Eightfold Harmony Comes to Crafted & Uncorked

Eight people supported by Easterseals Midwest came together through Community Connections to create a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Their creation, Eightfold Harmony, 2026, is a mixed-media assemblage made by eight individuals who receive support through Easterseals Midwest. The finished piece was featured in the auction at Crafted & Uncorked Kansas City on Friday, Sept. 25.

The artists include Andres, Charlie, Crystal, Dillon, Faith, Mike, Sara, and Tara.

Each artist created a panel reflecting their own ideas, colors, textures, and materials. When the eight panels come together, their individual choices become one larger composition.

The piece was inspired by the number eight. Its looping shape represents balance, connection, continuity, and the strength that comes from people coming together.

Art Takes Shape Through Community Connections

The project took place through Easterseals Midwest's Community Connections program, where people supported by Easterseals Midwest can take part in activities, build skills, and connect with their community.

The artists worked together on the project while bringing their own ideas to each panel. They used handmade and found papers, natural materials, found objects, stitching, layered textures, and dimensional elements.

Some pieces were sewn, while some were glued, arranged, layered, and built at different heights. The result? A collection of eight distinct panels that work together as one piece.

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Every Panel Tells a Different Story

No two panels are alike.

The artists chose materials and designs that reflected their own interests and ideas. The color palette combines Easterseals Midwest colors with warm fall tones.

For Tara, the creative process began with design. She helped lay out papers and shape the direction of the piece. Her panel consists of green, beige, light blue, and dark blue coloring.

She also chose a key as an important part of her design.

“I love art,” Tara said when asked about her favorite part of the project. When asked what it means to have the artwork featured at Crafted & Uncorked, she gave a simple answer.

“It makes me stay calm.”

A Piece Built Through Choice

The artists’ deliberate choices helped shape the artwork from the start.

Sara chose orange and blue, colors that connect to both Easterseals Midwest and fall. She also chose a coin with a queen on it for her panel.

“I love how our artwork is eight people coming together in one piece,” Sara said.

That idea is at the heart of Eightfold Harmony. Each panel keeps its own identity while adding something important to the finished work.

Andres found inspiration in a unique place.

“I like it because it reminds me of a tree,” he said.

He knew exactly where he wanted to place it. Then he was ready to glue it into place.

Coming Together

Crystal brought another personal touch to the project.

She chose orange for her panel because her birthday is in November. Her design also plays with the number 11, connecting her birthday to the fall season.

Crystal shared her thoughts through American Sign Language, with JJ interpreting. She said she enjoys every part of the project and likes helping.

“I like people coming together to work on the project,” Crystal said.

That connection is visible throughout Eightfold. The panels are arranged at different heights and depths inside a shadow box, creating a layered composition. Each artist's work remains distinct while contributing to the finished piece.

From Individual Ideas to a Collective Work

The project began with eight individuals choosing to take part.

Each person brought a different idea to the table. Together, those ideas became a single work with a clear sense of movement, texture, and color. That makes Eightfold Harmony a visual reminder that coming together does not mean giving up what makes each person unique.

The artists' differences are part of what makes the finished work meaningful.

Crafted & Uncorked

On Friday, Sept. 25, Eightfold Harmony was displayed at Crafted & Uncorked Kansas City.at The Congress Ballroom at The Hilton President Hotel.

Guests had the opportunity to see the artwork in person and bid on the one-of-a-kind piece during the evening's auction.

Crafted & Uncorked also featured specialty cocktails, craft beer, wine, food, and other silent and live auction items. Proceeds from the event support grants through the Easterseals Midwest Women's Giving Collective, which funds innovative projects proposed by Easterseals Midwest staff.

The eight artists created something that could only exist because each person brought something different to the work. Now, that work is ready to become part of someone else's story.