[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E432-E433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF MR. LONNIE POWELL AND HIS 
           CONTRIBUTIONS TO KANSAS CITY'S ARTISTIC COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to honor the 
contributions of Kansas City Artist and Educator, Mr. Lonnie Powell. 
Mr. Powell is a native of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, 
which I proudly represent, and his professional contributions continue 
to enhance the skills of young artists, and have united artists for the 
purpose of showcasing talent. Additionally, his unique abilities have 
created a treasure of expressive visual art. To have the respect of 
one's peers and the leadership skills to make a significant difference 
in one's community is the rarest of gifts. But to have the additional 
commitment, energy, and desire to pursue and achieve one's goals are 
equally extraordinary qualities.
  Mr. Powell's artistic development began at a young age, when he 
cultivated the desire to draw and create using his pencil. Despite the 
stress his father had placed on the importance of trade skills for 
financial stability, after graduating from Central High School in 
Kansas City, Powell chose to pursue higher education. He graduated from 
Lincoln University, in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1966 with a 
Bachelor of Science in Art Education, and promptly began his long 
career in education.
  From 1966 to 1975, Powell taught art at several schools in the Kansas 
City, Missouri School District. He introduced his students to different 
artistic techniques and delighted in their individual creativity. 
Powell began working on his Master's Degree in Art Education at Central 
Missouri State College and had completed 37 hours when the private 
sector enticed him to leave teaching and join the corporate world. At 
Xerox Corporation, he made President's Club, an honor reserved for the 
upper echelon of the national sales force. Though he had significant 
accomplishments, and had received numerous awards, there was little 
time left for creating art. He missed the students and felt a pervading 
emptiness. Therefore, after eight years in the corporate world, Powell 
returned to his real passion, teaching art. He has often said that he 
learned from his students as much as they learned from him. He quotes 
Pablo Picasso, ``Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain 
an artist once we grow up.''
  In 2000, Powell retired from teaching and focused on his own artistic 
career. He is well known for his visual narratives which illustrate the 
subject's feeling and glimpses into their thoughts. Through mediums of 
oil, acrylics, watercolor, pastels, and pencil, he exposes the soul. 
For Powell, a finished piece is first appreciated and then evaluated in 
order to avoid complacency and continually strive to improve.
  In 2001, Lonnie Powell became the founder and president of The Light 
in the Other Room. This organization remains active and has formed many 
partnerships in the name of art. Powell had envisioned a collaborative 
of African-American, Kansas City based artists that would benefit both 
the community and participating artists. Powell says ``The two greatest

[[Page E433]]

joys for me have been learning from each other and causing a bit of a 
stir in the Kansas City Area. We are very optimistic about our future 
and the future of our beloved metropolitan area.'' His organization has 
worked with The Greater Kansas City Links, The Jackson County Links, 
Hatebusters Inc., The Epsten Gallery, The Sister City Association of 
Kansas City, Missouri, Central Missouri State University, William 
Jewell College, Vaughn Cultural Center, and Portfolio Gallery and 
Education Center of St. Louis, Missouri, to name a few.
  Powell has participated in solo and group exhibits at Ethnic Art 
Gallery, the Central Exchange, Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage 
Center and Museum, The American Jazz Museum's Changing Gallery, The 
Vine Street Studio, The Review Studio and many others. His creations 
have also been accepted in numerous competitions around the country.
  His exhibits at numerous colleges and universities include: Park 
University, Western Missouri University, Lincoln University, Rockhurst 
University (where he spent a year as artist in residence from 1969 to 
1970), The University of Central Missouri, Avila College, William 
Jewell College and the Kansas University Medical Center.
  Powell's art is in numerous private collections, as well as corporate 
collections including: Sprint Nextel Corporation, H&R Block 
Corporation, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Fishnet Corporation, 
Andrew/McMeel Universal, Sports Association Management, Inc., Truman 
Medical Center. The American Jazz Museum, Nerman Museum of Contemporary 
Art (Oppenheimer Collection) and The Mulvane Art Museum all have his 
art as part of their permanent collections. Additionally, he has some 
pieces in The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's permanent collection as 
well as in their traveling exhibition, Shades of Greatness, which tours 
galleries and museums across the country.
  In 2005, Powell was awarded Signature membership in the National 
Watercolor Society. He won the NWS Combined Donors' C Award for his 
piece, South Sun. In 2006, he was named one of the ``Ones to Watch'' by 
Watercolor Magic Magazine (now Watercolor Artist Magazine). In 2013, 
Powell was awarded ``Best of Show'', at the Harlem X-Hibit, Black Art 
in America.
  One of Powell's most bittersweet experiences took place in 2007 when 
he traveled with Change the Truth to Kajjansi, Uganda. There, he worked 
with the children of St. Mary Kevin's Orphanage. This was a profound 
experience in which he first felt initial shock, seeing children with 
so very little. However, he will tell you of the joy he came to know 
from working with these young children as many were extremely talented. 
Powell says he found it hard to leave his little students behind.
  Powell is blessed with a wonderful family, including his lovely wife, 
Brenda, their son, Gregory, (and his wife, Tava) and a beautiful 
granddaughter, Jaden.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and our colleagues in expressing our 
appreciation to Mr. Lonnie Powell for his endless commitment to our 
artistic community. He is not only a role model for our artists, but he 
serves as an example of how we can all live our lives. Mr. Speaker, his 
art moves us and his contributions have enlightened our community.

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