Many of you may know that last month The Rathaus was featured in Lawrence’s own Artstew Magazine. The magazine, which has been released off and on for the past couple years, is the print version of local artist and web designer Scott Stewart’s Artstew.org. However, with The Rathaus edition of the magazine Stewart kicked off what he hopes to be an ongoing monthly thing. Looking for a new avenue for what’s going on in the art community of Lawrence, KS and surrounding areas? Artstew Magazine is a great new source. Stewart features artist interviews, previews of upcoming art shows, gallery visits, and more. And for an added bonus, the magazine is completely free. Check around Lawrence, KS this weekend for the new issue of Artstew Magazine that includes, among other things, an interview with artist Lee Shiney, currently showing at Pachamama’s, and an interview and gallery visit with internationally known street photographer and Lawrencian, Gary Smith.

Stewart is always accepting submissions for the magazine. Contact him at artstewweb@gmail.com to get your work or upcoming show featured. He also has some very competitive advertising rates for artists and businesses alike.

You can find Artstew Magazine at many of your Lawrence favorites including White Chocolate, Henry’s, Mirth, Casbah Market and more.

posted by: Tricia Rock

The fifth year architectural design studio of the University of Kansas in conjunction with El Dorado Inc. presents “Fill:Refill,” an exhibition of 50 projects for Jarboe Pool. The reception/exhibition is Wednesday, May13th at Pachamama’s in Lawrence, KS beginning at 7:30 pm. Stop by to see the end product of a semester’s worth of hard work by these emerging architects and soon to be graduates, including The Rathaus’ own s.a.johnson.

Learn more about Fill:Refill here.

posted by: Brent Carter

LOLA Spring Show
@ Pachamama’s
800 New Hampshire St Lawrence, KS 66044
Saturday May 2
11am-4pm

Pachamama’s to host the upcoming LOLA Show. This will be the 3rd year Pachamama’s has hosted the LOLA Spring Show, a perfect location next to the Farmer’s Market amongst downtown Lawrence. Stop by to shop local for Mother’s Day (May 10) and Graduation.

Participants include:
Early Jewelry by Kylie Grater {jewelry}
little bluestem by Traci Furan {baby layettes, bibs, onesies,women’s tee’s,pillows}
Glitter & Rust by Kendra Marable {greeting cards, small art}
Molly Murphy {small art}
KitMit by Kitty Mitchell {headbands, knitted arm warmers, journals}
Ugly Mug by Katie Kramer {pet collars, custom pet tags}
Leslie Kuluva {handprinted goods & garments}
Healing Moon by Cynthia Walker {soaps, body sprays, gift baskets}
Awava, Ugandan NonProfit {jewelry, home decor, ties, aprons}

posted by: Tricia Rock

Bettie Page

With the advent of elastic, the necessity of garter belts became a thing of the past. But as we know in fashion, necessity is not always a priority. Recently, garter belts have been making a comeback, and not just as an item to be worn in the privacy of ones home. Paired with some more casual items, loose fitting jean shorts and baggy t-shirts, garter belts can add a tough-girl style to a seemingly simple outfit. And for you DIYers looking for a new project, grab a pair of old suspenders and get to work.

Erin Wasson x RVCA

Queen Michell of Kingdom of Style

Gala Gonzalez of Amlul

by: Tricia Rock

You get 20 slides, 20 seconds each, show anything you want and say whatever you wish…or play music, read poetry, question the crowd, expose truths, make jokes, make connections, just make sure it’s entertaining or inspiring enough to keep the crowd in their seats. Turns out power points don’t have to be boring, who knew?

These are the parameters for a new presentation form emerging among architects, artists, activists, and enthusiasts alike. The Pecha Kucha (PK for short) is quickly spreading throughout the world, with the last official number of PK Events at 183 cities worldwide and growing. Traditionally pronounced in three syllables, peh-chak-cha (or pech-a-kuch-a in the American tradition of bastardization) translates to the sound of chitter-chatter in Japanese. The term was appropriated by the Tokyo based architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein who developed the fast-paced, concise format to fill their co-owned performance venue SuperDeluxe with an audience engaged by a large number of presenters. Anyone can participate in a PK Night, simply choose your topic and follow these requirements: 20 powerpoint slides, each displayed for 20 seconds, 6 minutes and 40 seconds total and then it’s “40 seconds of fame” (as the creator’s put it) before the focus moves on to the next presenter.

