Artspeak Radio

KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
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ARTSPEAK RADIO is a live radio program on KKFI that airs every Wednesday from 9am - 10am CST Host Maria Vasquez Boyd serves up information about the visual and literary arts community including live interviews with artists, writers, and performers.

  1. 4d ago

    Artspeak Radio with Kēvin Callahan, Marti Dodge, and Wolfe Brack

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd artists Kēvin Callahan, Marti Dodge, and InterUrban ArtHouse Executive Director Wolfe Brack join us on air. KĒVIN CALLAHAN & MARTI DODGE-Schoolhouse Art Gallery & Nature Center Presents Prairie Echos, a Sculptural Tribute to the Natural World New exhibition by Kansas City artists Kēvin Callahan and Marti Dodge opens Friday, July 31, in Brownville, Nebraska Prairie Echos is a new exhibition featuring the work of Kansas City artists Kēvin Callahan of the Elegant Line Studio and Marti Dodge of 3Herons Art, on Friday, July 31, 2026. The show will remain on view throughout August 2026. Prairie Echos honors and reimagines the artists' shared love for the natural world. Drawing from the prairie landscape that surrounds them, Callahan and Dodge transform what they have observed in nature — from fallen trees to birds on the wing — into work that brings those moments to life. The exhibition is primarily sculptural, with pieces that arise from the land itself before being presented to the viewer. Both Callahan and Dodge are lifelong multidisciplinary artists who work across a range of media, including paint, wood, and metal. Their distinct yet complementary visions give the show its name: an exhibition that lets the prairie speak, and echoes it back through art. Opening Night The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 6 PM. The evening will feature artist talks, a Q&A session, and an opportunity for guests to mingle with Callahan and Dodge and hear directly about the inspiration behind their work. About the Artists Kēvin Callahan creates work under the name the Elegant Line Studio. A multidisciplinary artist, Callahan draws on natural forms and the landscapes of the prairie to shape sculptural and mixed-media pieces. Marti Dodge works under the name 3Herons Art. Also a lifelong multidisciplinary artist, Dodge explores the natural world through paint, wood, metal, and sculpture, reflecting a deep connection to the environment. Visitor Information Prairie Echos opens at the Schoolhouse Art Gallery & Nature Center, Brownville, Nebraska with a reception: Friday, July 31, 2026 and will be on view through August 2026. More information: brownvillefinearts.com/schoolhouse-art-gallery For interviews, images, or additional information, please contact Kēvin Callahan at kevin@bsfgadv.com or Marti Dodge at mertldoc@icloud.com. WOLFE BRACK InterUrban ArtHouse Executive Director InterUrban Arthouse is a 501c3 community arts organization in Downtown Overland Park offering gallery space, affordable studio space, and arts events to the public.  InterUrban Arthouse is located at 8001 Newton St, Overland Park, KS 66204, open Monday, Thursday, and Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 12-4. Exhibition receptions are every 3rd Friday, 5-8pm, and open to the public. Learn more at interurbanarthouse.org or interurbanarthouse on FB and Instagram Current Exhibition, up through July 30th: Let Me Introduce Myself - Work from the Gift of Troost Black Artist Collective and KC area Black artists. Upcoming events: Thursday, July 23rd, 6:30-7:30 pm: Curators Connect at Englewood Art Center 10901 E Winner Rd in Independence, MO. Artists and curators are invited in to talk with staff and learn about their programs, classes, studio space, and how artists can get involved. Saturday, Aug 15th, 12-4pm: Artist headshots with photographer Jason Piggie. Happens the 3rd Saturday of every month. Friday, Aug 21st, 5-8pm at IUAH - Opening reception for This Is Permanent, featuring work by tattoo artists and artists making tattoo adjacent work. Thursday, Sept 3rd, 6:30-8pm - Joy Zimmerman Trio in concert at IUAH. Info at joyzimmermanmusic.com Friday, Sept 18th, 5-8pm at IUAH - This Is Permanent Closing reception Friday, October 16th, 5-9pm - 12 x 12 Member show and annual  Arts on Fire community event. Hundreds of small works from member artists and community members (everyone can participate!), and multiple performances, snacks, and surprises throughout the night. Workshops with Johnson County Library Stitching Tradition: A Kawandi Tote Bag Workshop Series Thursdays, Sept. 10, 17, 24 • 10 a.m.-Noon @ Corinth Library Tuesdays, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13 • 10 a.m.-Noon @ Oak Park Library Explore the rich tradition of Kawandi quilting in this three part workshop series led by Sherry Whetstone of InterUrban ArtHouse. Kawandi is a hand-stitched quilting practice developed by the Siddi people, an Afro-Indigenous community in India. ArtWorks: Marketing & Promoting Your Work Saturday, Sept. 26 • 10-11:30 a.m. @ Central Resource Library ArtWorks: Grants/Funding Your Work Wednesday, Nov. 18 • 6-7:30 p.m. @ Central Resource Library

