Kansas City, Mo. firm MarksNelson announced this week that it is sponsoring "InVisible," a new art exhibit displaying works from the local homeless population, at the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, Kansas.
Meant to "challenge perceptions of the homeless, give them a voice and visibility through their artwork," the art exhibit will run Sept. 26 through Dec. 31, 2018. MarksNelson, the largest locally-owned firm in Kansas City, thought of the idea after the completion of its "Wrapped in Warmth" project last winter, wherein the firm donated over 2,000 hats, scarves, and gloves to those in need.
InVisible is part of the firm's "Marks of Kindness" program, which inspires staff members to serve their local community. To mark the firm's 50th anniversary, MarksNelson staff approached the local homeless population and worked with local organizations to find artists, compiling enough work to showcase at the exhibit. All proceeds from art purchases will go towards the 12 InVisible artists.
“This exhibit is a chance for people to see we are human, too," said InVisible artist Lexy, in a statement. "We are all equal. Being houseless doesn’t make you a bad person or less deserving of kindness and love. We have struggles just like everyone else, but often they are more immediate like food, or getting out of the freezing cold.”
Local nonprofit Artists Helping the Homeless also helped contribute to the exhibit, with organization president Kar Woo previously spending the last decade on similar projects.
"Homelessness affects people from all walks of life and ages. It doesn’t matter what socioeconomic status people fall into, it can affect anyone,” Woo stated. “Kansas City’s homeless have talents and dreams that were sidetracked by life’s twists and turns. InVisible shares some of those talents and dreams.”
For more information on the Museum at Prairiefire, head to its
