March 7, 2019

‘The Riot Show’ features work of art faculty member, poet

This oil painting, "Police Machines: An Allegory of Oppression," is among the artwork appearing in an exhibit, titled "The Riot Show," created by Dr. Michael Faris.

Northwest Missouri State University-Kansas City will showcase an art faculty member’s work inspired by the history of police brutality during civil rights demonstrations in the United States during a week-long exhibit in collaboration with a spoken word artist.

Dr. Michael Faris, an assistant professor of art at Northwest, will present “The Riot Show,” an interdisciplinary exhibition that explores the causes and attributes of so-called race riots. The show features visual art created by Faris with poetry by Unique Hughley, a spoken word artist from Kansas City, Missouri.

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Northwest-Kansas City, which is located at the Northland Innovation Center, 6889 N. Oak Trafficway, Suite 400, in Gladstone, Missouri. Hughley will read some of the poetry that accompanies Faris’ artwork.

The work will remain on display at Northwest-Kansas City through Friday, March 22. The center opens from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 18-21 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22. It is free and open to the public.

Faris joined the Northwest faculty in 2017 and his previous teaching experience includes Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; and Centralia (Illinois) High School as well as various community art centers. He has exhibited his paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures at locations throughout the Midwest. He earned his doctorate degree in art education at Indiana University Bloomington as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

For more information about Faris and his artwork, visit www.michaelfarisart.com.