Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Sheila Shockey, Founder, CEO, Futurist, Shock Talk Podcast Host at Shockey Consulting and artist/gallery owner @80SantaFe in Downtown Overland Park, KS. Follow Sheila on LinkedIn, @heyshockey @artbysheilashockey.
What I’m reading: Decoding Abstract Painting
What I’m working on: Going into 60 strong! So I am walking or biking to work every day – five miles total, rain or shine.
Who my pet is: Bodhi Blue, a six-year-old Aussie/Border Collie, @bodhiblueshockey (yes, he has his own Instagram) – I should have named him FOMO.
I Could Do That: What Abstract Art and Running a City Have in Common
This month, I’m surrounded by bold colors, daring shapes, and paintings that break every rule in the book. As an abstract painter and curator of our gallery’s current abstract show, I’m reminded daily that what looks effortless is anything but! The same is true in local government, where vision, skill, and the courage to challenge convention are often mistaken for simplicity. Here’s what running a city and making abstract art have in common—and why both are harder, and more rewarding, than they look.
Abstract Art Was Born to Break Rules
Walk into almost any modern art gallery and you’ll see it—bold swaths of color, shapes that defy realism, textures that seem nearly accidental. Abstract art often draws two reactions: awe and dismissal. Some viewers are moved, others mutter, “My kid could do that.”
Local government gets a similar reaction. Residents can admire the vision and complexity of running a city… or they think, “How hard can it be? I could do better than that!”
In the early 20th century, artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and later Jackson Pollock shattered centuries of tradition that said art must represent the physical world. Abstract art refused to conform to reality—it was about emotion, movement, and ideas. This was more than an aesthetic shift; it was a rebellion against rigid norms, much like when a local government challenges “the way we’ve always done it” in favor of bold, future-ready solutions.
When abstract art first emerged, it wasn’t universally embraced. Critics called it lazy, nonsensical, or unserious—accusations that might sound familiar to local officials when they propose innovative approaches. But in both fields, breaking rules thoughtfully requires deep skill, conviction, and a willingness to weather criticism.
The Myth of Effortlessness
A painting that looks like a few casual brushstrokes? A budget meeting that seems to run smoothly? Both are the result of painstaking preparation, technical skill, and strategic choices hidden beneath the surface.
Just as abstract artists understand composition, color theory, and form before they bend the rules, effective local leaders master policy, finance, and community engagement before they can make it look “easy.” The public might think they can throw paint on a canvas or pass an ordinance without deep expertise—but that’s the illusion of skill done well.
Inclusion as the Canvas
At 80 Santa Fe Art Gallery, we intentionally showcase diverse local voices—artists who bring perspectives that challenge and enrich the cultural conversation. Similarly, in community engagement, the richest results come when you create space for voices that have been overlooked. This active involvement of the community in shaping the narrative is a crucial aspect of both art and governance.
Both in art and governance, inclusion isn’t about checking a box. It’s about inviting new ways of seeing and ensuring those perspectives shape the final outcome—whether that’s a public mural or a city’s master plan.
Curating Vision and Trust
A gallery curator shapes the narrative by choosing what gets shown, pairing works that spark conversation, and making sure every piece contributes to the bigger picture. A city leader does the same with policy decisions, balancing competing priorities while keeping the community’s vision in view.
And in both cases, trust is built over time—through transparency, follow-through, and a willingness to listen. If residents trust their leaders the way art lovers trust a curator, they’re more willing to embrace bold new ideas. This transparency and trust are the cornerstones of both art curation and governance, ensuring the integrity of the process.
Art, Government, and the Courage to Be Misunderstood
Abstract artists didn’t wait for universal approval before they painted. They led, knowing that meaning and appreciation often arrive later. Local governments must do the same when charting a new course—acting with courage, clarity, and an eye on the future, even when the present is full of doubt.
The next time someone says, “I could do that” about a painting or public policy, remember: the ease they see is the result of invisible expertise, hard-earned skill, and the bravery to reimagine the familiar. That’s the art of good government.