Review

Downtown time!

Third Friday is Kansas City's downtown venues' opening night — ArtsKC, Paragraph/Urban Culture Project Space, Trap and a new exhibition at BNIM —  as well as in Johnson County, Kansas, and Electromediascope at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Saturday is the 120th anniversary gala for the Kansas City Art Institute, featuring a performance by Nick Cave (learn more here), and throughout the coming week are the usual round of free, educational lectures concerning contemporary visual art.

Finally, this weekend (Friday-Sunday) provides your free chance (unless you're already a member who naturally enjoys the privilege all the time) to see Magnificent Gifts for the 75th; this capstone exhibition of 120 of the 400 generous gifts and promised gifts made in honor of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's anniversary is on view through April 11.

Thursday, February 18 (from last week's calendar digest):

February 18, 11:30 a.m. Learn to Teach: Community Arts Early Childhood Development, with Angie Beck and Ann Kavanaugh. Part of a larger course at the Kansas City Art Institute (in which each student will design, plan, and teach a short workshop at the Southeast Community Center in Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri), this lecture series is open to all with the overall goal is of teaching artists how to be excellent teachers in a community setting. These Thursday sessions are open to the public, so all artists are encouraged to learn about sharing their talents with the community at large. More information about the course's instructors is posted the week of their lectures here on the KCAI site.
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February 18, noon Artist Lecture Magda Gluszek discusses her work in Playful Things. examining the role of female identity in contemporary art, an exhibition also featuring Sarah Knobel, Sharon Shapiro and Christina Vantzou, on view through February 19 at Gallery of Art & Design at the University of Central Missouri, where (February 18, 8-10:45 a.m., 1:45-3:45 p.m., 5:30-8:15 p.m. and February 19, 8 a.m.-noon) Magda Gluszek presents a ceramics workshop. The two-day workshop will focus on her step-by-step process in creating her haunting yet playful, figurative work. Building her pieces solid and hollowing them out, the first day's workshop demonstrates her process from early sketches and plans to building armatures out of newspaper, brinks, and wood, and on the second day, she will demonstrate her hollowing technique, the firing process of delicate work and surface treatments. The workshop is being held in the art annex ceramics studio near the gallery.
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February 18, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Third Thursdays Visiting Artists Presentations with Elijah Gowin and Marcie Miller Gross; free and held in Hudson Auditorium (no reservations are necessary) at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College.
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February 18, 6-8 p.m. The Gallery-Artist Relationship "Did you know that many states have a law specifically for art consignment? Whether you are an artist or are showing an artists' work on consignment, know what your legal rights and obligations are. Avoid common pitfalls and be prepared to understand and negotiate your next consignment agreement." Presented in cooperation with Kaw Valley Arts & Humanities, Inc., as an ArtSmarts Workship by the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. (RSVP required; $10 for non-members).
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February 18, 7 p.m. Fatimah Tuggar (’92 sculpture) is a multidisciplinary artist who uses technology as both a medium and a subject in her work to serve as a metaphor for power dynamics. She combines objects, images and sounds from diverse cultures, geographies and histories to comment on how media and technology diversely impact local and global realities. Her work has been widely exhibited at international venues in more than 20 countries on five continents. Part of the Current Perspectives Lecture Series at the Kansas City Art Institute .

Friday events and openings:

75th Street Gallery
3500 West 75th Street, Suite 210
Prairie Village, Kansas
816-805-3518
Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. and by appointment

UNHINDERED: A Steady Unbroken Expression
Featuring Lauren Davis, Mira Mickler Moss, Gary Ozias, William Rose, Jerry Stogsdill, Debbie Wagner, and Michael Walsh.
Opening reception: February 25, 4-7 p.m.
February 25 — May 6
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Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
906 Grand Avenue 10th Floor
Kansas City, Missouri
816-994-9226
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; please call ahead to 816-221-1777 to check viewing availability of Now Showing

February 19, 5-7 p.m. Now Showing Reception Aaron Dougherty's photographs of architecture are well known, but he shares from his Junk Yard series, which had a showing at Plenum Space last year. Please RSVP (*required) with name, phone number, e-mail and number of guests by e-mail to Sarah Vogt. Metered street parking is in the vicinity, and valet parking in the UMB Bank garage just south of the ArtsKC building's entrance is available for regular rates.
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BNIM
106 West 14th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-783-1500
Site of the architecture firm's 10 streetfront display windows that "provide opportunities for the public to connect with the arts and enliven the streets of the urban core."

