Iron Artist Competition Today!

VISUAL ARTS IN ACTION

Iron Artist competition & Art Truck put creative process on display

The Iron Artist Competition, part of the Visual Arts exhibit at the KC Fringe Festival, features the artistic process instead of the end result at the 8th Annual KC Fringe Festival July 19-29, 2012. The Pop Up Gallery at 2100 Grand will highlight six artists creating work from the same set of materials and a “secret ingredient” during the competition on Sunday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m.

In its second year at the festival, the Iron Artist idea was inspired by Food Network’s Iron Chef program. Last year’s “secret ingredient” was a tennis ball, and this year promises an equally unique display.

“It’s fascinating to watch the imagination and creativity that go into such diverse works from the same set of starting materials,” says Cheryl Kimmi, KC Fringe Executive Director.

The Art Truck, another component of Art on the Fringe, lets viewers walk into a mobile art gallery that bridges the gap between the public and art. While on display at First Fridays on the Crossroad’s this June several people stopped to help the artists paint the exterior of the truck. Visual Arts Coordinator, Larissa Uredi, made a snap judgement to let the public paint alongside the artists.

“It’s so clear to me that people want access to art, they want to be part of the process. I told them we’ll keep what we like and paint over what doesn’t work. Art on the Fringe is about letting everyone express their creativity.”

The Art Truck’s stops will be posted on the KC Fringe website at www.kcfringe.org.

Art on the Fringe’s Visual Arts Exhibit at the Pop Up Gallery includes 24 visual artists with work in various mediums, including photography, metalwork, jewelry and mixed media/performing arts. Two exhibits in the show feature phallic images. The guiding principle of Fringe Festivals worldwide is uncensored artistic expression, and KC Fringe encourages artists and audiences to explore boundaries and to make bold choices in the creation and enjoyment of art.

“There exists a great need for a vehicle, a conduit if you will, through which we are permitted to express innate desires without fear of persecution or judgment,” said Marc Manley, one of the artists whose “Phallocracy Photography” will be on display in the Pop Up Gallery.

The KC Fringe 2012 Commemorative Artist is Ryan Haralson is included in the show at the Pop Up Gallery.

"Ryan Haralson is creating some of the most relevant and challenging work I have seen in the last five years," says Paulo Acosta Cabezas, Owner & Director of Cara and Cabezas Contemporary, "tackling difficult subjects such as consumer culture, politics, and the economy. Through his layering of historical references and pop culture icons, he manages to create a mirror for the viewer to reflect and ask, "what distinguishes our current era from what came before and what is my role in it?" From a purely aesthetic perspective, Haralson's artworks are rich with complicated patterning and beautiful line work."

All Visual Art events are free.  Exhibit hours are 1-6 p.m. Sunday; 6-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Pop Up Gallery is located at 2100 Grand.