THE
THE UNIVERSITY OF BARBARY KANSAS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2006
NEWS 3A
ARTS
Museum to alter formal image
Students try to bring campus interest back to KU art institution
BY BEN SMITH
Rachel Hineman is one of many students working to get more students interested in the Spencer Museum of Art.
"It's a great resource and a great place to go," Hineman, Dallas senior, said. "A lot of people don't seem to like the idea of going to a museum, but they don't realize just how much Spencer has to offer."
Hineman works for the art museum's Student Advisory Board. The board is responsible for events such as a free party and bus trip to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Mo., today.
Kristina Mitchell, the museum's education director who oversees the Student Advisory Board, said one of the group's goals was to take away the perception of the institution as strictly formal, and to make students recognize the entertainment value of
the museum.
"We don't just want to be that building next to the football stadium." Mitchell said.
What started in 1917 as a collection of 7,500 works donated by Sallie Casey Thayer, a Kansas City art collector, has grown into a collection of approximately 25,000 works of art in differing mediums with a curatorial
staff that determines which exhibitions the museum will bring to campus each year.
Bill Woodard, director of communications for the museum, said that about 125,000 people visit the museum annually.
staff thinks will pique interest among students and the general public.
"We have a student advisory board to give student voice to what we're doing here," Woodard said. "Making sure we are meeting the wants and needs of our students."
Current exhibitions at the museum include "Art into Art," a project that links art to the humanities.
"We don't just want to be that building next to the football stadium."
"I like to say that it is a great place for a cheap date." Woodard said.
KRISTINA MITCHELL Education director at the Spencer Museum of Art
The art museum has a state-funded operating budget of roughly $1.2 million this fiscal year and depends on endowments and private donations to bring exhibits to campus that the
mathematics and sciences, and "Views of Vietnam," which shows photographs and propaganda from the Vietnam conflict from the point of view of the Vietcong.
information. visit the Spencer Museum of Art Web site at www.spencerart.ku.edu.
For more information, er Museum of Art spencerart.ku.edu
Kansan staff writer Ben Smith can be contacted at bsmith@kansan. com.
Edited by Elyse Weidner
ARTS
Art museums join forces
BY NATE MCGINNIS
Students get opportunity to view multiple exhibits in one night
Art lovers will have the opportunity to experience two different exhibits for free this Friday, one at the Spencer Museum of Art and the other at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City. Mo.
The Student Advisory Board of the museum and Kemper Museum will sponsor "Late Night University: College Night at the Kemper, East Meets West."
The board will hold a pre-party from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the museum. The event will feature works by artists Roger Shimomura and Keith Haring. DJ Jason Garden will provide music for the event.
"People can come in and they can see things in our collection that will prepare them visually," Bill Woodard, director of communications for the museum, said.
After the party, attendees can board a bus to attend the exhibit at Kemper Museum. The bus will return to Lawrence around midnight.
On display at Kemper Museum will be 'Zephyr, an exhibit by Japanese-American artist Gajin Fujita. This is Fuita's first solo museum exhibition.
The event at Kemper Museum will also feature short films by students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, music by DJ Spike and henna tattooing.
Kristy Peterson, curator of education for Kemper Museum, said the museum was always looking for ways to engage new audiences and thought a partnership with the Spencer Museum of Art was a good way to reach out to students. She said the museum sponsored a college night at the museum about once a semester.
The event is free and open to all students.
Rachel Hineman, Dallas senior and member of the Student Advisory Board, said the purpose of the board was to get students interested in the museum.
Hineman said this was the first event with Kemper Museum and
she thought it was a good way for people who love art to meet and see the museum.
"I think there is something for everybody and you don't just have to be an art student to have a good time." Hineman said,
Woodard said he wanted exhibits like this to de-mystify the museum and help people realize it was an approachable place. He said everything at the museum was free, but a small donation was suggested.
"Once people come and have a good experience, it spreads," Woodard said. "It has this kind of viral quality."
The Student Advisory Board will be sponsoring another event Nov. 30 titled "Made in China." The exhibition will feature photographs taken by students on a study-abroad trip to China.
Kansan staff writer Nate McGinnis can be contacted at nmcginnis@kansan.com.
ORGANIZATIONS
KU Hillel hopes to attract record number to Shabbat
BY COURTNEY HAGEN
KU Hillel will attempt to host the biggest Shabbat in the state of Kansas tonight. Shabbat is the weekly day of rest for Judaism that traditionally begins Friday night and lasts until Saturday evening. The organization sponsors a Shabbat celebration annually, but wants this one to be the biggest.
Hundreds of students, faculty and families are invited to partake in the traditional Jewish service and dinner. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
Matt Lehrman. Hillel Jewish student life coordinator and program director, said the event started five years ago and was called "Shabbat 100" to emphasize a goal of getting 100 students to attend. Then it became Shabbat 350. This year it is Rock Chalk Shabbat to emphasize the experience aspect. Though the nominal focus will move away from numbers this year, Lehrman said they were still trying to make it one of the biggest Jewish celebrations in the state.
The program allows Jewish and non-Jewish participants to experience a traditional Shabbat service
and immerse themselves in the leish文化 for one night.
Liz Cohen, Helen president and Leawood junior, said about 400 people attended the Shabbat last year and that she was looking forward to even more attending this year.
"Jewish students are coming together to celebrate Shabbat and KU students can see what Hillel is all about and learn a little about the Jewish religion and culture. It benefits everyone," Cohen said
The community will celebrate tonight with a service that combines both reformed and conservative traditions of Judaism. Hillel students
wnr read the service. A dinner will follow at 7 p.m. with a large Kosher buffet, including challah. Challah is bread, often braided, that is a traditional part of the Shabbat meal. For entertainment, there will be a Jewish capella singing group and a raffle for basketballs signed by the entire lajyawk team.
Barak Krengel, former Hillel vice president for religious life and Dallas sophomore, has been involved with Hillel since he was a freshman. He said he looked forward to spending the night with friends to celebrate his faith and culture.
"For students who normally don't
get a chance to celebrate Shabbat,
this is kind of a chance to get back to
their roots." Krengel said.
Lehrman said Rock Chalk Shabbat was the biggest event of the year for Hillel. Lehrman said he hoped the event would help to increase the visibility of Hillel on campus with Jewish and non-Jewish students.
Rock Chalk Shabbat is free.
Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@ kansan.com.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
Rock Chalk Shabbat
> When: 6 tonlight
> **Where:** Woodruff Auditorium and Ballroom, Kansas Union
What: Traditional Shab-
bat services, kosher buffet,
Jayhawks-signed basketball
rattle, Jewish a capella group
Sherim Netzim, Hillel speakers
Source: KU Hillel
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