Click the link below for our calendar events April 1, 2011 through April 8, 2011.

Calendar link for events

Highlights:

• Jest for Wolfbats: All Fools Day Parade
Escapist Skateshop (405 Southwest Blvd in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, April 1, 7:30-10:30pm

From the organizers:
A Wolfbat War Vessel will be launched down the street from Inkubator Press, 115 W. 18th St, after the defeat of two alien pinatas. Once the defeat occurs, the war vessel will battle its way through First Friday streets and end at Escapist Skateshop /Gallery, where a grand finale battle with 4 more alien pinatas will take place. SEDLEC OSSUARY, fireworks, fire and more! Pinatas filled with free gear and goodies! All masks and pinata sculptures are collaborations with KCAI and Wichita State Univ art students. Prints will be on display by Dennis McNett and WolfBat Studio.

Flag of Japan (Jake) by Tex Jernigan

• Flag of Japan Portraits
Blue Gallery (118 Southwest Blvd in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, April 1, 6-9pm

From the organizers:
Star Base Projects “Flag of Japan Portraits” featured is a one night only, interactive event allowing First Friday attendees to be featured in “Flag of Japan Portraits”. Digital versions of portraits taken that evening will be available at www.StarBaseProjects.com, recommended donation to participate. Poster prints of previous “Flag of Japan Portraits” will be available for purchase $25 each.
All proceeds from this event will go to the American Red Cross for Japan relief.

Veggie Sushi Rolls, created and photographed by Aly Young

• Lawrence Raw Foods Potluck
South Park Gazebo (1141 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, April 1, 6-7:30pm

From the organizers:
This is the first of what will be a monthly potluck on the first Fridays of each month. Everyone welcome! Please bring an organic, vegan, raw dish to share and a plate/bowl/utensils/personal beverage. If you have no idea what to bring– fresh fruit, salad or a veggie tray would be something easy and tasty! Another idea is to search for “raw, vegan recipes” online. There is an abundance of online resources for raw recipes. Come share great living food with great people!

Desperate Pee by Jin Shan

• Spring Student Night: 2011: A Space Odyssey
Spencer Museum of Art (1301 Mississippi Street in Lawrence, KS)
Thursday, April 7, 5:30-7:30pm

From the organizers:
The Spencer Student Advisory Board is hosting its annual spring student night. This year’s theme, “2011:A Space Odyssey,” celebrates the Spencer Museum of Art’s current artist-in-residence, Jin Shan, and his exhibition “It Came From the Sky.” It is going to be a Space BLAST!!!

A moonbounce (pending), KJHK DJ, and Costume contest with prizes: Dress up in a space-suit or as your favorite sci-fi character! Free food from local businesses, photobooth, KU DDR Club, and Out-of-this-world activities. The SSAB would like to thank KU Student Senate, Coca-Cola, and the SMA for their generous support.

• Flag of Japan Portraits
Blue Gallery (118 Southwest Blvd in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, April 1, 6-9pm

From the organizers:
Star Base Projects “Flag of Japan Portraits” featured is a one night only, interactive event allowing First Friday attendees to be featured in “Flag of Japan Portraits”. Digital versions of portraits taken that evening will be available at www.StarBaseProjects.com, recommended donation to participate. Poster prints of previous “Flag of Japan Portraits” will be available for purchase $25 each.
All proceeds from this event will go to the American Red Cross for Japan relief.

• Spring Student Night: 2011: A Space Odyssey
Spencer Museum of Art (1301 Mississippi Street in Lawrence, KS)
Thursday, April 7, 5:30-7:30pm

From the organizers:
The Spencer Student Advisory Board is hosting its annual spring student night. This year’s theme, “2011:A Space Odyssey,” celebrates the Spencer Museum of Art’s current artist-in-residence, Jin Shan, and his exhibition “It Came From the Sky.” It is going to be a Space BLAST!!!

A moonbounce (pending), KJHK DJ, and Costume contest with prizes: Dress up in a space-suit or as your favorite sci-fi character! Free food from local businesses, photobooth, KU DDR Club, and Out-of-this-world activities. The SSAB would like to thank KU Student Senate, Coca-Cola, and the SMA for their generous support.

• Fools Rush In
VML Gallery (2020 Baltimore Ave. in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, April 1, 5:30-7:30pm

From the organizers:
More than 20 local artists are participating in the group show; 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Hope Lodge, the remarkable Kansas City American Cancer Society residential facility in Quality Hill that provides free housing for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer, or their family members.

Preview Party: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Free beer, wine, soda pop and hors d’oeuvres. Silent Auction: 6:30-7:30 p.m. No minimum bid required! Final bids close promptly at 7:30 p.m.

From the Organizers:
As an artist I’ve never been able to sit still. These days I’m primarily a documentary photographer, but I also dabble in performance and am a trained printmaker/ bookbinder. Documentation is truly what I live for, in any format. I will travel anywhere to see something incredible or document an artist I follow, to show people back in KC or merely to gather history for the future. I call it taking the‘long view’—I know all …of the writing, documents, video and photography I’m gathering will be hugely important later on.

