community art project Archives

You’re Invited! PAD Mural Unveiling on April 10

by Kim Smolderen | No comments | Community Events

What:

PAD Mural Unveiling Event Celebrate the completion of a new mural in historic Northeast Kansas City dedicated to educating the community about peripheral artery disease (PAD) and how to recognize and address it. The mural unveiling event for the community will feature:

PAD Information Fair
Speakers starting at 2 p.m., including Mayor Quinton Lucas
Food trucks
Music by DJ Brian B. Shynin’ of Hot 103 Jamz! Morning Grind
Put the finishing touches on the PAD mural with the mural artists
Crafts and art making for all ages with Mattie Rhodes Center
Zumba demonstration by Nathalie Eamiguel
Fresh fruits and vegetables available from El Mercado Fresco
Chances to win prizes
This is an outdoor event. Masks are required.

When:

Saturday, April 10, from 1-4 p.m.
{Event Rain Date = April 17}

Where:

East side of building at 2607 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
(corner of Prospect and Independence Avenues)

Why:

More than 8.5 million Americans over the age of 40 live with peripheral artery disease (commonly known as PAD) that causes pain while walking. Awareness of PAD in the general population is low (about 25%), and research from the American Heart Association shows that people living in center city neighborhoods are especially at risk of a late diagnosis, so the intent is to raise awareness of PAD in an area where people are most at risk.

Who:

Four local artists have collaborated with medical researchers and the Mattie Rhodes Center over the last 12 months (during the pandemic) to create this community mural:

Artists: Carmen Moreno, Jason Wilcox, Isaac Tapia, and Rodrigo Alvarez
Researchers: Dr. Kim Smolderen – Yale University; Christina Pacheco – Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute; Dr. Janette Berkley-Patton – University of Missouri Kansas City

Follow the mural project on Instagram: @pcorikcproject

For More Info on Dr. Smolderen’s research:
https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2019/promoting-easy-step-program-take-charge-vascular-health-greater-kansas-city

https://medicine.yale.edu/lab/vamos/ and on Twitter: @KimGSmolderen

This program is funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EA #14505).
*IP2 PI000753-01; CE-1304-6677

Follow these steps to learn about PAD

What Is PAD?

Learn About PAD Treatments

Hear from PAD Patients and Providers

Decision Aid: Compare Treatment Pros and Cons

Mar 26

New Mural to Promote Vascular Health in Historic Northeast Kansas City

by Kim Smolderen | No comments | Community Events

Mural Focuses on Awareness of Key Community Health Issue: Peripheral Artery Disease

In early April, four Kansas City artists will begin creating a mural in the Paseo Gateway neighborhoods of historic Northeast Kansas City, Mo., designed to educate and raise awareness about a critical yet little known community health issue – peripheral artery disease (commonly known as PAD).

“PAD affects 8.5 million Americans over the age of 40, yet awareness of the condition and its causes is low, around 25 percent,” explained Kim Smolderen, Ph.D., FAHA, Project Lead, Yale University. “PAD is a vascular disease characterized by blockages in the arteries of the legs. PAD can cause pain while walking, and if left untreated, can progress to a stage where individuals are dealing with non-healing wounds and amputations. PAD is also associated with a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke.”

This community art project is built on Dr. Smolderen’s earlier research that was funded through two grants from PCORI* and a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. This earlier work studied patients’ quality of life as they navigated care for a new diagnosis of PAD. Patients from the Kansas City area and across the U.S., the Netherlands, and Australia took part in that study.

Dr. Smolderen of Yale University, Vascular Medicine Outcomes (VAMOS) program, along with researchers Christina M. Pacheco, J.D., MPH, Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, and Janette Berkley-Patton, Ph.D., University of Missouri Kansas City, received a second award for funding through the Eugene Washington Engagement Awards Program from PCORI* to create innovative ways to disseminate those research findings back into the community.

“This art project focuses on community involvement and informing members of the Paseo Gateway neighborhoods about PAD, its risk factors, and local resources to help address the condition,” Dr. Smolderen said. “Some of the key risk factors of PAD are smoking, diabetes, and an inactive lifestyle. Research by the American Heart Association shows that people in center city neighborhoods are especially at risk of late diagnosis, and if PAD is left untreated, it can lead to amputation.”

About the Mural

Starting in early April, the mural will be painted on the east wall of the building at the corner of Prospect and Independence Avenue in the Paseo Gateway neighborhoods of Northeast Kansas City. This area is undergoing redevelopment and revitalization through a 2016 Choice Neighborhood grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Weather permitting, the mural will be completed and unveiled to the public with a community event on Saturday, April 10, 1-4 p.m. {Rain date for the event is Saturday, April 17.}

Back in early 2020, under the lead of UMKC and now under the lead of Yale University (Dr. Smolderen’s prior and current institutions), Saint Luke’s Hospital partnered with the Mattie Rhodes Center to engage local artists to work collaboratively to create a unique, interactive art installation. After careful consideration, four local artists were selected to collaborate on this art endeavor. The four artists are: Carmen Moreno, Jason Wilcox, Isaac Tapia, and Rodrigo Alvarez.

