Opening: Thursday, November 5, 6-9pm at Fecal Face Dot Gallery in San Francisco
Show Runs: November 5 – November 28

“Balancing forces of chaos, inclinations toward order, and the freedom to play, Megarealms is a dynamic equilibrium between tangibles and impossibilities. Operating in the space between principle fundamentals and measured restraint, Megarealms is at once architectural, sculptural, designed, and painterly. The interplay of color, form, scale, dimension, media and theme activates connections that redefine relationships and forge cohesion among seemingly disparate elements. Teetering on the edge of infinity, Megarealms bends the boundaries of perception, challenging supposed tensions between the everyday and the fantastical, the concrete and the abstract, function and form, restraint and inhibition.

“An artistic superstructure conjured from experiences of happiness, despair, solitude and impossibility, Megarealms is as much a work of narrative as it is an experience of its own. Marking a year since his debut solo exhibition, Megarealms is first in an installment of ten exhibitions to be created over the next ten years by artist Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch.”

posted by: Brent Carter

On November 3, Brooklyn’s Yeasayer will reemerge with “Ambling Alp,” the first single off their sophomore record ODD BLOOD (due February 2010 on Secretly Canadian). This is the first recording since Yeasayer’s contribution “Tightrope” to the Dark Was The Night benefit compilation and their critically acclaimed debut LP All Hour Cymbals (November 2007). The single will be released digitally and on a limited 12″ vinyl, packaged in a space-age-colored metallic sleeve that also feature remixes by Memory Tapes and DJ /rupture.

If you can’t wait until November 3 for your copy or you’re flat broke, you can download a free copy of “Ambling Amp” here

You can also catch Yeasayer playing some of their new material at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX.

posted by: Harold Johns III

There was a time, not long ago, when getting caught reading, watching, or having a remote interest in anything vampire related relegated you to the lowest, dorkiest rung on the ladder. This was before the Twilight series was a gleam in Stephanie Meyer’s eyes, back when the Vampire Diaries was a series of books read by nerds in their bedroom closets, back when Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise was the hottest thing in fangs. Needless to say, vampire tales weren’t as widespread as they are today.

What follows is a list of four books and one TV show I discovered way back when I was a frustrated vampire lover, desperately hungry for anything undead. These little bits of fangtastic delights are mostly lurking in the shadows of the vampire realm, still undiscovered by all but the most obsessive vampire fans – although they’ve been around since before Robert Pattinson could even read grownup books. In any case, each of these tales have put a stake in a special place in my heart, I hope you enjoy!

Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
I was a teenager when I found this one, and the story of the little half-breed vampire Nothing trying to make his way in small town Missing Mile, North Carolina really sunk its teeth into my imagination. After reading the gruesome, exhilarating, and terribly attractive adventures of Nothing after finally meeting some of his kind and heading to New Orleans, I was tempted to run away and change my name to Nothing too. Ah, what might have been.

Obsession and Possession by Lori Herter
Yes, these are pretty much straight up romance novels. But lets not kid ourselves, most vampire tales have more than a little touch of bodice ripping melodrama. And at least they’re up front about what you’re getting, “A night of passion . . . an eternity of unquenchable desire.” They are for the vampire lovers who, in the immortal words of Toby Keith, want “A little less talk and a lot more action.” Stick a stake in me, I’m done!

The Need by Andrew Neiderman
Tired of the usual…vampire meets girl, vampire struggles over whether or not to suck girls blood/make her like him, vampire and girl fall in love, vampire fights his kind/his brother/himself… story? Then this one’s for you. We’ve got vampires that feed off human essence – sort of, but not exactly like the Skeksis from The Dark Crystal.  Oh yeah, they also begin to change sex when they hit puberty.

The Vampire Odyssey by Scott Ciencin
Here’s another story of a half-breed vampire, raised by a human mother who – surprise – happens to be a police officer! Hijinks ensue as Dani (the vamp) and Sam (her mom cop) move to big bad Hollywood where anything can happen – especially to a shy, confused vampling with self-esteem problems. I don’t want to give away too much, but there’s enough of everything – from sex, to violence, to mystery, and (of course) drama – in this ripping story of the rich, famous, the undead and the forces who fight to save us all.

Forever Knight created by Barney Cohen and James D. Parriott
This is one of the original vampire TV series, starring Geraint Wyn Davies as Detective Nick Knight. Now, this night beat cop is – as you may have guessed – not your normal cop. No, he’s an 800 year old vampire trying to atone for almost a millennium of sins by working the mean streets of modern day Toronto. Too bad he can’t stay off the blood. This show, which ran on CBS as part of their “Crimetime after Primetime” lineup in the early nineties, contains plenty of awesomely horrible special effects.

So if you’re feeling like a good long suck, check out some of these lovely works of vampire fun. They’ll never grow old and stale, but you better hurry before Stephanie Meyer or the CW get their hands on them!

by: Meghan Bainum

Come meet the Ministry of Sculpture, KU’s student sculpture club and watch a live iron casting demonstration at the Halloween Iron Pour. This Saturday, October 31, for a material fee of $10 you can design your own iron tile to be poured in the afternoon. Fire and fun!

Location:
9th and Rhode Island in Lawrence, KS

Time:
Tile mold sale 9am – 1pm
Furnaces turned on at 2pm and molten metal ready at 3pm
Depending on the amount of molds to pour, iron will be cast for 30 to 90 minutes

posted by: Tricia Rock

About the group:
“Lunar Tide was originated in fall 2008 by a group of like-minded musicians and artists with the intention to present and facilitate new art in the Lawrence community. Now with two events under our collective belts (the Lunar Gatherings) we are more than ready to continue our mission.”

About the event:
Lunar Gathering III will take place this Friday, October 30 in the Eagle’s Lodge ballroom (1803 W 6th Street in Lawrence, KS). The theme of this costume party is Moon Spirits vs Harvest Monsters. Acts include: 1,000,000 Light Years, Tin Horn Molly, Owl People, ET&T, Mid/Nite/Love/Lites, Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, short films, acoustic and poetry stage, and art by Fresh Produce Art Collective and Asteroid Head Art Club. Cheap door ($3) and cheap drinks.

posted by: Tricia Rock

This Friday, October 30 from 6-9pm King-Cat Comics and Drawn & Quarterly present John Procellino on the Road at Wonder Fair Art Gallery (803 Massachusetts in Lawrence, KS). The event will include a slide show, book signing and conversation celebrating 20 years of King Cat Comics and the release of Porcellino’s new collection Map of My Heart.

From the gallery:
“John Porcellino was born in Chicago, in 1968, and has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years.

“His celebrated self-published series King-Cat Comics, begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists. Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, a collection of King-Cat stories about Porcellino’s experiences as a pest control worker, won an Ignatz Award in 2005, and Perfect Example, first published in 2000, chronicles his struggles with depression as a teenager. King-Cat Classix, published in 2007, is a comprehensive overview of the zine’s first fifty issues, and Thoreau at Walden is a poetic expression of the great philosopher’s experience and ideals.

“According to cartoonist Chris Ware, ‘John Porcellino’s comics distill, in just a few lines and words, the feeling of simply being alive.’”

posted by: Tricia Rock