Artspeak Radio with Madison McKinley and Laura Treas

Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes Madison McKinley Marketing & Communications Manager with Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art and designer Laura Treas. MADISON McKINLEY, Marketing & Communications Manager, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art Join us for a full day of art, music, food, and community celebration at the Albrecht- Kemper Museum of Art Art Fair & Block Party in collaboration with the Noyes Home for Children! Featuring fine artists from across the region, this annual event is the perfect opportunity to discover original artwork while supporting talented local and regional artists. From paintings and ceramics to jewelry, prints, and handcrafted works, collectors and casual art enthusiasts alike will find unique pieces to suit a variety of tastes and price points. This year’s celebration expands beyond the traditional art fair experience with a special community block party featuring live musical performances, delicious food, a cash bar, family-friendly activities, and much more. Together with the Noyes Home, we’re creating a vibrant event that brings art and community together in a meaningful and exciting way. Whether you’re an avid collector, a first-time buyer, or simply looking for a fun summer outing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Saturday, June 6 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Free Admission Come celebrate creativity, connection, and community with us! Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art 2818 Frederick Ave. Saint Joseph, MO 64506 816-233-7003 www.albrecht-kemper.org LAURA TREAS- Laura Treas is a Needle Trades Advocate who founded a Full Service Design and Development agency that makes dreams come true for her clients. Taking their ideas and turning them into sellable products while coaching them through the process. She has had 7 clients pitch for Shark Tank as Startups for their inventions. As a Small Batch Manufacturing expert Laura empowers women to build their own micro-factories for sewing and train them on the products so that they can become the production managers for her clients. She also has her own line of compression undergarments and is considered a compression expert. FASHION IS GEOMETRY | SEWING IS PSYCHICS | PATTERNING IS ENGINEERING Images of school shootings are filled with helmeted men in uniforms crouched in halls and clutching weapons ready to mount an assault to protect children but a woman entrepreneur in Kansas City is taking a proactive approach to protecting children. Laura Treas, Owner/Founder, Fashion Tech Kansas City, is the lead designer for Titanium Flex Gear which is a bullet-resistant clothing company. Her expertise in creating, fitting and manufacturing clothing is at the heart of a new product that children can wear every day in any situation. “This is the first covert undershirt protection for children on the market,” said Treas. “It can be worn under any clothing and the snug fit tank-style undergarment, which holds the panels, allows the child to feel protected emotionally as well as physically.” “Can I keep this?” When children have tried it on they want to keep it on. The parents respond with “But, you haven’t had any shootings at your school” and they reply “But, I know they happen and this makes me feel safe”. As an undergarment expert with her own line, Laura was the perfect fit for Titanium Flex Gear.16 years of experience fitting clients for undergarments that change their lives has made this a match made in Heaven. Laura’s expertise in fabrics and clothing design will make a difference in comfort and wearability of this protection product. 2 months ago she did not know how her life was going to change. As someone who has had 7 clients get approved to pitch for Shark Tank, as startups, she’s no newby to inventions but this was something she would actually become a part of. When she got the call from a far away island to discuss possible manufacturing she quickly said “Tell me more”. “If we can save one child it will have been worth it” is what Monty Clark believes. He had this idea for protection for children, went overseas to source this panel and had been manufacturing with a mom and pop shop but needed to find a new manufacturer. Neither he nor Laura knew until they met in person that the stars would align. “Everyone thinks it’s easy to launch a product and they don’t know how hard it really is. How many steps it takes. How hard it is to find all the information. The amount of micro decisions. But, when I met Monty in person and saw his safety panels and then showed him my undergarments and that we could marry them into this comfortable, wearable protection product that could save lives, I was ecstatic because this is so easy to wear. This can lower children’s anxiety”. As a designer that makes garments for her local Children’s Hospital this is a product Laura Treas can get behind. www.fashiontechkansascity.com