The project leaders held town halls in the neighborhood that helped prioritize topics that were important to the community. Exercise in the community was one of them, as were mental health concerns, recognizing heart disease, and access to affordable medications.

Residents of Northeast Kansas City shared their “Movement Stories,” and these narratives inspired themes for the mural. These stories described how physical activity, along with its barriers and facilitators, have impacted residents over the course of their lives.

“Movement, physical activity, and managing other cardiac risk factors are integral to preventing, diagnosing, and treating PAD,” said Dr. Smolderen. “We want this mural to help raise awareness for PAD, to educate people about how to get screened for PAD, and to inspire people to walk and be active as a way to improve their health.”

The mural will include messages about some of the common symptoms of PAD, such as pain in the legs while walking. It will feature a QR code that will link people to the ShowMe-PAD.org website for additional information and resources. The researchers have also developed a resource map that will be distributed throughout the neighborhoods that describes where in the community residents can go for safe walking, exercise, and healthy eating, plus resources for quitting smoking, PAD screening, and mental health treatment.

About the Artists

Read about the four Kansas City artists behind the mural. Follow the artists’ work on Instagram: @pcorikcproject

About PCORI

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010 to fund comparative effectiveness research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence needed to make better-informed health and healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.

For more info on Dr. Smolderen’s research:
https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2019/promoting-easy-step-program-take-charge-vascular-health-greater-kansas-city

This program is funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EA #14505).
*IP2 PI000753-01; CE-1304-6677

Kim Smolderen, Ph.D., FAHA, FACC
Co-Director Vascular Medicine Outcomes (VAMOS) Program
Associate Professor of Medicine
Yale University
Twitter: @KimGSmolderen

Read the complete news release

Follow these steps to learn about PAD

What Is PAD?

Learn About PAD Treatments

Hear from PAD Patients and Providers

Decision Aid: Compare Treatment Pros and Cons

Jul 02

Translating Vascular Health Research Back to the Community Through an Interactive Art Project in Historic Northeast Kansas City

by Kim Smolderen | No comments | Community Events

It’s time to announce the four talented Kansas City artists who will lead the creation of an interactive art project to translate vascular health research for the community neighborhoods in historic Northeast Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 2, 2020) — Researchers Kim Smolderen, PhD, FAHA (Project Lead, Yale University), Christina M. Pacheco, JD, MPH (Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute), and Janette Berkley-Patton, PhD (University of Missouri Kansas City), received funding through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards Program to create innovative ways to disseminate vascular health research findings back to communities. One of those innovative ways is through an interactive community-participatory art project located in the Paseo Gateway neighborhoods in Historic Northeast Kansas City, Mo.

This art project will aid in giving back information from Dr. Smolderen’s earlier work that was also funded by PCORI*. This earlier work studied patients’ quality of life as they navigated care for a new diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (commonly known as PAD). Patients from the Kansas City area and across the U.S. took part in that study. This new project focuses directly on community involvement and informing members of the community about PAD and its risk factors.

Saint Luke’s Hospital has partnered with Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery to engage local artists to work collaboratively to create a unique, community interactive multi-faceted art installation. Earlier this year, Mattie Rhodes issued a competitive call to artists. After careful consideration, four community artists were selected to collaborate on this art endeavor. The four artists are: Carmen Moreno, Jason Wilcox, Isaac Tapia, and Rodrigo Alvarez. The themes for this art installation will be generated from community members in Northeast Kansas City, Mo. Residents are being asked to share their “Movement Stories,” and these narratives will be used to inspire the artists’ work. These stories will describe how physical activity, with its barriers and facilitators, have impacted residents over the course of their lives.

Movement and physical activity are integral to preventing, diagnosing, and treating PAD. “PAD affects over 8.5 million Americans. It narrows the arteries of the legs, can cause pain while walking, and is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Smolderen explains. Previously, the project leaders held town halls in the community that helped prioritize topics that the community felt were important to them. Exercise in the community was one of them, against a backdrop of navigating other competing challenges, mental health concerns, recognizing heart disease, and access to affordable medications.

The artists are gathering movement stories and then will enter a planning and drafting phase. In the era of COVID-19, Mattie Rhodes, the artists, and researchers are brainstorming how to maximize community participation in the art making process while keeping everyone safe.

Learn More About the Artists

Carmen Moreno
As the daughter of an immigrant farm worker, Carmen Moreno is inspired by the natural world, science, and art. The early years of her life were spent in the open Midwest fields where she learned about the world through nature and solitude. It was during these times that she studied natural movement – lines, flow and migrations. Carmen is a visual artist, poet, performer, and ecological designer. She received her BFA in 2010 from the Kansas City Art Institute in Interdisciplinary Art and Creative Writing with a certification in Community Arts and Service Learning. She currently works as an independent artist in Kansas City and her work is driven by her interests in science, art, ecological theory, and Latinx Futurism. She is also a community gardener and arts educator, and she works with refugees and immigrant populations throughout Historic Northeast Kansas City. She was recently accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design, where she will be working towards her Master’s in Nature, Culture, and Sustainability. You can follow her work on Instagram at @carmenchristinamoreno or learn more about her work at her website: http://www.ccmoreno.com/.