  2. Jul 15

    Artspeak Radio with Barbara Reres, Greater Kansas City Area Committee National Museum of Women in the Arts

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Babara Reres, Chair Greater Kansas City Area Committee National Museum of Women in the Arts. BARBARA RERES, Chair Greater Kansas City Area Committee National Museum of Women in the ARTS THE MISSION OF the National Museum of Women in the ARTS With its collections, exhibitions, programs, and online content, the museum seeks to inspire dynamic exchanges about art and ideas. NMWA advocates for better representation of women artists and serves as a vital center for thought leadership, community engagement, and social change. NMWA addresses the gender imbalance in the presentation of art by bringing to light important women artists of the past while promoting great women artists working today.To fulfill this mission, NMWA: • Displays and preserves a collection of more than 5,000 objects • Presents ten world-class exhibitions featuring women artists each year • Runs an acclaimed public programs initiative highlighting the power of women and the arts as catalysts for change • Offers education curricula and programs for learners of all ages • Maintains a 17,500-volume library and research center • Serves as a leading resource for facts about gender disparity in the arts • Highlights women artists on its website, blog, and social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram • Publishes art history books and a triannual magazine • Sponsors twenty national and international outreach committees, whose members serve as NMWA ambassadors and advocate for artists in their regions. Visit www.nmwa.org HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS Founded in 1987, NMWA is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to recognizing women’s creative contributions. The idea for the National Museum of Women in the Arts grew from a simple, obvious, but rarely asked question: Where are all the women artists? NMWA’s founders, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay and Wallace F. Holladay, began collecting art in the 1960s, just as scholars and art historians were beginning to discuss the underrepresentation of women and various racial and ethnic groups in museum collections and major art exhibitions. Among the first to apply this revisionist approach to collecting, the Holladays committed themselves for over 20 years to assembling art by women. By 1980, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay began to devote her energies and resources to creating a museum that would showcase women artists, and the Holladay Collection became the core of the institution’s permanent collection. The National Museum of Women in the Arts was incorporated in November 1981 as a private, non-profit museum. During its first five years, NMWA operated from temporary offices with docent-led tours of the collection at the Holladay residence. Special exhibitions also were presented. In 1983, the museum purchased a 78,810 square-foot Washington landmark near the White House, formerly a Masonic Temple, and refurbished it in accordance with the highest design, museum, and security standards. It won numerous architectural awards. In the spring of 1987, NMWA opened the doors of its permanent location with the inaugural exhibition, American Women Artists, 1830-1930, a definitive survey curated by one of the country’s foremost feminist art historians, Dr. Eleanor Tufts. See more about the National Museum of Women in the Arts at: nmwa.org The Greater Kansas City Area Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is one of the museum’s nearly 30 national and international committees.The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. The local group formed in Kansas City, MO in 2002 under the leadership of Jeannette Nichols with the goals of raising awareness of the National Museum’s unique purpose and of bringing attention to noteworthy women artists in our own community. Since its formation, the Committee has grown its membership, due in large part to the efforts of Darlene McCluskey, Jean Rau, Jan Leonard and Beth Viehland who have arranged more than 100 “monthly outings” to artists’ studios, special exhibitions at local museums, and private home collections. Committees have worked diligently to sponsor a juried art show (2006), to organize a major gift to the National Museum of Hung Liu’s “Seven Poses” (2007), and to participate in the Women to Watch exhibitions which have become our signature events for 2010, 2012, and 2015. www.kc-nmwa.org Greater Kansas City Area Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts PO Box 480132 Kansas City, MO 64148

