Roadroller Art
- TheBetterHalf
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Cutest and I live within walking distance of the Kansas City Art Institute , or KCAI, whose campus lays just west of the Nelson art gallery. Being so near, we have had the opportunity to visit many of their functions. KCAI welcomed their first students in 1885 and now nearly 600 attend the four-year college, guided by 75 faculty members.
The latest event we observed was Roadroller Art Day! We didn't know what it was, really, but off we went.
Senior artists were in charge of the day while being appropriately festooned in artful baggy shorts and pants, sporting shaggy long tresses and adorning their bodies with metal hoops and plastic beads of jewelry protruding from lips, foreheads, noses and ear lobes.
The exact location was by and in the circle drive of Kirkwood Hall. Earlier, students had hand carved artistic designs into 4 X 8 planks of wood then heavily coated them with ink applied from extra-large hand rollers. These boards were then placed on the driveway where more ink was rolled upon them. Next, a white sheet was laid over the plank, followed by a commercial mover’s blanket.
Now the fun began. Atop a professional road paver sat one of the art students, feeling the power of the paver at their feet and finger tips. Giddily they guided the paver over the plank. Within thirty seconds, no boost of throttle required, the process was complete. The blanket was removed and the sheet lifted, revealing a stunning piece of art.
Basically we witnessed a 21st century version of wood block printing, an art about 2000 years old. You can see it "in person" step by step through the videos below.
The finished products were very detailed. In a few weeks these prints will be auctioned off as a fund raiser for KCAI. Over the years many KCAI graduates have gone on to be nationally and internationally recognized for their talents. Who would have guessed that their climb to fame began on a road paver.
Until next time,
Cute
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