people and animals that are the focus of her compositions. Her figures draw the viewer in and create a sense of an inner life in each face. The rich colors of the pastels and oil paintings evoke the textures of cloth, petals or feathers while the graphite drawings focus on the contrast of light and shadow as it plays across each subject.
“From the Canoe: Steve Snell” and “Draw Closer: Ruthie Ingram” will be on view at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art from Sept. 21 through Nov. 3, 2024. Information about related events and programming is available at www.albrecht-kemper.org.
Financial assistance provided by the St. Joseph, Missouri Visitors Bureau.