Recent  Works
by Clare Doveton
Opening reception: February 19, 5-8 p.m.
February 19 — March 26
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Eva Reynolds Fine Arts, Inc. I
4851 West 134th Street
Leawood, Kansas
913-681-8002
Tuesday-Thursday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and Friday & Sunday by appointment; see other locations at SOHO 119 in Leawood and at the Sheraton on the Country Club Plaza

Janet Kuemmerlein
Johnson County Canvas Art Crawl: February 19, 5-9 p.m. and February 20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
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The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-751-1278
Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; admission to main building and Bloch Building are free, though some exibitions require paid tickets; parking is free for members and $5 to the general public, in the underground garage, entrance on west side of museum; the museum's calendar has more events than are listed here

Electromediascope Experimental Film, Video and New Media Series
Spring series: Shifting Frames of Reference; all showings are in the Atkins Auditorium and are free, but ticket reservations are strongly encouraged: call 816-751-ART (press for Option 2) or go online to the museum's calendar and click the day of the event desired.

February 19, 7-9 p.m. Ernie Gehr’s Precarious Garden and Lu Chunsheng’s The Curve Which Can Cough, The Square Loaded with Nuclear Power is Going to America, History of Chemistry 1, and The First Man Who Bought a Juicer Bought It Not for Drinking Juice.
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The Rice Gallery of Fine Art
11535 Ash Street
(north of 117th and Nall)
Leawood, Kansas
913-685-8889
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and by appointment

Group Exhibition
JCADA
Third Friday opening reception with the artists: February 19, 5-9 p.m.
Festivities continue: February 20, 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
February 19 – March 31
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Paragraph
23 East 12th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-221-5115
Thursday & Saturday, noon-5 p.m., opening Fridays, 6-9 p.m.

Cumulus
&
Cumulus II
An Urban Culture Project Studio Residency Program Focus Exhibition
Live performances, collaborative activities and evolving installations; read full release here.
Third Friday reception with second set of projects: February 19, 2010, 6-9 p.m.
January 15 — March 4
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SOHO 119
One Nineteen Center
4419 West 119th Street
Leawood, Kansas
913-338-5800

Eva Reynolds Fine Art at SOHO 119
Rachel and Ellie Kort
Johnson County Canvas Art Crawl: February 19, 5-9 p.m. and February 20, 10 a.m. 6 p.m.
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The Trap Gallery
525 Gillis Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri
816-510-6557
Third Fridays, 6-9 p.m. and by appointment

KC Help Haiti
Art Show and Silent Auction sponsored by Beware All Stylebiters Crew. All proceeds benefit Doctors Without Borders and The Lambi Fund.
Third Friday reception and auction: February 19, 6-10 p.m., with live DJs, snacks, Boulevard beer and good vibes
February 19 — March 14
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Urban Culture Project Space
21 East 12th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-221-5115
Thursday & Saturday, noon-5 p.m., opening Fridays, 6-9 p.m.

Sofa Kingdom in the Valley of Comic Sans
Installation by Charlie Mylie and Tim Amundson; more information here from the Charlotte Street Foundation (including images)
Third Friday opening: February 19, 6-9 p.m.
February 19 — March 6

Through next Thursday:

Kansas City Art Institute
4415 Warwick Boulevard
Kansas City, Missouri
Usual events contact: 816-802-3423

February 24, 11 a.m.-noon African-American Quilts Author of Signs and Symbols: African Images in African-American Quilts and the Dorothy and Dale Thompson/Missouri Endowed Professor of Global Arts at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Dr. Maude S. Wahlman presents a lecture in the KCAI fiber building, 4427 Walnut Street. For more information, contact Geri Sanders at 816-802-3435.

