Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes artists GK Callahan & Laura White, Consuelo Cruz Belger Arts, & Cody Joliff Powell Gardens CEO, Director Teisha M. Bankston & Artistic Director Unicorn Theater Ernie Nolan. GK CALLAHAN & LAURA WHITE- Englewood Art Center presents Laura White- In Full Bloom, a solo exhibition by KC blind artist Laura White. On view from March 20 through May 16, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, March 20 at 6:00 PM.“You have never seen anything like this — neither have I.” —White In Full Bloom is an immersive, cheeky, tactile exhibition featuring beaded quilts and sculptural works created from beads and found materials. Inspired by the artist’s love of gardening and nature, the work draws from her favorite flowers- flowers she can no longer see, but continues to engage with through memory and touch. White’s practice expands the tradition of American quilt-making into a richly textured visual and sensory language, expressed through bold, large- scale works. Drawing on her background in graphic design, White constructs her quilts through a monumental reinterpretation of fused beading toys, resulting in surfaces that pulse with color, pattern, labor, and intention. The imagery within each work emerges from White’s visual memory, formed before she lost her eyesight due to retinitis pigmentosa and usher syndrome. Because of her limited vision, White often collaborates with friends and family in selecting colors, embedding each piece with a communal authorship that mirrors the social histories of traditional quilts. The result is work that is at once deeply personal and collective. Art reentered White’s life in 2016 through a collaborative project that reignited her studio practice and led to local recognition. Her work has since been exhibited in the KC area and at institutions, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In Full Bloom marks a significant moment in White’s artistic journey — not a return, but a flourishing. The exhibition invites viewers to slow down, to experience art through touch, memory, and presence, and to reconsider long-held assumptions about vision, access, and who art is for. About Englewood Arts: Englewood Arts Center is dedicated to assisting the community through development of residential and commercial incentives, public art, art events, art programs, philanthropy and community outreach solutions, which result in a thriving community with engagement and pride. Englewood Arts is located at 10901E. Winner Rd. Independence, MO www.englewoodarts.art TEISHA M. BANKSTON, Director & ERNIE NOLAN, Artistic Director of Unicorn Theatre Don't Touch My Hair By Douglas Lyons May 6 – 24, 2026 Unicorn Theatre | Levin Stage Directed by Teisha M. Bankston About the Show: Don’t Touch My Hair Written by Douglas Lyons | Directed by Teisha M. Bankston Don’t Touch My Hair is an exploration of Black womanhood, identity, and cultural ownership, with a sharp comedic wit. The play follows lifelong best friends Eemani and Jade, who, during a casual afternoon together, are launched into a surreal hallucination. It’s a journey that transports them through time to confront historical and cultural oppressors. Through humor, imagination, and sharp dialogue, the two women confront the past to reclaim their power. The play is filled with satire and social commentary, using comedy as a lens for examining serious social issues. Rather than centering pain, Don’t Touch My Hair creates space for laughter, reflection, and conversation. Why It Matters Don’t Touch My Hair’s power comes from shifting the conversation about racial injustice and confronting it through humor and the joyful bond of women. It invites audiences to engage with complex issues in a way that is thought-provoking and deeply human. Key Themes & Takeaways Black Identity At its core, the play examines the significance of Blackness as both a personal and political expression. It challenges audiences to consider who “owns” culture and what it means to reclaim it. Boundaries “Don’t touch my hair” represents the right to personal space, respect, and self-definition. The play highlights how Black women’s bodies and identities are open for commentary, and pushes back against that norm. The “Angry Black Woman” Stereotype The story interrogates the societal expectation that Black women must shrink themselves to be accepted. It confronts stereotypes that label assertiveness as anger, and instead presents characters who are expressive, complex, and unapologetically themselves. Comedy as a Tool for Confrontation Rather than approaching racism solely through trauma, the play uses humor to disarm and engage. By making audiences laugh, it opens the door for deeper reflection on difficult topics without centering harm done to Black people. Friendship & Joy Eemani and Jade’s relationship is a common thread throughout the story. Their bond reflects