DentistryArt.com and Apex Art Space

Freightouse would like to remind everyone of one of our original clients, Crossroads Dentistry and Apex Art Space.

Dr. J. Daniel Fleming first opened the doors of this practice under his own name, May 6th, 1986 at the location 614 W. 39th st. Kansas City, Missouri.  Having graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Dental School, 1985.  Prior to attending dental school, Dr. Fleming received his Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmacy, having graduated from the University of  Missouri, Kansas City, Pharmacy School and worked as a pharmacist through his training in dental school, Dr. Fleming stepped away from that profession to better take advantage of his chairside manner in delivering dental care to the community. 

Dr. Fleming, or "Dr. Dan" as his patients tend to address him, first interviewed, then worked with and eventually bought the practice from Dr. Robert Lee Scott, an established Westport Dentist.  It was a small practice, but one that Dr. Fleming felt he could grow and serve well.  An Urban practice in the heart of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kansas City.

It wasn't long before Dr. Fleming found a storefront location, previously the office of Dr. Michael McCunniff, that served him well, with better visability and a Main Street location right on the corner of 39th st. and Main the second busiest bus stop in Kansas City.  Being at the crossroads of the 39th street corridor, east and west, and the Main street corridor, north and south, this location was well situated to serve a broad spectrum of the public in a rich mix of older established neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Valentine, Coleman Hihlands, Longfellow and Southmoreland Park, the eastside and the westside neighborhoods, downtown  to the north, Brookside to the south and local business people in the Westport/midtown area. 

Continuing Dr. Fleming's tendancy to be an urban pioneer, he seized the opportunity to move to the Crossroads Arts District as the anchor tenant in the Filmrow Arts Building (formerly the Grafitti Cafe).

APEX Art Space was created by Dr. Dan Fleming to showcase local artists in the Kansas City Area who might not otherwise have an opportunity to display their works in an environment conducive to its appreciation in the Crossroads Art District.  The exhibit provides an exceptional atmosphere for clients of Crossroads Dentistry and is available for the First Friday’s monthly art walk and gallery tour.

“Coming into an area as vibrant and creative as the Crossroads Art District was a challenge.  Obviously the Crossroads is well established and one of the nations’ strongest arts communities with resident artists, galleries and meeting places in high concentration, but I am pioneering, ahead of the curve as far as basic services are concerned…I had office designers... but they had no idea what I was trying to accomplish ...I wanted to be part of the community, part of the art and creativity”

The space is unique in its conception for combining a professional services facility, the office of Crossroads Dentistry, with the APEX Art Space.  The obvious challenge, one function not interfering with the utility of the other, was successfully accomplished with the aid of architect and Principal Scott Slaggie of Janntsch Slaggie Architects.

“I had office designers from the various dental companies in the space…but they had no idea of what I was trying to accomplish here…I didn’t want the dentistry side to encroach upon the experience of the art, but I also needed art space, architecture and soundscape to be a pleasant distraction for the patient base” states Dr. Fleming."

“Services in this area were sparse at the time of my arrival, yet more services are seeking space in this area to serve this creative community.  Admittedly, I was a bit shy about how I might be received…Uh oh, there goes the neighborhood.  If its hip or trendy enough for a dentist to move in, then it’s all downhill from here.” - J. Daniel Fleming

Check out www.dentistryart.com!

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