H&R Block Artspace Teams with PUMA Creative to Host Films4peace

Kansas City, Mo. (Sept. 7, 2012) – H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute recently announced screening times for films4peace, an annual short film commission by PUMA.Peace, an initiative by PUMA Creative. The Artspace will join hundreds of cultural institutions worldwide, from Australia to Zimbabwe, supporting films4peace to celebrate World Peace Day, an international United Nations day of ceasefire that encourages demonstrated acts of peace worldwide.

Films4peace is curated by Mark Coetzee and features 21 artists visually interpreting the subject of peace. The showcase includes 17 films from artists including: Janet Biggs of the United States; Ergin Cavuşoğlu of Bulgaria; Magali Charrier of France; Gregory Crewdson and Costanza Theodoli-Braschi of the United States and United Kingdom respectively; Yang Fudong of China; Tom Gran and Kayleigh Gibbons of the U.K.; Max Hattler of Germany; Isaac Julien of the U.K.; Peterson Kamwathi of Kenya; Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy of Ireland; Nandipha Mntambo of Swaziland; Michael Nyman of the U.K.; Noriko Okaku of Japan; Jacco Olivier of the Netherlands; Bill Porter of the U.K.; Levi van Veluw of the Netherlands; and Hank Willis Thomas and Terence Nance of the United States.

“We’re so pleased to be a venue for this exciting, new global art initiative and to be working with PUMA Creative’s Mark Coetzee and Owen Martin, a KCAI graduate and former Block Intern at the Artspace who introduced us to the project,” said Raechell Smith, director of the H&R Block Artspace.

“Films4peace are both disturbing and inspiring, responsive to the reality of our time,” said Coetzee. “The goal for the PUMA.Peace initiative is to contribute to making the world a safer, more peaceful and more creative place. We are honored that the Kansas City Art Institute has joined us in this important initiative.”

As well as an online release of the films, live screenings at museums and cultural venues will including showings at the Bass Museum of Art in Miami; the Design Museum in London; an urban public space in Barcelona, Spain; Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis; and at the 2012 One Young World summit in Pittsburgh.

Films4peace will be on view from Sept. 21 through Dec. 12 at the Artspace. Regular gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 816-561-5563 or visit www.kcai.edu/artspace.

About the H&R Block Artspace

Since 1999, the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute has been dedicated to presenting quality exhibitions of contemporary art and a range of public programs for students, educators, artists, arts enthusiasts and the general public. The Artspace receives important support from the H&R Block Foundation, the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and private contributions. The Artspace is located at 16 E. 43rd St., one block east of Main Street. Public hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. For more information about upcoming exhibitions and public programs, visit the Artspace on the Web at www.kcai.edu/artspace or call 816-561- 5563.

For more information, contact Cat Szalkowski, 816-802-3458, or cszalkowski@kcai.edu