Exhibit: Steven Kasher Gallery “Max’s Kansas City”

Exhibition: September 15 – October 9, 2010
Reception and book launch: September 15, 6-8pm

From the gallery:

Steven Kasher Gallery (521 W 23rd Street in NYC) is proud to inaugurate its 2010/11 season with the exhibition Max’s Kansas City, on view September 15th through October 9th. It will feature over 150 vintage and limited edition photographs, and monumental sculptures and paintings by the inner circle of Max’s artists, including John Chamberlain, Forrest Myers, Larry Zox, Neil Williams, and Andy Warhol. A highlight will be Myers’s recreation of his famous laser/jukebox installation.

The exhibition will launch Max’s Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll (Abrams Image, Sept 2010), a vibrant chronicle of the famed venue. The book will feature luminous photography by Bob Gruen, Anton Perich and others, and writing by Lou Reed, Lenny Kaye, Danny Fields, Lorraine O’Grady, and Steven Watson. It is edited by Steven Kasher.

There has never been a more exciting collision of art, music, and glamour than at Max’s Kansas City in the 1960s and 70s. At Max’s you could hang out with Andy Warhol, argue about art with John Chamberlain, or get a record deal just by showing up. Downstairs the artists were paying tabs with original art, upstairs was home to the iconoclastic New York music scene, featuring the Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and yet undiscovered stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Blondie, Iggy Pop, and Madonna. Max’s incubated more artists and musicians in New York’s 60s and 70s cultural heyday than any other scene.

“Max’s Kansas City was the exact spot where Pop Art and Pop Life came together in the 60s –teenyboppers and sculptors, rock stars and poets from St. Mark’s Place, Hollywood actors checking out what the underground actors were all about, boutique owner and models, modern dancers and go- go dancers—everybody went to Max’s and everything got homogenized there.” -Andy Warhol

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11-6 pm.

View more images from the show here.

Art Roundup: August 6, 2010 to August 13, 2010

Weekly roundup of the best art shows and art related events in and around the Lawrence/Kansas City area.

FRIDAY AUGUST 6

• Jeromy Morris: Masked Portraits
The Invisible Hand Gallery (801 1/2 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, August 6, 7-10pm
From the organizers: A series of masked, mixed media portrait paintings, with a hint of nostalgia, inspired by an early photographic process. www.jeromymorris.com

• Jeanette Powers: Self-Portrait as the Mad Hatter
Plenum Space (504 E 18th Street in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, August 6, 6-10pm
From the organizers: Jeanette Powers is a graduate physics student at the University of Kansas and a self-taught painter. Her expressionist paintings are imaginative and intense and have been collected for the last ten years throughout North America. She enjoys representing chaotic motion and fluid dynamics in her paint application, without losing the focus of the mind. Portraiture is the mainstay of her work thanks to her belief in the importance of friends and family. www.arttract.com/jeanettepowers.htm

• re:vision quest
The Slap & Tickle Gallery (504 E 18th Street in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, August 6, 6-9pm (Also open Saturday, August 7, 1-4pm)
This show features new paintings by Gryphon van der Hole. This quote directly from the artist’s statement for this show, “gay culture. queer aesthetic. kinky indulgences.”, is all we need to hear to peak our interest. We are not sure if the name Gryphon van der Hole and his photo on Myspace does the same or scares us away. www.myspace.com/gryphons_hole

• Molly Murphy: Spatial Constructions
BNIM Architects (106 W 14th Street in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, August 6, 5-7pm
From the organizers: Spatial Constrictions is an installation of paintings, drawings, text and human hair to be housed in the display windows of BNIM Architects. The show of multiple paneled works will span around the the block of 14th and Baltimore in the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri. www.mollymurphyartwork.com

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SATURDAY AUGUST 7

• I’M OK
Love Garden Sounds (822 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, August 7, 7pm (Ongoing until September 2nd)
New art quilts by artist Ha Johnson. Lawrence bands Strong Smells, Lite Loins, and Weird Wounds will perform starting at 7pm. Plus plenty of cookies to munch on. Yay!

• Get Your Pink On
Alcott Arts Center (180 S 18th Street in Kansas City, KS)
Saturday, August 7, 6-10pm
An art show fundraiser benefiting Passionately Pink for the Cure. This show includes art for sale, live music by Eu4ik (rock/heavy metal), a caricature artist, raffle and door prizes. Light food and beverages by Whole Foods, Tapatio Mexican Grill, and Boulevard Brewery. Admission is $5 children under 12 free.