  3. Jul 3

    Artspeak Radio with KC Fringe Festival and EarlystART

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Audrey Crabtree Executive Director KC Fringe Festival and June McDaniel EarlystART CEO. AUDREY CRABTREE, Executive Director KC Fringe The KC Fringe is the largest celebration of arts and culture in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Returning live for its 22nd season for a two-week explosion of performance, film, visual arts exhibitions, and events that showcase the work of local, national, and international artists. The mostly volunteer-run organization has been supporting artists, cultivating creators, and attracting adventurous audiences since July 2005. Our Mission-KC Fringe Festival champions creative expression by empowering artists to produce bold and innovative work through an annual visual and performing arts festival that is accessible and affordable for all. Our Vision-KC Fringe • Aspires to be the region’s leading pipeline for artistic innovation, fostering individuals and groups with opportunities to continue on their artistic journey through education, mentorship, collaborations and partnerships with emerging and established organizations. •  Create cultural understanding by amplifying diverse voices through inclusive representation in our artists, programming, audiences, and venues and expanding the festival to be reflective and inclusive of global cultures. • Envisions a vibrant, sustainable cultural landscape where artists and audiences converge, forming a dynamic and engaged community to experience the transformative power of the arts. Inclusivity Statement-KC Fringe is committed to providing a respectful, safe environment free from harassment, violence, discrimination, bullying, and abuse. We will not tolerate participation in activities or behaviors that discriminate on the ground of race, gender, age, marital status, religious beliefs, citizenship, mental and physical abilities or sexual orientation. We provide opportunities for everyone to contribute and participate in all events and activities whenever possible, and all community members are to be treated with respect and dignity. We seek to expand our reach to fight against injustices and become a more welcoming and equitable place for everyone to enjoy the performing arts. If you feel you are experiencing actions contrary to our safe, respectful environment, we want to hear from you. Please email our board liaison at SpeakUp@kcfringe.org. Accessibility Statement-All of our venues are wheelchair accessible. If you require additional assistance, please contact us one week in advance at accessibility@kcfringe-org.us.stackstaging.com for additional support at the venue.   www.kcfringe.org JUNE MCDANIEL, EarlystART CEO, Ex-Officio - Embrace Wonder! The earliest years are the wonder years. A time when children are curious by nature and undeterred by the unknown. That’s why an EarlystART education is distinctively different. Here, we believe in the ability of creative expression to fuel and express passion. We are where hope flies high. Where families flourish. Where kids can be kids.  Here, we believe all children deserve a great education right from the start and will make the world better because of it. We’re EarlystART, an innovator in wonder-filled early education for more than 50 years, and we’re just getting started! At EarlystART, we are redefining early childhood education through a unique arts-infused curriculum that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and confidence in children from six weeks to five years old. Our approach goes beyond traditional learning - integrating visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play into daily instruction to support academic readiness, social-emotional growth and resilience. In a community where many children face significant barriers from the very start, this model is proving transformative. We are seeing firsthand how exposure to the arts helps shape capable, compassionate, and confident young learners - the emerging leaders and citizens our community will rely on in the years ahead. • Why arts-infused learning is a powerful (and often overlooked) driver of long-term success • How EarlystART is addressing critical gaps in access to high-quality early education • The broader impact this work has on families, workforce development, and community vitality • Invite the community to support the Art of Wonder, our signature breakfast event on August 5th at the Zhou B Art Center Our Project Construct evidence-based curriculum encourages positive teacher-student relationships, autonomy, and child-led experiences. In this supportive, collaborative and child-centered environment, students not only develop per their individual needs – they flourish! Project Construct classrooms incorporate many of the activities found in traditional classrooms such as pretend play and block building, but have a clear emphasis on cognitive objectives. At EarlystART, our distinctive approach blends the Project Construct curriculum with the Arts, sparking each child’s innate curiosity. We encourage creative expression and foster each child’s social competence, support learning through play, and forge strong home-school connections. Our one-of-a-kind arts-infused environment touches all aspects of learning while also engaging families in the process. In turn, our students become enthusiastic, independent, and inquisitive learners as they march to their own beats and do what works for them! The EarlystART curriculum is a magical mix of visual, musical, and dramatic arts that come to life in our classrooms, art studios, and venues around the community. Why Art is Smart-Experiencing the arts prompts the synapses in a child’s brain to fire away. And just like that, billions of new connections are formed through arts experiences and creative expression!  Our dedicated arts educators integrate the arts in meaningful ways: leading students and parents in after-school Stay-and-Play activities; addressing the special needs of students who have experienced trauma through arts-based therapies; welcoming talented Artists in Residence to The Studio, our on-site makerspace; engaging families and community in artistic and cultural experiences on site and around the community that inspire creative thought and an appreciation for the arts. EarlystART, 2008 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64127 The flagship center along Kansas City’s 12th Street Corridor has long been an anchor of hope and opportunity for children and families living in the historic Northeast neighborhoods or who work in the nearby downtown business district. THE ART OF WONDER Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 | Zhou B Art Center | 8:30-10 AM 1801 E. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108  Wake up, pour a little joy, and let’s paint the morning bright together! The Art of Wonder begins with a curated student art gallery showcasing original works created by EarlystART Little Learners. Each piece tells a story of curiosity, imagination, and growth – a vivid reminder of what quality early education makes possible. Join us at this distinctive venue in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Enjoy coffee, breakfast, and a morning brimming with inspiration – all to benefit EarlystART! www.earlystartkc.org

