Matthew Gwin
Recent Articles by Matthew Gwin
A sneaky wink in each brutal piece: How one artist’s work paints his reality within a world of big, heavy events
Emerging Kansas City contemporary artist Addison “A.L.” Parrish believes that to create a work of art, he must first observe and understand the world around him. “I feel like, as an artist, my main job isn’t necessarily painting,” Parrish said. “It’s seeing and being — not detached — but in a neutral state of observation.”…
Negativity sells, but these producers want to give creatives love (and ownership of their art)
A pair of childhood friends from Kansas City are on a mission to help small artists bring their creative visions to life, while spreading a message of love along the way. Marquis McIntosh and Kiandre “KP” Pugh — the duo behind Lovey Dovey — said that seven years of creating their own content has prepared…
These makers and vendors aren’t buying the scarcity mindset: ‘There’s a way for us all to eat’
A new vendor fair aims to unite people from all corners of the city and promote collaboration among the local vendor community, said entrepreneur and event organizer Dontavious Young. “I see a lot of events in Kansas City that are geared toward a specific type of crowd, or a specific type of culture, or a…
JuneteenthKC, Black businesses bake celebration of culture into holiday at 18th & Vine
Thousands descended on the 18th and Vine Jazz District Saturday for the 12th annual JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival, a celebration of the Juneteenth holiday that greeted attendees with vendor tents, food and drink and musical performances. Makeda Peterson, program director for JuneteenthKC, described the weekend event as a celebration of the struggle for liberation and an…
J Rieger wants to be a ‘showpiece for Kansas City’ as distiller takes its whiskey international
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. On the heels of expanding its distribution into several European countries in 2022, J. Rieger & Co. on Wednesday earned the 2023 Weida Award for International Small…
Give Black campaign returns, aiming to recapture energy needed to close racial wealth gap
The 2023 Give Black KC campaign kicked off Monday, beginning the annual week of fundraising efforts focused on supporting Black-led nonprofits in Kansas City in an effort to achieve racial equity. This year’s fundraiser will benefit four organizations: Be Great Together, Front Porch Alliance, WeCode KC, and Kansas City G.I.F.T. Brandon Calloway, CEO and co-founder…
Pride Month campaign at Lifted Spirits celebrates humanity’s brilliant creations: humans, founder says
Michael Stuckey’s personal commitment to equitable treatment for all people made a Pride Month initiative for Kansas City distillery Lifted Spirits a no-brainer, he said — even as multinational brands like Bud Light and Target have seen backlash to pro-LGBTQIA+ campaigns. “It’s not a complex issue to me, honestly,” said Stuckey, founder of Lifted Spirits….
Global capital network selects IoT startup as its first ‘Endeavor Entrepreneur’ candidate from KC
Endeavor Heartland, the Northwest Arkansas-based division of a global network built to support high-impact entrepreneurs, has officially made its first foray into the Kansas City market, the organization announced. Pepper, a full-stack Internet of Things (IoT) platform-as-a-service provider, in May became the inaugural company from the Kansas City region to join Endeavor’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shawn…
Is there a doctor on board? Dragon boat race puts KC professionals in the rower’s seat
Brush Creek will put teams of professionals and other competitors to the test this weekend as Kansas City’s annual Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Country Club Plaza. For at least one crew, the waterway will become a lab of sorts — with leaders evaluating their teamwork and collaboration skills. Chris Jurief, a fourth-year resident…
Scaling his superpower: How BXKC’s new app amplifies Black professionals’ connections
A new tech platform recently unveiled by Black Excellence KC is expected to provide Black entrepreneurs with resources to elevate their careers and journeys, said Craig Moore II — a move that aims to boost the group’s human capital beyond one-on-one interactions. “We’re trying to create a tool where we can create better engagement among…