Opening Reception - Every Street is Charlotte Street

In association with Charlotte Street Foundation’s Every Street is Charlotte Street program, the KCAI Crossroads Gallery: Center for Contemporary Practice is pleased to present two exhibits opening June 2 and running through August 4.

Max Key is a 2005 Charlotte Street Award Fellow and alumni (’96 painting) of the Kansas City Art Institute. The exhibition features two new large-scale paintings. In regards to these works Key states:

“My paintings are meta-landfills. Wads of waste. Chewed mounds of collapsing leftovers and juicy catastrophes. It is in our culture of excess and gluttony where I find inspiration and the desire to find beauty and color in that blurry gray area between ‘need’ and ‘want.’”

The second exhibit Revolutionary Awakening features the work of Sonie Joi Thompson-Ruffin with Glenn North, poet, & filmmaker, Rodney M. Thompson. The exhibition features two series of works.  The first, in conversation with written words by Glenn North, presents three new works by Ruffin reflecting on what has, or has not, changed in contemporary society as it relates to social activism. The second, My Mother’s Club: March On Kansas City, is a major work being debuted. Inspired by the history of African American women’s social clubs in Kansas City, these works are presented in tandem with the documentary film, My Mother’s Club, by Rodney M. Thompson.

Please join us for the opening reception of both exhibits on June 2 from 6-8 p.m.