  4. Jun 25

    Artspeak Radio with Traci Brimhall and Jim Ramirez

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall and artist/writer Jim Ramirez. TRACI BRIMHALL is a university distinguished professor of creative writing at Kansas State University, as well as the 2025 Poet-in-Residence at the Guggenheim. She is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently Love Prodigal (Copper Canyon Press, 2024). Her nonfiction debut, The Grief Artist, will be published by Sarabande Books in 2026. Known for her poems that often marry the ordinary with the surreal, Brimhall’s work has appeared widely in journals and magazines such as The New Yorker, Orion, The Atlantic, The New Republic, Poetry, The Nation, and The New York Times Magazine. Through fellowships with the National Endowment of the Arts, National Park Service, and Academy of American Poets she’s taught writing workshops in farm schools, art museums, libraries, medical communities, and the outdoors. She’s also received a Karnes Fellowships through Purdue Library’s Special Collections to study the lost poem drafts of Amelia Earhart. She is the current poet laureate of Kansas, where her initiatives have centered on uniting the state’s agricultural roots with the literary arts. Through poetry cookbooks, food-based mad lib poems, and bringing poetry to the State Fair, her literary arts advocacy seeks ways to bring the nourishment of language to all Kansans. As Poet Laureate of Kansas, Brimhall will conduct public readings, workshops, lectures, and presentations that serve communities across the state. Her plans for the laureateship will focus on connecting with Kansans through the shared experience of language, Kansas’ agricultural roots, and food. “I am delighted to serve Kansas as the next Poet Laureate,” Professor Traci Brimhall said. “I love connecting with others and building community, and I can’t wait for the next few years of celebrating creativity in the Sunflower State.” As the Poet Laureate of Kansas, Traci promotes arts as a public resource to all Kansans. Currently, Traci offers two prepared talks as laureate: WHY CAN’T THE HEART STOP ASKING? Poetry is an art of attention. But sometimes the more attention we pay to the world, the more astonishing and confusing it can be. The medical researcher Jonas Salk said: “What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question.” I believe this also holds true for poetry. What images do we see each day that excite our minds? What sounds do we hear that awaken our hearts? What poems ask for our attention and reward us with discovery? This presentation will use poetry to create surprises, explore our curiosities, and find new questions. MEMORY FEAST In so many communities there is an appetite to find language for our experiences and connect with others. Joyce Carol Oates said: “If food is poetry, is not poetry also food?” I believe cuisine can be a link to open a memory, a great way to connect with those we love, and a source of inspiration for poetry. This presentation will use poetry to connect us both with our senses in daily activities as well as help us recall memories that remind us of family, culture and community. Poetry can be a place of nourishment, a bounty of the sensory, a feast of words. The above programs are designed for a roughly 60-minute time frame but can be adjusted if necessary. Traci may be able to accommodate other program or appearance requests, but priority will be given for the listed programs. Kansascommerce.gov JIM RAMIREZ is an experienced, passionate and adventurous Design Professional with a sharp, creative eye for layout, color, typography, photography, and consumer-relevant product innovation. He is also a patent holder, photographer, fine artist, and published author. Where I’m Supposed To Belong is a memoir Jim wrote about a trip he took to Europe. The memoir consists of four parts. Part One: He arrives in Amsterdam and makes his way to the French Alps in an attempt to climb the most famous mountain in professional cycling, L'Alpe d'Huez, in less than an hour. Part Two: Nice. The French Riviera. Part Three: Avignon. Part Four: Barcelona. Reproduced throughout the book are the actual train tickets, restaurant receipts, and sketches he did along the way. Available at Amazon. “Where has Papu been?” is a children's book Jim wrote and illustrated that teaches children about different places around the world, and places he's actually traveled to. Places like Paris, France, where they’ll climb the Eiffel Tower. Hong Kong, for a ride in a sampan. They’ll take a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The book is filled with colorful illustrations and many more landmarks in many more great cities. Available at Amazon. Who We Are is a book Jim wrote and designed about the genealogy of his parents. Available at Amazon. "My feeling is, if a creative idea comes to you, wherever they come from, you owe it to that idea to see it through jrd@jrdesignsllc.com

