Location 

Kauffman Southbound Stop

KC Streetcar Shelter

Project Description

“Our Sky Project” is a three-year-long, socially-engaged contemporary artwork involving participants from over 23 countries. It transcends geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries, celebrating the shared human experience under the universal canopy of the sky. Symbolizing the idea of interconnectedness amidst diversity, each sky image acts as a conduit for empathy, understanding, and the bridging of human divides.

It explores the intersection of time, space and belonging, cultivating a space for collective and personal storytelling. Each sky image was captured by individuals from across the globe, with the name, country, and city information placed in the bottom right corner of the images. This work spans time and space, reminding us that although we live in different parts of the world, we remember each of our friends when we look up at the amazing blue sky.

Displaying it in Kansas City’s public space transformed the artwork. It features sky panels on the streetcar shelter glass panels, seamlessly blending the local sky with skies from around the world. This project celebrates the richness of diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives, exemplifying the beauty of shared humanity, and inspiring people to envision a world where differences are embraced and celebrated.

Bio

Bei Hu is a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and educator. She is passionate about the intersection of technology and storytelling. Her work emphasizes interactivity, playfulness, and togetherness in the field of interaction and communication design. Through her work, she forges poetic connections among people across physical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries.

Bei is currently teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Graphic Design. She holds a Master’s degree in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts, a MFA in Design from China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) School of Design, and a BFA in Visual Communication from China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). Her visual and interactive media work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including museums and galleries in Florida, New York, Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, and notably, a national-level exhibition in China, the 13th National Exhibition of Fine Arts. Her work “Our Sky Project ” has been featured as cover image in Art Magazine 2020 (Core Art&Design Academic Journal in China). Her work has been recognized for design excellence by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), Communication Arts (CA), and the Society of Typographic Arts (STA). Her multilingual experimental film “Our Sky Project 2020” was awarded 2024 WSXA International Film Awards.

Website | beihudesign.com

Instagram | @hubei_becca