Artist Profile: Pam Angilan

Pam Angilan

12607 West 58th Terrace
Shawnee, KS 66216

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Bio:

IONE is a visual storyteller. Ione was born in Wellington, Kansas in 1945. As far as can be determined, she entered the world with a paintbrush between her teeth. From earliest years, she absorbed all things art, nourished by parents who were creative themselves and fostered that in her. Music, poetry, and creative ideas flooded her home, and were a part of daily living with ample encouragement from her mother especially. It was a foregone conclusion that Ione would study art at college as she never wanted to do anything else. Painting and Art History claimed her first degree (B.F.A.), where she learned the vast scope of art from various cultures. The Old Masters were particularly formative in her development of the figurative style she works in today. After graduation Ione moved to Oakland, California. No one told her that a degree in art was not very marketable in those days. A bit of flailing about in jobs, and a talk with her father led her back to Kansas where she received a B.A.E. and an M.A. on the teaching track. Ione packed up her painting supplies, rented a U-Haul and moved with her dogs to Sarcoxie, Missouri where she taught for 3 years before moving to Kansas City to teach. While she had been painting throughout school and teaching, Ione was feeling starved for conversation with other artists. She located a group called the River Quay Art Association and began going to their meetings. She became their secretary. Then they reformed into the Kansas City Artist Coalition. They all grew professionally and she loved it. She created the KCAC newsletter and used her art history background to write reviews of art shows. In 1978 a horrific assault by strangers changed Ione forever, and catapulted her art in a new direction. The experience of fighting back and pursuing the criminals through the court system into jail helped her learn a new confidence in herself. Ironically, it was that traumatic experience that changed Ione’s art work into the more lighthearted, whimsical style she has today. She learned not to take herself too seriously and to live in the present. She still has that brush between her teeth!