lifestyles
Just a kiss
Meghan Doughey / MAMCAM
**Above:** Jason Kurtenbach, Kansas City, Kan., resident, kisses the purple-stained hand of Jennifer Purcell, Lawrence freshman, at the Renaissance Festival in Boston Sunday afternoon, assumes the identity of Debrogail O'Donnell, a dye maker's daughter, at the festival, which runs until Oct. 16. **Below:** Purcell hides her hands behind her bark while sings a single
Going back in time with the dye maker's daughter
By Casey Barnes
Kansan staff writer
Jenifer Purcell, Lawrence freshman, is the dye maker's daughter. If you encounter her in the streets of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, beware of her dye-stained hands.
In her Renaissance-style dress and flowers in her hair, she slowly walks up to an innocent patron with her hands behind her back. Then she begins to recite her lines.
"Good day. I be Debrogail O'Donnell, daughter of the dye maker. I've been out at the fair all day and not a single man has kissed my hand, and I was wondering if you would do me the honor," Purcell says with an Irish accent.
This is her shtick, which is a small skit she plays as she interacts with the festival's visitors.
It worked on some people, but most did not fall for the trick, she said.
"People usually won't kiss my hands when they see they are purrle." Purcell said.
When she made up her character, her costume and her shick, she learned that women of the Renaissance period were not as independent as women today.
"I wanted to be a dye maker, but women in that period had to be under their father or their husband, so I became the dye-maker's daughter," Purcell said.
Purcell is one of 300 performers who are part of the spirit of the Renaissance Festival, a Kansas City tradition since 1977 and a benefit for the Kansas City Art Institute. The festival runs weeks until Oct. 16.
The atmosphere aims to capture the spirit of the Renaissance period with crafts, food, story telling, singing, games, plays and other events typical of the period.
Perry Griffin, Lawrence resident, said she enjoyed schticks like Purcell's, but was disappointed that there were not more of them.
"There used to be more interacting with the performers," Griffin said. "But now there is more spectating than interaction."
Portraying an apprentice in the Renaissance period, Purcell walks through the streets of the festival trying to bring the 20th-century visitors back to Medieval times.
"I like interacting with the different people, and I like to get away and be somebody else for the day and worry about the problems of someone else." Purcell said. "But it's a little hard to keep the accolade all day."
In addition to portraying another person, Purcell and the other performers are required to learn the customs, manners, accents and class systems of the Renaissance period.
That is information that Purcell, an anthropology major, is used to studying.
In fact, in a contest to see which performer knew the most about the Renaissance culture and the scenario portrayed at the festival, Purcell won first place.
This is Purcell's debut season as a performer at the festival, but she has been a faithful patron in past years.
She does not get paid for her performance. Purcell auditioned for the part last spring, and she practiced at least four times a week this summer.
Her job also includes controlling the crowds during performances and carrying the flag in each day's parade.
"We are basically in character from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.," Purcell said. "I lost track of how much time I've spent doing this a long time ago. It's hard to stay caught up with working, doing the Renaissance Festival, going to school and still having time for my cat."
Kris Wade, pictured at right, is a singer and songwriter from Kansas City, Mo. She will be one of 16 performers at the songwriters' showcase Thursday at the
Lawrence Arts Center. Her sister, Kelley Hunt,
will also
Harvest of Arts Free festival offers everyone the opportunity to enjoy the work of local artists.
perform.
By Casey Barnes
Kansan staff writer
During the weeklong Harvest of Arts festival honoring Lawrence artists, people of all ages and artistic abilities are urged to become involved in the arts.
The Third Annual Harvest of Arts celebration begins Monday and ends Oct. 2.
The Lawrence celebration includes poets, singers, dancers, musicians, storytellers, dramatists, two- and three-dimensional artists, jugglers and more.
"It's nice that it is free so that people that would not naturally go to a poetry reading, for example, might check it out," said Rick Frydman, publicist for the celebration.
All of the events are free, and organizers said they hoped that would lure curious participants to the celebration.
Frydman said the festival would celebrate Lawrence's large amount of talent.
The group believed that art was the biggest attraction to Lawrence, and Ramberg, also a local artist, wanted to help.
Ardys Ramberg, founder of Harvest of Arts,
agreed.
in Lawrence
"There are many different types of artists in Lawrence," Ramberg said. "But I don't like the divisiveness of the arts. I think all artists can pull together for a harvest of arts to help the community."
She said the event was started three years ago after she read two articles about the Vision 20- 20 Community, a group trying to foster tourism
This year's celebration includes KU student Timothy "the typewriter" Jordan, who is performing Monday at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St., and community mud painting Oct. 2 at the Buford M. Watson Park, 7th and Tennessee streets.
