Steve Snell: 2,000 Mile River Journey to Inspiration

He recently paddled and painted all 2,341 miles of the Missouri River in a canoe in search of art and once floated part of the Connecticut River in a couch boat in search of adventure. Snell’s work engages American history, mythology, and the image of the Western landscape. He has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Tallgrass National Preserve in Kansas, the Teton ArtLab in Wyoming, and along the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska and British Columbia, which was sponsored by the National Parks Service and Parks Canada. Steve will be talking about his plein air painting journey and how it's been shaped by local history and place.

About the Presenter: His work is represented by Weinberger Fine Art in Kansas City, MO and Courtney Collins Fine Art in Big Sky, MT and has been shown in galleries and film festivals throughout the country. Snell holds an M.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as a B.F.A. in Painting and B.S. in Art Education from Miami University. He is currently an Associate Professor of Art in the Foundation Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. Adventure Art on the Mighty Mo' is a video series about art, adventure, and life along the Missouri River told through the act of painting, storytelling, and paddling all 2,341 miles of it. Each episode takes place at a different site, in which a watercolor painting is created. Painting is the vessel through which larger questions are asked, observations made, and river stories told. The intention of this work is to create an updated portrait of the river, challenge some of the stereotypes associated with it, and inspire broader public engagement and appreciation. Tickets required $20 purchase here