Nerd Nite 12, Biblio-Mat, and ARTiculate Open Mic

Nerd Nite 12
Nerd Nite 12 was a huge success.  One intriguing talk was Spit-Shining the Rust Belt: Transforming a Region from Smokestacks to Tech Startups. Steph Kozach talked about  beer and 3-D printing, but also about "Ruin Porn" (as in photos that capture the beauty of the decaying urban world). 

Ruin Porn Image Search from Smart Planet

Ruin Porn from Smart Planet

Read the re-cap for all three Nerd Nite 12 talks from our friends at Larryville Chronicles here: http://www.larryvillechronicles.blogspot.com/2012/12/nerd-nite-12-ruin-porn-and-more-weekend.html
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BIBLO-Mat
We often can't decide which book to read next.  So, we love the idea of a BIBLO-Mat, which is a random book dispenser created by Craig Small. 
See the short film about it here: http://vimeo.com/53679084

Here is the description from the website: When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion. The ring of an old telephone bell enhances the thrill when the customer’s mystery book is delivered with a satisfying clunk into the receptacle below.
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ARTiculate
7-9pm
Spoken Word Open Mic

There will be an Open Mic for spoken word tonight at the Lost Art Space and will include our buddies Jason Ryberg and Mark Hennessey.  The event is free.

Nerd Nite and Exploding Christmas Tree Ornaments

Nerd Nite: 8:00 Wednesday at Pachamamas
Can you believe that Nerd Nite is a year old?  We are gearing up for this Wednesday's Nerd Nite 12.  Alum Nite 12 will feature three past speakers that were voted favorites among the crowd.
Here are the presentations:

1) "The Sound of Thunder Over Headphones: Ray Bradbury and the Radio" by Justin Runge

2)  "Spit-Shining the Rust Belt: Transforming a Region from Smokestacks to Tech Startups" by Steph Kozak 

3)   "The origins of life: A quick biochemical history" by Bryan Smith

Want to see a past Nerd Nite online?  Nick has been filming!  
See Nerd Nite 9 Down Home, here: http://kumediamix.org/2012/09/19/nerd-nite-9-down-home/
or
Nerd Nite 11 Soviet Bloc Party: http://kumediamix.org/2012/11/29/nerd-nite-11-soviet-bloc-party/

And... we loved the delightful pic of Nerd Nite's Co-bosses Travis and Becky that were featured in the Journal World so much, we want to repost!

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Exploding Christmas Tree Ornaments: 

Photographer Alan Sailer works out of his garage shooting things with a high-speed pellet rifle and photographing the results using a homemade flash unit. An interesting series of photographs called The War Against Christmas.  Christmas tree ornaments are filled with various things and explode when shot. 

Filled with colored sand from a garage sale

Check out more images from The War Against Christmas here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8763834@N02/sets/72157622985260251/

Cotter Mitchell is Employee of the Month and a Website we Like

Cotter Mitchell is "Employe of the Month" at KU's Department of Visual Arts.  He was honored earlier this week with a celebration and cake.  As the man behind the Commons Shop, he has helped countless students and faculty with the patience of a saint.  Congratulations to Cotter for this well deserved honor.
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Frtiz Lang was born on this day in 1890.  Here is a photo from the making of Metropolis.

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 A website we like via Laura O is My Daguerrotype Boyfriend "Where early photography meets extreme hotness." and "Because having a crush on a living and breathing person is so mainstream."  It is strangely fascinating. People post images of real daguerrotypes, and explain why they feel the men in them are "hot."
Here is the website:
http://mydaguerreotypeboyfriend.tumblr.com/

Buying Art for the Holidays: Our Spectacula Shopping Guide

Looking for that special gift for that special someone? Want a cool gift that is in your price range? Or, do you have a person that is hard to shop for? Well, then, we have the perfect holiday shopping guide just for you.  Our list contains venues that have art created by Lawrence artists. 

1. Sip and Shop: Pachamama's Saturday 6-10 

If you like to booze up the holidays, especially while you shop,  then Sip and Shop is for you.  This event promotes shopping locally for holiday gifts, and includes artists such as Lesley Kay and Clinton Ricketts.  It's one stop shopping as The Invisible Hand and Wonder Fair will also be there. 

