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The Arts Council of Johnson County /  smART Blog
December 4, 2020 In Shooting Stars

2021 Shooting Stars Finalists & Scholarship Recipients

The Arts make an important contribution to any community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience, teaching 21st Century workplace skills, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards and honorariums. Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1,000 high school seniors for their artistic excellence and contributions to their community. Nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums* of $300 each were awarded (*to the nominating teacher of the

A charcoal drawing of a man with an open mouth as if he is yelling
December 3, 2020 In Artists, Veteran Art, Visual Arts

An Interview With Seth Strand

Seth Strand grew up with a pencil in his hand. He’s from small town Iowa, and he said all he ever cared about growing up was art. “I’ve been drawing since I can remember,” he said, noting that his high school counselor even created an art class for him at the end of high school, because he’d taken all other available options. It wasn’t art school after graduation for Strand, however. Instead, he joined the military as an infantryman, went to basic training in January 2012, and deployed to Afghanistan in December. A few months later, on May 4, 2013, Strand said

An abstract floral painting
November 5, 2020 In Artists, Mental Health, Visual Arts

Arts & Mental Health: An Interview With Jessie Burnes

Jessie Burnes is a Chicago based painter. Raised in Kansas City, Jessie received her BFA in Painting at Kansas State University in 2018. She then went to complete her Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Painting at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2019. Jessie is currently an MFA candidate in Painting at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Before Jessie’s time in graduate school at SAIC, she participated in the undergraduate painting program at Kansas State University. Her work in her undergraduate studies focused on abstracted floral imagery with a subtext on trauma and abuse. Now, in her

Photgraph of a cross on rocks
October 1, 2020 In Artists, Veteran Art, Visual Arts

Seeing Differently: An Interview With Heather Inich

“I’ve pretty much had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember,” said Heather Inich, one of the artists for the Veterans’ Art Exhibit.  Inich is an Air Force veteran, and she said she started volunteering for the Special Olympics during the military—something she continued to do after leaving the military. Eventually, she became a photographer for the Special Olympics in Kentucky, and her journey with photography continued from there. For her, photography is a way to relax and decompress. Her work focuses mostly on nature, and she said her camera lens lets her see things different—and encourage

Stained glass in a frame laying on a workbench
September 3, 2020 In Artists, Visual Arts

Art & Peace: An Interview With Tony Nichols

Tony Nichols, whose work will be part of the Veterans Art Exhibit next year, said that art has been both his work and his coping strategy—and that he feels it’s important for every veteran to find something that helps them cope. “When you get out, you’ve given enough, you’ve served enough,” he said. “Do what brings you joy.”  Nichols retired in 2013 after 23 years in the Army, and has been working in art for the past 16 years. He said he joined the Army after college. “I wanted to have a little bit more adventure than I was having, so I enlisted

August 4, 2020 In Art, Artists, Visual Arts

New Growth: An Interview With Brittany Noriega

Brittany Noriega is a Kansas City based artist who will be showing her work in a solo exhibition beginning October 2021 and running through January 2022. Noriega is a multidisciplinary artist who works with a variety of mediums and styles. “Every medium kind of has its own emotion and tells its own story,” she explained. “I like to do a little bit of everything.” Noriega said much of her current series, New Growth, centers on emotions, community, and stories of overcoming obstacles. She said the pieces often explore her struggle to leave an abusive relationship and make a new life after. In

August 7, 2018 In Engaging Community

A Conversation with Dr.DeGroat About Community-based Art Programs

When military veterans leave the military to transition back into civilian life, service members face a variety of challenges in their personal and professional life that prevent them from leading successful lives. While every military veteran is different with their own unique set of experiences, some of the common challenges that military veterans face relates to access to employment opportunities and quality human health services. However, community-based art programs serve as a creative outlet for military veterans to express themselves and overcome certain barriers. To better understand the obstacles our military veterans face, and how community-based art programs can promote

July 11, 2018 In Engaging Community

Creative Art Therapy Impacting the Lives of Our Veterans

Supporting our military veterans through community-based art programs provide veterans with the opportunity to heal after serving our country Many military veterans living in the United States struggle to overcome intense physical and emotional trauma they developed while serving active duty military service. Since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, millions of military veterans have come forward to seek treatment for mental health illness. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recorded between 2006 and 2010, approximately 2.1 million military veterans received treatment from the VA for mental health condition associated with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Although this number has increased significantly over the

April 19, 2018 In Shooting Stars

2018 Shooting Stars Scholarship Award Recipients

OVERLAND PARK, KS – At the 21th annual Shooting Stars Gala on March 25, 2018, the Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC) awarded scholarships to 18 high school seniors and recognized the 107 total finalists nominated for the 2018 Shooting Stars Awards. This recognition program honors Johnson County high school students for achievement in nine categories of literary, performing and visual arts. Nine $1,400 first-place scholarships and nine $700 second-place scholarships were awarded to the top-scoring students to recognize excellence in each category of art. The nine teachers that nominated the first-place student in each category also received a $350

February 8, 2018 In Shooting Stars

2018 Shooting Stars Finalists Announced

ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY ANNOUNCES 2018 SHOOTING STARS FINALISTS OVERLAND PARK, KS – February 6, 2018 – The Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC) announces 115 finalists have been nominated for the 2018 Shooting Stars Awards. The Shooting Stars Program honors Johnson County high school students for achievement in the literary, performing and visual arts through recognition and college scholarships. Shooting Stars award recipients will be announced at the 21st annual Shooting Stars Gala at Johnson County Community College on Sunday, March 25, 2018. “Twenty-one years ago (1997), the Shooting Stars recognition program was created to celebrate young Johnson County artists for