So, I'm not planning on making a habit of commenting on other people's commentary. Once we members of the chattering class start chasing each other's tails, we tend to miss all the important stuff that's going on outside of the flying fur.
That said, and acknowledging that I'm a few days late to the snark party, I have to say that I'm on the "art makes this city better" side of the recent Hampton Stevens/Chris Packham divide.
First, in the Kansas City Star's op-ed, ESPN/The Atlantic scribe Stevens wrote an unabashed hymn to the city, proclaimed its resurgence as of 2011 and piled most of the laurels on the arts (saving a wreath or two dozen for Sporting Kansas City's spiffy new home, Livestrong Sporting Park, which is certainly understandable).
Was it gushy? Oh, yeah. But hey, it's hard to fault a guy for being a bit starry-eyed over the arts community here, right?
Packham not only faulted Stevens' enthusiasm in a rebuttal piece for the Pitch, but went on to question Stevens' masculinity and his concern for anyone but white folks who live west of Troost. With people getting shot and other Very Bad Things happening in the metro, he reasoned, it's just foofy and elitist to be happy about that rich-people folderol.
Look, there are valid reasons to hate Hampton Stevens. I barely know the man, and I loathe his entire digestive tract for looking better in a hat than I ever will. Also, the guy's a known raconteur, which makes him a suspect character right away.
(Note: I don't really hate him, nor do I think he hand-embroiders anything.)
Point is, effusive though he might have been, he's right about the arts elevating the city -- and the visual arts are a huge part of that. Also, anyone who thinks art is just for affluent, pigment-challenged folks needs to get out more.
There's no socioeconomic litmus test required make the gallery rounds on an art walk, take in an artist talk at one of the local museums or even see art being made at street level.And on the art-making side ... well, let's just say that the creative community is just as diverse as the metro area itself.
Yes, things need to get better in all sorts of areas here. But acknowledging that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the good stuff, too.
And in the Kansas City area, there's no denying that art is some of our best stuff.
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Manfred Mann alive, it's being a day.
The laptop is back, but misbehaving. It's decided its favorite color is blue, and keeps showing me -- on the screen, of course -- how much it loves a particularly deadly shade.
(It's a Toshiba thing, I hear, "Toshiba" being Japanese for "Gojira-sized pile o' poo.")
The review aspect will resume tomorrow, however. In the meantime, here's the overwhelming response to the question posed in yesterday's post:
So, either you (a) trust my finely honed instincts or ... yeah. Has to be (a), right?
Some things that will happen on a regular basis in the new format.
1. Artist profiles, either stand-alone or in conjunction with a current show
2. Venue profiles, especially "offbeat" locations;
3. Art at Home, a series on people who use their living spaces to put on rotating displays of other people's work.
Anything else?
I'm all (Dare I say it?) ears ...
(It's a Toshiba thing, I hear, "Toshiba" being Japanese for "Gojira-sized pile o' poo.")
The review aspect will resume tomorrow, however. In the meantime, here's the overwhelming response to the question posed in yesterday's post:
So, either you (a) trust my finely honed instincts or ... yeah. Has to be (a), right?
Some things that will happen on a regular basis in the new format.
1. Artist profiles, either stand-alone or in conjunction with a current show
2. Venue profiles, especially "offbeat" locations;
3. Art at Home, a series on people who use their living spaces to put on rotating displays of other people's work.
Anything else?
I'm all (Dare I say it?) ears ...
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Caffeine and Creativity
This will be brief, or should be. I am on a tenuous wireless connection, and more turned inward than outward.
As I write this, I am seated in one of the excellent independent coffeehouses which grace this area. There is photography on the walls, although I can't find a name to go with it. (Note to artists: Leave a name and an e-mail address, at least. People need to know how to contact you. End of small soapbox moment)
It's put me in mind of all the caffeinated chance encounters, all the moments that turned into reviews, all the contacts that turned into getting to know artists beyond their works.
I won't attempt a comprehensive list, or even a partial one, of either artists or venues. I would leave someone out, being of imperfect memory, and I would regret the omission.
So ... this one's a bit personal.
To all the coffeehouses that display local art, and to the artists who fill those spaces month after month, thank you for those moments.
Raising my cup, I offer a toast: To many more.
As I write this, I am seated in one of the excellent independent coffeehouses which grace this area. There is photography on the walls, although I can't find a name to go with it. (Note to artists: Leave a name and an e-mail address, at least. People need to know how to contact you. End of small soapbox moment)
It's put me in mind of all the caffeinated chance encounters, all the moments that turned into reviews, all the contacts that turned into getting to know artists beyond their works.
I won't attempt a comprehensive list, or even a partial one, of either artists or venues. I would leave someone out, being of imperfect memory, and I would regret the omission.
So ... this one's a bit personal.
To all the coffeehouses that display local art, and to the artists who fill those spaces month after month, thank you for those moments.
Raising my cup, I offer a toast: To many more.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A Harry Proposition
Drove by Union Station today, saw the empty pedestal out front, and wondered when Harry was going to show up.
In September 2005, six-some years and a whole writing career ago, I went to a news conference in front of the station.
There was a printed handout. There was a maquette (mock-up, to you and me and pretty much everyone who didn't come out of the womb speaking Sculpturese). There was going to be a 26-foot statue of the 33rd president, right there in front of the station, and I walked back across the street and wrote a story to that effect. (One of my better leads, too, if I might say so.)
A few of those handouts might still be in existence. The maquette is ... well, more on that in a bit.
But coming up on six years after its projected dedication, the 26-foot-tall statue still looks like a 26-foot-tall pile of air.
