Review

Winding down 2009

Amy Lenharth, "Relequary," mixed media, 14" x 16" x 8", is part of "Relics," opening Saturday, December 19 at the Lawrence Percolator. Lenharth is an MFA candidate at the University of Kansas and holds two BFAs (ceramics and art history) from the Kansas City Art Institute (as well as a BS in agriculture from MU). She writes that themes of death permeate her work — as they have in her life in recent years. "Death has caused me to reflect on the multi-faceted aspects of close relationships, both the positive and negative memories. The objects I create become containers for these memories.. I take many of the natural objects that I find and make molds of them so that I can cast them in clay or metal. The process of casting allows me to make ‘ghosts’ of the original object which I can then alter and transform to create a new object. I combine the cast pieces with found objects that have an inherent history of their own. The assemblages play on the symbolism behind objects and their meaning in the myths of human culture as a way to explain the cycles of life and death. I am especially attracted to the contrast between nature made and human made objects. Many of my recent pieces juxtapose these symbols and even merge them, erasing the boundaries between these two states and raising questions for the viewer." Image and quoted text: courtesy of the artist

The end-of-year and holiday season means time for family and reflection … new art is still being presented, of course, and for many exhibitions, these last few weeks of December represent your final chance to see certain exhibitions (as a number of galleries take a break in the winter months). Read below for a selection of new shows and check the main calendar pages for holiday hours, continuing exhibitions (winter is a great time to check in on Kansas City's fabulous museums!) and some previews of what's to come in 2010.

The next two Fridays are national holidays, and for January 1, New Year's Day — a First Friday — galleries plan to be closed. The Crossroads galleries are planning January 8th openings (or will be open with continuing work), however, so January is looking good. Tonight is early "Final Friday" at OneVillage, and this weekend brings openings in Lawrence, Kansas, as well as some special shopping opportunities.

Thursday reception:

Images Art Gallery
7320 West 80th Street
Overland Park, Kansas
913-648-0364
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bess Duston
&
Barbara Stoll
&
Children's Peace Project murals from People to People International: Murals by children from 10+ countries, opening presentation of traveling exhibition
Opening reception: December 17, 6-9 p.m.
December 17, 2009 — January 15, 2010

Third Friday openings and receptions:

OneVillage a Community Church
5700 Nall Avenue
Overland Park, Kansas
Opening night and by appointment; please contact Andy Houltberg, 913-952-3974 or or Steve Brisendine, 646-708-6442

Doug Whitney, "Fire in the Sky at Mono Lake," is featured at this month's evening of art and music for a cause at OneVillage; join him and fellow artist Antonette Nicotera Friday evening, December 18. Image: courtesy of the artist

An Evening of Art and Music for a Cause
Antonette Nicotera
&
Doug Whitney
A portion of the proceeds from art sold is donated to non-profits of the artists' choice; drop by for an evening of art and live music
Early (for holidays) "Final Friday" opening reception: December 18, 6-10 p.m., with live music
December 18, 2009 — January 24, 2010

Friday-Saturday:

Dot Dot Dot Art Space
1910 Haskell Avenue
Lawrence, Kansas
785-766-2932 or 918-261-9451
Hours: Thursday & Friday 2-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

December 18, 4-8 p.m. & December 19-20, noon-6 p.m. Holiday Art and Gift Shop features affordable creations by local artists.
_____

ArtsTech
1522 Holmes Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-461-0201

Kansas City's Original Art Flea Market, Art Flea
Local artisans sell wares priced from $1 to $50 in a family environment, with free admission and parking (May-December)
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Last of season: December 19
_____

The Late Show
1600 Cherry Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-474-1300; 816-359-7174
Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., First Fridays until 10 p.m. and by appointment

December 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Holiday Hours price reductions on selected work

Kicking Santa's Ass: Annual Naughty Elves Show
group exhibition
Through December  30
_____

Pi Art Gallery
419 East 18th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-210-6534
Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

December 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Holiday Hours price reductions on selected work

Small Works
Group exhibition featuring John Davis Carroll, Mindy Goodman, David Goodrich, Larry McAnany, Jane Pronko, Nora Othic, James Woodfill and other artists in a variety of mediums and styles but all within the guidelines of 12" or smaller.
Through December 28
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Sykamore
8700 Norwood Drive
Leawood, Kansas

December 19, 2-6 p.m. Holiday Event, with original jewelry, scarves and handbags by Leslie Fraley and Jenn Urban

Sunday:

Van Go Mobile Arts
715 New Jersey Street
Lawrence, Kansas
785-842-3797

December 20, noon-7 p.m. LOLA Giant, a group exhibition and sale by LOLA (Ladies of Lawrence), with Van Go's JAMS youth artists, Adornment, along with a sale of handmade holiday products
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The Kansas City Museum
3218 Gladstone Boulevard
Kansas City, Missouri
816-483-8300
Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.

Members-Only Hard-Hat Tour
December 20, 3-4 p.m. Corinthian Hall, built in 1910 and designed by Henry F. Hoit, is undergoing extensive restoration. Friends of the Kansas City Museum can get an up-close and personal look at the progress and process through special tours (usually led by Museum Director Christopher Leitch). Learn about the historic Beaux Arts / revivalist mansion, see recovered original features and get a glimpse of future plans. More information is available about the museum, the collection and restoration (and membership) at the Friends of the Kansas City Museum site.

Monday:

The Bourgeois Pig
6 East 9th Street
Lawrence, Kansas
785-843-1001
Contact for art exhibitions: Molly Murphy at 785-979-2625

JC Cirese is a Lawrence, Kansas-based sculptor, photographer and musician (who is perhaps best known for his band, The Old Black). Monday, December 21 at the Bourgeois Pig is an opening for an exhibition of his shot-in-frame photographs, which show his documenting of "everything in his path, with a focus on light and color patterns that cross from organic to inorganic and back." Image and quoted text: courtesy of the curator, Molly Murphy, and the artist

Polar Eyes by JC Cirese
Opening reception: December 21, 7-9 p.m.
December 21, 2009 — January 16, 2010

Select continuing exhibitions:

Cara and Cabezas Contemporary
218 Delaware, Suite 208
Kansas City, Missouri
816-332-6239
Receptions, open house dates, and by appointment
Kansas City Limited Editions prints

The Voice That Reaches You II
work by Ernesto Bautista, Boris Ciudad Real, Jose Faus, Roxana Marroquin, and Alexia Miranda
Through January 31, 2010
_____

Kansas City Artists Coalition
201 Wyandotte Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri
816-421-5222
Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed December 20, 2009 through the New Year holiday, 2010

Mallin Gallery:
Thomas Swanson: Some of All Knowledge
paper, assemblage
&
Charno Gallery:
Piotr Chizinski: Livingroom Scale Project
photography
&
Underground:
Jessica Owings: Proximity
printmaking
Through January 18, 2010
_____

Unit 5 Gallery
1920 Wyandotte Avenue, #5
Kansas City, Missouri
816-841-5500
Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., First Fridays, 6-9 p.m., and by appointment

Women's Work
FABulous, FUNctional, WEARable art by 10 women artists: Meredith Host, Holly Stewart, Ginny Vineyard and Lizzie Drake, Genevieve Flynne, Scarlett Garnett, April Hernandez, Gabrielle Oppenheimer, Anne Lloyd du Pont, Sun Smith-Foret
Through December 19

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