6 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ARTS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003
Gallery to offer place to create,show work
By Neil Mulka
nmulka@Kansan.com
Jayplaystaffwriter
Dan Nelson/Kansan
Jay Gordon, Lawrence senior, works on a multimedia art project at The Grimshaw Gallery at 731 New Hampshire St. He hopes to show off his artwork for the public at upcoming shows in the gallery.
In addition to giving local artists another venue to show off their work, a new art gallery in Lawrence will be the only place in town where artists create their work right in the gallery.
The Grimshaw Gallery, 731 New Hampshire St., has its debut at 8 p.m. tomorrow. The opening features mixed media works by local artists Jenny Long Jay Gordon, Matt Ridgway, Rick Noedstean and a sound installation by Gus Huber, along with art from Bali.
The Grimshaw is a working gallery, the only in Lawrence. The artists displaying their art in the 1,000-square-foot gallery create their work in the 3,500-square-foot studio in the back of the building.
a problem in this town.
Gordon, Lawrence senior, said he wanted the gallery to promote the work of tomorrow's artists and other young artists.
"We have more artists in this town per capita than New York City," Lister said, "but we have very few collectors and buyers of art per capita."
"Exhibiting in Lawrence is pretty much restricted to coffee shops and a few odd galleries in town," Gordon said. "With this space we're hoping that we can bring more attention to some of the incredible work we have moving through this town every year."
Another gallery in Lawrence means more opportunities for local artists to make livings with their art. According to Schuyler Lister, financial backer and Lawrence resident, finding a good place for local artists to showcase their talents is
Jenny Long, artist and Lawrence resident thinks the new gallery is perfect for Lawrence.
"This is exactly what Lawrence needs," Long said. "Hopefully it'll be art history in the making."
The studio space is an appealing aspect to the artists.
"It's just a dream come true for me," said Ridgway, Lawrence senior.
The location of the Grimshaw is also an attractive feature.
"The fact that it's downtown just makes it all the better," Gordon said. "The Taproom is only a half-block away."
The Grimshaw operates collectively in virtually every aspect of the gallery's daily business.
"We all kind of work together on things," Gordon said. "We all pitch in together to curate the exhibitions, put the word on the street, design fliers and fix what needs to be fixed. It really is a co-op situation in that everyone brings what they have to the table to benefit the group."
Gordon is not a stranger to putting on art shows. He and fellow artist Long have put together art shows since 1999.
"We started doing shows at local venues like co-ops or well-known houses like the Pink House." Gordon said. "We've had this involvement and drive building for a
while."
An opportunity arose for a gallery when Clyde Chapman, owner of Chapman's Used and Curious Goods, died. Long, one of Lister's employees at Creation Station, 726 Massachusetts St., convinced him to acquire the space.
"We had the same vision and drive for the studio," Long said.
Chapman is remembered by the Grimshaw with the Chapman Room, a lounge-like area in the studio section for the artists to partake in intellectual, spiritual and creative repose.
"It's very much a communal space," Long said. "We keep all our tools there. We go back to relax and work on sketches or go back there just to socialize."
The Grimshaw Gallery plans to have a showing every month on every third or fourth Friday. Other plans include acquiring grants from the Lawrence Arts Center and the University of Kansas.
"I see the gallery being in a good place in a year's time," said Gordon.
Edited by Erin Chapman and Brandon Gay