Robert Quackenbush

As a full-time working artist, I didn’t much like leaving New York City and my incredible studio in the South Bronx. But family issues dictated that we come to Kansas City, and family is always first on the list. So, in April, 2005, we relocated. I’m sure, at the beginning, my attitude wasn’t very good. What was the art scene going to be like? How hard would the elder care challenge be? And, of course, where were we going to eat?

It was only a matter of a few weeks before my selfish fears vanished. It turns out that Kansas City is the best kept secret in America. The people are wonderful. The quality of life is outstanding. The cost of living is low. And, to my great joy, the art scene is exploding—a grand assortment of galleries; expanding museums; incredible opportunities to show work; exceptional community support; and a growing audience of art-savvy people. And, the restaurant scene is full of surprises.

As the new person on the block, I knew I needed to cover a lot of ground quickly. I contacted corporate curators, museum directors and curators, gallery owners, and writers and critics, and asked them to come and visit my studio and look at my work. I also went to First Friday’s; museum events; local art fairs; and tried to meet as many local artists as I could. My objective was to get known and establish my presence. I was, frankly, overwhelmed by the response I got. Curators came to my studio. Magazine editors wanted to write about me. Gallery owners would actually talk to me. And, people bought my work. All of the networking paid off. Actually, as an artist, I am having the time of my life. As a result of my early efforts to network, I’ve received more attention here in the past 4 ½ years than I would have had in a lifetime in New York City. Since arriving in April, 2005, I have been invited to mount twelve one-man exhibitions and have been juried into a number of group shows. My experience as a member of the Hand Print Press has been wonderful—made special by inclusion in an upcoming exhibition hosted by the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in December, 2009. I’ve had an opportunity to teach painting, both privately in my studio and at ARTichokes, a local gallery which offers art education. I am eagerly looking forward to my upcoming one-man show at the Kansas City Artists Coalition in their Mallin Gallery scheduled for March, 2010. And, what could be a more exciting adventure than to participate in an up-coming collaboration with the sculptor Reilly Hoffman.

Robert is a Spring 2009 Artist INC Fellow.