The Rathaus urges everyone to check the Pecha Kucha Night website to see when a PK is coming to your area. Traditionally 8 to 14 performers take the stage at each event, and all you need is the willingness and a little preparation to be a performer yourself. The simple parameters make for unlimited possibilities among content; from musicians to businessmen, even ranting drunks, the only expectation is entertainment, engagement and presentation.

If you are interested in bringing Pecha Kucha Night to your city contact pechakucha@klein-dytham.com.

posted by: Scott Starrett

Great opportunity for all thrifty, closet cleaning women in Lawrence, KS:

What:
One Hundred Good Women Annual Clothing Exchange

When:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Where:
Steve’s Place, 1388 N 1293 Road (SE corner of 31st & Louisiana)

How does this work?:
It’s a fabulous and fun way to rid your overflowing closet of those articles of clothing you no longer wear but are in still in great condition and someone ought to have them. You bring those articles to Steve’s Place on the 29th on the day of the event and we price them at $1 each. Then, you have the opportunity to purchase other clothing articles and fill up the void in your closet!!

Who does this benefit?:
One Hundred Good Women is a grassroots movement that utilizes its members to provide services and goods to those in need throughout the Lawrence community. And for this event all leftover donations from the will be taken to Penn House.

Go here to learn more about this event
Go here to learn more about One Hundred Good Women

posted by: Tricia Rock

Attention Lawrencians:
This Saturday, March 28th from 8am to 1pm the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association will hold its annual YART Sale. The sale, which is a combination yard sale and art sale, will be held inside New York Elementary School at 936 New York Street. So bring your friends and family and enjoy the local artists’ wares, gently used items, plant starts, baked goods, quiche, coffee, and popcorn from the famous Popcorn Bike all while listening to music provided by local musicians.

posted by: Tricia Rock

Untitled by: Erin Bratzler (serigraph)

Daddy’s Little Girls by: Erin Bratzler (serigraph)

High on the Peace Train by: Clint Ricketts (ink drawing)

You’re So Immature by: Vanessa Hays

Cloud Series by: Mari LaCure (etching with spit bite, aquatint)

Cloud Series Detail

posted by: Tricia Rock

You will either love or hate the music of Ponytail, there is no in between. And the deal breaker may be the work of Molly Siegel, the band’s lead vocalist. Like Yoko Ono and Yoshimi P-We of The Boredoms, Siegel is more apt to shriek, howl, moan, chant, and chirp than actually sing anything resembling coherent lyrics. But you must understand the beauty of Siegel, and Ponytail for that matter, does not rest on her technical ability but her frenetic energy, confidence, and strong belief in herself.

Siegel’s room to experiment on “Ice Cream Spiritual,” however, is only possible due to the impressive work by the remaining band members. Guitarists Dustin Wong and Ken Seeno are able to trade break neck riffs and intense fills while never completely abandoning their strong sense of melody, which makes great use of their unique guitar tones. And drummer Jeremy Hyman’s work should not be overlooked. His ability to shift from a solid back beat to chaotic no-wave drumming gives the band’s start-stop arrangements a sense of cohesion, similar to Greg Saunier’s work with Deerhoof. Collectively the Baltimore, MD quartet are always building, working toward some crescendo that dangles but is rarely supplied, leaving you wanting more.

“Celebrate the Body Electric” is a seven minute epic that illustrates how Ponytail combines these elements into songs that are more of a collage than a singular musical thought, but nonetheless powerful and incredibly exciting. Above all this is Ponytail’s secret weapon, the pure child-like excitement they feel for each others musical ideas. Love them or hate them, at the very least you have to respect Ponytail’s own belief in what they are creating.

Watch Ponytail get primal while playing “7 Souls” in a Queens laundromat

We*Are*Free (record label)

posted by: Harold Johns III

Maybe it’s time bosses actually encourage employees to scribble aimlessly on their notes throughout meetings. Although doodling may be seen as a distraction and a general waste of time, a recent Plymouth University study seems to indicate otherwise.

Lead researcher Jackie Andrade explains what happened when 40 subjects were given the task of listening to a “dull” phone conversation. Subjects were later asked to recall names and places mentioned in the messages and the group allowed to doodle while listening performed 29% better than non-doodlers.

Perhaps the results of this study can quell the widespread contempt for work meeting doodlers everywhere. And beware the non-doodler, for what may be perceived as attentiveness could really be a poker face disguising a secret fantasy world filled with convertible rides and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The results of this study were originally published in the journal: Applied Cognitive Psychology

:: Newsweek list of related stories

posted by: Scott Starrett