Downtown merchants will display the work of local artists in their storefronts and offer guides to other window art.
"I want to see every person, old and young, who has ever done art, come out and celebrate creative thoughts and action." Ramberg said.
Matt Nusbaum, Topeka freshman, will have his poetry on display at 1019 Massachusetts St. As an English major, he said he took any opportunity to write.
"I think it's a great idea," he said. "People involved in their own community is great."
Harvest of Arts Calendar
Monday, Sept. 26
There will be 30-minute performances from The Renegade Youth Theater, English Alternative Theater and the East Side Comedy Shop starting at 8 p.m. The Typewriter Man will begin about 1.0 p.m., and Lou's Revenge, a rock and jazz band, will be from 11 p.m. to midnight. All of the performances will be at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St.
The Prairie Wind Dancers, a professional dance company, will present one hour
Tuesday, Sept. 27
performance at 8 p.m. in the Lawrence Arts Center, 9th and Vermont streets. The program will feature "Four Patch Suite," seven dances celebrating pioneer women and their works of art.
The Third Annual Harvest of Arts Songwriters' Showcase featuring 16 Lawrence and Kansas City artists will begin at 8 p.m. at the Lawrence Arts Center, 9th and Vermont streets.
A local pianist will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Eldridge Hotel Lobby, 701 Massachusetts St.
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Friday, Sept. 30
Thursday, Sept. 29
A poetry showcase, featuring area pots,
will take place at 8 o'm. at the Lawrence
Arts Center, 8th and Vermont streets,
The Third Annual Harvest of Arts Film Festival,
featuring local filmmakers' works,
will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St.
There are many activities taking place at the Buford M. Watson Park, 7th and Tennessee streets.
Saturday, Oct. 1
Artists will be displaying and selling their original creations throughout the park. There will be a Children's' Festival for kids ages one through 16 from noon until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Children should bring their artwork to be sold or displayed in the park.
Activities include a performance by the
Seem-to-be Players, Origami making, a community sculpture, giant bubble blower construction, jugglers, children's musicians, a community mud painting, belly dancers and a "whimsy-shots" photo stage.
There will also be live music from 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. in the park.
Sunday, Oct. 2
Main stage performers will perform from noon until 6 p.m. at the Buford W. Watson Peirk, 7th and Tennessee streets. There will also be folk music during this time on a stage next to the basketball courts.
Children should bring their artwork to be sold or displayed in the park.
Lawrence Nightlife Calendar
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
Danger Bob with Yah Yah Little Man, 10 tonight,
$3 (18 and over)
Blue Dixie with Lord Groovey, 10 p.m. tomorrow,
$4
Punkinhead, 10 p.m. Saturday, $4
Nova Mobi and Prizes, 10 p.m. Sunday, $4 (21
and over). $5 (18-20)
Open Mike Night, 9:30 p.m. Monday, no cover charge
Communal Living Opportunities Benefit featuring Slackjaw, Helen Grace and Happy Teeiaki 6, 10 p.m. Wednesday, $4 (18 and over)
Cherry Poppin' Dadies with The Eudoras, 10 p.m.
Tuesday. $4
NOTE Showcase, 10 p.m. Thursday, $5
1601 W.23rd St.
River Valley Music Cafe
The Smithereens, 10 p.m. tomorrow, cover charge
John Paul & the Hellhounds, Little Johnny & the Rhythm, Rockets & Moe Blues Band, 10 tonight, cover charge
Mulligan's
Acoustic Juice, 10 tonight, $2
1016 Massachusetts St.
Live Jazz Night, 10 p.m. Tuesday, no cover charge
Acoustic Open Mike Night, 9 p.m. Wednesday,
no cover charge
Dan Bliss and Kurt Stockhammer, 10 p.m. Thurs
day. $2
The Jazzhaus of Lawrence
926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Debbie Davies, 10 tonight, $4
L.A. Ramblers with Richard Johnson, 9 p.m
tomorrow and Saturday, $4
Chris Smither, 10 p.m. Wednesday, $4
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, 10
p.m. Thursday, $5
Full Moon Cafe
803 Massachusetts St.
Mississauga 51.
Kris Wade, 8 tonight, no cover charge
Granada Theater
1020 Massachusetts St.
Al Brown and Inner Force, 10 tonight, $4-5
Monde Disco with D.J. Ray, 9 p.m. tomorrow,
$4-5
Lee McBee and the Passions, and John Paul and the Helihounds, 10 p.m. Saturday, cover charge Club 7, 9 p.m., Sunday, $3-4
'80s Night, 9 p.m. Wednesday, $4-5
Liberty Hall
642 Massachusetts St.
Pavement with Panel Donor, doors open at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, advanced tickets $12.80
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