32nd Annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards Celebration

I feel very grateful to have planted the seed that has led to the 32nd Annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards celebration Friday, May 6th at the InterContinental Kansas City.

Congratulations to Robin and her team at Synergy Services and to this year’s students and their nominees who have been designated the Kindest Kansas citians for 2022. Also, three cheers to the entire North Kansas City Schools district for winning the 2022 Rita Blitt Kindest School Award, and to all of who are spreading kindness.

Watch a video of last year’s adorable children reading their essays nominating the 2021 Kindest Kansas Citians winners below. For more information, visit Synergy Services.

Pictured here is my poster and words from the 1980s, created to help make the world a better place.

Lenexa City Hall Gallery Exhibition Opening

Rita Blitt was quite pleased and surprised when she found this collection of eight small (8.75 x 10 in.), colorful paintings from 1985 that had never been shared. Titled The Jewels I - VIII, they are pictured here framed on the wall as part of the Rita Blitt exhibition on display in Lenexa City Hall, Lenexa, Kansas. The exhibition opened this week and will continue through June 26, 2022.

Pictured here are Susanne Neely, exhibition director with Rita’s dear friend Lisa Schifman.

Two New Postcard Books Available

SHARE A SMILE

Rita Blitt has created ten brand-new vibrantly colored images for this collection, encouraging all ages to share a smile with loved ones. Even children taking up the pen for the first time will be able to send a message: Half of the cards provide fill-in-the-blank guides to help teach senders the art of writing a postcard message.

LI PO

This selection of 26 postcards features pastels from Rita Blitt’s 1984 Li Po Series. Li Po was a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty whose poems document his journeys sailing the Yangzi River.

The Sun Still Shines Film Wins Award in Best Shorts Film Festival

Rita Blitt has won a prestigious Award of Recognition from The Best Shorts Film Competition in the Experimental category for her pandemic film The Sun Still Shines. The film explores the possibility of the sun reappearing each day, giving hope, despite the devastation of the global pandemic and environmental disasters.

The Best Shorts Competition recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the international film and television industry.

“Best Shorts is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The Best Shorts Competition helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries,” shares Rick Prickett, chair of The Best Shorts Competition.

Conversation with Rita Blitt, Visual Artist: On Family, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting and Film Making

Rita Blitt shares insights about her lifelong creative process, transitions in her work, and her artistic challenges in this March 6th conversation with Patricia Sakai of the Exploring Creativity Group of Ashby Village.

The introductory film shown is one of several film segments seen in this documentary.

Featured Lifetime Artist: Michael Warren Contemporary Exhibit

Nocturne by Rita Blitt

Rita Blitt is a featured artist of Lifetime Artists: Michael Warren Contemporary. This exhibit salutes artists of longevity, highlighting those who are at least 70 years old and have been practicing their artistic craft for a least 45 years. The exhibit runs Oct. 16 - Dec. 19, 2021 with concurrent exhibits.

Related Events:

• Opening Reception of Lifetime Artists: Michael Warren Contemporary featuring works by gallery artists on Friday, October 15th from 5:00-8:00pm, McNichols Building, 144 W. Colfax, Denver, CO

• Lifetime Artists virtual tour/talk with gallery owner Mike McClung, Nov. 11th at 11 a.m.

Rita Blitt Named 2021 Visual Artist of the Year by Raleigh Film & Art Festival

I am honored to receive this award from the Raleigh Film & Art Festival for my pandemic film The Sun Still Shines.

Sculpture Garden at Mulvane Museum

Looking through the flames in the fireplace at Rita Blitt Sculpture Garden is a peaceful way to ease into the fall season (this is a photograph of flames, not a Blitt sculpture).

Photo by Connie Gibbons, director of Mulvane Museum.