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Corey Kent White is set to perform a charity concert at the Bottleneck on Feb. 13.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
"The Voice" finalist to play charity show at Bottleneck
▶ JACKSON DODD
@snooopdodd
Corey Kent White, a finalist on last year's season of NBC's "The Voice," will perform in a charity concert for Folds of Honor at the Bottleneck Feb. 13.
The non-profit organization Folds of Honor provides financial and educational support to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.
"Personally, this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing right now with my music," White said. "The bigger picture is using whatever talents you were given to change lives for the better."
While simultaneously being a top-8 finalist on "The Voice" last year and a student at Oklahoma State University, White, 21, had a busy 2015. His soulful country rock music has had him touring with some of country's biggest names including Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson and Luke Bryan.
White said Folds of Honor gave him the chance to do what he loves and also help out a charitable cause.
The concert means a lot to Justin Parsons as well, the associate director of the Folds of Honor.
"For a young, budding artist to want to give back is great to see," Parsons said. "I know Lawrence appreciates good music so I expect to see a great turnout."
Parsons began working for Folds of Honor in 2014
after graduating from the University in 2014. The founder and CEO of the program, Maj.Dan Rooney, is also a University alumnus; Parsons said he saw the opportunity to serve his country and took it.
"This stop on the tour means even more to us," Parsons said. "Seeing the sacrifices that our military families make has had a tremendous impact on me."
White has also been impacted by the military, as his grandfather served in
the Army and taught him about the sacrifices that those who serve, and their families, have to make.
"[My] family has always instilled a deep respect for the military; if it wasn't for those troops we wouldn't be able to enjoy things like play music or have the freedom to do that." White said.
White said he's helping raise awareness for this cause and doing what he loves in the process.
change lives forever," White said. "Obviously I want to further my music and expand my territory and my music. I want to raise awareness about my music and not for selfish gain. I want to use talents to help lives."
"I wanted to raise $50,000 for FOH and
Tickets for the show are available at http://thebottlenecklive.com/
- Edited by Samantha
Harms
Lawrence artist's gallery work incorporates " kitschy" materials
▶ SAMANTHA SEXTON
@Sambiscuit
rom the Curiosity
Rover atop a flying
alligator, to a howit-
zer-headed rooster, the artwork of painter and sculptor Kris Kuksi is an energetic mess of controlled chaos. His pieces, made from hundreds of miniatures gathered everywhere from Home Depot to model train sets, attempt to make statements about militarization, organized religion and human psychology.
Kuksi spoke last night at the Lawrence Arts Center about his collection of work being shown there. The gallery is intended to grow over time with a final piece being commissioned solely for the Arts Center presented sometime in early March. Until then, what few pieces are on display now amuse and fascinate
onlookers.
Mike Simmon, an electronics technician who attended the talk, said he was "overwhelmed" by the art.
"I came with a bit of fascination to see what his artwork would look like, incorporating parts of models," Simmon said. "I have to say that I am absolutely blown away by this man's work. It was much finer art than I could have imagined."
There was standing room only at the gallery as Kuksi shared a taste of his process during his presentation.
"I'll find something kitschy like a lion's head that's supposed to hold curtain rods, and I'll work around that." Kuksi said.
Ranging anywhere from four inches to fully life-sized statues, Kuksi's work incorporates everything from fingernail-sized model men to larger-than-average
taxidermy models of baboons.
"I've seen mediums being used in a way that I could never have imagined," Simmon said. "I'm still trying to work out how he even came up with the ideas for those pieces."
"I try to show the psychology behind the human mind and that can be seen in the symmetry of my work."
KRIS KUKSI Artist
Kuksi's other work has been bought by everyone from Usher to Steve Aoki but despite being a name on the lips of celebrities,
Kuksi has managed to stay grounded.
"I can't take my work too seriously," Kuksi said. "I try to show the psychology behind the human mind and that can be seen in the symmetry of my work. The top shows what we portray to the world while the bottom gives homage to that idea of the underworld and what's behind the mind, but despite all that, if I didn't have fun with it, it wouldn't be worth it."
Looking at Kuksi's work, one may be in awe of what it actually means, but the humor can be found in the titles of the work. A piece featuring elegant Romanesque soldiers with long tails, for example, is titled, "Spremadires."
"I like to poke fun at the establishment in art and religion and governments are also on the table," Kuksi
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Artist Kris Kuksi makes his pieces out of hundreds of miniatures.
said. "Nothing is off-limits." Kuksi's gallery will be at the Lawrence Art Center until March 19.
Edited by Sarah Kruger
Lawrence store Foxtrot says its final goodbye
▶ OMAR SANCHEZ
@OhMySanchez
A locally owned shoe shop owned by Kansas native Caroline Mathias located on 823 Massachusetts Street remained a bright spot for the vibrant culture of downtown Lawrence.
Foxtrot, as the shop was called, closed its doors for the final time on January 31. The closure of the shop was announced in November on the store's Facebook page.
"Foxtrot, I'll miss you," Mathias posted on Foxtrot's Facebook page on Monday. "We had a lot of fun, didn't we?"
It was a sad day for the loyal local shoppers, as
Foxtrot prided itself with offering the most impeccable shoe and sock brands the market had to offer. Stretching from women's flats by Dr. Scholl's to men's Oxford dress shoes at more than half-off the original prices.
Foxtrot also took care of fans of the store from across the country, with one Yelper from Forest Hills, New York praising Foxtrot for not only sending out her shoes flawlessly and in a timely fashion, but also for a lovely handwritten note from the owner of the store herself, Caroline.
For now the community may be saying goodbye to a Lawrence staple. It may only be a
"Perhaps I'll be back in the future, but for the time being, this is it," Mathias posted on Facebook in No-
matter of time before Foxtrot - in one way or another - peaks it head out again and is welcomed back to the community.
- Edited by Shane Jackson
vember. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for letting me enjoy and fulfill th i s
dream of mine, it's been great."
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