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MONDAY AUGUST 9

• Dirty Business: “Clean Coal” and the Fight for Our Energy Future
Lawrence Arts Center (940 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence, KS)
Monday, August 9, 7-9pm
From the organizers (Films For Action): In the digital age, half our electricity still comes from coal. Dirty Business reveals the true social and environmental costs of coal power and tells the stories of innovators who are pointing the way to an alternative energy future. Free and open to the public.
Watch the Trailer: http://dirtybusinessthefilm.com/dirty-business-trailer

Art Roundup: July 23, 2010 to July 30, 2010

Weekly roundup of the best art shows and art related events in and around the Lawrence/Kansas City area.

FRIDAY JULY 23

• POP: A Group Exhibition
Lawrence Arts Center (940 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, July 23, 7-9pm (Ongoing until August 20th)
From the organizers: Taking inspiration from popular culture, artists use a variety of mediums to express their personal visions. This exhibit explores a range of approaches to art making, especially ideas of popular culture and its influences.  The use of found objects or recycled imagery which in their original context fit into the everyday are often used by artists to create a new conversation about current and past influences on culture.  The participating artists in this exhibition represent several generations, and, therefore, varying perspectives on popular culture interact in the gallery. Featuring art by Kendra Marable, Archie Gobber, Dan Anderson, Kristin Morland, Jaimie Warren, Alison Filley, Jeff Eaton, Jeremy Rockwell, Joelle Ford, and Ann Dean

• Unmask. Unearth: Discovering the Wetlands
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, July 23, 6pm
(The art is on view starting at 6pm with performances at 7pm on the 23rd and 24th)
From the organizers: The Lawrence Youth Ensemble will perform the play, which is about the Baker Wetlands. The play, performed and written by area teenagers, is a collaboration among several community agencies, including the Lawrence Youth Ensemble, the Percolator, and the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center. These performances are accompanied by a art show featuring Wetlands-inspired art.

• The Victor Continental Show
Liberty Hall (803 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, July 23, 9:30pm (With a second performance July 24th at 9:30pm)
From the organizers: The swinging sketch comedy of Victor Continental returns for another steamy summer affair! This local troupe of song and dance provocateurs skewer everything from foul-mouthed mimes to the state of the Lawrence economy in this awesome annual tradition.

SATURDAY JULY 24

• 1109 Gallery Members Show
1109 Gallery (1109 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, July 24, 7-9pm
From the organizers: The Lawrence Art Guild presents our once-a-year members show at 1109 Gallery.  This show is sure to be an eclectic mix of all mediums and a must-see for everyone!

SUNDAY JULY 25

• Nature Photography Exhibit
Mirth Cafe (745 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence, KS)
Sunday, July 25, All Day
From the organizers: Local photographer A. Scott McCauley will be showing a collection of his nature portfolio at Mirth. A preview of his work can be seen on his website AScottMcCauley.com where prints can also be purchased.

FRIDAY JULY 30

• Do You Need A Friend To Go With?
Wonder Fair: Art Gallery, Shoppe & Studio
(803 1/2 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, July 30, 7-10pm (Ongoing until August 22nd)
From the organizers: Christopher Bostwick is a graduate of the printmaking department at the Kansas City Art Institute. It was here that he developed his skills as a printmaker but also reaffirmed his penchant for drawing directly on paper.
Do You Need A Friend To Go With? features colored pencil and gouache drawings – some as large as 60” x 48”. These drawings take the form of a set or stage, the theatrics of which are always implied, the actors never shown. Bostwick sets the scenes, rife with absurd details culled from a culture of excess and Google image searches. He revels in humorous juxtapositions and complicitous pairings. His drawings become abandoned scenes full of misleading clues to the most banal of mysteries – the everyday.

posted by: Scott Stewart

Art Roundup: July 9, 2010 to July 15, 2010

Weekly roundup of the best art shows and art related events in and around the Lawrence/Kansas City area.

