Art of the Wish
NEW!
“I hope this exhibit continues to ripple outward, reaching more and more people. There is a quiet, joyful and accessible genius to it.” — Pamela K.
“I am moved to my core and back.” — Ann G.
“I wish this exhibit could be seen by the world. I’ve been through it at least a dozen times and every time I come out changed…”. — Sarah T.
“Touching experience, beyond words. Truly a masterpiece and gift to humanity.” — Jen B.
If you had a wish for the world, what would it be? In 2017, two artists spent six months traveling the country, talking to dozens of 80- to 100-plus-year-olds, asking that very question. Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom contacted senior living communities, visited hospices, and connected with caregivers to create artworks embodying each individual’s wish.
“We were very deliberate in finding a diverse crowd,” Jensen said in a recent interview, “making sure we reached people with different ethnicities, religious affiliations, sexual orientation, income levels, political beliefs . . . It was important to us to get lots of different people with different backgrounds.”
Equally important to the artwork is the accompanying extended label “story” behind each wish. “We both have a love for storytelling as well as the visual work, and it was important to give each piece a slice of context to set the stage,” Newcom says.
The works in Art of the Wish are composed of several mediums—from photography to sculpture, textile to encaustic, mixed media to painting—allowing the “wish” to inspire the direction of each piece. The artists are very intentional about the materials used, often incorporating repurposed, found objects that had once been discarded and tossed aside. They scoured thrift malls and flea markets to look for things that were discarded or had “vulnerability” because those characteristics applied to so many of the people they spoke with.
“Breathing new life into these objects is a perfect metaphor for appreciating the potential and beauty in old things,” Jensen explained.
One piece in the exhibit is a joyful, quilt-like collage of correspondence and memorabilia collected from generations of one family. The subject’s wish: “I wish I knew how to honor their lives, their meaning, their importance to me.” While another work incorporates thousands of knots shaped from clothesline, acknowledging the thousands of hours spent on mundane chores—such as washing clothes and hanging laundry—performed by so many women that the artists interviewed.
The artists’ “wish” is to inspire people to have a simple conversation with an older person because “it not only will make their day, it will make your day, too.”
Art of the Wish offers plenty of engaging intergenerational programming opportunities, creative reuse and hands-on “making” workshops, storytelling activities, and much more.
Please note that some works shown in the installation images depict works that will be adapted by the artists for touring due to size and shipping limitations.
Exhibition Details
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Content
Fee Includes:
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates -
Curated By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$7,100
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In-Region Rental Fee
$4,260
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Duration
7-Week
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
TBD
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Square Feet
--
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Security
Intermediate
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
Approx. 7 Crates
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.
Tour Schedule
Art of the Wish is touring September 2025 through August 2030. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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September 1–October 20, 2025
available -
November 10, 2025–January 7, 2026
Ella Sharp Museum
Jackson, MI pending -
January 28–March 16, 2026
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
Enid, OK pending -
April 6–May 25, 2026
available -
June 16–August 11, 2026
available -
September 1–October 20, 2026
available -
November 10, 2026–March 16, 2027
International Museum of Art & Science
McAllen, TX pending -
April 6–May 25, 2027
available -
June 16–August 11, 2027
available -
September 1–October 20, 2027
available -
November 10, 2027–January 7, 2028
available -
January 28–March 16, 2028
Refurbishment at Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO booked -
April 6–May 25, 2028
available -
June 16–August 11, 2028
available -
September 1–October 20, 2028
available -
November 10, 2028–January 7, 2029
available -
January 28–March 16, 2029
available -
April 6–May 25, 2029
available -
June 16–August 11, 2029
available -
September 1–October 20, 2029
available -
November 10, 2029–January 7, 2030
available -
January 28–March 16, 2030
available -
April 6–May 25, 2030
available -
June 16–August 11, 2030
available
Downloads & Resources
Click HERE to view and download the Factsheet for Art of the Wish.