‘Don’t You Blow Your Big Top’
American Paintings by Michael Schliefke
Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 7 6pm-10pm
Foundation Event Space
1221 Union Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri 64101
facebook event page
Rodeo clowns, carnivals and sideshows: America today?
The Foundation Event Space is hosting ‘Don’t You Blow Your Big Top’. This exhibition of recent oil paintings and drawings by Kansas City artist Michael Schliefke. This one night show takes place on Thursday, November 7th from 6-10 in the West Bottoms.
This show features over thirty new satirical paintings centered around the brash volume of discourse in America today. American bravado appears in the form of rodeo clowns bravely running in front of charging bulls. Sideshows, street preachers, talk show hosts, and a President on an inspirational journey of personal growth and intellectual discovery also make appearances. Draped in the colors of the flag and the overloaded imagery of carnivals, these paintings feature empty nationalism and sordid sensationalism.
After the event ends, join Michael and friends for drinks at The Ship next door. All of the works displayed in the show will be available for viewing at Michael’s studio through November 27th.
Stay tuned to this page for a preview of some of the works in the show. All the works on display will be added to this page.
This is the second collaboration between Foundation/River Market Event Place and Michael Schliefke. In July 2016, Michael assembled game show themed artwork from 25 local and national artists to present ‘The Game Show’. This art event also featured a live art themed game show performance with audience members playing and winning prizes.
About Michael Schliefke
Michael Schliefke is a working artist in Kansas City. A 1997 graduate of KCAI, he returned to Kansas City in 2014 where he continues to paint, teach private painting and drawing classes, and is currently lining up some large group shows for 2020. Michael has painted for the Lyric Opera. While in Austin, Texas, assembled a number of award winning group shows and art events, including the ‘Danger Derby’. A wild art event, the Danger Derby is a no rules pinewood derby race where audience members build art cars. They race against a 120 foot track fraught with destructive dangers like swinging anvils and firepits. Michael also worked alongside the founders of the East Austin Studio Tour. He also was a contract artist for Blue Genie Art, where he worked on large scale sculptures, murals and art installation. Michael currently works out of his studio in Northeast Kansas City.