Art Roundup: March 25, 2011 to April 1, 2011

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

Click the link below for our calendar events March 25, 2011 through April 1, 2011. Lawrence Final Fridays is this week, so make sure you check out all of the great art that will be up. This intrepid reporter will be checking out all of the new art throughout the rest of the month due to the KU basketball game going on smack in the middle of the opening of these Lawrence art shows. Also, the folks at Q5 will be doing their monthly show at Henry’s this week, and I am pleased to be a small part of the show courtesy of Adam Dorssom and his Backgammon Showcase. If he still will take my pieces!

Calendar link for events

Highlights:

• Lawrence Art Party
Hobbs Taylor Lofts (740 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm

From the Organizers:
The March 25 Lawrence Art Party is going international this month! We’ll have Flamenco fusion guitar and dance, and dozens of amazing artists!

Music and dance will be by Ole Music and Dance of Spain. In addition to the flamenco dances such sevillana and bulerias, you will also hear Latin inspired rumba and tangos, as well as selections by guitarist Jarrod Stephenson in his own flamenco fusion style!

We have AMAZING,WONDERFUL ARTISTS, INCLUDING TWO KU GROUP SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!

KU GROUP SHOWS
Sculptor Matt Burke’s students as many as 30, will be showing wood boxes and drawings. I saw some of the wood works under development, and they are going to be fascinating!

Textile Design Students from KU – Six members of the KU Textile Club will show their work! The artists are Krista Mustain, Jennifer Hunt, Ren Doshier, Sarah Sullivan, Lauren Tweedie and Neil Goss.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Bill Bowerman, creator of unique and striking scan art.

Louis Copt has beautiful paintings and photographs in collections throughout the US. He is known worldwide for his prairie fire paintings, and has been showing new, innovative work at the Lawrence Art Party. Don’t miss a chance to see what Louis can do! http://www.louiscopt.com/original_art/prairie_fire/prairie_fire.php

Dan Dishman. Dan is a painter and photographer. His oil paintings are a ‘must see’ for art lovers. His facebook page is at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62903066

Tony Frentrop. Tony loves working with wood, and it show – he will show furniture, sculpture, and more. Don’t miss his work!

Christoper Ford, creator of the “Urban Stump”, one-of-a-kind tables

John Hachmeister, KU sculpture professor and thermite wizard, will be accompanied by an 8 foot monkey! Check out some of his work at http://tinyurl.com/johnhachmeister

Emily Johnson. Emily’s mixed media pieces are very personal, lyrical, and touching.

Laura Jost. Laura makes wonderful tile art. You’ll think they are paintings. Check them out! http://www.lorajost.org/

Baker Medlock. The Robot Man, Baker also creates wonderful metal insects. Everything he makes is from scrap. Check out the wonderful robots he has for sale now, in the window of the Hobbs Taylor Gallery! One of them is 7 feet tall! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=149657781730480&aid=57603

Kaylyn Munro will be showing new works. Her still life paintings are amazing. I will send pictures next week. In the meantime, visit her blog at kaylynmunro.blogspot.com

Daryl Nickel will be showing his hand-made furniture, including a new piece…all curves!

George Paley George will show his new Jamaican Mask series. Under development for two years, with his first American showing at the Lawrence Art Party!!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

Frank Shopen. This will be Frank’s first Lawrence Art Party. I can’t wait to see his sculptures! https://sites.google.com/site/shopendesigns/

Celia Smith, Lawrence painter, will be showing at the Lawrence Art Party for the first time. I can’t wait to see paintings! For a preview, check out http://www.lawrenceartscenter.com/Artists/Celia_Smith/001.html

Gary Mark Smith, international street photographer. Gary just posted a great portfolio of photos from New Orleans. http://www.streetphoto.com/NewOrleans.htm

Garret Tufte, author and artist, will unveil a few of his pieces. Garret blends science, technology, and art in a very intriguing way!!!

