Munnys That Bring Happiness

Say hello to Munny. Munny  is a seven-inch, blank white, vinyl toy-figure with an over-sized head and movable joints made by KidRobot, a creator and retailer of limited edition toys. From September 30th to October 11th the Lawrence Arts Center will display 100 interpretations of the figure created by of some of the best artists  and designers working in Kansas including our friends Jouvelt, Yuri Zupancic, Eric Dobbins, Scott Starrett, b. d. eek, Gabriel Dorsey, and Scott Stewart. The showcase, entitled “Munnys That Bring Happiness”, will join together artists of all backgrounds and mediums through the use of the same 3-D canvas, which should yield some interesting results.

The strange little creature has been customizable since the limited edition toys exploded into pop culture in the early 2000s. Several respected artists have already left their mark on Munny including : Shepard Fairy (OBEY), Gary Baseman, Frank Kozik, Tara McPherson, Michael Sieben and designer Marc Jacobs. The Museum of Modern Art in New York added some of the figures to its permanent collection and the upper crust have even fought over them at Christie’s auction house. The highest price paid for a Munny is $20,000.

So in summary, toys are now art and the opening reception for “Munnys That Bring You Happiness” is Saturday October 4th from 7 to 9 pm in Lawrence, Kansas at the Lawrence Arts Center. See you there.

posted by: Harold Johns III

The Sour Babies Make Sweet Music

On September 20th The Sour Babies returned to The Brick in Kansas City to play their first show since a brief hiatus in China and The Rathaus was there to cover the event.

Despite the jet lag, The Sour Babies churned out a charming and energetic set of songs that ranged in style from the folk tinged indie rock of Neutral Milk Hotel to “Louiguy” inspired ballads. Backed by a drummer, keyboardist and bassist, the songwriting duo of singer/guitarist Brent Jamison and clarinetist/singer Danielle Perica used quirky arrangements to keep the crowd off balance but thoroughly entertained. “Momentary Boy” stood out as the strongest performance and may be the best illustration of the Sour Babies sound, which often includes Perica’s clarinet softly meandering between choruses that use a pop sensibility comparable to the work of Colin Meloy of the Decemberists.

The Sour Babies will be releasing their self-titled debut album soon and we will keep you posted. Click here for more of The Sour Babies.

photos by: Tricia Rock
posted by: Harold Johns III

Take Back the Night 2008 – Lawrence, KS

New Stencil from b. d. eek

Our friend and artist b. d. eek sent The Rathaus a recently completed stencil entitled “Peace/Blood” (spray paint on chipboard). We dig his work and are passing it on to you, the public. Enjoy!

posted by: Harold Johns III

Designis Personae

For designers out there unaware of Metropolis, this magazine is a must-read for those seeking monthly updates on highly relevant issues concerning architecture and design culture. The magazine aims to bring progressive and generally environmentally sensitive creations and ideas out of laboratories, studios and construction sites and into the public eye. As Metropolis itself puts it: “Subjects range from the sprawling urban environment to intimate living spaces to small objects of everyday use. In looking for why design happens in a certain way, Metropolis explores the economic, environmental, social, cultural, political, and technological context.”

Here is a fun Metropolis online article Designis Personae about student and faculty stereotypes, specifically in schools of architecture. These personalities types are, however, certainly encountered in every design related field. The Rathaus’ Designis Personae favorites for faculty and student, respectively, are:

THE BITTER-ENDER. This is the theory-head or other pan-flash ideologue unable to update his or her shtick, adopted a million years ago from some lapsing mentor or deceased guru. Begins all comments with “Peter used to say…” Some students are bedazzled. Most are unmoved. All who are not a close reflection of himself will be attacked. Those who are will get an unpaid internship on the spot.

THE LEAKER. The one who always loses it. He or she has been awake for three weeks. He or she has been totally misunderstood by his or her critic for six weeks. He or she has been dreaming things in his or her head that he or she is unable to draw on his or her piece of paper all of his or her immeasurably frustrating life. It’s not incompetence, but there are, shall we say, some issues with creativity. We see before us one half-scratched pencil drawing, one limp tissue-paper model, and a thousand perfect La Tourette monasteries locked inside. You’d cry too.