FRIDAY JULY 9

Sonic Youth – Sleeping Nights Awake (Documentary) Michael Albright

• SONIC ORPHANS: Lost Music Films 1965-87
Wonder Fair: Art Gallery, Shoppe & Studio
(803 1/2 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, July 9, 7-12pm
From the organizers: SONIC ORPHANS is a compilation reel of lost and found clips projected on 16mm, mostly silent, of some rare celluloid gems that have been seen by almost no one and have never seen the light of youtube. Most of this footage is truly orphaned film— abandoned, lost, found, and now presented raw without editing. The videos feature The Beatles, Avengers, Huns, Boy Problems, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, and Johnny Cash. The presentation includes a discussion of “orphan films” as they are called by archivists, a one-night photo exhibit & live local music by Kansas City’s LAZY. $5 at the door.

SATURDAY JULY 10

Wild West Film Festival 2010 Promo Video

• Wild West Film Festival
Liberty Hall (644 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, July 10, 7pm
From the organizers: The Wild West Film Fest is a 48-hour marathon film fest that anyone with a video camera can enter. We hope to raise money and awareness for a good cause while getting people excited about local film making. We provide a secret theme and you have 48 hours to create a working short film – no longer than 5 minutes. You provide us with the short films and we provide you with a great venue, judges and prizes for the winners! Proceeds from our ticket sales benefit local organizations such as Habitat For Humanity, Halo Foundation, and Children’s Mercy Hospital. The judges were blown away by the quality of films this year. Along with the typical gang of local judges, we also enjoyed the company of local comic book writer Jai Nitz. He has written several comics for D.C. and Marvel. He is currently working on Hollywood movie comic tie-ins, such as the upcoming Green Hornet. There will be a costume contest during the festival, the most heroic hero or vile villain will receive a cash prize and a DVD of the films. Tickets are only $7 for general public and $5 for students.
www.wildwestfilmfest.com

posted by: Scott Stewart

Art Roundup: July 2, 2010 to July 8, 2010

Weekly roundup of the best art shows and art related events in and around the Lawrence/Kansas City area. First Fridays in the KC Crossroads Arts District this week. Between the BBQ, beer and bottle-rockets check out some new art.

FRIDAY JULY 2

• Xx Chromosome
The Blue Gallery (118 Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, June 2, 6pm
A wide variety of styles focused on the subject of womanhood. Artwork created by this all female group featuring Shannon Gaines Bowman, Jennifer Walker, Jane Almirall, Jes Owings, Kelley Seda, Melinda Wallace and Sandi Devenny.

Speak Salon Studio

• Maria Calderon Andean Highlands: Before the thread hits the loom
Speak Salon Studio (327 1/2 Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, July 2, 6-10pm
Maria Calderon is a painter, fashion photographer, and yoga instructor. She is showing new burlap pieces painted with acrylic. Also Early Jewelry and two vintage clothing dealers.
www.mariacalderon.com

• Immovable Axioms
2631 Gallery (2631 Holmes in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, July 2, 5-10pm
Limited edition prints, zines, drinks and music at this group show. Featuring paintings from a small mix of illustrators and graphic designers up for the month of July. Luke Rocha, Adrian Halpern, Shane Ogren, Mark Galloway and Hector Casanova.

SATURDAY JULY 3
• Gentle Cycle; With Like Colors
Be Moved Studio (2 E 7th Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, July 3, 7-9:30pm
Soft colors and pleasant compositions are abundant in art by Kelly Clark, Kristin Morland, and Mari Lacure. Spoken word performances by Aaron Storck, Anne Bruce & Jenny
Hoyt, Leralee Whittle & Paul Sprawl starting at 8:30.

Molly Murphy

• Molly Murphy Greater Kansas
The Invisible Hand Gallery (801 1/2 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, July 3, 7-10pm
Murphy explores Kansas landscapes, a subject matter that fits her style of blushing colors and chunky strokes.

• Lu Vaccaro Past & Present, Pots & Paintings
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, July 3, 7-10pm
Look for the green awning in the alley behind the Lawrence Arts Center to find this gallery. Colorful paintings and pottery from long time local artist Lu Vaccaro. This show runs through July 18.

TUESDAY JULY 6

Alicia Kelly and Andrew Jilka

• Stupid Heavy
The Bourgeois Pig (6 East 9th Street in Lawrence, KS)
Tuesday, July 6, 7-9pm
New works on paper by artists Alicia Kelly and Andrew Jilka. Show runs through July.

posted by: Scott Stewart