PBR Book Club Tonight, Plus Arial Views

PBR Book Club meets tonight at the Tap Room.  We've been lazy hipsters and are cramming to finish our book.

Until then, we stumbled across patterns and designs that are really photos of arial views taken by pilot and photographer Alex McLean. 

Open Studios: Art and Artists

We enjoyed hanging out with TJ Tangpuz and looking at work at the Art and Design building for their yearly open house. We were impressed by the work we saw.   Here are some pics of some of our favorite works of art and some of the artists who made them.

Sculpture by Harley Ruszul

Weaving looms in the textile department

Intaglio print by Rachel Forrest (we know her from The Arts Center)

An assignment was to design a costume from the shoulders up.  Here is a piece by Sara Hall which is made of hair. 

Another costume design by Angela Christenson

Jenn Erwin ( Invisible Hand) is working hard in her studio

Work by textile student Allison Wegren.  Her work memorializes traditional materials and the hours that were required for these intense projects.  Future projects include installation pieces. 

Work by Sam Holloway, ceramics major.  Look for his work at the Crossroads next Friday. 

Pic of Sam with his piece

Painting by 5th year undergrad Jill Kilgore

Pic of Jill with her dad

Work by Brian Hawkins, 1st year MFA in printmaking. 

A scenester must have: Field Notes

"I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now." -quote from Field Notes website.

We love the scenester pocket notebooks from Field Notes.  Durable, rugged, hip, and made in the U.S.A. Each booklet is 48 pages.

Field Notes has a special edition called The National Crop.  These packs of six notebooks celebrate farmers and the six leading crops they grow: corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, cotton, and sorghum.  Each notebook is "chock full of information about them."  Each set includes a map and a logo patch to put on your denim jacket, bike bag, or overalls. 

Another edition by Field Notes is the American Tradesman which includes a 7 inch pencil, instructions for sharpening, and graph paper. 

You can get Field Notes at Wonderfair or order them through their website: http://fieldnotesbrand.com/

Final Friday for April: What to see

We looked at the Final Friday blog this month, and think that worthy destinations need sifting through. We’re surprised to see the store Lucky Paws, which will exhibit dog treats, is an actual listed venue.  When walking Downtown on Friday night, expect to trip over a child or two as three places will host children’s art.  

What to See:

1.       Atomic Photograph Opening 313 East 8^th Street: Specializing in pin-up photography, the studio is having their grand opening.  It is slightly off of Massachusetts, but we think worth the detour.  Here is the information Atomic Photography put on their Facebook page:
The party will feature retro cocktails,  swinging sounds of the sixties provided by DJ Modrey Hapburn, and pin –up art on display.  The pin-up prints feature the lovely cabaret troupe The Foxy by Proxy Revue.  Gallery showing is 6-9 in studio B.

2.       Ann Dean Photographs at Global Café  We know Ann as the photographer from the Arts Center.  Ann will show photographs from Cuba and the Yucatan.  

Pic of Ann Dean with husband RJ

3.       Catherine Reinhart: A Slice of Light: Invisible Hand 801 ½ Massachusetts.  Here is what The Invisible Hand's website says about Reinhart's work: 

The main piece in the exhibition is a fiber installation inspired by images of laundry hanging systems that Reinhart found in a book on the history of linen. The installation will feature hand-dyed cotton, linen and silk in monochromatic gradients of golden yellow.

A Slice of Light will also feature five small “shelf pieces,” which will act as displays for more of Reinhart’s hand-dyed fibers and fabrics. With layers of lively, warm-hued textiles stored in jars and glass cases, the shelf pieces radiate a comforting, somewhat domestic feeling. Along with a small number of prints, which Reinhart made by exposing fabrics to light, these pieces put focus on the artist’s techniques. While Reinhart’s past work has been highly conceptual,A Slice of Light finds her dwelling more on color and process.

