Project Overview

The Art and Natural Resources Residency will be the first short-term residency program to engage a local artist and allow them to embed with the JCPRD Natural Resources team to learn, respond artistically, and amplify the important work of land restoration --specifically, the removal of the invasive species bush honeysuckle. A call for local artists occurred in December 2021 and upon review by an art selection committee made up of artists and community members, Kirsten Taylor was selected to occupy the residency. The JCPRD Board unanimously approved Taylor at the March 2022 board meeting. 

The goals for the Art and Natural Resources Residency are to:

• Create interactive, artistic experiences that allow park visitors to learn about the land restoration and the ecology and natural systems that make up the JCPRD parks. Specifically, this ANRR will focus on the health of forests and the effect of the invasive species at Shawnee Mission Park.
• Provide a platform for artists to create new, engaging art projects that grow out of an exploration of the work of the Natural Resources team, the process of land restoration, and the ecology and natural systems of JCPRD parks.
• Increase community engagement, awareness, and appreciation related to the JCPRD Natural Resource Plan and the efforts and impact our staff have on the health of our natural ecosystem.
• Support the growth and development of Kansas City regional artists.

Tentative timeline for the project:

About the Selected Artist

Kirsten Taylor is a multimedia artist based in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion. Her work questions the traditionally Western hierarchy of humans above the nature by investigating the relationships between humans and the more-than human world. Taylor holds a BA in Studio Art from Baylor University and was a post-baccalaureate student in ceramics at Utah State University. Currently she attends University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas as an MFA student. Taylor has exhibited nationally at venues including the Indianapolis Art Center, Starbrick Gallery, and the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. She was awarded commissions by the Spencer Museum of Art in 2020 and 2021.

The Art and Natural Resources Residency Art Selection Committee includes:

Pictured: Megan Garrett, Matt Garrett, Ryan Bell, Linda Lehrbaum, Susan Mong.

• Ryan Bell
  JCPRD Fine Arts Coordinator
• Matt Garrett
  JCPRD Biologist
• Megan Garrett
  JCPRD Planning & Development
• Linda Lehrbaum
  Kansas City Wildlands
• Susan Mong
  JCPRD Superintendent of Culture