“Time is always polychronic,” as described on Crossroads’ exhibition page. “A hotel lobby is a multi-tasking sort of place—it’s a site of constant change, s space where multiple time fields collide and upend any conception of a singular, universal timeline. Similarly, this drawing [is] a sequentially layered series of marks ‘made in the moment’ rather than as a preconceived image. What might appear to be a carefully calibrated response to the architecture of the hotel, is a direct index of the energy of the room. In this way, you can see marks thicken, lengthen, or densify as time thickens, more bodies gather, and distance themselves as the crowed clears. In chronotopic accumulation, one sees the charged and unfolding life of this place.”

Townsend’s four drawing sessions will be open to the public and documented through photography and time-lapse videos. Visitors are encouraged to linger, take photos, and engage in conversation as Townsend intends for his process to be part of the life of the hotel.

Location and Accessibility

Crossroads Hotel
2101 Canal Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64108

chronotopic accumulation is on view at Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Crossroads Hotel’s gallery and studio program is organized by el dorado inc. and CAMH Executive Director Hesse McGraw. Learn more about this program here.

About the Artist

Kevin Townsend lives and works in Kansas City’s metro area. He was born, raised, and educated on the East Coast, earning a BFA from Corcoran College of the Arts & Design at GW University (Washington, D.C.) and a MFA from the School of Visual Arts (New York, New York). His work has been installed and produced both internationally and domestically. In addition to his art practice, he has worked as a teacher and curriculum writer for the past twenty years. He teaches drawing, printmaking, studio, and professional practice at accredited art and design colleges.

About Crossroads Hotel

Located in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, Missouri, Crossroads Hotel is not a place to pass through; it is a place to experience the city’s thriving arts community. Here, the neighborhood has undergone a fascinating transformation that is largely driven by artists. Crossroads Hotel’s art collection recognizes that cultural legacy, draws it into the hotel, and shares it publicly. Over 40 artists’ works are on view throughout the hotel, and each of them are either based in Kansas City or emerged from here—representing both the local roots and global reach of Kansas City’s artists.

Organized by el dorado inc. and Contemporary Arts Museum, Crossroads Hotel’s gallery and studio program presents visitors with the opportunity to meet local artists, see their work, and have an intimate experience of the city’s cultural vibrancy. Its gallery is a dynamic exhibition space that changes quarterly to reflect and amplify the energy of the neighborhood. Exhibitions, artist commissions, performances, and unexpected artist-driven experiences intimately connect visitors to the creative life of the Crossroads Arts District. Along with the public gallery and local creative contributions to the interiors, amenities and delicacies, Crossroads Hotel also offers an artist-in-residence program. The program supports artists making new works and often leads to exhibitions or new artworks installed within the hotel.

About Beyond CAMH

Beyond CAMH is a newly launched initiative that reflects contemporary art’s ever-expanding influence through an ongoing series of artist-driven projects and public partnerships extending beyond the walls of the Museum. CAMH’s work outside our galleries—including public artworks and cross-sector collaborations—aims to reach new audiences, embrace unexpected contexts, and directly impact civic life in Houston and beyond. Spanning multiple scales and contexts, Beyond CAMH positions artists as primary catalysts of cultural and public realm transformation.