4.       Homage to the Odd Duck WonderFair: 803 Massachusetts Street: Here is the information Wonderfair gives about the show: Wilson’s work ranges from pure graphite to mixed media works on paper, with colorful embroidery tattoos laid over and into precise pencil drawings. The humans and creatures inhabiting her images are at once terminally awkward and effortlessly comfortable with one another (imagine your summer family reunion, equal parts kinship and forced politeness). In attendance are family dogs, half-remembered houses, and fixed smiles that seem to have been lifted directly from the family photo album. Altogether, Wilson’s exhibition is a fond remembrance of an auspicious occasion, when a year of the horse was born into a family of rabbits.

5. Iain Ellis reading at the Raven Bookstore: via @larryvillelife.  Ellis will be reading from his book Brit's Wits Friday at 7:00.  Read an interview about Ellis by our friends at The Larryville Chronicles:
 http://www.larryvillechronicles.blogspot.com/2012/04/we-chat-with-local-rock-scholar-iain.html

Plans for studios for artists in Lawrence seem too good to be true

Dream studio space: studio of artists Ruben Toledo

East Lawrence is a hub for artists and musicians of Lawrence; the rent is cheaper than other places in Lawrence and it's close to Downtown.  East Lawrence leaders, like KT Walsh, are serious about keeping its historic and artisitc integrity.  East Lawrence groups have been vocal about blocking development that does not fit the East Lawrence vision of integration, and are successful in blocking projects. 


Currently, there are investors who have plans to create loft spaces in empty industrial buildings in East Lawrence.  These developers are probably aware that former projects such as these have been rejected by the city commission due to pressure from groups like The East Lawrence Neigborhood Association, so they are dangling a carrot in in front of us in the form of promises for artist studios, gallery, and sculpture park. Developers are gambling that art loving Lawrencians will not only back this plan, but give them monetary incentives. 


The developers are good at telling the public and artists exactly what we they want to hear, stroking art egos much like a modeling agency promising desperate teens a career if only they paid for lessons and photo sessions.  One developer, George Paley, is quoted as saying in the LJWorld "I’ve always had a vision of Lawrence becoming the Santa Fe of the Midwest."  LJW continues: "Paley is convinced the studio space, when coupled with the new Poehler apartments — most of which are rent-controlled because of the use of state tax credits — will attract artists and innovators from wide and far to locate in Lawrence." According to the LJWorld, another developer, Krsnich, states “It really has happened by accident, but now I’ll be surprised if this area doesn’t become known as Lawrence’s arts district”


We are skeptical of this plan. To know the Lawrence market is to know that most artists here are not selling enough work to justify rent for studio space on top of other expenses (for reasons including the economic collapse which affected all industry and a saturated market). The studio spaces would be too small for serious artists.  If people were to move into these spaces, who would they be, art enthusiasts?  Even if there was a plan for free studio and exhibition space for artists, such as the studio residencies awarded by an application process by The Charlotte Street Foundation in Kansas City, what non-paid panel in Lawrence would decide which artists would receive these?  Who would run the gallery and maintain the sculpture park?  Would these positions be funded through city taxes?

Toledo working in his New York studio

More on the plans: 
Here is more of the plan according to the Journal World article: One of the buildings will have a ground floor art gallery with an outdoor reception space, while small offices will occupy the second floor.
Next door, Paley is leading a group that includes several faculty members from Kansas University who hope to create a center for artists, scientists and technology innovators to collaborate on projects. Paley and his group have preliminarily secured an approximately 20,000-square-foot former T-shirt warehouse that is just south of Eighth and Pennsylvania streets. Plans are in the works to fill the building with studio space for artists and innovators.  
Krsnich said he "is working to secure about two acres of vacant property on the west side of Eighth and Pennsylvania streets to create an outdoor sculpture park and place for small outdoor concerts or arts events."

deKooning in his studio

Poehler Party
On May 5, Krsnich will host a "neighborhood party" where developers will try to wine and dine us to promote their plan.  It will be from 2-5 pm at the corner of Eighth and Pennsylvania streets.  It will include music from live bands, refreshments, and an opportunity to view progress on the project.  We'll keep you updated on which bands will play and if they serve beer that will meet the high standards of @larryvillelife.  
The LJWorld article can be read here: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/apr/21/bringing-vision-view/

The Story of Chickens closes and Pattern in cathedral ceilings.

