KU alumnus to hold art show in Kansas City

Friday, September 7, 2007

An artist can get his inspiration from almost anything. Just ask Jay Van Buren, a 1994 KU graduate living in Brooklyn, N.Y. Van Buren is having “Fursuit Portrait Paint-off” from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at The Cross Gallery, 2012 Baltimore Ave. in Kansas City, Mo. Van Buren’s show will feature his paintings of people who dress in human-sized animal costumes called “furries.”

What got you into art and developed your style?

It was a weird process. It started with abstract geometric paintings, which is very complicated. I started to put things on a table and paint them — specifically stuffed animals — like a teddy bear. Then I literally began painting huge-sized furries.

What was your experience at KU like?

I studied painting and I got a fantastic education. I had really strong painters for professors who really taught me well. It was really a good place to be as a painter.”

You have been living in Brooklyn, so why have a show in Kansas City?

“The gallery where my event is at actually had done a show with me 10 years ago. They looked at my work again, and the show came together. I thought it was a great chance to come back because I grew up in Topeka, attended KU and I lived in Lawrence. I have family and close friends here.

What inspires you to paint furries?

When people look at a stuffed animal — they believe it has some type of personality, or it’s dead. People will say my work is creepy or cute. I always paint from reality, and it’s a serious commitment because I’m not just painting a person in an animal costume. I am trying to get the persona of the person in that suit and the suit itself at the same time.

What do you hope students will gain by attending your show?

I want people to have a good time. I think my paintings have a special appeal that even non-paint fans can get into and enjoy.

What can people expect from the show?

A lot will be going on — we’ll have an emcee hosting the show, a sculpture maker. This event is really about two subcultures coming together, one being the art world and the second being furry fandom. Furry fandom is a subculture of fans who enjoy the idea of dressing in furries and creating this other personality.

— Edited by Amelia Freidline

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