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Up To Date

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

By Steve Kraske,
Claire Powell, Zach Wilson
Published September 14, 2022 at 2:30 PM CDT
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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.

Tags
Up To Date PodcastMissouri RiverenvironmentArtArts & CultureKansas City Art Institute
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Steve Kraske
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.
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Claire Powell
Claire Powell is a student reporter in the KBIA newsroom. She is a former Up To Date intern.
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Zach Wilson
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
See stories by Zach Wilson
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