***This is not my project, obviously (I hope). But until I can construct another website to share all of this, I will host it here.***

In 2024, the gallery space that I ran in conjunction with the theater space for which I was the artistic director allowed me to host a showing of my late Uncle David’s work. It was incredibly emotional and deeply meaningful. My folks were unable to make it, devastatingly. So, my brother-in-law, Kirk Hutson, drove all of the pieces on short notice from Kansas and helped me hang the show with our friends who happened to be visiting NY for the first time, Stacey and Travis. My mom and my aunt Kandee had lovingly selected the pieces, after delving into David’s life work. My parents had gotten beautiful prints made of several pieces that would not be on the walls. And Kandee had sent me 99 slides that would allow a glimpse into his evolution and devotion as an artist. Over the course of the show, Kandee, my sister and my brother were able to come experience the show, as well as one of David’s oldest friends. Strangers came in off the street, specifically a young skateboarder who had also served in the military and connected immediately to the work. Close friends were able to sit with me and view his paintings, commenting on how much my aesthetic in theater connects to his as a painter. Bunnies became a theme of the month, and hopped along the self-portrait that hung at the start of the show. Kandee allowed me to gift several of the pieces to friends of mine who would make a beautiful home for his work. David was not perfect, by any means. But he was a brilliant artist and a good uncle. My last in-person conversation with him, less than three months before he passed, was what led me to ask to take over The Brick. He was not a big internet guy. Not at all. But I think he would like that one can see his art in a gallery or home and then look him up and discover a little bit more. Below is the information from the show, some photos from the space and the slides that I had playing throughout the month.

David Kinder: A Life In Oil

Feb 9-March 10, 2024

Brick Aux Gallery – 628 Metropolitan Avenue

Curator’s Note:

David Kinder was my uncle. Certainly he was much more than that, as you will see from the beautiful array of art that spans decades which my mother/his sister, Carol Buchheister, and his widow, Kandee Klein, have driven to Brooklyn from Kansas. But that is the lens of my experience and the one that rattles around most in my heart and mind. When I was really little, he was the mysterious uncle whose art lived in the bomb shelter in my grandparents’ basement and got to sleep in the good room. As a teen, we started having long conversations away from the noise and silliness, which played into my deep seriousness about art and reason. In college, I realized that he supported my pursuits and that now we were both adults. When he was given 7 months to live, we talked more than we had in years. It was painful and I am very grateful for it. Getting this show together has been an epic undertaking for my mom and Kandee. It has been emotional. It has been exhaustive. But it is a great honor to share David’s work in New York. It is so so worth it.

A little more about David – David Kinder relentlessly painted and examined his practice of painting for over 50 years, as a practitioner and as an educator. As a practitioner, he honed his skills and followed his evolving interests, fascinations and passions. As an educator, he led the program at Garden City Community College in Kansas for 25 years and inspired his students through critique and example. 

He grew up in Dodge City and graduated from Dodge City High School in 1968. David served in the United States Army from 1970-72. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Bethany College in 1974, graduating magna cum laude, before completing a master of fine arts degree from Wichita State in 1976. David later graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts education degree from Wichita State in 1985.

He was also instrumental in the creation of the Mercer Art Gallery at GCCC, curating the gallery until his retirement.