February 25, 11:30 a.m. Learn to Teach: Community Arts Part of a larger course at KCAI (in which each student will design, plan, and teach a short workshop at the Southeast Community Center in Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri), this lecture series is open to all with the overall goal is of teaching artists how to be excellent teachers in a community setting. These Thursday sessions are open to the public, so all artists are encouraged to learn about sharing their talents with the community at large. More information about the course's instructors is posted the week of their lectures here on the KCAI site. All lectures are free and take place on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. in the Epperson Auditorium of Vanderslice Hall on the KCAI campus. Funded by a KCAI Outstanding Project Award and an ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Grant. February 25th topic: Teens and at-risk populations, with Hugh Merrill and Staci Pratt.

Current Perspectives Lecture Series
In honor of the college’s 125th anniversary, most of the speakers selected for the spring 2010 series are alumni of KCAI. Unless otherwise noted, all lectures are free and will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in Epperson Auditorium in Vanderslice Hall, 4415 Warwick Boulevard.

February 25, 7 p.m. Jerry Eisterhold (’72 design) is president of Eisterhold Associates Inc., a nationally recognized exhibit design firm that specializes in museum design. Past projects include the National Civil Rights Museum, Little League Baseball Museum, Rosa Parks Museum, Walt Disney’s Boyhood Home, Truman Presidential Museum and Universal Studios/Jurassic Park. More recent projects include the International Civil Rights Center and Museum and the National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in Lake Charles, La.
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Fishtank Performance Studio
1715 Wyandotte Street
Kansas City, Missouri

February 24, 8-10 p.m. Audience as Performance Kansas Citians are invited to share the stage with three local artists who will engage the audience in an array of performances and actions that rescue the audience from being passive viewers to participants in the performances themselves. Three performers (including organizer Paul Shortt with Cory Imig, Marty Honig and William Howell) will initiate and organize the audience into various performances, some using a script and others not. Part of Paul Shortt Invitational Performances, held on the final Wednesday of each month.

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JP Wine Bar & Coffee House
1526 Walnut Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-842-2660
Monday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.; open First Fridays and hosts artwork

Patrick Andrew Adams
photography
Opening reception: February 23, 5-8 p.m., by Guerilla Catering
February 5 — March 4
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The Kansas City Public Library — Central
14 West 10th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-701-3400
Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; free parking is available in the Library District Parking Garage at 10th and Baltimore (limited hours)

Pitty Patt(rn)
Garry Noland and Cory Imig; curated by Sean Kelley
Opening: February 21, 1 p.m. More information from the library here.
February 21 — March 28
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The Kansas City Museum
at Corinthian Hall, celebrating 100 years in 2010
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.

February 23, 6 p.m. Community Curator Program Historians and history educators share perspectives on artifacts they choose from the Museum collection, providing fresh insight about artifacts and collections of Kansas City Museum and Union Station, usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month and including presentation of actual artifacts. A principal of el dorado architects, David Dowell speaks about the Beaux Arts splendor of Corinthian Hall, using architectural drawings and decorations. See the 1910 home through the eyes of a contemporary professional. Lectures are free to the public and held in Union Station's Town Hall, 30 West Pershing Road.

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Mariscos
West 6th Street & Wakarusa Drive
Lawrence, Kansas
785-312-9057

The Birds and the Bees
Featuring works by Fresh Produce artist collective
Opening reception: February 22, 6-9 p.m.
February 22 — April 22
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The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-751-1278
Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; admission to main building and Bloch Building are free, though some exibitions require paid tickets; parking is free for members and $5 to the general public, in the underground garage, entrance on west side of museum; the museum's calendar has more events than are listed here

February 25, 6 p.m. Photography Society Lecture: Abelardo Morell speaks about his career and life-work, which includes a well-known series of camera obscura images; tickets to this free event held in the Atkins Auditorium may be obtained by calling 816-751-ART or at the museum's site.

