Remy Wharry at RAW Art Creative Studio (photo by Harold Smith)
Kansas City artist Remy Wharry has announced she will close her RAW Art Creative Studio at 3004 Troost at the end of October.
Six months ago, she transformed the former storage facility for Ruby Jean’s Juicery into a tranquil oasis of creativity. In the upper balcony, Wharry worked on her masterful oil and acrylic paintings, which speak to the beauty of Black life. In the lower portion, she offered retail products, including her own RAW paint line, and hands-on painting classes and events.
The naming was intentional. In addition to being Wharry’s initials, RAW stands for reliability, advocacy and wellness. These were the tenets of her business practice.
Wharry, a former elementary teacher and current part-time healthcare worker, is a self-taught artist whose work emphasizes “Afro-American life and beauty.” She has maintained studios at the InterUrban ArtHouse and the Zhou B Art Center. Before her latest venture, Wharry’s preparation included conducting classes and events at various locations, transporting the materials in the trunk of her car from place to place.
The RAW Art Creative Studio opportunity came in the form of the Kansas City’s Open Doors! program, which provides six-month lease support and rent subsidies based on the square footage of the space. In Wharry’s situation, the Open Doors program also assisted in finishing the space, sparing her that cost.
With RAW Art Creative Studio, Wharry took full advantage of having a subsidized creative space. Her community enriching events included themed painting nights such as “A Different World: Juneteenth Paint Night,” “Bestie Charm Bracelet Night,” “Olivia Dean Paint Party,” and a Saturday afternoon Art Club Meetup. With her background as an experienced classroom teacher, Wharry’s painting instruction is comprehensive, covering everything from sketching and toning the canvas to color theory and shading.
Technological and social developments are radically changing how artists do business. Wharry answered that call through innovative and adventurous offerings. The RAW Art Creative Studio offered a wide range of events appealing to multiple demographics. The “Thrift Flip Workshop” was an event that involved reworking artwork acquired from thrift stores. It had a full house. In the “Bags and Shoes,” Wharry taught attendees how to create their own customized purses and shoes. “Vinyl and Vibes,” an event featuring a live DJ while attendees painted vinyl albums, was very popular and Wharry had plans to do another one.
“I want people to know they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. People come in thinking their art will be a mess and ugly but leave happy and say, ‘That was fun,’” Wharry said.
Before the space closes, Wharry will hold a wellness + free pumpkin painting event Oct. 10. On Oct. 17, from noon to 3, the public is invited to a studio sale of furniture and fixtures, prints, and paint at marked down prices or best offer.
“I’ll be honest: I gave this space everything I had, and the numbers just didn’t add up to stay,” she said. “That’s okay. I’m not done; I’m refocusing. I’m niching down into the work that matters most to me, and I’m excited about what’s next! Stay tuned for the next studio space.
For more information www.rawartpaint.com. To learn about events, call 816.237.0079 or email: [email protected].
