“I was recently talking with a friend of mine from the East coast. She was trying to understand the Kansas dialect, and I asked her if she was familiar with the word “ope.” She asked how the word functioned, and I had to explain that it was a filler for so many situations. Want to excuse yourself? “Ope, be right back.” Need to apologize for taking up space? “Ope, sorry, just gotta get through.” Wish to punctuate your clumsy existence? “Ope, my bad!” Need a polite interjection? “Ope! Look at that!” So, what does it mean to express yourself as an artist within this vernacular? How does creativity coexist with polite uncertainty?”
Derek Goon
Kevin Kelly
Ashley Lande
Derek Goon, Kevin Kelly and Ashley Lande illustrate just how broad the Midwestern accent can be, even with an uncertain self-awareness. Awkwardness tempers beauty, making for colorful gestures that are down-to-earth. Humor confronts tragedy, rendering dark subjects with a relate-able shape. Through careful observation, mystery and depth is in the mundane. These three Kansas artists communicate with voices that are neither flat nor dull.