Studios Exhibition of New Work and Work In Progress.
Sponsored by Habitat Contemporary Gallery
Open music session by Drunken Fiddles
Benjamin Parks' Open Studios will showcase work from the series "Blood is Like Family" - a large-scale portrait series that took over a decade to complete. The pieces have been featured in museums, collections and gallery openings across the country. This series became a study in what it's like to be shunned in modern-day society.
Curious about what that means? Come to the opening and ask Ben. He'll tell you....
In addition to the large works, brand new smaller scale paintings will also be available for sale and viewing- just in time for the holidays! Subjects include but are not limited to: eyes, skulls and lithographs.
The exhibition will also include works by Mike Trujillo and Whitney Kerr III.
On Saturday Ben will offer a photo session for anyone who would like to have a portrait painted by him. All you have to do is show up and be willing to sit for a few photos. The photo session may lead to a painting!
Friday, December 20th, 6 PM to 11 PM: Opening reception with refreshments. As the night progresses there will be an open music session led by Laurel Parks of Drunken Fiddles. Bring an instrument if you'd like to participate. Bring an ear if you'd like to listen.
Saturday, December 21st, 2 PM to 6 PM: Become a painting in Benjamin Parks' work or consult about a commission painting.
Bios:
Benjamin Parks
Benjamin Parks (b. 1978, Fairfax, Missouri) is a Kansas City based artist whose primary focus is painting large-scale portraits and figurative work. He is also involved in illustrations, interactive installations, music, printmaking and sculpture. As a visual artist, he has shown many original works in galleries and museums throughout the country, including the The Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art, Leedy Voulkous Art Center, the Foundry Arts Centre, the Lawrence Arts Center, the Cee Flat Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, the KCAC, and the Hilliard Gallery. Parks’ work has been acquired for private collections and museums throughout the country.
https://www.benjaminparks.info/
Habitat Contemporary Gallery
Habitat Contemporary Gallery specializes in showcasing exceptional talent across career levels. The gallery has a reputation of placing a high focus on mid-career artists, who are collected and exhibited by museums, recipients of Guggenheim Grants, Pollock Krasner Grants and Warhol grants, and are internationally shown to name a few laurels of their achievements. Many of the artists find placement in eminent collections, by well-known art connoisseurs.
Habitat Contemporary Gallery features artists crossing spectrums, from the critically acclaimed to the modern vanguard in the arts.
Habitat Contemporary Gallery connects outstanding artists with collectors who are prepared to invest in works they love and are proud to own, enhancing the value of their collection.
https://habitatcontemporary.com/
Mike Trujillo
Mike was born and raised in Los Angeles but has lived in Kansas City, MO the last few years. He is a traditional Sign Painter and studied for two years at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in Sign Painting/Sign Graphic. He spent another two years in the Art Institute of Los Angeles for Animation and Graphic Design. Mike worked for a few of the top mural advertisement companies in LA for over 5 years. His role was helping to paint large scale advertisements for a variety of big name brands. Mike has been painting murals for 10 years now. After meeting Whitney, he decided to move to Kansas City to expand his art career and to help start The Arts Dept.
https://www.instagram.com/miketrujillo_signs_murals/
Whitney Kerr III
Whitney is a Kansas City native who accepted a scholarship and received his BFA with an emphasis in Painting from Memphis College of Art. Whitney is currently fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a professional muralist. In his 7-year career, Whitney has painted murals in a number of cities across the United States, and multiple countries abroad.
https://www.instagram.com/whitney_kerr_paints_/
Drunken Fiddles
Drunken Fiddles is a music company that teaches adults how to play the fiddle. Whether you have no experience whatsoever or are wanting to dust off your instrument again, Drunken Fiddles will provide a path to community and musical fulfillment in the form of a fiddle (or cello). We offer in-person workshops, a 24/7 online music school, international retreats in places such as Ireland, and online intensives.
