OUT
KIT LEFFLER
Visitors to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Mo., view recently displayed 3D and 2D works by an international artist.
ECLECTIC IMAGES
Art for the senses
by David Heller
A group of 50 art-lovers gather on the second floor of Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St. Most of the group consists of elderly, retired couples who casually observe the exhibit's paintings of Native Americans, Kansas farms, hills and sunsets lined up along the walls. Among the crowd is Kansan poet Thomas Fox Averill.
As the hour approaches, everyone flocks to the center of the room and sits in anticipation. Averill, red-faced, quickly maneuvers through the crowd to his podium. He stands tall as he gathers notes and welcomes his audience.
"I'd like to read you a collage of literary images that might remind you of the art that surrounds you," Averill says.
Averill, a 157-year-old professor of English at Washburn University, reads an excerpt from William Stafford's poem Lake Wavnka.
The city of Lawrence hosts a wide variety of art and cultural events ranging from historical themes to modern creations. James Schafer, gallery director at Signs of Life, says the biggest challenge for him is getting the word out."We hope to host a lot more cultural events that will attract younger audiences in the future," Schafer says.
These young audiences include KU students who collaborate to promote the Lawrence art scene. More than 200 students attended Transformers: Artists in Disguise, an event at the Spencer
Museum of Art lastThursday.The event combined featured student artworks, a DJ performance by KJHK, a martial arts demonstration and free ice cream.
Tonia Blair,
Lawrence junior,
attended the event."Artcomes in all shapes and forms, and this event proves it," she says.
Blair says she appreciates the efforts of the
related events each week. However, if you look around campus, you'll see artwork displayed outside in front of the campus halls of Jayhawk Boulevard. The greatest challenge in promoting
ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS
Lawrence hosts numerous art-
Student Advisory Board in promoting the event. "You don't have to be an art major to appreciate it," she says.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art 4420
Warwick Blvd. Kansas City, Mo., kemperart.org
(816) 753-5784
Lewrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., lawrenceartscenter.com, (785) 843-2787
Nelson-Atkins Museum, 4525 OakSt, Kansas City, Mo., nelson-atkins.org (816) 561-4000
Signc of Life, 722 Massachusetts St. signoflifegallery.com (785) 830-8030
Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St. www.spencerart.ku.edu (785) 864-4710
such art is gettingmore students involved.
Kim Brook, President of Spencer Museum Student Advisory Board, says she promotes connections with students and museum events. Although relatively new, the board
Intends on bringing guest speakers such as artists, writers and experts."Many students associate our art museum as being formal," Brook says. "We hope to
change that image through hosting open student-run events."
Kristina Mitchell, director of education at the Spencer Museum of Art, says she enjoys working with KU students as well as the wide variety of programs and audiences. "The museum caters to elementary school kids, college students and senior citizens alike," Mitchell says.
In fact, this summer the museum will host several events designed to bring in more Lawrence residents. Joseph Keehn, Topeka graduate student and education intern is in charge of organizing a film event at the museum this summer entitled Reflecting on Collecting. The film festival will include such films as Bamboozled, About Schmidt, and The Collector. "The purpose of this event is to incorporate these films with the exhibits we have at the Spencer Museum," Keehn says.
Lawrence has all kinds of culture waiting for you. So, instead of spending your nights watching reality TV, check out an art exhibit or indulge yourself at a poetry reading either on or off campus. Your fellow students and neighbors work hard to bring you intellectual entertainment.