FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2007

Convention Center ballroom art installation starts April 9

Seven large ceramic sculptures will be installed April 5 and 6 at the new Kansas City Convention Center grand ballroom project site. These artworks will be placed in the plaza courtyard located on the south side of the ballroom at 16th Street between Central and Wyandotte streets. This public art project was funded by the City of Kansas City, Mo., One Percent for Art Program.

The sculptures are a primary element of the $1 million "Water Plaza" public art installation created by nationally renowned artist Jun Kaneko. The installation consists of seven exterior sculptures to be located in the courtyard plaza, the new plaza surface and a companion oil-on-canvas mural, which will hang on the west wall of the ballroom's south pre-function area.

The courtyard ceramic sculpture collection includes five Dangos (the term Dango is the phonetic translation of the Japanese word meaning "rounded form"), and two, banded, head-shaped figures. Each handcrafted figure weighs approximately 1,300 pounds each and is mounted on a raised plinth. The interior sectioned mural, which will be installed the week of April 9, is a drip painting and is visible from the courtyard through the ballroom's south glass wall. The mural is composed of 24 individual sections and the complete work is 108 feet by 156 feet.

The courtyard's surface is designed to represent flowing water, referencing the building's aquatic motif. To achieve this, the artist produced a design that incorporates tinted concrete to create a banded pattern that is mirrored in the head-shaped sculptures. Kansas City-based Musselman & Hall Contractors installed the concrete surface.

Once the art is installed, the ballroom's courtyard will be landscaped to coincide with the building's April 28 grand opening gala.

There will be a media tour of the Kansas City Convention Center's new grand ballroom April 23. This tour will showcase the completed ballroom, pre-function areas and back-of house facilities. This will be the public's first opportunity to see the finished interior of the building.

The Convention Center grand ballroom is currently an active construction site; visitors must be equipped with appropriate safety gear and accompanied at all times.

All construction activity will be done as long as the weather is favorable for such outdoor activity. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution in areas adjacent to active construction sites. Conditions in these areas can change rapidly, which may expose people to unexpected dangerous situations.

Media inquiries and other requests for more information about this issue should be directed to Marny Burke, Capital Improvements Management Office communication specialist, (816) 513-2749.