KINGSVILLE, MO – Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, announces the Fountain Project, a one-of-a-kind glass installation created in collaboration with Belger Arts by a collective of glass artists. The installation will be on view May 2 through June 21, 2026, in the Conservatory at Powell Gardens.  

The glass fountain, titled Teaming with Life, will launch the Gardens’ spring art-focused event, Painted Garden. 

Selected through a national call for artists, the Fountain Project brings together a nine-person collective of glass artists with the aim of giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with and learning from peers from across the United States. The team includes three lead gaffers and six assistants who will work collaboratively to fabricate and install the large-scale piece: Abigail Amundson, Michael Carson, Justin Jenicke, Keegan O’Brien, Jacqueline Polofka, Ori Shir, Lauryl Sidwell, Brandon Smith, and Tyler Suter.

The artists will gather at the Belger Glass Annex from April 24 through May 1 to create the fountain’s intricate, functional, and decorative components using traditional glass blowing techniques before assembling the installation onsite at Powell Gardens. Their work will transform the Conservatory into a tranquil retreat inspired by the landscapes of the Midwest prairie. 

At the center of the space, the fountain is adorned with luminous blown-glass forms that echo the shapes and colors of prairie blossoms. Soft golds, lavender tones, and prairie blues shimmer in the light, creating a peaceful atmosphere where visitors are invited to slow down, sit in a rocking chair, and enjoy the interplay of glass, water, and spring blooms. The result is a serene environment where art, nature, and heritage come together in quiet harmony. 

The public is invited to the following glass blowing activities, artist presentations, and viewing of the fountain: 

Saturday, April 25 & Monday, April 27

• Free “behind the scenes” viewing of the fountain production process, 1:30PM-5:00PM at the Belger Glass Annex (1219 E. 19^th St., Kansas City, MO).

Wednesday, April 29

• Free Artists Talk with Members of the Project Team, 6:00PM - 8:00PM at the Belger Crane Yard Gallery (2011 Tracy Ave., Kansas City, MO).  

First Friday, May 1 

• Free First Friday Glass Blowing Demonstration Featuring the Project Team, 6:00PM - 8:00PM at the Belger Glass Annex (1219 E. 19th St., Kansas City, MO).  

Saturday, May 2

• Brunch with Artists from the Belger Arts Fountain Project and Fountain Unveiling, 10:00AM - 12:00PM at Powell Gardens (1609 NW US Hwy 50, Kingsville, MO 64061).

For more information about Painted Garden and upcoming events at Powell Gardens, visit powellgardens.org. For information about the Fountain Project and events at Belger Arts, visit belgerarts.org.

About the Artists 

• Abigail Amundson is an emerging multimedia artist based in Corning, New York, whose work explores the intersection of nature and spirituality. She recently graduated from Bowling Green State University and works with the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass team. 

• Michael Carson, originally from Indiana, focuses on functional blown glass inspired by historical Venetian techniques. Currently, a resident artist at Belger Arts, he has worked with studios across the Midwest and with the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass team. 

• Justin Jenicke is a Kansas City-based artist who has been working with glass for over 20 years. He has worked with artists from around the globe, and his work is defined by clean lines and symmetrical repeating patterns. 

• Keegan O’Brien, based in Kansas City, earned his BFA from Bowling Green State University. His sculptural glasswork explores light and material, and he currently works as a gaffer at Monarch Glass Studio. 

• Jacqueline Polofka is the artist behind Double Dipped Studios on Kelleys Island, Ohio. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, she specializes in blown glass and previously worked at institutions including the Corning Museum of Glass and Chrysler Museum of Art.   

• Ori Shir is co-owner of Shir Glassworks in Greenfield, Massachusetts. His nature-inspired glasswork ranges from functional to sculptural and is exhibited nationwide. 

• Lauryl Sidwell is a Kansas City-based artist who transitioned from stained glass to hot glass in 2023 and continues to expand her practice through studio work and classes. 

• Brandon Smith is a glass and mixed-media artist, blacksmith, and educator based in Pennsylvania. He holds an MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and leads the glass program at Keystone College. 

• Tyler Suter is a resident artist at Belger Arts in Kansas City whose sculptures in glass and ceramics are inspired by organic forms and the natural world. 
  

Press Images 

Press images available upon request. 

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Media Contacts  

Laina Burdette, Marketing Manager, Powell Gardens

marketing@powellgardens.org OR lburdette@powellgardens.org

816.683.4823 (text or call)

Consuelo Cruz, Deputy Director, Belger Arts
ccruz@belger.net OR gallery@belgerartscenter.org
816.474.7316

About Powell Gardens:  
Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, provides 175 acres of recreation, adventure, and exploration. Visitors enjoy themed display gardens with rotating botanical displays, notable plant collections, seasonal programming and events, educational classes, art, architecture, breathtaking views, and more. Turn your next adventure into a lasting memory at Powell Gardens, your botanical garden. We’re worth the drive. 

About Belger Arts: 

Belger Arts is an arts center with three locations in Kansas City, Missouri’s urban core. The Belger Arts Center exhibits contemporary art from the Belger Collection, and by a rich variety of local, national, and international artists. Belger Crane Yard Studios is an arts complex that provides studio and exhibition space for artists, plus a range of programming in ceramics education. The Belger Glass Annex is a state-of-the-art glass studio that hosts artist demonstrations, provides studio space for artists, and offers educational programs.