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Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Johnson County Community College
12345 College Boulevard
Overland Park, Kansas
913-469-3000
Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m. (Usually closed on school holidays.)

February 25, 6-8 p.m. Reception for Peregrine Honig's Widow The Kansas City artist's third collaboration with Landfall Press, Widow presents curated photographs, images, ideas and music by 18 artists that explore the "complexities of fashion culture and beauty" in a limited edition full-color publication. Join the museum for a free, public reception with live music and refreshments. More information from the Museum is here.

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Spencer Museum of Art
The University of Kansas
1301 Mississippi Street
785-864-4710
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday until 8 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Electronic Media Gallery:
Mobile Landscape
site-specific video installation by Seoul-based artist Kim Jongku, created as part of a two-week residency funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation
Opening reception and artist's talk: February 25, 6 p.m.
February 25 — July 25

New Book of Mountains and Seas (2005-2009)
two-part video by Shanghai-based artist Qiu Anxiong
February 20 — May 30
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Thornhill Art Gallery
by Dallavis Center, Avila University
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, Missouri
816-501-2443
Open Tuesday-Friday, noon-3 p.m. and by appointment

High School Invitational
Closing reception: February 28, 2-4 p.m.
February 21 — 28
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UMKC Gallery of Art
The Department of Art and Art History
203 Fine Arts Building, University of Missouri - Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, Missouri
816-235-1501
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Domestic Discomforts: Work by Jennifer Boe, Leo Esquivel and Meredith Host
Opening reception: February 25, 5-8 p.m., with artists' talk at 6 p.m.
February 23 — March 27

Continuing:

la Esquina
1000 West 25th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-221-5115
Thursday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m., openings and by appointment; closed December 24-January 2, except by appointment

Spooky Dog, A Scooby-Doo-Like Mystery (Plagiarized, Improvised, Not for Kiddies!) A Coterie At Night production, with UMKC Theatre collaboration, directed by Ron Megee (CSF Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow). "Uncover the hilarious secret subtext of your favorite cartoon in this uproarious and campy take on the adventures of a dog detective named Spooky, his spaced-out hippie friend, and their gang. The teen-age mystery gang confronts criminals, but what do they do about their own burgeoning sexual desires? Or those tasty dog treats with unexpected side effects? Or the penchant they suddenly have for busting a move? Improv and audience participation included! This Coterie At Night production is PG-13: language and sexual innuendo. Under 13 not admitted." Tickets for the regular production are $12 ($10 each for groups of 10 or more, advance purchase only) and can be obtained through Coterie Theatre online or by calling 816-474-6552. More information here.
Regular production run: February 11-14, 7 p.m.; February 18-21, 7 p.m. (with additional 9 p.m. shows February 19 & 20); February 24-28, 7 p.m. (with additional 9 p.m. shows February 26 & 27); and March 3-7, 7 p.m. (with additional 9 p.m. shows March 5 & 6)

Future Friday hints:

H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute
16 East 43rd Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-561-5563
Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment

February 26, noon T.N.T. The Noon Thing Kim Jongku discuss his work in a conversation with H&R Block Artspace Director Raechell Smith and Spencer Curator of Asian Art Kris Imants Ercums. The Seoul-based artist's site-specific video installation Mobile Landscape opens February 25 at the Spencer Museum of Art's Electronic Media Gallery (at KU in Lawrence, Kansas) and is on view through June 25.
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Kemper in the Crossroads
33 West 19th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
816-753-5784
Friday, noon-8 p.m., Saturday, noon-6 p.m.

Ian Davis: Faith in the Future
Fourth/Final Friday opening reception: February 26, 6-9 p.m., with the artist; open to all
Artist's talk: February 27, 2 p.m. Join Davis and museum curator Barbara O'Brien for a conversation in the gallery (free and open to all).
February 26 — June 9

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