On Friday, June 4, the public will get their first opportunity to view the new collaboration between the Belger Arts Center and Red Star Studios. The two organizations have been mainstays of the Kansas City art scene for more than a decade and will share space this summer as Red Star prepares for a move into a permanent, larger, facility. For the summer, ceramics-centric Red Star will have gallery and workspace on the ground floor of the Belger Arts Center at 2100 Walnut St., in the Crossroads Art District. The Belger Arts Center will continue to operate on the first and third floor of the same building.
The Belger Arts Center is currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary with Beneath the Surface – Excavating the Belger Collection. This exhibition attempts to give the public some perspective on the wide-ranging collection. Beneath the Surface features multiple works from all seven artists who comprise the foundation of the Belger Collection – Terry Allen, William Christenberry, Jasper Johns, Robert Stackhouse, Renee Stout, William T. Wiley, and Terry Winters. Works from Viola Frey, Creighton Michael and Ed Ruscha are also included. The exhibit runs through August 6. The Red Star Studios gallery will feature pottery and sculpture by two former resident artists, Michael Fujita and Mike Jabbur.
Evelyn Craft, Executive Director of the Belger Arts Center, says Beneath the Surface is “one of our most ambitious exhibitions. This will be a chance for the public in Kansas City to see the depth of the collection.” This exhibit marks the beginning of the second decade of existence for the Belger Arts Center in the headquarters of the Belger Cartage Service at 2100 Walnut St. in Kansas City, MO. During the first 10 years, the Belger Arts Center hosted more than 40 exhibitions by artists from North America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. More than 60,000 visitors attended these exhibitions and performances.
The galleries of the Belger Arts Center and Red Star Studios will be open to the public from 10 am until 4 pm, Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 4 pm on Saturdays. On the First Friday of every month the galleries are open from 10 am until 9 pm (unless we are closed for installation). All exhibits are free. To schedule a group tour please call Gallery Assistant Mo Dickens at 816-474-3250.
