Q&A with Barbara O'Brien, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
This summer, Barbara O�Brien took the helm at Kansas City�s Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the featured museums in A Love for the Beautiful: Discovering America�s Hidden Art Museums.
A native Midwesterner, O�Brien held positions in San Francisco, St. Paul and Boston before joining the Kemper as curator in 2009 and being named director of exhibitions and collections in 2011. During her tenure, the Kemper has added numerous works to its collection by artists around the world and across the U.S.
O�Brien holds a Master�s degree in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as Bachelor�s degrees in women�s studies and journalism from the University of Kansas. I spoke with her about her plans for the Kemper as it approaches its 20th anniversary.
SJ: The Kemper�s current exhibition, �The Map as Art� was inspired by your book of the same name. It features works by Ingrid Calame, Nathan Carter, Tiffany Chung, Joyce Kozloff, Lordy Rodriguez, Robert Walden, and Heidi Whitman. What do you hope visitors take away?
O�Brien: The book's author and exhibition co-curator Kitty Harmon and I wanted to present contemporary artwork that examine issues of mapping and examine the personal gesture in large-scale works. The exhibition asks visitors "In a map of the world, where are your borders? Where does your map begin and where does it end?"
SJ: How do you choose the artists who are displayed at the Kemper?
O�Brien: For artists in �The Map as Art� we looked first at artists who were featured in the publication of the same name and then reviewed works by other artists. We selected seven artists with diverse training, life experiences, and point of view. What they share it that they each use mapping as a way to make large artistic statements utilizing the myriad small gestures necessary to any depiction of location. The exhibition somewhat unexpectedly became a conversation about abstraction as a continuation of the way in which maps by their nature are abstract representations of a place. The artists whose work is on view use abstraction across a wide variety of mediums and forms including sculpture, drawing, cut paper, collage and painting.
SJ: What do you see as the Kemper�s role in promoting contemporary art?
O�Brien: The Museum's mission is to present modern and contemporary art of the highest quality and significance. It collects, preserves, documents, interprets, and exhibits a growing permanent collection; develops and presents special exhibitions; and offers a variety of educational programs. Admission is always free, and the Museum serves a diverse and inclusive public population. We want to put people in touch with the art and artists of their time.
SJ: What excites you the most about Kansas City�s art scene?
O�Brien: The arts are booming. Whether it�s an exhibition at the Kemper Museum or new performance at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the arts are flourishing in Kansas City. It is also an affordable and easy place for artists to live and work.
SJ: What can Kemper visitors look forward to in 2013?
O�Brien: More great art. The coming year will bring many more programs related to the exhibitions �The Map as Art� and �Frederick James Brown: Modern American Storyteller� as well as the exhibition �Laura McPhee: River of No Return� (May 17�September 22, 2013). The Kemper Museum will also be preparing for its 20th anniversary in 2014.
For more information, visit Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
A native Midwesterner, O�Brien held positions in San Francisco, St. Paul and Boston before joining the Kemper as curator in 2009 and being named director of exhibitions and collections in 2011. During her tenure, the Kemper has added numerous works to its collection by artists around the world and across the U.S.
O�Brien holds a Master�s degree in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as Bachelor�s degrees in women�s studies and journalism from the University of Kansas. I spoke with her about her plans for the Kemper as it approaches its 20th anniversary.
SJ: The Kemper�s current exhibition, �The Map as Art� was inspired by your book of the same name. It features works by Ingrid Calame, Nathan Carter, Tiffany Chung, Joyce Kozloff, Lordy Rodriguez, Robert Walden, and Heidi Whitman. What do you hope visitors take away?
O�Brien: The book's author and exhibition co-curator Kitty Harmon and I wanted to present contemporary artwork that examine issues of mapping and examine the personal gesture in large-scale works. The exhibition asks visitors "In a map of the world, where are your borders? Where does your map begin and where does it end?"
SJ: How do you choose the artists who are displayed at the Kemper?
O�Brien: For artists in �The Map as Art� we looked first at artists who were featured in the publication of the same name and then reviewed works by other artists. We selected seven artists with diverse training, life experiences, and point of view. What they share it that they each use mapping as a way to make large artistic statements utilizing the myriad small gestures necessary to any depiction of location. The exhibition somewhat unexpectedly became a conversation about abstraction as a continuation of the way in which maps by their nature are abstract representations of a place. The artists whose work is on view use abstraction across a wide variety of mediums and forms including sculpture, drawing, cut paper, collage and painting.
SJ: What do you see as the Kemper�s role in promoting contemporary art?
O�Brien: The Museum's mission is to present modern and contemporary art of the highest quality and significance. It collects, preserves, documents, interprets, and exhibits a growing permanent collection; develops and presents special exhibitions; and offers a variety of educational programs. Admission is always free, and the Museum serves a diverse and inclusive public population. We want to put people in touch with the art and artists of their time.
SJ: What excites you the most about Kansas City�s art scene?
O�Brien: The arts are booming. Whether it�s an exhibition at the Kemper Museum or new performance at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the arts are flourishing in Kansas City. It is also an affordable and easy place for artists to live and work.
SJ: What can Kemper visitors look forward to in 2013?
O�Brien: More great art. The coming year will bring many more programs related to the exhibitions �The Map as Art� and �Frederick James Brown: Modern American Storyteller� as well as the exhibition �Laura McPhee: River of No Return� (May 17�September 22, 2013). The Kemper Museum will also be preparing for its 20th anniversary in 2014.
For more information, visit Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
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