This ‘living-language-land’ SAQA KS-MO-OK regional exhibition was inspired by the living-language-land project. This project, devised by a small group based out of the UK, has members in other countries worldwide. They assembled a set of 26 words from endangered and minority languages, contributed by members of indigenous communities. Their goal was to reveal different ways of relating to land and nature, and enlarge the lexicon we can all draw from in reflecting on those relationships. The project was related to COP26 (a series of annual global climate negotiations under the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)), hoping to give an international audience fresh inspiration for our environmental crisis.
SAQA KS-MO-OK Regional members were asked to select at least one word and create one or more art quilts inspired by that word based on their research and creative voice. Works were limited to a dimension combination of 12” and/or 24”, either 2D or 3D. Many people signed up for multiple words. In the end, we collected at least two art quilts per each of the 26 words, resulting in a total of 54 artworks. A total of 20 artists from 7 different states participated.
The exhibition is displayed and organized by word. Each word is presented in its original language with English and Spanish translations, as well as the language name, country of origin, and contributor name(s) to ensure the word contributor is recognized per the terms of use agreement. This allows the viewer insight into the artwork created for each word.
More Details about Project (PDF)
Exhibition Schedule
Dec 6-21, 2024, Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO 64109
Jan 27 - Mar 24, 2025 National Weather Center, Norman, OK 73072
Apr 18 - May 24, 2025, St Louis Artists Guild, St. Louis, MO 63105
Jun 16 - Aug 16, 2025, Centering Souls: Parkville's Art House, Parkville, MO 64152
Aug 26 - Sep 27, 2025, Trusler Gallery, EAC, Emporia, KS 66801
Oct 1 - Nov 30, 2025, Ross Hall, Haskell College of Humanities, Lawrence, KS 66046
May - June 2026, Prairie Museum of Art & History, Colby, KS 67701
Aug 4 - Sept 25, 2026, The Chanute Art Gallery, Chanute, KS 66720
