Wayne Propst strikes a pose with his portrait at the Wonder Fair

Last Saturday The Rathaus stopped by Wonder Fair’s first anniversary show “Thumbs to the Heavens.” We brought back these photos for an online view of the show which runs through July 5th.

“Blue Drawings of Monster Heads” by Matt Furie

“Drop City House” by Christa Dalien

“Leek” by Mel Kadel

“Ride On” by Mel Kadel

“Cookie” by Travis Millard

photos by: Sara Rock
posted by: Harold Johns III

The Shooting Gallery is proud to present Isabel Samaras new works “Into The Woodz.” Samaras rewrites a classic child’s fairy tale in this collection of oil paintings. Magical realism, and the forbidden fantasies of fabled characters present a world where elusive desires become reality.

Through “Into The Woodz” Samaras re-imagines the traditional fable of Goldilocks and The Three Bears into a modern day romance. In one painting titled “Honey Dripper” Samaras riffs on the French Neoclassical Ingres’ Turkish painting called “The Bather of Valpincon,” depicting apple-cheeked Goldy at a wooded hot springs with the three bears. Goldy has taken on a different look, sexier and a bit more trendy, with an elaborate back tattoo of a huge bee hive with an arrow through it. The distant background the Woodland Fabulous forest is inhabited by blinged-out critters. Some include a porcupine with “love/hate” knuckle rings and a big black-power afro-pick stuck in his quills; a European red squirrel sporting a dookie chain with a huge gold acorn on it; and a boom box jammed up in a tree with a flock of mocking birds sitting on it having a “rap war.” This story tells of a girl who didn’t trade her identity in for a tiara, but she found true love (and love conquers all, even inter-species romance!).

details of the new paitings found on Samaras’ blog

Samaras’ work is a form of visual story telling – witty, mysterious, and tender. Her painted narratives, classical in technique and pop in content, revolve around issues of secret love, unrequited lust and making things end the way we wish they would. While some paintings are reminiscent of formal Renaissance portraiture, others set in the woods are a bit more intuitive. The oil painted wood panels are lush with bold and sexy colors are complimented by a series of pencil drawings dashed with gold watercolor and framed in vintage “black forest” style wooden frames. Comparing her work to postmodern painting, one critic writes, “Samaras has created a truly populist art.

Familiar to a broad audience through publications like Juxtapoz and International Tattoo Art magazines, Samaras’ work has also been featured in the books “Vicious, Delicious & Ambitious: 20th Century Women Artists,” “Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art,” and “Weirdo Deluxe: The Wild World of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow Art”  and her upcoming monograph with Chronicle Books “On Tender Hooks: The Art of Isabel Samaras.”  She opened her studio to the television shows “Internet Tonight,” “SexTV,” “Ooh La La,” and the documentary films “The Lowdown on Lowbrow” and “Newbrow: Contemporary Underground Art.”

Opening Reception: May 9th 7-11pm
Showing: May 9th through June 4th
Shooting Gallery: 839 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA

posted by: Tricia Rock with text from the Shooting Gallery

This Sunday, May 3rd Wilde’s Chateau 24 (2412 Iowa in Lawrence, KS) is hosting First Sundays at the Chateau. The event begins at 6pm and includes an art opening, live art, live music, and a wine tasting. There is no cover charge to enjoy the art and music, and if you are interested in participating in the wine tasting tickets are $15 in advance (contact chateau-events@sunflower.com) or $20 at the door. Check out the list of featured artists and musicians below.

Art by:
Artstew (Scott Stewart)
b.d. eek
Ben Dory
Brian Ruggeri
JOUVELT
Julie Starks
Kurt Funke
Leo Hayden
Lindsay Erin Major
Matthew Starks
Micheal Day
Ruben Gaucin
Shiney Independent (Justin Shiney)

Music by:
WiseAcres

posted by: Tricia Rock

The Rathaus is not alone in our admiration of Travis Millard’s art work, but we definitely feel more of a connection. You see Millard, like many of The Rathaus members, graduated from the University of Kansas which is nestled atop Mt. Oread in Lawrence, KS (it does not take much to be considered a mountain). After graduation Millard stayed in Lawrence for a bit before eventually moving to New York City in 2001. Eight years later Millard’s work can still be found on the bathroom walls of The Eight Street Taproom, on the streets of Lawrence, and in KU’s Art and Design Building. And although Millard has gone on to greater national acclaim in other cities we still show him love like he lives down the block.

This week the prodigal son is returning to Lawrence in order to participate in two awesome events. First, on Monday, April 13th from 6-9pm Millard will speak at KU’s Hallmark Design Symposium Series, where he will discuss the commercial aspects of his illustration work. The lectures are held in Wescoe Hall Room 3139 (on KU’s campus) and admission is free.

Second, on Thursday, April 16th from 6-9pm our friends over at Wonder Fair (803 Massachusetts in Lawrence, KS) are holding another Pizza Party to celebrate the release of a new “Tear Jerker” zine and exclusive screen print created by Travis Millard. For $5 you can have any t-shirt you supply screen printed by the team at Wonder Fair with art work from one of the many participating artists.

posted by: Harold Johns III

The Dot Dot Dot ArtSpace (1910 Haskell Lawrence, KS) is holding their anniversary show on Saturday April, 11th from 4-9pm. The show will feature original art on sale for $9.95, a painting machine by Wayne Propst, snacks and other goodies for all to enjoy. The proceeds will be split between the gallery and Douglas County Visiting Nurses, Rehabilitation, and Hospice Care.

posted by: Brent Carter