the importance of safe spaces where Black women can exist fully, speak freely, and find joy while navigating challenges. Eemani and Jade light up to unwind, but their blunt is laced with more than weed. A wild hallucination gives them superpowers to confront the past in a hilarious, eye-opening journey. This electrifying play celebrates Black womanhood and self-discovery. Unicorn Theater is located at 3828 Main St. KCMO www.unicorntheatre.org CONSUELO CRUZ, Vice President Marketing & Community Engagement Belger Arts & CODY JOLIFF Powell Gardens CEO POWELL GARDENS AND BELGER ARTS DEBUT COLLABORATIVE GLASS FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION On view during Painted Garden (May 2-June 21, 2026) in the Conservatory Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, announces the Fountain Project, a one-of-a-kind glass installation created in collaboration with Belger Arts by a collective of glass artists. The installation will be on view May 2 through June 21, 2026, in the Conservatory at Powell Gardens. The piece created as part of the Fountain Project, titled Teaming with Life, will launch the Gardens’ spring art-focused event, Painted Garden. Selected through a national call for artists, the Fountain Project brings together an eight-person collective of glassmakers from across the United States: Abigail Amundson, Michael Carson, Keegan O’Brien, Jacqueline Polofka, Ori Shir, Lauryl Sidwell, Brandon Smith, and Tyler Suter. The team includes three lead gaffers and six assistants who worked collaboratively to fabricate and install the large-scale piece. The artists gathered at the Belger Glass Annex to create the fountain’s intricate functional and decorative components using traditional glassblowing techniques before assembling the installation onsite at Powell Gardens. Their work transforms the Conservatory into a tranquil retreat inspired by the landscapes of the Midwest prairie. At the center of the space, the fountain is adorned with luminous blown-glass forms that echo the shapes and colors of prairie blossoms. Soft golds, lavender tones, and prairie blues shimmer in the light, creating a peaceful atmosphere where visitors are invited to slow down, sit in a rocking chair, and enjoy the interplay of glass, water, and spring blooms. The result is a serene environment where art, nature, and heritage come together in quiet harmony. About the Artists • Abigail Amundson is an emerging multimedia artist based in Corning, New York, whose work explores the intersection of nature and spirituality. She recently graduated from Bowling Green State University and works with the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass team. • Michael Carson, originally from Indiana, focuses on functional blown glass inspired by historical Venetian techniques. He has worked with studios across the Midwest and with the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass team. • Keegan O’Brien, based in Kansas City, earned his BFA from Bowling Green State University. His sculptural glasswork explores light and material, and he currently works as a gaffer at Monarch Glass Studio. • Jacqueline Polofka is the artist behind Double Dipped Studios on Kelleys Island, Ohio. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, she specializes in blown glass and previously worked at institutions including the Corning Museum of Glass and Chrysler Museum of Art. • Ori Shir is co-owner of Shir Glassworks in Greenfield, Massachusetts. His nature-inspired glasswork ranges from functional to sculptural and is exhibited nationwide. • Lauryl Sidwell is a Kansas City-based artist who transitioned from stained glass to hot glass in 2023 and continues to expand her practice through studio work and classes. • Brandon Smith is a glass and mixed-media artist, blacksmith, and educator based in Pennsylvania. He holds an MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and leads the glass program at Keystone College. • Tyler Suter is a resident artist at Belger Arts Center in Kansas City whose sculptures in glass and ceramics are inspired by organic forms and the natural world. Powell Gardens 1609 NW US Hwy 50 Kingsville, MO 816.697.2600 www.powellgardens.org The Fountain Project installation is on view daily from May 2 through June 21, 2026 in the Conservatory at Powell Gardens. For more information about Painted Garden and upcoming events, visit powellgardens.org. May 2: Unveiling of the Belger Arts-Powell Gardens Fountain Project at Powell Gardens. Nine artists from across the country were selected from an open call to create a blown glass fountain. They arrive in Kansas City on April 23. • Gallery Collections: Here Comes the Sun (April 3 - May 30); Dog Days (June 5 – August 1) • June 6: Exhibition Openings for Annual Resident Artist Exhibition; Beat the Heat • June 29-August 7: Kids and Teen Camp • Ongoing ceramics and glass classes Our programs this y
