[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MR. JIM LEEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jim Leedy, a 
renowned artist who envisioned and fostered the beginning of a thriving 
arts community and culture in downtown Kansas City. He did this by 
transforming an undesirable section of Kansas City, Missouri into what 
is now known as the Crossroads Art District. As an established artist 
whose work has been exhibited around the world, in over 1,000 one-man 
shows, he understands the importance of a culture where artists have an 
integrated community to live, work and showcase their work. Considering 
those basic necessities, he purchased a building in 1985 and remodeled 
it to accommodate live/work artist studios and multiple gallery spaces, 
known as the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. Today, the Crossroads Art 
District is home to more than 400 local artists, 100 independent 
studios, and over 30 galleries. It is one of the most concentrated 
gallery districts in the nation. On the first Friday of each month, 
known as ``First Friday's'', you will find thousands of people visiting 
the galleries, listening to music and eating at their favorite 
establishment. It is a uniquely Kansas City environment.
  So who is this man that made such a dramatic difference, not only in 
our community but throughout his artistic career? Born in 1930, Jim 
Leedy grew up in the clay soils of Virginia and Kentucky. Working with 
this medium came naturally to him. During the formative time of his 
career, while attending Columbia University for his art history post-
graduate studies, he had the opportunity to meet and listen to the 
dialogue of established artists in New York City. In 1966 he joined the 
staff of the Kansas City Art Institute, sharing his artistic skills and 
working with the administration and faculty to take the Kansas City Art 
Institute in a new direction. He taught there for over 40 years and 
mentored thousands of students throughout his career.
  As an artist he has been influenced by his life experiences, 
colleagues, students, friends and family. His daughter, Stephanie Leedy 
and his granddaughter, Erin Woodworth, now run the Leedy-Voulkos Art 
Center and continue to showcase both local and international artists. 
He is an artist in the truest sense, whether he is painting or working 
with clay. His original artistic renderings with clay can be classified 
as one of the first Abstract Expressionism ceramic pieces. It was about 
the material, it was about the clay and creating a non utilitarian 
piece that would evolve by using the Raku firing technique. A method he 
learned about in Japan while on leave from the Korean War. His art is 
about instilling the essence of nature, color, and the continuous 
experiment and evolution of creativity.
  As a Korean Veteran, who served as a military photographer, he had to 
deal with his war memories and did so through his art. Every war 
veteran can tell you that war alters and changes your view of life and 
death. Jim Leedy began experiencing flashbacks during the mid 80's and 
through most of the 90's. Many times through his art he relived the 
haunting memory of a day in Korea when he jumped into a stream only to 
see underneath him the rotting corpses and skeletons of the dead. 
During this time his art focused on the images of that day. It was not 
until 2000 with his work ``The Earth Lies Screaming,'' that his art 
conveyed the recurring reality of war through his wall of skeletons and 
skulls. He reminds us that war brings death. This work was the last of 
its kind because it put to rest his personal conflict.
  Since this period in his life, he continues to experiment with his 
art. A painting need not be flat, clay need not go through a long 
firing process. He encourages today's artists and remains a friend to 
anyone that has an open mind and loves creating.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to Mr. Jim 
Leedy and his endless commitment to our artistic community. He is a 
true role model not only for our artists, but he serves as an example 
of how we can all live our lives. He comprehended the essential, and 
with the purchase of his first building, began a slow sprawl that has 
become the cultural center of Kansas City. Mr. Speaker, his action made 
a dynamic difference for all of us to enjoy.

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