Irma Starr Vanderslice Ornament

This ornament was made by Irma Starr with the help of Marcus Cane. Both Irma and Marcus are graduates of the Kansas City Art Institute.

The building depicted was originally the home of August Mayer, the first president of Kansas City's Board of Parks Commissioners between 1885 and 1886. It was designed by Henry Van Brunt and Franc Howe Architects. The building was later purchased by local businessman Howard Vanderslide and donated to the Kansas City Art Institute. Originally, it housed classrooms and studios. Later, it became an administrative building for the Institute. An auditorium, designed by architecture firm Wight and Wight was added in 1930. The Building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1980.

Irma Starr's work is inspired by the slipwear in the Burnap Collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.