One of my favorite movies of all time is the cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. So many scenes are memorable, but one that always stands out to me is the trio playfully frolicking around the Art Institute of Chicago. Who can forget the infamous scene where Ferris’ buddy Cameron is mesmerized by the complexity and beauty of one of Georges Seurat’s most famous paintings in the world? When I lived in Chicago for six years, I was extremely lucky to be able to make monthly visits to the Art Institute and replicate my own Ferris Bueller experience – minus the actual frolicking of course.

Fast forward 18 months, I am now a resident of Overland Park and constantly familiarizing myself with my new surroundings. I’ll admit that when I moved here in the summer of 2010, I was skeptical of how I could ever live without Chicago deep dish pizza, frequent visits to the Art Institute and the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. As I prepared for the big move and made my way south, my husband said “don’t worry, there’s plenty to do here!” Gradually, I have come to believe him more and more.

I could go on and on about the culinary and cultural adventures we have had over the last year and a half in the Kansas City metro area, but I would like to concentrate on my recent visit to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, located on the campus of Johnson County Community College (JCCC). As I previously mentioned, I love exploring art museums and was very excited that one so widely respected in the art world is a five minute drive from our home.

Unfortunately, it took me until this past weekend to get out and explore this local gem, but I’m officially hooked. Upon arrival, the museum is an architectural wonder divided into two levels. The lower level is currently devoted to a very special exhibit, Abstract Kansas City, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the JCCC art collection. Abstract features pieces by artists who were educated in Kansas City or currently reside in the metro area. Running until February 19th, the exhibit showcases probing and unique pieces of contemporary work by such artists as Anne Lindberg (Parallel 23, 2009) and Brian Fahlstrom (Final Theme) – two of my favorites! The creative talent in the Kansas City area is tremendous and there is truly something for everyone to appreciate in this special exhibit. There’s even a beautiful piece involving duct tape!

Next, I made my way upstairs to the Kauffman, Starr and Cohen Galleries. I was greeted by South Korean artist Do-Ho Suh’s Some/One, which is truly one of the most unique pieces of art I have ever seen. Made from hundreds of stainless steel dog tags symbolizing ones issued by the military, the “coat” stirred my curiosity for at least 20 minutes. Other permanent pieces that caught my eye were Tomory Dodge’s Wasteland and Nicola Lopez’s Eye of the Storm. Both pieces involved so much color and visual detail that every admirer of the piece will surely interpret it differently.

For those of you who have never visited the Nerman or haven’t in quite some time, I highly encourage a visit as soon as possible. Admission to the museum is free and exhibits rotate every few months so each trip is truly different. During your visit, take time to read about the artist’s background, gaze at the art from different angles, interpret the art in your own way and if you have time, ask for a free guided tour. You may find that your appreciation and curiosity builds more than you ever imagined. And remember what Ferris famously said:  “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

~Liron