Vulpes Bastille exhibits donated art to help local families feel at home

Photo by Elinore Noyes

As I walked through the doors of the Kansas City art gallery, Vulpes Bastille, I was greeted by Julia Cole—one of the organizers of the one-night-only Making Do/Making Special, a diverse art exhibit with a heartwarming cause. 

Cole had a grateful smile on her face as she told me that this was a special art show. While the industrious studio space looked like an ordinary exhibit with its specialized lighting and stylish canvas placement, there was a deeper story underneath. 

The collection of artwork on the walls was donated by artists to be given to Kansas City’s only furniture bank, Flourish, which supports local families overcoming housing insecurity. 

Cole had been blown away by the generosity shared as the cause brought together over 70 artists from the Kansas City metro, volunteering their work. 

“People have creativity inside and they want to express themselves, and they want to share that with people,” Cole says. “That’s part of being a human being. It’s really beautiful.”

Photo by Elinore Noyes

Since becoming an independent nonprofit in 2020, Flourish has impacted over 12,000 people by furnishing thousands of homes. This exhibit added 186 pieces of art valued at over $30,000 to the showroom, letting families decorate their walls free of charge.

The studio’s white walls were strategically covered with this art: landscapes, animals, abstract art, and mosaics housed in eclectic frames told the original stories of each creator for the public to see. The art styles showcased ranged from multicolored crochet yarn pieces to silver gelatin prints, but all with similar themes of beauty and belonging.

Photo by Elinore Noyes

Artists from a variety of different backgrounds gave their work, from beginner artists to seasoned professionals. Nathan Hauber, a newer local artist, says this was a “no-question first art show,” because of his personal connection to the cause. 

Hauber, along with many of the other featured artists, has previously struggled financially and wants to provide families with a sense of belonging.

“I’ve also been poor,” Hauber shared. “I know how important it is for people to feel like other people are caring about them and are there for them.” 

Four of Hauber’s works were hung in this display, including a detailed constellation on canvas and vibrant landscapes inspired by his father.

“I know just how important it is to see something beautiful. I know the difference between living somewhere and feeling like you’re at home,” Hauber says. 

Photo by Elinore Noyes

The exhibit also collected non-art donations for the furniture bank—and after only an hour, the table for household items was filled with tools, lamps, and kitchen supplies, overflowing onto the surrounding floor. 

“This is just the most uplifting, really marvelous experience,” Cole says. “It feels like a light in a dark time.”

Flourish accepts donations and posts future events online.