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THIS IS NOT ABOUT ART(0)
May 6, 2011 —
Janell Meador attended the preview party May 5 and brings us a quick preview of the vision behind “America: Now and Here,” a project several years in the making by New York-based artist Eric Fischl. Launching in Kansas City and destined for a multi-city tour over the next 20-plus months, “AN&H” aims to address what Fischl has called America’s terrible identity crisis. Using artwork from many mediums (visual, theatrical, poetic, dramatic, and film) as a way to engage us all in a dialogue with our community-at-large, “AN&H” invites participation.
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BROKE GOVERNMENT: FUNDRED RUN DRY?
With the US government wrestling with unprecedented trade deficits and national debt, even to the point where items like the EPA’s funding for emissions regulation has been on the chopping block, what chance does an art project have? Last year, Mel Chin’s “Fundred Dollar Bill Project” came through our region asking for us to help add to the three million-participant goal. The art-capital is to be exchanged for real money to clean up lead-polluted soil in New Orleans … eventually. So how is the participation going?
THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
The positive economic impact of the arts is felt in every state; in Kansas, where the arts generate 4,600 jobs and $9 million in state taxes, Gov. Sam Brownback has issued an executive order to abolish the Kansas Arts Commission and let the work be handled by a new non-profit organization — but any such new entity is locked out from NEA and other funding, and Kansans are rallying Thursday at the capitol to try to change the wave that is heading their way.
CAN ‘OUR TOWN’ BE KANSAS CITY?
Kansas City receives a treat when National Endowment for the Arts Chair Rocco Landesman visits, shares grant tips, and provides plenty of advice while laying out goals for advocacy.
THE JOUVELT AFFAIR
Success in contemporary art is largely about marketing — personality, “buzz-factor,” and strategy — and one artist recently pushed the boundaries of the Lawrence, Kansas, art scene when his multi-gallery exhibition surprised curators who each thought they would be showing originals of his work exclusively. JOUVELT’s Final Friday experiment raises questions about contracts, ethics, and the options artists in today’s market have for engineering success.
WE WERE SYNAESTHETIC!
The “We Are Synaesthetic” event, July 16, 2010, was a great success! With 16 artists and three bands, Review Publishing and Midwest Music Foundation managed to pull off a show that benefited both organizations and provided an evening of great art and entertainment for those in attendance. Whether or not you missed the event, please read on to see images of artists’ works and from the event itself.
CREATIVITY FROM THE CUBE IN ITS 4TH YEAR
The 4th annual “Art/Work: Creativity from the Cube” corporate arts festival is this week, kicking off with a visual arts reception August 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Union Station, where winning work selected through arts competitions at 26 participating companies is on display through August 9 (visual and literary). The Performing Arts Showcase and “Best in Show” awards presentation is First Friday, August 6 at 7 p.m. at Copaken Stage.
DESIGNS ON DISPLAY
Local and national fashion designers show their diverse collections at the West 18th Street Fashion Show on June 12. Read about the 10th annual event, browse a slide-show of featured designs, and weigh in on the state of fashion in Kansas City.
A “FAIR” REPORT
Bigger is not always better, and “Artropolis” in Chicago earlier this month provided some proof that the Midwest is an art frontier with a rising profile on the national and international scene. Kansas City artists, galleries, and curators featured there included Cara and Cabezas Contemporary, Jan Schall, Barry Anderson, and Andrzej Zielinski.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill Project addresses the appropriation and alteration of currency imagery not only for art education, but to highlight social injustice. This national project is large and ambitious in its scale, as well as its scope. It is all at once about environmental health, lead awareness, social conscience, collaboration, and the creation of community.
BATIKS OF FAME
The batik collection of President Barack Obama’s mother, the late Ann Dunham, is on display at the Regnier Center at Johnson County Community College through the end of the week as part of a national tour. Learn more at a free lecture there on Tuesday, March 9, at 3:30 p.m.
CHARLOTTE STREET FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2010 ARTIST AWARD WINNERS
The 2010 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Arts Awards Fellows were announced January 27; congratulations to Ari Fish, Sonié Ruffin and Caleb Taylor. The annual award for Kansas City artists is in its 13th year. Always an unrestricted grant and currently worth $10,000, the CSF Visual Artist Awards has provided $487,000 in grants to date.
IMAGES FOURTH FRIDAY PREVIEW
Mel Chin is in Lawrence, Kansas, January 22 and 23 at the Lawrence Art Center, and Signs of Life in Lawrence is opening a new exhibition, January 22, too. See a few images of what to expect there and in Wichita.
THIRD FRIDAY IMAGES PREVIEW
Third Friday is really a whole week’s worth of daily visual arts exhibition openings, events and closings. Take a look at some of what is offered January 14 through 20.
IMAGES SECOND FRIDAY PREVIEW
Art is better in person, but here’s a preview to get you motivated to get out for Second Friday.