By Rory Flynn, Jayplay writer
Laughter filled the brisk autumn air one Saturday afternoon this October in Lawrence. Crowds of all ages filed in and out of art galleries, coffee shops and private residences as people walked with more than 1,000 bright red, bounding balloons creating a sea of gravity defying wonder. Hiply dressed art connoisseurs walked side-by-side greasy overall-sporting farm boys as wrinkly elderly walked alongside young giggling children. And of course, hundreds of students trooped it through downtown Lawrence toting Red Balloons. Walking down Massachusetts Street this particular Saturday, one might have felt like part of a children's zoo or circus carnival. The event, rather, was the third annual Red Balloon To-Do art fair.
The Red Balloon To-Do is an event that allows local artists to display their works as a part of a community gathering. In 2003, the first year of the Red Balloon To-Do, the event had approximately 80 art submissions. This year the artists doubled with more than 160 art submissions and more than 1,000 attendees, according to Jill Kleinhans, organizer of this year's Red Balloon To-Do.
The event was first organized in 2003 by a group of artists who called themselves the Lawrence Art Collective. The group was originally affiliated with the former Chisholm Gallery.
"All we needed was a hook," says Dominic Sova, organizer of the first Bad Balloon To-Do, "I see it as being alive and I feel like we gave it birth." Sova, a graduate in painting, says the group didn't plan to have the event after the first year. But he says the community allows the art fair to continue annually because people love the event so much.
The Olive Gallery, 15 E. 8th Street, was instrumental in planning this year's The Red Balloon ToDo. Jill Kleinhans, Olive Gallery owner, says the event raised enough money this year to be held again next year. She says the success surpasses the past two years and that she plans to make the event larger in the following years, with the help of more volunteers.
"Anything is possible. The spirit of the event is that it is always changing. We want to keep it fresh each year!" he says.
The businesses that displayed the artists' works were Crafty and Company, Henry's, Olive Gallery and Mirth Internet Café. Many of the businesses and artists provided food and drinks for the event's participants. Rick Seifert, owner and head chef at Mirth Internet Café says using his restaurant as a venue for the event was a no-brainer. "I am all about supporting local artists," he says. "And not to mention that having a couple hundred people walk through my new business is nice as well."
Sova says the plans for the next Red Balloon To Do are uncertain.
In addition to visual art, local band Anafera performed at the Olive Gallery. It was the second year that the trio played in the Red Balloon To-Do. Keyboardist and guitarist Dave Brown says it's a great
way to perform in an atmosphere where people appreciate the artwork and their band is not necessarily the focus of the team.
Connor Moore, senior in photography, submitted a photograph he took while studying abroad in San Diego. He says he enjoyed having so many people see his work. "The Red Balloon To-Do is something that is unique to Lawrence. It is cool to see so many people taking interest in each others artwork." Moore says.
Kleinmans says that if never too lateists to begin thinking about their submissions for next year's Red Balloon To- Do and she expects the event to continue to grow in size and popularity. She says everyone who submits a piece is guaranteed to have their work displayed in the art show and no artist may have more than four of his or her works.
If you're interested in submitting artwork for next year's Red Balloon To-Do, contact the Olive Gallery. Call 785-331-4114