Julia Williams
Julia Williams
Editor-in-Chief
Northeast Arts KC — a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cultural events and artists around Northeast Kansas City — hosted its third annual open studio tour Dec. 7 and 8.
Nine locations across the Northeast made way for over 21 local artists who presented their work throughout the weekend. Some of these locations included Core Coffee, Latinx Education Collaborative, Pendleton Arts Block, Back Door Pottery, Schliefkevision and The EGG, among others.
Open Studio started three years ago with a mission to help local artists find a space to exhibit their work in and around the community, Northeast Arts KC Treasurer Rebecca Koop said in a recent Northeast News podcast.
Among the weekend’s featured artists included Fred Crawford — a muralist and painter. Crawford, while more recently known for his barrel paintings, which were collaborations between four Northeast neighborhoods — Indian Mound, Scarritt Renaissance, Paseo West and Pendleton Heights — and The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, said he started creating art when he was 10 years old.
While his work started with cartoon character drawings, he has gone on to create paintings for restaurants, Whiteman Air Force Base and completed a mural project in Burkina Faso, West Africa, which he said was exhibited at the American Embassy.
While Crawford doesn’t live in the Northeast himself, he said “you can taste it, it’s so close.”
Another artist who exhibited their work over the weekend was ceramicist and current Back Door Pottery intern, Nancy Susan Nelson Gordon
While Nelson Gordon said she knew she wanted to be a potter at the age of three, she is now a week and half away from obtaining her bachelor of fine arts from the Kansas City Art Institute — after a 30 year break, when she focused on organic farming, homeschooling her children, sign painting, hand-making soap and ornaments and speed skating.
She said she originally studied art in college, attending Ringling College of Art and Design. However, its program did not have a ceramics department at the time and she was just a few credits shy from completing her degree.
14 years ago, Nelson Gordon decided to get back into the ceramic industry — following a career in organic farming and a sixth-place speed skating national finish at 36 years old.
“ I didn’t think it was even possible,” she said in an interview, Sunday. However, after meeting and sharing her portfolio with a former professor, he told her “It’s not too late to get back in.”
She incorporates fragments from her childhood into the glazes on her ceramic pieces, including peacocks, fish and lizards — highlighting her Orlando ties.
She said her grandfather was a commercial fisherman and she will paint from those comforting, childhood memories. She additionally mentioned she had pet lizards as a child, which will also make an appearance on her pottery.
One of her pots, which she said was one of her favorites, placed within the top 50 at the State Fair and earned an honorable mention within the top 50.
Following graduation, Nelson Gordon said she hopes to continue renting space at Back Door Pottery to create her work.
“Rebecca has a wealth of information,” she said in an interview, Sunday. “I need that kind of guidance.”
Nelson Gordon said she has previously sold her work on Facebook Marketplace, which has proved successful at times. For those interested in her work or to learn more, visit NancySusanNelsonGordon on social media or email: Gardens@pearlygatessoap.com.
Michael Schliefke was another artist who had his studio open over the weekend.
Schliefke said he focuses his work mainly on oil painting — teaching courses and hosting art shows out of his studio, 104 Askew Ave. However, in his basement space is his wood and print shop, where he makes his own canvases and screen prints t-shirts.
He said his paintings, which he considers ‘fairly modern, but traditionally based’ generally focus around a central theme he hones in on for each show exhibition. These have previously focused on politics or ritualistic themes. However, his current theme is a set of allegorical, Greek mythology paintings, which he said he hopes to exhibit at a show around March or April of 2025.
“I just love painting,” Schliefke said in an interview, Sunday. “I’ve been making art my whole life.”
For more information on Schliefke or to purchase his work, visit: schliefkevision.com.
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