Roadscapes: A Trip from Here to There: Opening Reception

"Autumn" by Karen Matheis

We went to the upscale opening reception for "Roadscapes: A Trip from Here to There" at Pachamamas last night.  Twenty paintings by Karen Matheis document Matheis’s daily commute on a stretch of K-10 Highway. The artist's statement says "The works on paper investigate the sparse terrain of Kansas landscape. Although consistent in its visual representation, daily views are in a constant state of fluctuation due to light, weather, and seasonal changes."

Here are a few party pics: 

Wayne at the opening reception

Ryan at the opening reception

Gravel Road by Karen Matheis

Roadscapes: A Trip from Here to There Tonight and Nerd Nite on Wednesday

Tonight is the opening reception for Roadscapes: A trip grom Here to There at Pachamamas.  The opening is from 6-8.  We'll be on hand taking party pics and generating hijinks.
Also, on Wednesday, Nerd Niters are encouraged to view the show before presentations begin.
Here is the Facebook Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/466296076772833/471851649550609/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

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Wednesday is Nerd Nite: Cults Clubs and Secret Signals
We are excited for this month's Nerd Nite, which will be Wednesday at Pachamamas.  Doors open at 7:00, presentations will start at 8:00.  Included with two other presentatiions is our own Courtney Shipley from the PBR Book Club fame, who will present No Coeprende! It's a Riddle: The mysterious Sounds of Numbers Stations. 

Nog from The Larryville Chronicles says "Between this month's Nerd Nite and whatever the fuck the Wonder Fair gang is doing with their Black Diamond project, LFK is starting to feel like one big secret society."
Here is the blog post from our friends at the Larryville Chronicles about Wednesday's Nerd Nite: http://larryvillechronicles.blogspot.com/2013/04/nerd-nite-16-preview-you-must-flash.html

Tree Portals: Looking out, Looking in

Tree Portals: Looking Out, Looking In  is an environmental piece by KU graduate student Denise Dipiazzo. We noticed this project when we were on a walk near the Spencer and saw several trees with tiny tags on them. Closer inspection reveal the tags have colored paper attached, and information about each tree.  

Nine trees are targeted for the piece, each having seven tags on them.  The trees sit between the Spencer Museum and the Art and Design  Building. Four portals  steer  participants in the correct path, creating a purposeful connection between trees as well as an exploratory path in Marvin Grove. 

The tags include information about specific tree species, but they also read like mini-poems. Some of the information is covered by colored paper.  Intentional bleeding of color has occurred on some tags. 

Detail of the project "Tree Portals"

Part of one tag reads "The Flower is Dioecious, light green to purple

both sexes lacking petals....."

Descriptions on trees

Artist's Statement about the project: 

My goal is to create multi-sensory sculptural environments 

that invite participants to daydream, wander and escape into the 

surrounding natural world as a respite to their daily routines.

Artist Denise Dipiazzo creating a portal

Tree located behind the Spencer Museum

Map of the Path of where the trees are

Photo of the artist

The Art Scene This Week

Last night, we were out and about in the Lawrence art scene.
First, we went to Fatso's for drawing.  The Thieves Guild hosted a special April Fool's Day theme.

There, we saw someone drawing figures on an album cover.  What would @BARR say?

Our next stop was Wonder Fair to check out their fifth year anniversary party.  There, we saw a Bach performance artist and other bands. Many in the crowd were wearing their "Secret Order of the Black Diamond" pins.

We also saw members of the PBR Book Club. 

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Mark your calendars: 
Tonight is the opening for two thesis shows at Art and Design 7-9 pm
Kyle Miller's "Boy" and Jared Falming's "Pasee Partout"
Here are the Facebook Invites: https://www.facebook.com/events/418830628210007/
https://www.facebook.com/events/373046242809555/

Wednesday: Elite 8, mARTch Madness:
1109 Gallery 5:00-9:00 pm
Come see the winners of the elite 8 in the NCAA-style tournament. Cowgirl Train Set will be playing at 7:30.
https://www.facebook.com/events/171677626321473/

Party Capers at Teller's

Becky Harpstrite

 “Party Capers” is the new show by Becky Harpstrite at Teller’s. Harpstrite's paintings depict actual, but bizarre, 1950’s party games. The paintings are fabulous, but so was the opening! The crowd at the opening reception stayed in character as they participated in some of the games that are in the paintings. In one game, a crowd watched as blind folded man “hunted” another blind folded man in the game “Bear Crawl. “

Crowd watching the party games in progress

Painting of "Bear Crawl" by Becky Harpstite

Photo of the artist

Top Four March Final Friday Picks

March Final Friday should be interesting, as it is in the middle of when KU time slot in the NCAA Tournament.  Some venues will open early.
Here are our top four picks for this month's Final Friday:

Wonder Fair: The Secret Order of the Black Diamond
803 1/2 Massachusetts 6-10pm

Wonder Fair has a mysterious Final Friday planned in conjuction with their Kickstarter project "The Secret Order of the Black Diamond."
Here is what Wonder Fair says about this project ""Following a series of clues left by the mysterious Black Diamonds, patrons may find themselves discovering new hobbies, magical places, learning new skills, or even stumbling upon hidden troves of art, all free for the taking. For indeed, there is art to be found and obtained from our Secret Order—but none of it will be kept within the walls of Wonder Fair…"

See Larryville Artists's full review for the show here:  http://larryvilleartists.blogspot.com/2013/03/undercover-investigation-what-is-order.html

See the Kickstarter video the The Secret order of the Black Diamond here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/858272521/the-secret-order-of-the-black-diamond-orientation

mARTch Madness 1109 Gallery
1109 Massachusetts Street

We stopped by this show earlier this week, and were very impressed with some of the art work. The concept is based on the NCAA Basketball Championship.  Starting with 64 artists, judges decide who goes forward to the next round. After Wednesdays' winners are announced, the field is narrowed to 32.  Friday night will unveil the top winners of the 32 remaining artists who will advance to the next round. All art entered will be shown on Final Friday.

See our review of this show here:http://larryvilleartists.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-scoop-on-martch-madness.html

Lawrence Arts Center Benefit Art Auction 2013
940 new Hampshire
Local artists have contributed to the annual art auction at the Arts Center. There is a wide variety of art to look at, and is worth checking out.
Included in this show is David Loewenstein's work (below)

Check out the art work online here: http://www.lawrenceartscenter.org/exhibition/

Andy Byers "Servants" at The Invisible Hand
846 Pennsylvannia

Andy Byers is collaborating with Hospital Ships for a project which is described as a "Multi-Part" art experience. This Final Friday exhibition will show production elements of a the project and the film itself.

Allie Wegren at Art and Design

Allie Wegren: Hidden Hands

Allie Wegren has her thesis show at the Art and Design Gallery this week. We have been anticipating this thesis show for months.  We visited Allie at her studio last September, and found her hard at work preparing for this textile installation.  The reception is Thursday, 5-7 pm in the Art and Design Gallery.

Preparation for the huge installation at Art and Design

Studio Visit with Allie

When we visited Allie, we found her studio is filled with textile related items such as thread, pieces of fabric, and dying materials.  Ideas for fabric integration were pinned to walls.  Each piece of the installation is a mini work in itself.

Here is the Facebook invite for this show: https://www.facebook.com/events/552970921401930/