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Kansas City artist paints and paddles his way through the entire length of the Missouri River

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Beneath an overcast sky, Snell makes a final check before setting off. Rivers are a frequent theme in Snell's artwork.
Julie Denesha
/
KCUR 89.3
Steve Snell stands with his canoe as the Kansas City skyline stands tall in the background.

It took local artist Steve Snell 88 days to paddle all 2,341 miles of the Missouri River. Along the way, he recorded video of his journey and painted more than 100 pieces of art.

Kansas City Art Institute associate professor Steve Snell took a sabbatical this summer to travel the length of the Missouri River, from its headwaters in Three Forks, Montana, to where it meets the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri.

While on the river, Snell encountered rough weather, angry cows, swarms of mosquitoes and hard paddling. Snell painted and recorded video throughout his trek, telling the story of his adventures.

Snell joined KCUR's Up To Date to talk about what he saw, what he learned and the artwork that came of his journey.

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When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
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