Thursday, August 19.1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 9
Photographer creates unique exhibit of downtown
Portraits feature owners in stores
By Derek Prater
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Until 1958 there was only one central business district in Lawrence—downtown.
So when photographer John Gladman approached Downtown Lawrence Inc. with the idea for an exhibit featuring downtown business owners and their businesses, it didn't take long for enthusiasm about the project to spread up and down Massachusetts Street.
"I can't think of a better way to give downtown Lawrence the exposure it deserves," said Marcia McFarlane, Downtown Lawrence Inc. administrator.
"The Faces of Downtown Lawrence — Portrait of a Business Community" debuted Monday night at the Lawrence Visitor Information Center, 402 N. Second St. The exhibit comprises portraits of 21 downtown business owners in their places of business. Portraits include businesses such as Free State Brewing Co., the Antique Mall, Waxman Candles Inc. and Milton's Coffee and Wine.
Steve Jansen, director of the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., said he thought the exhibit was an especially suitable way to draw attention to the museum because it was of legitimate cultural interest as opposed to traditional advertising.
Linda Lester, owner of The Etc.
Shop, 928 Massachusetts St., said
she was drawn in by the uniqueness
of the project.
"I don't think anyone has ever done anything like this before," Lester said.
Gladman said his goal was to make first-rate portraits that also captured the environment of each business.
"I wanted the portraits to tell something about what these people do," Gladman said.
tor in starting the project, the turn of the millennium gave the project special historical significance.
"This is not only a great marketing tool for me but for each one of these people in it." Gladman said.
Gladman has worked on exhibits like this before with clients such as the Kansas City Symphony. When he opened a studio in downtown Lawrence in January, Gladman thought that a similar project would be a great marketing idea.
Both Gladman and McFarlane said that though it was not a fac-
Jansen, who eventually will oversee the exhibit when it moves to the Watkins Museum, said that whatever the reason, he was happy to see historical documentation of downtown.
"I'm glad, as an historian, whenever we find a reason to document who we are and tell our story." Jansen said.
As for the photos themselves, Jansen said he was surprised by the quality of his portrait.
"It was well-arranged, and it was an attractive, warm photograph," Jansen said.
McFarlane said that the schedule for the exhibit had not yet been finalized, but that she expected it to be at the Visitor Information Center for four weeks. After that it likely would visit the Watkins Museum and the Lied Center before making a tour of venues around the state. Gladman said that the tour could be a big benefit of the show.
"Hopefully, this will travel around, and people will see it and say, 'I've got to go check out downtown Lawrence,' Gladman said. "A lot of people don't know what's down here. These little shops are so unique; they should be getting a lot more attention."
Edited by Allan Davis
"The Faces of Downtown Lawrence—Portrait of a Business Community," an exhibit by John Gladman is on display now. The portraits of downtown businesses and their owners can be seen at the Lawrence Visitors Center. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
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