  5. Jun 21

    Artspeak Radio with Great Plains SPCA and Miguel M. Morales

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes poet/activist Miguel M. Morales and Marissa Pappas Great Plains Senior Major Gifts Officer. MIGUEL M. MORALES grew up in Texas working as a migrant/seasonal farmworker and child laborer. He was a finalist for the 2023 Kansas Poet Laureate. Miguel is a Lambda Literary Fellow and alum of VONA Voices and of the Macondo Writers Workshop. As a journalist, Miguel earned numerous awards including the Society of Professional Journalists' First Amendment Award. In addition to the anthologies featured here, Miguel's work also appears in Pilgrimage and Raspa magazines, Green Mountains Review, Hawaiʻi Review, Texas Poetry Review, Duende Journal, and other print and online publications. Morales is a prominent Kansas City, Missouri-based Latinx writer, poet, and community organizer. He is well-known for his work advocating for and uplifting farmworker communities and LGBTQ+ voices. Literary and Community Work • Writing: Morales is a Lambda Literary Fellow and an alum of the Macondo Writers Workshops and VONA/Voices. • Anthologies: He co-edited the widely recognized anthologies Pulse/Pulso: In Remembrance of Orlando and Fat & Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. • The Common: He co-edited a landmark farmworker portfolio for The Common literary journal, highlighting essays, poems, and art by agricultural workers. • Local Involvement: He is a core member of Kansas City’s Latino Writers Collective and regularly participates in local arts and reading events, such as those at The Writers Place. • Rocket Grants Project Morales was awarded a Rocket Grant—a program administered by the Charlotte Street Foundation and the Spencer Museum of Art. His envisioned project supports farmworker youth in creating a dedicated poetry and art chapbook, drawing on his over twenty years of experience with youth education programs. Where to Follow His Work You can keep up with his writings, readings, and community projects via these platforms: • Instagram: @trustmiguel • Facebook: Miguel M. Morales - Writer • Books & Anthologies: Browse his catalog and edited collections on his Amazon Author Page MARISSA PAPPAS, Senior Major Gifts Officer, Great Plains SPCA- As an independent 501(c)(3) no kill shelter, with a 97% life release rate, GPSPCA provides lifesaving services for approximately 6,000 animals annually in the greater Kansas City area. Great Plains SPCA exists because of our caring Kansas City community and generous donors. We offer a lifelong, full-circle approach for pets and their human companions with our three-pronged approach: prevention, adoption, retention. When we began as Animal Haven in 1966, we committed to working as the community shelter, filling in a need that didn’t exist at the time. Today, our commitment remains to the cities and residents we support. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities that we are contracted with including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Shawnee, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks and Recreation and unincorporated Johnson County. We work every day to provide best in class care for homeless pets, reuniting lost pets with their owners, and serving those in greatest need through our HERO, Pups for Parolees, Public Behavior classes and Pet Food Pantry programs. Our commitment to matching pets with forever homes is at the center of everything we do. Our Mission To drive change in our community through innovative programs that promote adoption, outreach and a better life for pets and the people who love them. As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our lifesaving services for animals can only be provided because of your generosity and commitment to our mission. Great Plains SPCA exists solely because of our caring Kansas City community and gracious donors like you. • We proudly report a live-release rate of 97% or higher.  Our live-release rate is calculated by the number of adoptions, returns to owner, transfers and other live outcomes for a given time period divided by the total number of animals the shelter brought in for that same period. • We offer a lifelong, full-circle approach for pets and their human companions with our three-pronged approach: prevention, adoption, retention. Great Plains SPCA is located at 5424 Antioch Dr. Merriam, KS 66202 (913)831-7722 www.greatplainsspca.org Lend A Paw is a donation match drive. This summer every contribution made to Great Plains SPCA will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling the support for our pets. Will you Lend A Paw to help us raise $670,000 by July 31?

