Art Incubator wants heat; will sell you chili

By OWEN MORRIS

There’s a story I heard long ago about a starving artist who couldn’t afford to heat his space, so when it became bitterly cold, he’d paint a roaring fire to try and trick his mind into thinking it was warm. To prevent the apocryphal from becoming true for Kansas City artists, one Crossroads gallery is hosting a chili contest to raise money for its heating bill.

On Saturday, the Art Incubator holds “Turn on the Heat,” its fourth annual fundraiser/chili-tasting contest, beginning at 7 p.m. and featuring the chili stylings of more than twenty area chefs from restaurants such as 12 Baltimore, Bluebird Bistro, Bulldog, City Tavern, Drum Room, Harpers, Nara, Jack Stack, Lidia’s and last year’s winner, 1924 Main, who swept away the competition with a lamb-and-lentil chili.

If you’ve attended any First Friday, you are no doubt familiar with Art Incubator’s three-story space on 18th Street between Baltimore and Wyandotte. As a non-profit organization, its mission is “to provide facilities and professional development along with low-cost studio space to keep artists working and thriving in Kansas City.” The chili contest’s $25 entry fee goes directly to the Art Incubator’s heating bill, while you can go directly to eating as much chili as you can and throwing it back with Boulevard Beer and drinks from a full bar (included in the price).

If chili isn’t your thing, come for live music, fire dancing and burlesque. You can order tix online from Art Incubator’s Web site.