Jason Wilcox
A Kansas City native, Jason Wilcox has always been passionate about art. From an early age, art was a strong influence in his life. His artistic mission is to entice viewers to escape reality and live an alternate life within his paintings. J Art Pro is born out of Jason’s creative mind, and influenced by a collaboration of painting, graphic design, video production, and music. Jason attended Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo., where he was awarded Best Visual Artist of his senior class of 2000. His current media include acrylic, gold, silver, copper and green leaf, ink, paint, marker, oil pastel, spray paint and watercolor. Jason’s work shows a contemporary outlook on realism, abstract, and pop art styles. You can follow his work on Instagram at @jasonjartpro or learn more about his work on his website: www.jartpro.com.

Isaac Tapia
A Kansas City, Mo., based muralist and painter, Isaac Tapia’s work is a visual tribute to the many stories of struggle and triumph within his community. Using a blend of classical techniques and bright, fluid imagery, he exalts the narratives of individuals that have been erased throughout history. Through his art, Isaac strives to honor the least visible members of society and carve out a space for their stories in the world of fine art. Isaac’s diverse body of art is united by themes of representation and dialogue, reminding his audience that a voice is a voice – even when it isn’t speaking English.

Isaac Tapia and Rodrigo Alvarez Isaac was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. when he was 9. As he was learning English, art became his tool for mediating the confusion and isolation he felt. Isaac attended the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Isaac went on to attend the Kansas City Art Institute, where he studied painting. In 2019, he attended the Illustration Academy by the National Endowment for the Arts and Interurban Arthouse. Isaac is also a Youth Development Specialist for the Mattie Rhodes Center. You can follow his work on Instagram at @tapia.isaac.

Rodrigo Alvarez
Born in Uruguay in 1988, Rodrigo Alvarez lived most of his life in the state of Colonia until he moved to Kansas City, Mo., on October 29, 2002. He graduated from the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in 2007. He continued his studies at the Metropolitan Community College where he studied graphic design. His education furthered his interest in the field of art. Also known as “Rico,” Rodrigo centers his work on organic natural figures and takes those concepts to create three-dimensional metal sculptures. His work showcases the persistence and relentless nature of mother earth; bending, melting, and bracing commonly used metals into harmonic organisms that portray the resiliency and power of nature. You can follow his work on Instagram at @alvarezrodrigo4.

IT-RA
Together, Isaac and Rico make up the muralist duo “IT-RA.” IT-RA has completed over 36 murals in the Kansas City Metropolitan area since their founding in 2017. Notable works include the “Troost Angel,” in the Troost corridor, Café Corazón’s “Frida,” and the Olathe Library’s “Sunflowers.” You can follow their work on Instagram at @itraicons, on Facebook at Rico and It, or learn more about their work on their website: https://www.itraicons.com/

PCORI
PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010 to fund comparative effectiveness research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence needed to make better-informed health and healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.

For more info on Dr. Smolderen’s research:

https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2019/promoting-easy-step-program-take-charge-vascular-health-greater-kansas-city
This program is funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EA #14505).
https://showme-pad.org

*IP2 PI000753-01; CE-1304-6677

Read the complete news release

Follow these steps to learn about PAD

What Is PAD?

Learn About PAD Treatments

Hear from PAD Patients and Providers

Decision Aid: Compare Treatment Pros and Cons

Mar 03

Call for Artists to Create Community Art Project About PAD

by Kim Smolderen | No comments | Community Events

We’re excited to announce that we are partnering with the Mattie Rhodes Center to plan a collaborative community art project to promote understanding and awareness of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the historic northeast neighborhoods of Kansas City, Mo. The first step is to find a passionate artist to work with on this health-focused collaboration with the community.

If you or someone you know is an artist, please share this Call for Artists information with them and encourage them to apply.

Call for Artists

This is an open call for Kansas City area artists who work in all media. The team is looking for artists who are interested in working collaboratively to create a meaningful and interactive multi-faceted art installation in the historic northeast neighborhoods of Kansas City, Mo.

This call extends to artists who are interested in working on a health-focused project with community members. There will be several events where community members will be invited to contribute to the art project, and the final product will require a team effort. The intent is for this collaborative art project to increase awareness about PAD and its risk factors, as well as shed light on ways to prevent PAD.

How to Apply?

Submit the Artist Application or letter of interest to Kiki Serna, Project Coordinator at Mattie Rhodes Center

Deadline?

March 15, 2020

More Details?

The artist selected for this project will receive payment. An informational event for interested artists to learn more about this opportunity will be held Thursday, March 12, 5-7 p.m. at the Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery, 919 W. 17th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108.