Johnson County Park and Recreation District launches second Art and Natural Resources Residency with focus on prairie restoration

Johnson County Park and Recreation District launched a new Public Art Program in 2019 to activate park spaces in a new way. As part of this program, the Art and Natural Resources Residency is a short-term residency program that engages a local artist(s) to embed with the JCPRD Natural Resources team to learn, respond artistically, and amplify the importance of this work. In 2022, Kirsten Taylor was selected as the first artist in residence, focusing on land restoration; specifically, the removal of the invasive species bush honeysuckle. For 2023, the focus of the artists’ work will be on prairie restoration at Kill Creek Park. A call for local artists occurred in November 2022, and upon review by an art selection committee made up of artists and community members, artist duo Cydney Ross and Alix Daniel was selected to occupy the residency. The residency will begin in late February and continue through late summer and will include an immersive experience with the JCPRD Natural Resources team, the creation of an ephemeral temporary art piece that will be placed at a site within Kill Creek Park, and an artist-led community engagement project. A companion exhibit will also be on display at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center to allow patrons to learn about the residency through this medium.  More information about the residency and its outreach components can be found at JCPRD.com/1759.

Project Overview

The JCPRD Natural Resources staff does a tremendous amount of work in JCPRD parks on efforts to restore prairies, woodlands, and other habitats that have been disturbed through agriculture, previous land use, and invasive species. Much of this work happens quietly through the hard work of staff and volunteers and is not widely known or understood by the public. The goals of the Art and Natural Resources Residency are to create interactive, artistic experiences that allow park visitors to learn about the land restoration, ecology, and natural systems that make up JCPRD parks; provide a platform for artists to create new, engaging art projects that grow out of an exploration of the work of the JCPRD Natural Resources team; increase community engagement, awareness, and appreciation related to the JCPRD Natural Resource Plan and the efforts made to maintain the health of the natural ecosystem; and support the growth and development of Kansas City regional artists.

Artist Bios

Cydney Ross (she/her) was raised throughout the Greater Kansas City area, and has set down roots in Kansas City, Mo., with cat, Max. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics from Kansas City Art Institute in 2013 and maintains a fine arts practice in ceramics and mixed media in the Crossroads Arts District. Ross has always had a naturalist spirit, with her earliest memories of hiking, floating Missouri rivers, camping with her family, and gardening with her mom. Her endless curiosity, stewardship for the earth, and background in the arts encourages her to enthusiastically inspire folks to connect with nature. She proudly leads LGBTQ+ inclusive nature programs throughout the Kansas City area and is a self-proclaimed “native plant nerd.” Ross is a native landscape specialist at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City, a certified interpretive guide, and a Missouri Master Naturalist with the Osage Trails Chapter.

Alix Daniel (she/her) grew up on the tallgrass prairies of Kansas in a family of gardeners and teachers. She loves sharing her knowledge of native plants with the public in her role as native landscape specialist at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City. In her position she combines her decade of landscaping experience with her love of nature. Her favorite flower (this year) is the spider lily (Hymenocallis virginiana).

The Parks and Recreation Foundation of Johnson County plays a crucial role in the fulfillment of JCPRD’s Public Art Program through the procurement of grants and donations. The foundation continues to seek support for future projects through corporate and private funding. Those interested in supporting this program should contact Development Director Kelly Blandford by email [email protected] or by phone at 913-826-3448.

Johnson County Park and Recreation District has been enhancing the lives of the citizens of Johnson County for the past 60+ years through its parks, quality of programs, professionalism, and response to developing trends. The district's contributions to the personal lives of Johnson County's citizens have earned the district local appreciation and national acclaim. Each year, the district records more than 10 million park visitors and participants across its 10,000 acres of parkland, 136 miles of trails and over 4,000 programs.