New artists are always welcome at the Lawrence Art Party. If you are interested in showing your work and having a great time, just send an email to eric@whirledart.com, with the subject “artist request” (without the quote marks). You will receive an immediate response with more details.

Check out the two sets of photos from the February 25 party, by Kyle Rogers and Wes McCauley, at the Whirled Art Facebook site http://tinyurl.com/whirledart.

• Build This Cardboard Thing
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm (Ongoing until Apr. 30)

From the Organizers:
Cardboard Construction Workshops March 26 & 27 1 -5pm
Parade and Opening Reception Friday, April 1st at 6pm

Eric Farnsworth will be leading the workshops where you can participate in building creatures that will be apart of the parade and opening reception. Juniper Tangpuz will be showing his amazing works in the gallery.

Build This Cardboard Thing

• Build This Cardboard Thing
The Lawrence Percolator (940 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm (Ongoing until Apr. 30)

From the Organizers:
Cardboard Construction Workshops March 26 & 27 1 -5pm
Parade and Opening Reception Friday, April 1st at 6pm

Eric Farnsworth will be leading the workshops where you can participate in building creatures that will be apart of the parade and opening reception. Juniper Tangpuz will be showing his amazing works in the gallery.

Lawrence Art Party

• Lawrence Art Party
Hobbs Taylor Lofts (740 New Hampshire in Lawrence, KS)
Friday, March 25, 5-9pm

From the Organizers:
The March 25 Lawrence Art Party is going international this month! We’ll have Flamenco fusion guitar and dance, and dozens of amazing artists!

Music and dance will be by Ole Music and Dance of Spain. In addition to the flamenco dances such sevillana and bulerias, you will also hear Latin inspired rumba and tangos, as well as selections by guitarist Jarrod Stephenson in his own flamenco fusion style!

We have AMAZING,WONDERFUL ARTISTS, INCLUDING TWO KU GROUP SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!

KU GROUP SHOWS
Sculptor Matt Burke’s students as many as 30, will be showing wood boxes and drawings. I saw some of the wood works under development, and they are going to be fascinating!

Textile Design Students from KU – Six members of the KU Textile Club will show their work! The artists are Krista Mustain, Jennifer Hunt, Ren Doshier, Sarah Sullivan, Lauren Tweedie and Neil Goss.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
Bill Bowerman, creator of unique and striking scan art.

Louis Copt has beautiful paintings and photographs in collections throughout the US. He is known worldwide for his prairie fire paintings, and has been showing new, innovative work at the Lawrence Art Party. Don’t miss a chance to see what Louis can do! http://www.louiscopt.com/original_art/prairie_fire/prairie_fire.php

Dan Dishman. Dan is a painter and photographer. His oil paintings are a ‘must see’ for art lovers. His facebook page is at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=62903066

Tony Frentrop. Tony loves working with wood, and it show – he will show furniture, sculpture, and more. Don’t miss his work!

Christoper Ford, creator of the “Urban Stump”, one-of-a-kind tables

John Hachmeister, KU sculpture professor and thermite wizard, will be accompanied by an 8 foot monkey! Check out some of his work at http://tinyurl.com/johnhachmeister

Emily Johnson. Emily’s mixed media pieces are very personal, lyrical, and touching.

Laura Jost. Laura makes wonderful tile art. You’ll think they are paintings. Check them out! http://www.lorajost.org/

Baker Medlock. The Robot Man, Baker also creates wonderful metal insects. Everything he makes is from scrap. Check out the wonderful robots he has for sale now, in the window of the Hobbs Taylor Gallery! One of them is 7 feet tall! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=149657781730480&aid=57603

Kaylyn Munro will be showing new works. Her still life paintings are amazing. I will send pictures next week. In the meantime, visit her blog at kaylynmunro.blogspot.com

Daryl Nickel will be showing his hand-made furniture, including a new piece…all curves!

