Iconic Christ Image: Why do we love it?

The "it" story of international art this week comes from Borja, Spain, where 80 year old Celia Jimenez took it upon herself to touch up a fresco by Elias Garcia Martinez of Christ wearing a crown of thorns in the Misericordia church.  The net has embraced the Jimenez image, and it is now an icon.  There is something very memorable about the Jimenez image.  

I think we love this image because it is so child-like and innocent. 
We will not be surprised if the Jimenez painting  lands itself in the prestigious Maryland's Museum of Bad Art someday soon. 

Fresco Before and After

On a crepe

Finding Creative Flow in EIght Easy Steps

Had enough excuses for not getting started with your creative project?  Here are eight strategies that Karen created to help her through her creative anxiety. She presented them last night at Nerd Nite.

1. Realize that you want flow. 

2.  Infinite choices can be paralyzing, stick to your goal. 

3. Clear your mind of chatter. 

4.  Create habits or rituals. 

5.  Do not overanalyze.  Never ask, "Why am I doing this?"

6.  Self deception is a good thing.  Athletes call this "Championship thinking."

7. Know there is a time limit on creative output. 

8. Do not regret the choices you have made.

Stay tuned.  Karen will expand on these ideas and the data to back them in upcoming blog posts!

Based on presentation of Karen Matheis from LFK Nerd Nite on August 8, 2012. 

Nerd Nite on Wednesday

Nerd Nite is this Wednesday.  Travis and his crew have put together what looks to be an interesting night of presentations of "Smarts and Crafts." We even love the poster for this event!

Of course, Nerd Nite always emphasizes the nerdy side of any topic. Admission is free.   Speakers start at 8:00, but get there early; seats tend to fill up at Pachamamas for Nerd Nites. 

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Today we think about Andy Warhol.  August 8 is his birthday!

Grave of Andy Warhol.  

Picks for Tuesday:PBR Book Club and Grace Chin at Teller's

Roberto Bolano, author of 2666

Tonight, the PBR Book Club will get out their boxing gloves as they duke it out over a discussion of their most recent book, Roberto Bolano's 2666.  Tall boys at Frank's will be on hand.

The PBR Book Club may have rival book club. Via Craigslist,  someone is seeking readers interested in Star Wars books, describing the mission as a "nerdy yet noble endeavor." 
See the post here: http://lawrence.craigslist.org/stp/3159019190.html

Check out the PBR Book Club which has next month's selection at its website here: http://pbrbookclub.blogspot.com/

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Grace Chin opens at Teller's:
Bildungsroman

Here is Grace's description: Normally a term used to describe coming-of-age literature, Chin’s Bildungsroman is a collection of water color monotype prints that find the artist turning her own situation into something more.
“It’s a little bit of autobiography, but it’s also examining narrative structure itself,” Chin says. “That’s something that’s always interested me — storytelling, and how you do that with images.”

Here is the Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/447066005324175/

Five good reasons to listen to audio books

Selection of MP3 audio books at the Lawrence Public Library

photo by William Ottens

More than ever before, we have options for how we can read books. When it comes to audio books, there is no middle ground;  people either love'em or they hate'em.  

The argument for audio books

1. Sometimes we actually get to hear authors read their own works, giving a window and insight into the author's intentions.   We can hear how poets perform their famous works, such as Allen GInsberg's Howl. 

2. Audio can force listeners to hear content they may have skipped over.  For instance, in Bolano's 2666, description of each and every brutal murder in Book Five is tediously read, whereas many readers may skim the details. 

3. We can hear how the reader sings songs in audio. In this audio recording of The Lord of the Rings series, Rob Inglis skillfully invents melodies to song of elves, Tom Bombadil, and others that many people skip over.  In Angela's Ashes, we hear Frank McCourt sing the obscure Irish songs from his youth. 

4. We can discover how to really say the names of Dostoyevsky's Russian characters. 

5. Access is easy with audio.  If you have an I-pod, you probably have access to an online store where you can immediately download your choice from a huge catalog of books.  According to William Ottens of the Lawrence Public Library, you can now download audio books from the State Library Site using these instructions: http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/books-more/ebooks-and-more/

Sunday: Tap Room Poetry Series Birthday and Lawrence Modern Gathering

To Do Today: 
Can you believe it? The Tap Room Poetry Series is having its first year anniversary. They will celebrate with a late afternoon Open Mic starting at 5:00. 
Check out the Tap Room's webpage here: http://taproompoetry.blogspot.com/
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Lawrence Moderns Gathering

The Lawrence Moderns is a group dedicated to mid-century ( 1945-1965) architecture in Lawrence.  They will be meeting today at 3:00 to discuss a home built in 1965.  Keith Herrin, KU professor of architecture, will also school Lawrencians on Lawrence modern architecture.
Read more about the Lawrence Moderns from a post we made in April here: http://larryvilleartists.blogspot.com/2012/04/lawrence-moderns.html
Check out their ultra modern website of the Lawrence Moderns here:http://lawrencemodern.com

Who was out for FInal Fridays Downtown?

 Linda in the middle of the Monica Vidal sculpture at the Arts Center

Who was out for Final Fridays last night? We have the pics.

 It was a big ceramics evening at the Arts Center. David Sturm from Bracker's was raku firing outside and Allen Chen exhibited his large thrown pots.
Wonderfair had some amazing print pieces, and The Replay Lounge featured the What Gives for their early show.


 Here are party pics from last night:

Allen Chen with his work

We will dearly miss Allen who will go to Ohio for his new job soon

 The ceramics guys at the Arts Center

 At the Arts Center

 At the Arts Center

 Hipster kids at the Percolator for the Dime Bag Show

 

 At the Percolator

Bret playing at the Replay

 At the Percoloator

 At the Percolator

 At the Pig

 At Wonderfair

In front of the Burger Stand