  6. Jun 16

    Artspeak Radio with Sound Mandala & Scott Preston

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Tom Mardikes, Jon Robertson, and Scott Preston. Sound Mandala is a one-of-a-kind immersive audio experience where 100 independent loudspeakers surround you—sound moving around you, above you, and through you. This isn't surround sound. It's something altogether different, carefully crafted by sound designers who spend hours mixing each piece moving the sound around you, above you, and beneath you. Audio becomes a physical environment you can step inside – you feel it as much as you hear it. We call it a Mecca concept — you can't stream it, download it, or replicate it anywhere else. You have to be there. TOM MARDIKES & JON ROBERTSON- Sound Mandala Summer 2026 runs June 10 – August 1 presented at Unicorn Theatre; tickets on sale May 1 Sound Mandala is back and this summer, it's bigger than ever. The groundbreaking immersive audio experience returns to the Unicorn Theatre's Jerome Stage June 10 through August 1, 2026, with three original programs that push the boundaries of what sound can do to a room and to the people inside it. Tickets at www.soundmandala.org/experience. Sound Mandala's summer run coincides with Kansas City's moment on the world stage as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city and overlaps with the KC Fringe Festival, positioning it as a must-see cultural destination for international visitors and locals alike. At the heart of the experience: a custom-built array of 100 independent loudspeakers surrounding audiences on all sides — above them, beside them, moving through them. Programs are complex mixes of recording done by our artists, using their original tracks. "This is an experience that simply cannot be duplicated anywhere else," said creator and founder Tom Mardikes. "To experience it, you have to be there." Sound Mandala made its public debut at the 2024 KC Fringe Festival, where over 9 days more than 800 people experienced the installation. The creative team draws from artists and designers affiliated with UMKC Conservatory's Sound Design MFA program, and the project has grown from the research of UMKC professor Tom Mardikes over many years. Sound Mandala Institute, Inc. is a Kansas City–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For history, technology, and more: www.soundmandala.org THE 2026 PROGRAMS Signal&Soul | June 10 – August 1 The flagship variety program, and Sound Mandala at its most kaleidoscopic. Roughly 50 minutes, 10 pieces, zero filler. Signal&Soul collides original music, theatrical performance, beatboxing, spoken word, and unexpected reinvention into a single, propulsive arc. Featured works include The Missionary by acclaimed KC artist Krizz Kaliko; an original composition by Austen Schober; a video game collage from Jacob Souders and Paul Vedros; a Chekhov vignette performed by Vanessa Severo; beatboxer Luke "Skippy" Harbur of musicbyskippy; MU by audio artist Rev. Dwight Frizzell; a new piece by Jon Robertson; and a Sound Mandala reimagining of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" that has to be heard to be believed. Indie Spotlight from Challenger Artists | June 20 – August 1 Five bands. Two songs each. Original multi-track recordings mixed into an immersive system that will change how you hear them. Challenger Artists has assembled a remarkable roster for this approximately 60-minute set conceived specifically for the Sound Mandala environment. Featuring: Mini Trees, the indie-alt pop project of LA-based songwriter Lexi Vega, whose 2025 headline tour sold out venues coast to coast; Brooklyn duo TOLEDO; Valley Boy, whose collaborators include Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Troye Sivan; Midwest four-piece Post Sex Nachos, whose track "SOS" climbed to the SiriusXM Alt Nation Top 6; and Chicago indie act Capital Soiree, featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds editorial playlists. Unicorn Theatre | Jerome Stage 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 Tom Mardikes has worked on over 250 professional productions nationwide as Sound Designer for Kansas City Repertory Theatre (formerly Missouri Rep), the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the Dallas Theatre Center, Syracuse Stage, Coconut Grove, the Roundabout, Buffalo Studio Arena, the Alley Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Jon Robertson A Kansas City-based sound designer and composer, honed his skills during the pandemic to improve online audio collaboration. In 2021, he co-created the audio tool, Tutti Remote, facilitating global audio syncing for performers. His work spans theatrical productions, films, and radio plays, earning recognition at festivals like New Music Gathering and KC Fringe. An educator at heart, Jon currently teaches at the University of Evansville and boasts degrees from UMKC and the University of Arizona. Jon has been working with the Sound Mandala since 2015. The Sound Mandala is a new way of listening to recorded sounds, in a room full of loudspeakers arranged in a matrix allowing for a wide variety of sound distribution and motion. In the auditory domain, the Sound Mandala imitates the visual trick of film motion by placing dozens of loudspeakers into a space organized into a matrix of lines and rows, then dividing, or spreading a sound along these lines and rows to create a sinuous ‘motion’ of sound. This summer the Sound Mandala will present a new show at the Unicorn Theatre as well as joining the KC Fringe Festival 2026, featuring a 100-loudspeaker channel system in the Jerome black box theatre seating 40 people. We refer to the Sound Mandala as a ‘Mecca-concept’----you must go there to have the experience. As this invention becomes commercialized and we experiment with visual images, this Mecca-concept will be a decided advantage to a film presenter---an advantage movie theatres do not enjoy today. The Sound Mandala experience cannot be duplicated in the home or in a car. When You Walk In... • An Acoustic Sanctuary: You’ll step into an intimate theater environment wrapped in an array of dozens of individual loudspeakers. • Perfect Sound, Every Seat: Unlike standard concert venues or movie theaters where the best sound is only in the exact center, the Sound Mandala is designed so that every seat is the best seat in the house. • A Journey for the Senses: You will sit back, relax, and let custom-composed music, vivid soundscapes, and acoustic narratives wash over your senses and move right through you. SCOTT PRESTON-The Traveling Hippo is a children's book that encourages family travel traditions, featuring a narrator and seven characters who guide families in taking a stuffed hippo on vacation to create memories. The book, which includes a travel log and illustrations by Preston's daughter, Lilly, is part of a larger "Hippo Universe" that includes merchandise like plushies and trading cards, and it aims to be more than just a story but a family activity. Key aspects of the book and tradition: • Concept: Families bring a stuffed hippo on trips, using the book as a guide and a travel journal to record their adventures. • Characters: The story features a narrator, Hammy the bird, and other characters that help explain the tradition. • Family involvement: The project is a family affair, with Preston's daughter Lilly doing illustrations and his son helping with the website. • Origin: The tradition started with the author's own children using a hippo from a discount store on their trips. • Merchandise: The "Hippo Universe" includes the book, plush toys, and other items, with plans for more books and products. • Awards: It was a finalist in the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