George Paley George will show his new Jamaican Mask series. Under development for two years, with his first American showing at the Lawrence Art Party!!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

Frank Shopen. This will be Frank’s first Lawrence Art Party. I can’t wait to see his sculptures! https://sites.google.com/site/shopendesigns/

Celia Smith, Lawrence painter, will be showing at the Lawrence Art Party for the first time. I can’t wait to see paintings! For a preview, check out http://www.lawrenceartscenter.com/Artists/Celia_Smith/001.html

Gary Mark Smith, international street photographer. Gary just posted a great portfolio of photos from New Orleans. http://www.streetphoto.com/NewOrleans.htm

Garret Tufte, author and artist, will unveil a few of his pieces. Garret blends science, technology, and art in a very intriguing way!!!

New artists are always welcome at the Lawrence Art Party. If you are interested in showing your work and having a great time, just send an email to eric@whirledart.com, with the subject “artist request” (without the quote marks). You will receive an immediate response with more details.

Check out the two sets of photos from the February 25 party, by Kyle Rogers and Wes McCauley, at the Whirled Art Facebook site http://tinyurl.com/whirledart.

Artist Shout Out: Augustina Woodgate

According to Augustina Woodgate:

Hand-sewn and designed rugs made from recycled teddy bears. The process starts with the departure of the loving life Teddy Bears have when they are in the hands of their owners.The rugs not only reference the personal histories of the toy’s owners, but investigate the rug as an object organizing and displaying memories and lineages. In Eastern Cultures, the oriental rug centralizes the living space in pattern, operating beyond utility to depict the spiritual and mental world in woven form.

“Royal” -  stuffed animal skins, 9′ x 7′, 2010

“Rose Petals” – stuffed animal skins, 8′ x 7′, 2010

Artist Statement:

I aim to create art that fosters exchanges between people rather than encounters between a viewer and object. Through these exchanges, meaning is elaborated collectively, rather than in the space of individual consumption.

My artistic practice investigates how stories, rituals and traditions transform our relationships with the objects and places around us. I create responses to social narratives through situations that unveil the tensions between the natural-becoming-unnatural, and the unnatural-becoming-natural. My work discovers illogical, surreal scenarios from otherwise realistic or “normal” settings, revealing unconscious transience in beliefs and behaviors between these two worlds.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, I now make my home in Miami, FL.

“Sand Castle” – human hair, 2′ x 3 ‘ x 3′, 2008

“Myself” – human Hair, wooden brush, 7″ x 5″, 2007

See more of Woodgate’s work here

Thanks to Kit Leffler for the tip. (Sorry it took so long.)

Artist Shout Out: Erik Mark Sandberg

Erik Mark Sandberg was born in 1975 in Farmington, Minnesota, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

From the artist statement that accompanies Sandberg’s latest solo show with Johnathon LeVine Gallery (NY) entitled Get Pretty Now, which is on display through February 19:

Sandberg’s portrait series depicts anomalous figures whose features are obscured by a thick coat of colorful hair, wearing fluorescent-colored clothing with loud, graphic prints. His abstract paintings are equally striking, vibrant and texturally rich, complementing hues and patterns of the hairy subjects in his figurative works.

Cultural dichotomies are a source of inspiration for much of Sandberg’s imagery, and his use of hair is (in a broad sense) a visual metaphor for their effects. In the artist’s own words: “My work investigates the psychological effects of trying to achieve smoke and mirror standards of beauty, standards that run in opposition to contemporary mass-consumed food advertising.” His bold color choices, while mainly intuitive decisions, also offer conceptual reinforcement. On the subject of palette, the artist says: “Fluorescents and neons have a very manufactured, artificial quality. They’re exotic, living outside of the normal spectrum.”

Thematically, the artist explores consumer culture, celebrity idolatry and social dysfunction in the digital age, with a focus on the relationship between projected idealized archetypes and their unattainable emulation.

See more of Sandberg’s work here

“Boy with Sweater (Yellow)” – oil, airbrush, resin, glitter and silkscreen on panel

“Girl with Summer Fever (Black)” – front view