The City of Lee’s Summit is hosting a “Meet the Artist” reception featuring the works of local artist Ivey Zoellers. This opportunity to engage with a local artist will be on July 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the lobby of City Hall, 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit. The reception will be held during the Fourth Friday Art Walk in Downtown Lee’s Summit.
The “Meet the Artist” reception celebrates the opening of Ivey Zoellers’ current exhibition, Flock Together, which explores the autonomy of birds conveyed through the application of bright and expressive colors with bold marks aiming to represent the fluttery movement of flight. Zoellers has been using this aviary study to explore movement, challenging herself to capture the freedom and adaptable nature of birds. Studying the diversity of colors, shapes, avian social constructs and folklore was a source of inspiration for her. Ultimately, this process allowed Zoellers to reclaim her joy in painting and to spread this joy to others.
“It has always been my ambition to use my skills as an artist and educator to bring about meaningful societal change for the greater good,” Zoellers said. “After I left the structure of a college environment I found myself creatively adrift. Most of my work in the studio was purely symptomatic of the political landscape of my environment. My art had taken an emotional toll on me over the years and I wasn’t seeing evidence of my labor bearing fruit. I realized at the end of 2016 if I wanted to see a more joyful world I would have to transform my art and birds became the catalyst for that joy.”
“We are so fortunate to have Ivey’s works on display at Lee’s Summit City Hall,” said Glenda Masters, cultural arts manager for the City of Lee’s Summit. “To describe her work as vibrant and whimsical is truly an understatement. Ivey is such a talented artist and we are lucky to have her as one of our local artists.
“We are excited to host this reception as part of the July Fourth Friday Art Walk in Historic Downtown Lee’s Summit,” says Masters. “These receptions have typically been held on Thursday evenings. Moving the receptions to align with the Art Walks during the summer months allows us to introduce more people to our outstanding local artists.”
Zoellers is a Missouri artist local to the Kansas City metro area. Her mission is to seek out opportunities centered around painting, and teaching others how to paint. She graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2012 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. Zoellers works as a professional art instructor and art advocate at Got Art Gallery in Lee’s Summit. She frequently has her work on public display across Central Missouri at various venues ranging from curated spaces within small businesses to solo exhibitions at larger prolific galleries.
The “Meet the Artist” reception is an informal opportunity to view Zoellers’ images and learn firsthand about her inspiration and artistic process. Light hors d’oeuvres and wine sampling will be available. Guests can also enjoy acoustic music provided by local musician Ric Gordon. The public is invited to this free event.
Zoellers’ work will be on public display at City Hall during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, until October 12, 2018.