Last night, "The Story of Chickens" project had their closing reception ( the show will be up for Final Friday for one last viewing).  We also stopped by Wonderfair 's Pizza Power where Rolph made pizza and South Bitch Diet had their tape release party.  Here are some pics from these events. 

 Beth at The Story of Chickens

Rolph at The Story of Chickens

TJ and Adam at The Story of Chickens

KT at The Story of Chickens

Craig of This is My Condition

At Wonderfair

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We came across these cool pictures. The patterns are photographs of  ceilings of European cathedrals.  A new book by photographer David Stephenson documents these patters in a photo series.  

The Story of Chickens Closing Reception Tonight and Line Drawings of Famous Subways

We have seen an empty chicken coop in various places downtown, but the travels of the chicken coop will end tonight at a reception at the Percolator.  The project, funded by a Rocket Grant Proposal, gained national attention and much controversy.

A pic of the traveling chicken coop

Here are the events planned:
Guest speakers will begin talking at 5pm
Potluck begins at 6:30pm

Guest speakers will share stories about their experiences with chickens. The stories range in topics from raising chickens for personal consumption, to researching the effects of factory farms, to advocating for animal abolition and vegan lifestyles.

Guest Speakers:
Parendie Birdie & Cassandra Smyers: Members of Compassion for All Animals
Hank will: Editor of GRIT Magazine and local farmer
Elizabeth Schultz: animal activist and Professor Emerita of English
Dr. Donald Stull: Ph.D., M.P.H., professor of anthropology and co-author of Slaughterhouse Blues
Judy Carman: animal activist and co-founder of Animal Outreach of Kansas

The best home brewed beer in town will be
served donated by Interstellar Galactic.

The Percolator is located in the alley behind the Arts Center.  

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Here is an interesting site via Mentalplex.  Line drawings of well known subways without labels are available in posters. 

More of these interesting designs can be seen here: 
http://designtaxi.com/news/352204/Your-Favorite-Subway-Systems-Now-In-Poster-Form/

Poetry installation

We stopped by to watch preparations for an ongoing poetry installation piece at the Lawrence Arts Center.  Tonight, there will be a poetry reading and band.

The Arts Center and the Lawrence Public Library are working together for many poetry opportunities including a community epic poem, graffiti boards, and poem mailbox.  

Here are pics from the poetry installation: 

Drawing one of our favorite models

Kent posing for a picture with artist Amber Hansen at Art and Design

Last night, we drew one of our favorite models, Kent.  Rodger Kent Van Dusseldorp (who usually goes by his middle name) is one of the area's most sought-after male figure models for photographers, painters and life drawers in the Lawrence and KC area.  He has modeled for high schoolers and professional artists. Entire shows have been devoted to work drawn or painted from his image, such as the show "Au Naturel" at the VALA Gallery in Mission, Kansas last July.

This summer, Kent will be the model for an anatomy drawing class at KU. In Lawrence, he poses for the Hobart Jackson group, KU,  and at the Lawrence Arts Center.

He has created a website for people interested in figure drawing.  The website includes upcoming shows, figure drawing groups, other models, and other info.  Check out the site at: http://www.enjoythemomentwithart.com/index.html or like this group on Facebook.

His personal website can be found here: http://www.kentartmodel.com/ A more complete interview with Kent can be found here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2014089656_nude01.html

Dr. Sketchy with Madame

                                                 

We had a great time drawing Madame at the latest Dr. Sketchy on Sunday.  Madame had amazing costumes and poses. 

Here are some pics from this session.