Name: Open to the Public Lecture Series
Start: 2026-03-26T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-09-24T17:30:00-05:00
Location: Kansas City Artists Coalition

Artists, educators, and cultural leaders to explore how creative lives and culture is sustained through diverse practices.
About this Event

Alison Wood, an interdisciplinary designer, playing between the world of art and design, has rejoined KCAI where she previously taught in Foundation. She is also a consulting industrial designer for Rock Cottage Glassworks, one of two glassblowing studios in Kansas City. Her role encompasses public art design, product design, digital modeling, and digital fabrication. From 2009, upon graduation from KCAI’s sculpture department, Alison has woven many educational opportunities into a broad range of study. First at Dale Chihuly’s Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, Washington. From there, she honed a glassblowing apprenticeship for nearly seven years with Dierk Van Keppel at Rock Cottage Glassworks.

With influence from Kansas City’s metal engineering firm Zahner, Alison elected to complete a masters of Interior Architecture, Furniture, and Product Design from Kansas State University. Over the duration of her graduate studies, Alison attended DIS in Copenhagen, Denmark, presented her published research in Valencia, Spain, and designed for the contract furniture market company OFS. Outside of the office, she consults on product design, industrial design, and interior design. For fun, Alison spends her personal time designing lighting and furniture with an eye for sustainability and closed loop life cycles.

The Kansas City Artists Coalition Lecture Series “Open to the Public” is about bringing people together — artists, educators, and community members — to share ideas, spark creativity, and start meaningful conversations. Each event opens up space to explore how art, music, movement, and creative thinking connect us, inspire us, and shape the life of our city. Whether you make art or simply love being around it, these talks invite everyone to be part of Kansas City’s creative story.

Program Description: The Open to the Public lecture series explores creativity in its broadest sense — from visual art and performance to writing, music, movement, and social innovation. Each session highlights a distinctive voice contributing to Kansas City’s cultural landscape, encouraging attendees to think expansively about what creativity means today.

Format:

● 45-minute lecture or presentation

● 15-minute audience Q&A

● Followed by informal reception