  7. Jun 4

    Pledge Drive with Jerry Rapp & Christina Loya

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org ARTSPEAK RADIO is entering its' 14th year-if you tune in weekly, download podcasts, listen online, if you learn about new opportunities happening in the creative community, enjoy listening to one of the many guests featured weekly on ARTSPEAK RADIO then call 888-931-0901 to pledge your support. Online pledges are simple, just go to www.kkfi.org and show us your support for YOUR community radio station. It's time for you to support this on air arts program that gives local artists, spoken word poets, painters, sculptors, musicians, arts educators, museums, arts organizations, and so many more the opportunity to discuss their art, chapbooks, events, openings, performances, innovations, and submissions for artistic opportunities. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RADIO STATION AND ARTSPEAK RADIO NOW IN ITS' 14TH YEAR!!! Call 888-931-0901 and make your pledge. Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes producer/writer Jerry Rapp and Christina Loya Mattie Rhodes Public Historian & Community Engagement Coordinator. CHRISTINA LOYA Mattie Rhodes Public Historian & Community Engagement Coordinator- The Museum of Kansas City is proud to announce that Connecting Cultures Across Kansas City: The Hand-in-Hand Folk Art Collection is opening to the public on Friday, June 12 at the Museum. This exhibition is organized by the Mattie Rhodes Center and presented in collaboration with The Museum of Kansas City. The Hand-in-Hand Folk Art Collection was started by Alice Ann Biggerstaff (1924–2007) and later donated to Mattie Rhodes. A Kansas City native, Alice Ann was an artist who worked for more than three decades at Hallmark Cards. Upon retirement, she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she continued collecting artwork and created a vibrant, welcoming home.Showcasing more than 150 rarely seen works of folk art from across the globe, with a particular focus on pieces from Latin America and the American Southwest, Connecting Cultures Across Kansas City explores how folk art reflects shared values and human experiences across communities and cultures. Through cultural expression, identity, and time-honored traditions, these works bridge local communities and global traditions. In this exhibit, you will encounter works by multigenerational artisan families, including the exquisite ceramic traditions of the Aguilar and Blanco families of Oaxaca, as well as the whimsically carved wooden animals of the Alvarez and Rodríguez families of the American Southwest. Also included are countless works created by artisans whose names were never recorded or have been lost to history. For centuries, the contributions of people of color, women, and other marginalized groups have too often been misattributed or erased, even as their work has shaped cultural identity and community memory. Connecting Cultures invites viewers to honor both the named and the unnamed makers, and to consider how artistry survives through generations by blending ancient techniques with cultural storytelling, acting as a living link to history, identity, and resilience. The exhibition also emphasizes the vital role of collecting as a form of cultural stewardship—preserving stories, supporting artists, and ensuring that meaningful objects remain accessible to future generations. An installation inspired by Alice Ann’s home in Santa Fe will be featured, alongside selected pieces of her clothing, offering insight into the personal vision behind the collection. Folk art encompasses a wide range of handmade objects created for daily life, ritual, and celebration, often using region-specific materials and techniques. These works embody lived experience and serve as carriers of cultural knowledge, helping sustain identity across generations. Whether a colorful and imaginative alebrije—a fantastical creature rooted in Mexican folk traditions—a giant painted wooden crocodile from Santa Fe, or an intricately crafted ceramic Tree of Life, these pieces are gentle reminders that beauty and imagination have existed for thousands of years and will endure long after the item itself is gone. The Museum of Kansas City is