This show attempts to represent my spectrum of photo-documented subjects grouped by like kinds. Daily events are often gross, awkward or controversial, and I never hesitate to integrate those moments with the pleasant, posed or funny. It calls to mind the Wolfgang Tillmans reference, “If One Thing Matters, Everything Matters.” I believe that we lose so much as moments slip away, and it’s an endlessly entertaining and engaging challenge to strive to capture life (all of it!) as it runs faster than us.

This show has been installed the same way I adorn my bedroom—the viewer not separated from the piece by glass, images spontaneously strewn about, an intimate feel. Each photo is available for sale in a range of sizes upon request. For this show only, I am offering a special piece: a custom photo album of 4×6 reproductions of every piece in the show (edition of 5 at $600 each).

Megan Mantia holds a BFA from Kansas City Art Institute, graduating in 2006 with a double major in Printmaking and Art History. She is the full-time photographer for local art-band collective Ssion and community arts non-profit Whoop Dee Doo. Megan also serves as Treasurer to Whoop Dee Doo’s board and is currently coordinating their first-ever annual gala fundraiser. Her show Glory Days is on view at the Writers Place until March 25, featuring her life’s work of diaries and debuting a brand-new photo series in collaboration with Leone Anne Reeves. Also, catch her piece (collaborating with Christopher Good) in the upcoming Urban Culture Project group show The Dinner Party, opening March 18. She would like to thank her mom for always providing excellent food at her art events!
http://www.meganmantia.com

Hamms by Barrett Emke

• Muscle Worship 7″ Record Release Show and Art Opening
Love Garden Sounds (822 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, February 25, 6-10pm

From the Organizers:
Performances by Games at 8pm and Muscle Worship at 9pm.
Artwork on display by Barrett Emke, Christopher Trenary, Seth M. Wiese, and Ryan Hasler.
Bakesale by Blackbird Bakery.
Starting at 8pm we’ll be asking $5 at the door. You get the freshly released 7″ record with your entry fee!

From the Organizers:
We’ll have 25 artists, live music, and a great time!

Among the artists is one of Kansas’ most renowned artists, and winner of the Kansas Governor’s Arts Award, Louis Copt, who will be showing new works!

New this month – a special exhibition by students from Lawrence High School, including video from Jeff Kuhr’s film/media class!

• Save The Art – Brownbacklash
Quinton’s (615 Mass St. in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, February 25, 4-10pm

From the organizers (QuintEssential Gallery):
“Q5Gallery” opens its doors for local artist to express their feelings about Governor Brownback’s new budget cut; abolishing the state’s arts commission, leaving Kansas to be the only state in the nation without this agency.

Q5Gallery will be showcasing work by the gallery’s founding Artists and Fresh Produce Art Collective members. Along with a local Artist response to the budget cut we aim to inform and spark up conversation in the community regarding resent changes Brownback has made and other proposals involving budget cuts to the state. Exhibiting Artists: Local Artists Brownbacklash – Exhibition curator(s): Leo Hayden, Erok Johanssen, Bobbie Powell, Rachel Herring, Dan Dishman, Matt Farley, Paul Flinders, Jim Luhning, Phil Martinez, Jeromy Morris, Charles Ray, Matt Ridgway, Bill Scoular, Brent Teufel, and Josie Wrath.

• Blue Dot Salon Art Opening
Blue Dot Salon (15 E 7th St. in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, January 29, 6-9pm (Ongoing until Apr. 28th)

From the organizers:
Edmée Rodriguez, Ryan Hasler, Robert Lundbom and Carol Beth Whalen will be showing, photography, paintings and painted gourds. Come enjoy and support local artists.

From the organizers:
NOTE TO SELF: New Images by Rick Mitchell, “Water, Color, Paper, Paint”. Paintings by Heather Smith Jones, and “Metamorphosis” New Paintings by Susan Grace. INSIGHT Art Talk Series. Rick Mitchell, Susan Grace: January 20, 7pm. All events are free/open to public

Rick’s photography is for pure visual investigation and has no commercial purpose that he can identify. His involvement with photographic processes developed through study in design, graphic arts, painting, drawing, and to a certain extent, journalism.

Heather Smith Jones is a studio artist and instructor at The Lawrence Arts Center in the Arts-Based Preschool Program. She just completed her first book called Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media which is being published by Quarry Books. Unlike the typical watercolor text books, this unique, beautiful volume is a field book of inspiration, creative ideas, how to’s, and projects, all from an artist’s perspective.

Susan Grace is a professional artist living and working in Lawrence, Kansas. She has been exhibiting her paintings at galleries and museums throughout the U.S. since 1992. Susan has worked with the figure for many years but is not interested in portraying a particular person or in depicting a straightforward narrative. The figures, which are usually female, are frequently wrapped, preserved, and protected in some fashion, whether it is with flesh, such as hands or layers of fat, or a covering of cloth, or marks on the skin. Evoking a sense of solitude, the figures are absorbed in their own isolation and rarely face the viewer.