Laura Bogue:  

Life I grew up across the street from the Blue Ridge Mall, soon to be a new Wal-Mart. I have many fond memories of the mall, which was built the year I was born – the Merry Mall Choo-Choo, Jone’s Store fashion shows, Wonder Bread promotions at Safeway, craft fairs, Santa and the Easter Bunny, and everything else being a mall rat in the 60s and 70s meant. After high school, I went to college at UMKC where I (eventually) got my degree in studio art. I went on to grad school at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where I got my Masters in Fine Arts in photography in 1986. I moved back to KC in ’87 and worked in various photo labs to support my teaching “habit” and eventually found a good job at the KC Star selling advertising, first part time, then full time, while I taught photography on the college level part time at Avila, KC Art Institute, Johnson Co. Community College and Rockhurst College. After I started working full time, I started teaching continuing ed at JCCC, which I continued to do for 6 or 7 years. I started working at Bridging The Gap in 1993 and continue there today as their graphic designer and Publications Coordinator. BTG is an environmental non-profit, working with government, individuals and schools to make environmental change. We run KCMO drop off recycling centers, Keep Kansas City Beautiful programs and protect Kansas City’s WildLands, among other projects. I moved back into my folks’ house by the Bl...Expand for more