Bruce Hartman, curator at the Johnson County Community College Gallery of Art, regularly includes metro-area artists in his shows. For last spring's
True Stories, Hartman featured drawings and clothing construction by Kansas City artist Christopher Leitch along with figure work by five national artists, including Laylah Ali, who was featured in the 2004 Whitney biennial. Putting the work of locals on display next to nationally and internationally renowned artists strengthens the argument that the art being made and shown in Kansas City is as good as or better than pieces imported from the coasts.
