• 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.

• 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.

Calendar link for events

Highlights:

American Infamy 3 by Roger Shimomura

• Shadows of Minidoka
Lawrence Arts Center (940 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, February 11, 7-9pm (Ongoing until Mar. 12th)

From the organizers:
The Art of Roger Shimomura and His Collection of Art and Ephemera from the Japanese Internment Camps.

• Operation Exposure: War is Trauma
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, February 11, 5-9pm

From the Organizers:
Prints by Justseeds and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

This collaboration between the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative and veterans and supporters from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a direct response to the suicide epidemic and violation of GI’s right to heal within the GI and veteran community.

There’s a Big Hole in the Little Prairie by Julie Farstad

• Hardcore Painting: Confessions and Premonitions
Greenlease Gallery at Rockhurst University (1100 Rockhurst Rd. in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, February 11, 6:30-9pm (Ongoing until Mar. 19th)

From the Organizers:
Artists Julie Farstad and Jessie Fisher will exhibit exquisitely executed works in their upcoming show.

• Operation Exposure: War is Trauma
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, February 11, 5-9pm

From the Organizers:
Prints by Justseeds and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

This collaboration between the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative and veterans and supporters from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a direct response to the suicide epidemic and violation of GI’s right to heal within the GI and veteran community.

• Kansas Sesquicentennial Arts in Lawrence Day!
Spencer Museum of Art (1301 Mississippi Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, January 29, 1-2:30pm
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, January 29, 2:30-3:30pm
Wonder Fair: Art Gallery, Shoppe & Studio (803 1/2 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS)
Saturday, January 29, 1-5pm

From the organizers:
Rocket Grants Artist Info Sessions at Spencer Museum of Art 1-2:30 PM
Auditorium An information session for artists to introduce the 2011 funding opportunities through Andy Warhol Foundation-funded Rocket Grants, to fuel the dynamism of our region’s art ecology by providing direct support for innovative, experimental, artist-driven, and artist-centered projects. http://rocketgrants.wordpress.com/about/outreach-sessions/

Celebrate People’s History at Lawrence Percolator 2:30-3:30
Enter through alley behind 913 Rhode Island, lecture by Steve Goddard, Curator of Prints and Drawings Spencer Museum of Art

A Kansas Sesquicentennial Celebration of Wonder at Wonder Fair Gallery 1:00-5:00
803 1/2 Massachusetts
Celebrate the momentous 150th anniversary of Kansas’ entry into the Union through: Thematic Snacks! Art Happenings! Audio-Visual Tributes! Spirited Repartee! Diverting Amusements! Maybe Beer?! Stars! Difficulties!

From the Organizers:
Featuring the work of: Tori Basore, Abby Bloss, Jill Burcke, Dani Carson, Grace Chin, Kandice Hall, Kevin Kinkaid, Jessica Langley, Neal Nickel, Catherine Meihaus, Ann Putrah, Melissa Sowards, Sarah Swyers, Olivia Tedford, Rachel Thomas, Clint Thrasher, Ashley Warner, and more! “Dirty Felts” was a title derived from our experiences in the intaglio studio. Etching processes utilize presses and felt blankets (to distribute pressure evenly) when printing the images. While snowy white felts are a hallmark of professional practices, dirty felts are usually the handiwork of students. “Dirty Felts” makes playful reference to the trial and error that went into producing the final work. Come join KU’s Fall ’10 Intaglio classes (taught by Kelly Clark) in celebrating a successful semester of printmaking!

From the Organizers:
50+ posters from the Celebrate People’s History project (and now book), organized by Josh MacPhee of the Just Seeds artists’ cooperative, that pay tribute to revolution, racial justice, women’s rights, queer liberation, labor struggles, and creative activism and organizing. Celebrate People’s History! presents these essential moments – acts of resistance and great events in an often hidden history of human and civil rights struggles – as a visual tour through decades and across continents, from the perspective of some of the most interesting and socially engaged artists working today, including the Percolator’s own Dave Loewenstein.

In addition to the CPH posters, the Percolator will show posters from Lawrence collections that respond to and illuminate local struggles from the past forty years.

To read more about Celebrate People’s History! check out the
Just Seeds website here.

Physical Fiction consists of printmakers Samuel Cox and Justin LaRosa. Together they create pixelated prints with Lego pieces and a letterpress.

See more of Physical Fiction’s work here

• ‘Zines Made To Order: An Art Event & Interactive Performance
Paragraph Gallery (23 East 12th Street in Kansas City, MO)
Friday, December 10, 6-10pm

From the organizers:
Join the Wonder Fair family for their brand new interactive art event & performance. It’s “Zines Made To Order” organized in conjunction with Paragraph’s current exhibition PAGES: Book as Medium, Catalyst, Venue. Gallery attendees will create a one-of-a-kind-made-to-order ‘zine which will be organized, printed, and bound on the spot! The ‘zine will be produced assembly line style by the Wonder Fair Family, and will feature reproductions of drawings produced specifically for this event by Family Members Jason Barr, Kelly John Clark, Eric Dobbins, and Lee Piechocki. The content of each ‘zine will depend on how each participant chooses to fill out Wonder Fair’s DIY ‘Zine Questionnaire, which includes interchangeable narrative options relating to characters, problems and settings. Though viewing the performance will be free of charge, the cost of ordering a personalized ‘zine will be $4, and will include a raffle ticket for a hand printed Wonder Fair tee shirt!

• DJG Ate Eight
The Brick (1727 McGee St. in Kansas City, MO)
Saturday, December 4, 6pm (Ongoing until Dec. 31st)

From the Organizers:
Presented by DJG Design. Prints and original art will be for sale on opening night only.
Starting around 7pm will be music by Kansas City area talent: Konnor Ervin (of The ACB’s), Bryan Lamanno (of The Tambourine Club), Thom Hoskins, Micah Buzan.