located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd. KCMO On view June 12, 2026 through January 2027 JERRY RAPP-“GOSPEL IS A DRAG” DEBUTS AT THE ARTS ASYLUM THEATER KCMO- “Gospel Is A Drag,” an original musical written by Jerry Rapp, will make its debut at the Arts Asylum Theater, 824 E Meyer Blvd in Kansas City. The limited engagement performances are June 12-15 and June 19-22. Showtimes are 7:30 PM CST on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:00 PM CST on Sunday and Mondays. Tickets and more information are available at www.gospelisadrag.com The show is set in the fictional town of Squibbtown, Missouri, where a stuffy town hall meeting is suddenly crashed by the fabulous Gloria- backed by her stellar choir - ready to sing and speak her truth. The show is described as an “InfoMusical,” and “a unique, rollicking, interactive experience filled with more music, frivolity, inspiration, education and improvisation than one ever thought possible” promising original songs and new arrangements of traditional hymns. The musical stars popular performance artist Tajma Stetson and features many notable local performers in the ensemble. The Director is Kevin Bogan with Musical Direction by Trevor Smith. The Arts Asylum was founded in 2011 to provide artists of all mediums a safe place to create and continues that mission today through their emphasis on new works, classics reimagined, and educational outreach. Rapp is an award-winning producer and writer who makes his Arts Asylum debut with the play. “It feels like one of the most important personal works I have done up to this point in my career.” says Rapp. “Our show points out that there are more commonalities than differences between us,” adds Stetson. “We hope people will make new friends, hear some catchy songs and have their spirits uplifted!” JUNE 12-15 and 19-22 CONTACT: ARTS ASYLUM THEATER Jerry Rapp 824 E Meyer Blvd 323-354-0115 Kansas City, MO 64131 jr@jerryrapp.com

  8. Jun 2

    Artspeak Radio with GK Callahan, Ben Wendt, & John Todd The Radio God

    Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes artist GK Callahan, John Todd the Radio God. BEN WENDT, musician, & GK CALLAHAN artist.-10th Annual Arts in the Park Festival is a free two-day celebration of creativity, culture, and community at Macken Park in North Kansas City. This year's festival features more than 60 artists and makers, live music, food trucks, a beer garden, a petting zoo, family activities, and, through a partnership with the Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Commission, cultural performances, traditional dance, music, and food representing communities from across the region. We look forward to celebrating everyone in North Kansas City, and enjoying arts and culture with our neighbors. https://www.artsinthepark.org GK Callahan is a civic artist and Community Arts & Engagement Specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, as well as a member of the North Kansas City Arts in the Park Festival Planning Committee. Ben Wendt, local musician, co-owner of The Rhino, and Arts in the Park committee member who helps coordinate the festival’s music programming. JOHN TODD The Radio God- The phrase, “Under the Radar,” literally means to go without attracting notice; in an undetected or secretive manner. But don’t let the title of John Todd’s radio program fool you. If the bands he plays on air were unnoticed before, they are surely on someone’s radar now. John has made it his personal mission to unearth Kansas City’s best musicians by giving them the airplay they deserve. On his program, “Under the Radar”, anything goes. From rock to country, folk to funk, there’s something here for all. Tune in Sunday night from 10-12 p.m. and let John help you get these under-represented bands on your music radar.

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About

ARTSPEAK RADIO is a live radio program on KKFI that airs every Wednesday from 9am - 10am CST Host Maria Vasquez Boyd serves up information about the visual and literary arts community including live interviews with artists, writers, and performers.

Information

  • Creator
    KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    591
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Show Website
    Artspeak Radio