See the Facebook Events Page for all the artists included: https://www.facebook.com/events/181487095323146/182713691867153/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_mall_activity

from Microcosm Distribution via Wonderfair

Go Go's  by Jason Barr will be for sale at Sip and Shop

2. KU Ceramics Club

4th floor Kansas Union

9-5:30 Tues-Thursday of this week

We like to support the KU Ceramics Club.  Proceeds for the club help pay for conferences and other expenses for students.  The pieces are affordable too; we bought our bowl for $22.00. 

Ceramic ware from the KU Ceramics Club

Ceramic ware from the KU Ceramics Club

member of the KU Ceramics Club

member of the KU Ceramics Club

3. Dave Loewenstein Open Studio

December 22, noon-6pm

411 East 9th Street

If you have someone in mind who is politically minded? Then this is the stop for you.  Here is the description: 

Many items will be for sale including mural postcard sets, Kansas Murals books, stencil prints and more. Visitors can also bring an item (think car, clothing, suitcase, furniture) to have stenciled for just $10. Special this year will be the work of Ashley Jane Laird, who's recent prints and drawings take on the legislature's attempts to role back the rights of women.

Find more on his Facebook events page: https://www.facebook.com/events/503790736320787/?notif_t=plan_user_invited

4. Bob Gent's Glassworks Studio

1801 Barker Avenue

Bob's glassworks are amazing, and he says he has fresh new work for the holiday season.  Call ahead to arrange a time to stop by, but he is pretty much around, especially on the weekends.  331-7231

Here is his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BobGentGlassworks/photos_stream

Bob''s Christmas ornaments are $20.00 each

5. Wonder Fair Holiday Shop

If you are a lazy scenester who likes to shop while keeping pajamas on ( or just like to shop online) Wonder Fair has a holiday option for you.  Posters, zines, t-shirts, and prints are available online, and most are reasonably priced at around $30.00

Here is their website: http://wonderfair.bigcartel.com/

Also, check out wonder Fair's Snowy Mountain Holiday Showcase on December 14 from 6-9.  It sounds interesting.  Artists will create multiples from objects and things that are unusual.  Here is the description: 

The 2013 collection includes: a candy sculpture set, wooden puzzle, 7-color lithograph print, a bag with a question mark on it and anamorphic print with viewing tube. Each piece is expertly crafted using the highest quality materials, which have been sourced, designed, produced and/or created by Field Trip Publishing.

To see participating artists and read more, go to the Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/470147029695375/

Poster by Dustin Williams from 100 Ghost Stories

Thieves Guild Drawing Party Pics and new work at Pachamamas

Drawing at Fatsos

Last night,  the Thieves Guild hosted a great drawing session at Fatsos.  Chi Chi modeled in rabbit costume to holiday music. The Thieves plan on hosting a drawing session the first Monday of the month.  We'll keep you posted!

Here are the party pics: 

Thieves Guild members

Our wonderful model

Louis Copt making a terrific drawing

Laura instructing a friend on how to make gesture drawings

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Tonight: Moments in Time: Works on Paper by Eliza Bullock
Pachamamas from 6:00-8:00
Bullock's abstract work combines techniques of monotype, chine colle, collage, assemblage, drawing, and stitching .

Here is the Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/137049683111527/

KU Ceramics Club Holiday Sale and Giacometti's Drawings

Holiday art sales are all around us right now.  One of the ones that we like is by the KU Ceramics Club, who will have their annual holiday sale at the Kansas Union.  The sale starts on Tuesday, and runs though Friday on the 5th floor of the Kansas Union.  Hours are 9:00 until 5:30.
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drawing by Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti is known for his sculptures, but we also like his drawings.  He re-worked his lines over and over again, as if he were sculpting in plaster.  "When I make my drawings," Giacometti said "the path traced by my pencil on the sheet is, to some extent, analogous to the gestures of man groping his way in the darkness."
Watch Giacometti draw in this 1966 film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS0PzOwfmHo

Drawing at Fatso's on Monday and Lindsey Yankey at Wheatfields

Santa says "You'll shoot your eye out."  We don't know what that means, but a great figure drawing session will be at Fatso's on Monday.  Chi Chi, of Foxy by Proxy,  will model starting at 7:00.  The cost is a mere $5.00.  The group plans music and prizes.  It's for 21 and over, with $2.00 wells and bottles.  Bring drawing supplies.
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We were excited to see one of our favorite illustrators will be showing work at Wheatfield's.  Lindsey Yankey will have work up from December 3-February 3.  You might remember Yankey's work from the Banned Books Trading Card series.
 Check out her website at: http://lindseyyankey.com/home.html