Volume 124 Issue 139
kansan.com
Friday, April 20, 2012
the student voice since 1904
--progress.
ENTERTAINMENT
Get Some Culture: THE ANATOMY OF A SOCIAL PROTEST
Artist Chen Shaoxiong and the Spencer Museum of Art invite local artists and activists to contribute to the "issue Fence," located on the front lawn of the museum.
Signs sporting various phrases of protest scatter the floor of the Spencer Art Museum's Center Court, contributed by local activists to raise awareness for causes they are particularly passionate about. Some look like they were drawn by children, while others glare with more serious messages. As I look around the room, one thing is clear — this space, like many activist movements, is a work in
Sponsored by the William T. Kemper Foundation, the Freeman Foundation and the Center for East Asian Studies, the opportunity for Beijing native artist Chen Shaoxiong arose in 2011, and the artist first came to visit the campus in September of last year. His residency began March 6, and he is the last in a series of Asian artists that have come through the Spencer Art Museum doors since 2008. "Shaoxiong's residency was very unusual because, in the end, he didn't want to show his own work but use it as a research opportunity to learn about protests," says Kris Ercums, the curator of the project.
One of the goals of the residency and this project is to create a space for practice and protest, so that everyone can know how to peacefully participate in a protest if they so choose. Through a series of workshops and other events inviting
// RACHEL SCHULTZ
Q & A: NATHAN REUSCH
Nathan Reusch is a co-founder of Kansas City label The Record Machine and was a curator for Middle of the Map Fest earlier this month.
// ALEX TRETBAR
Reusch, one of the founders of Kansas City label The Record Machine, was the mastermind behind Kansas City's Middle of the Map Fest earlier this month. The festival was more robust than Reusch's first attempt last year — this time around the festival featured 45 more bands, more venues and three total days instead of two. I talked with Reusch, 32, about the festival, local music and his label.
WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INSPIRATION FOR MIDDLE OF THE MAP FEST?
Originally, I came back from South by Southwest two years ago, and just knew that I wanted to start something. We wanted to keep it within proper venues versus outdoor stages. We didn't want to go to a field somewhere and have to recreate something. We knew all these clubs were already here in KC and we could just reunite.
says. "I hope art can help political life." While workshops in collaboration with the Spencer have ceased, interested activists and local residents can still submit any protests they have via the "Issue Fence," set up outside the museum. It's covered in messages written on paper and cardboard and is an ever-growing aspect of Shaoxiong's exhibit. The exhibit, titled "Prepared: Strategies for Activists," will be on display until July 22.
WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT DID YOU NEED TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND?
DID YOU RELY ON LOCAL BANDS FOR FILLING OUT THE FESTIVAL LINEUP?
I sat down with Ink Magazine and said, "Here's my idea to start a music festival." They helped out and gave us a backing in the beginning. We had never worked an event on this scale, so they helped with administration, too.
I was doing a radio interview and it was mentioned that there were 70 local KC bands on the festival. I was shocked. It wasn't necessarily intentional; it was just organic.
DO YOU PLAY MUSIC?
Not exactly, I used to perform years ago, but I'm pretty much retired. I used to play keyboards — a goofy one-man band called Bobcat Attack.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE FORMING THE RECORD MACHINE?
Immense amounts of info. There's so much trial and error in this business. You get to work with people you love,and we're always trying something different. Sometimes you feel like you're bashing your head against the wall, but it's worth
local activists and artists to participate, which Shaoxiong refers to as a "training camp for activists," the artist has evaluated the anatomy of a social protest. Some workshops were simply discussions of types of demonstrations, while others invited activists on stage for "Soap Box Fridays," where protesters got two minutes to state their causes.
"I hope people will get more knowledge, confidence and strategies for protesting from the exhibition." Shaoxiong
Patrick Blanchard, a sophomore from Wamego and the committee's coordinator, said that the demonstrations aim to teach students useful techniques while introducing them to foods that might not already be in their culinary wheelhouse.
"We try to bring people and representatives from restaurants that display skills students would be able to take home some of the
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compromising the integrity of the icing. Students were invited to try the techniques themselves before chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were passed around.
The event was part of a recent series of cooking demonstrations hosted by Student Union Activities' culinary committee. A demonstration earlier this month featured Janna Traver, executive chef for KU Dining, who prepared Peruvian food.
Although Wednesdays demonstration was the last of the semester, Blanchard said that he hopes to see next year's coordinator continuing the presentations.
Blanchard said that his personal favorite was the Sushi with Gusto demonstration even though it wasn't hands on. Attendees watched chefs prepare veggie, California and tuna rolls, which were then passed around the room.
Jennifer Yi, a baker at Billy Vanily, puts the final touches on a six-inch cake with Amber Munoz's assistance during a demonstration at Impromptu in the Kansas Union Wednesday afternoon.
of the experts, as was Bea Tretbar, a freshman from Wichita. Tretbar said that she was initially intimidated by Yi and Munoz's decorating skills.
But once she gave it a try, she felt like she could recreate the techniques in her own kitchen.
"When they iceed that cake, I've never seen somebody do that so fast and so well." Trebtar said.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
a Allen
TYLER BIERWIRTH/KANSAN
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
all contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Check out Panda Circus at Tunes at Noon on the Union Plaza sponsored by Student Union Activities and Kicker.
Today's Weather
Breezy. North winds between 10 to 15 mph. Skies look to be mostly sunny.
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