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arts & culture
KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2017
Aries
(March 21-April 19)
Team efforts and projects thrive this month with the Sun in Aquarius. Attend to shared finances today and tomorrow. Collaborate for a passionate cause
passionate cause.
Taurus
taurus (April 20-May 20) A professional rise in status is available this month with the Aquarius Sun. Take advantage of new opportunities. Collaborate in partnership, especially today and tomorrow.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20) Balance busy work with rest and exercise today and tomorrow. Travel beckons this month with the Sun in Aquarius. Satisfy your curiosity and enjoy the investigation
Cancer
Leslie Kuluva explains her design for the Women's March on Topeka.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Have fun with family and friends over the next two days. Focus on family finances this month with the Sun in Aquarius. Discuss long-term goals.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22)
Listen to what's going on,
and summarize the plot for
others. Observe the running
game. You're especially
keen-witted and clever. Put
your thoughts into words.
Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Creativity sparks today and tomorrow. Balance work with physical health over the next month with the Sun in Aquarius. Raise your performance level with practice
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You're lucky in love, games and passions this month with the Sun in Aquarius. It gets profitable, especially today and tomorrow. Pracc
tice. Share the love
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You're especially sensitive. Clean up old messes and clear new space for creating what's next. Hide out and consider what you want to generate. Discover
options.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Your friends are your inspiration. Have fun on committees, at parties and social gatherings. Sidestep a controversy with diplomatic humor. Smile with grace and tect
Capricorn 92 km
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Cash flows in more easily this month with the Sun in Aquarius. Balance expenses with income. Enjoy a social phase over the next
two days.
(Aquatica
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You have the advantage this month, with the Sun in your sign. Compete for rising career status today and tomorrow. Go for your personal best.
Aquarius
(Feb. 19-March 20)
Travel and studies coalesce
over the next two days. Complete projects in peaceful
productivity this month, with
the Sun in Aquarius. Savor
solitude and introspection.
Recharge
personal best.
Pisces
Recharge.
With art, Lawrence artists resist apathy and hate in wake of presidential election
Yusra Nabi/KANSAN
▶ COURTNEY BIERMAN
@courtbierman
At LFK Press, the design studio owned by local artist Leslie Kuluva on 8th Street in downtown Lawrence, Bernie Sanders posters and politically-influenced buttons are just as likely to be found as her popular "LFK" T-shirts.
Kuluva is one of many local artists whose recent work is, in part, a reaction to the current political climate. She said that since the 2016 presidential campaign, various event organizers and local chapters of social movements, such as the Lawrence chapter of Black Lives Matter, have recruited her to design merchandise.
For the Women's March on Topeka on Saturday, Kuluva is designing 13-inch by 19-inch posters similar those being used to promote the national march in Washington D.C. on the same day. Kuluva said her designs aren't about politics — women's issues and the Black Lives Matter movement are common sense to her.
"I wouldn't say I'm a super political person," she said. "I wouldn't say I'm a political artist. I don't even know that I consider this stuff really politics, if you want to be frank."
During the 2014 state governor's election, Kansas City-based illustrator and University alumnus Patrick Giroux and some of his friends sold prints to raise
money for candidate Paul Davis' campaign.
what I see as our roles as citizens to try and stand up for each other." Giroux said.
Giroux said that such political art brings legitimacy to the movements it supports. Much of Giroux's work is meant to show what he likes in Kansas, including landmark prints and maps that show the state's natural beauty. Going forward, his work will be more "civics-focused."
"As a citizen to stand up for others and to fight against injustice, indifference and push back on apathy and hate, that's
I wouldn't say I'm a political artist. I don't even know that I consider this stuff really politics, if you want to be frank."
Leslie Kuluva Local artist
Lawrence printmaker Justin Marable spent the 2016 campaign
collaborating with other local artists on various political projects, including a zine publication called "Microburst" that provided a platform for artists and writers to declare their opposition to what they saw as the "extreme conservative political takeover" of Kansas. Marable is a co-creator of the zine and designed its cover.
Marable said that he has a responsibility as an artist to use his work for activism, because it's his job as a creative thinker to
raise awareness and find solutions.
"I know that lots of artists in Lawrence and throughout the state aren't going to sit quietly in their studios and pretend like their worldview hasn't changed since the election," he said. "There undoubtedly will be, and already has been, an increase in merging art and activism."
- Edited by Frank Weirich
Ashleu Hocking/KANSAN
Zach Thompson [at his residence in north Lawrence] was the executive chef at 715 restaurant for the past two years.
Former 715 executive chef plans next project
▶ SEAN JESSE
@sean_jesse
As gray clouds pass over the houses of North Lawrence and onto the Kansas plains,chef Zach Thompson stood on his patio, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer.
Ever since leaving his position as executive chef at 715, the critically-acclaimed bistro on Massachusetts Street, Thompson has spent his time at home, brainstorming ideas for his next project. For now, the chef is planning on opening a food trailer out of the lot by Lawrence Vintage Cycle.
"Let go inside," he said as a train whistled by in the background.
While working at 715, Thompson was recognized in the Best of Lawrence as one of the top chefs in town.
"I don't necessarily give a [expletive] about accolades, at least in the public eye," Thompson said. "It's nice to be recognized, but it's not necessarily what I live for."
Thompson, 32, may seem dismissive of recognition, but it has certainly been a long road to get to where he is now. Starting in the restaurant industry in high school as a pizzeria dishwasher, Thompson bounced around many establishments throughout his career. After 10 years in Lawrence, he has seen many restaurants come and go.
"I worked at Teller's for three and a half years," Thompson said. "I worked at Mariscos for two plus years. I worked at JB Stouts
SEE CHEF PAGE 11
Review: The xx explores a new direction on 'I See You'
▶ LANE HORNBACK
@Loner2301
Contributed photo
The third album by the British pop trio The xx, "I See You," showcases a new direction of musical style for the indie electronic band. Sometimes change affects bands in a negative way, but it can also help a band revamp its sound to provide its listeners with recently developed music that still holds ground to their original sound.
The xx took a turn on their latest project by adding even more samples and synths to their songs, while stripping away the guitar parts that seemed to be so prevalent on their previous albums. The change in the album "I See You" affected the band in both negative and positive ways.
Time and time again Jamie Smith, commonly known by his stage name Jamie xx, has proven that he is a worthy producer whose creativity has allowed him to become a prominent producer and mixer in the world of electronic music. The samples that Jamie used for "I See You" are fitting for the overall sound of the album. The sounds that he produces for the album are nothing less than his past work, but they do overpower the other parts of
the music at times.
The guitars have been fully pushed into the back corner of this album in order to let the synths and drum beats into the limelight. This move still produced an overall appealing sound for the album, yet the lack of guitar takes away from the bands unique sound: a unique combination of bass, synths and guitar.
the emotions that pour from the voices of Croft and Sim by laying down rhythms that provide an atmosphere fitting for the song's meanings.
Even though the synths do overpower at certain points, they also make way for the two lead singers, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, to showcase their beautifully mystic voices. The harmonies of the album are lined perfectly with emotion from the two songwriters experiences with love and loss. Jamie is able to reflect
Overall, the album is a great start to the new year for alternative music. The four-year break has paid off for The xx, and the band's music has not skipped a beat. The trio continues to grow musically, and they seem to becoming more creative with each release. Change is always a gamble in the music world, and this time around the coin has landed on the right side for The xx.
Edited by Ashley Hocking
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