In May 2006, the preservation committee at Union Station said, "Hey, nobody asked us if this was OK," and put the brakes on the project.
And so the whole effort remains parked, even though the maquette has been on display at the Jackson County Courthouse since early last year.
This much you already knew. The question now (I know, I'm full of 'em lately) is this:
What can be done to get the project moving forward?
Well, first, a place for the statue has to be secured. If the preservation committee remains recalcitrant (fine, short-sighted), then perhaps a spot can be found across the way on the Liberty Memorial grounds. (You'd think people could tell the difference between, say, painting the columns blaze orange and putting up a statue of a revered local figure, but let's move on.)
Next, someone's going to have to pay for it.
Money's tight (another recurring theme here), and it's debatable whether public funds should be spent on a big piece of monumental art right now. But here's the funny thing: People still have pennies, and we don't always know what to do with them.
Bit by bit, cent by cent, coffee-can donation holder by coffee-can donation holder, the necessary funds could be raised without tapping local, state or federal coffers. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but even slow and steady progress is better than waiting on hold.
This next bit might not go over so well. If the project goes back into motion, Bruce Wolfe -- the California sculptor who first won the commission -- should get the job if he still wants it. Matter of principle, and all that, and Wolfe already has a local presence with bronzes of former KCMO mayor Ilus Davis and late Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt.
However, if Wolfe passes this time, let's keep the search for Harry 2.0 local, shall we?
In September 2005, six-some years and a whole writing career ago, I went to a news conference in front of the station.
There was a printed handout. There was a maquette (mock-up, to you and me and pretty much everyone who didn't come out of the womb speaking Sculpturese). There was going to be a 26-foot statue of the 33rd president, right there in front of the station, and I walked back across the street and wrote a story to that effect. (One of my better leads, too, if I might say so.)
A few of those handouts might still be in existence. The maquette is ... well, more on that in a bit.
But coming up on six years after its projected dedication, the 26-foot-tall statue still looks like a 26-foot-tall pile of air.
In May 2006, the preservation committee at Union Station said, "Hey, nobody asked us if this was OK," and put the brakes on the project.
And so the whole effort remains parked, even though the maquette has been on display at the Jackson County Courthouse since early last year.
This much you already knew. The question now (I know, I'm full of 'em lately) is this:
What can be done to get the project moving forward?
Well, first, a place for the statue has to be secured. If the preservation committee remains recalcitrant (fine, short-sighted), then perhaps a spot can be found across the way on the Liberty Memorial grounds. (You'd think people could tell the difference between, say, painting the columns blaze orange and putting up a statue of a revered local figure, but let's move on.)
Next, someone's going to have to pay for it.
Money's tight (another recurring theme here), and it's debatable whether public funds should be spent on a big piece of monumental art right now. But here's the funny thing: People still have pennies, and we don't always know what to do with them.
Bit by bit, cent by cent, coffee-can donation holder by coffee-can donation holder, the necessary funds could be raised without tapping local, state or federal coffers. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but even slow and steady progress is better than waiting on hold.
This next bit might not go over so well. If the project goes back into motion, Bruce Wolfe -- the California sculptor who first won the commission -- should get the job if he still wants it. Matter of principle, and all that, and Wolfe already has a local presence with bronzes of former KCMO mayor Ilus Davis and late Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt.
However, if Wolfe passes this time, let's keep the search for Harry 2.0 local, shall we?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Let's have words, shall we?
No, I don't want to start a fight ... well, not today.
And I promise to get back to the reviews, stat, but first I have one more question.
It's not problematic, like yesterday's series of queries. This one's a no-brainer, along the lines of Should any singer who uses Auto-Tune be barred from Grammy contention? or Should that Bobo guy on "Finding Bigfoot" get a Gibbs Head Slap every time he says "Squatch?"
(If you answer "no" to either of those, get in line with Bobo. Gibbs will be along shortly.)
Today's query: Should Steve take a break from pontificating and, oh, I don't know ... post a call for artists every once in a while?
Which brings us to this opportunity, from Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati. They're looking for artists who incorporate text into their work; as a word guy of sorts, I thought it would be worthwhile to pass it along.
The rules are here: The deadline is Jan. 25, so don't delay.
Now, bonus question: Would I welcome yet more calls, enough that I could make a regular feature out of them?
What do you think? (Don't make me go and get Gibbs again ...)
And I promise to get back to the reviews, stat, but first I have one more question.
It's not problematic, like yesterday's series of queries. This one's a no-brainer, along the lines of Should any singer who uses Auto-Tune be barred from Grammy contention? or Should that Bobo guy on "Finding Bigfoot" get a Gibbs Head Slap every time he says "Squatch?"
(If you answer "no" to either of those, get in line with Bobo. Gibbs will be along shortly.)
Today's query: Should Steve take a break from pontificating and, oh, I don't know ... post a call for artists every once in a while?
Which brings us to this opportunity, from Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati. They're looking for artists who incorporate text into their work; as a word guy of sorts, I thought it would be worthwhile to pass it along.
The rules are here: The deadline is Jan. 25, so don't delay.
Now, bonus question: Would I welcome yet more calls, enough that I could make a regular feature out of them?
What do you think? (Don't make me go and get Gibbs again ...)
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Food for discussion
One thing about a winter First Friday: Fewer openings make for a more relaxed pace (not that I'm complaining about busy nights, but sometimes it's nice just to stand/sit for a while and talk).
During one stop, near the end of the walk, the subject of art in restaurants came up.
A gallery-owner friend advanced the proposition that restaurants, rather than offering artists shows and taking commissions on sales, should purchase art outright from those artists -- whether from existing stock or by commissioning works -- just as they'd buy any other items of decor.
It's tempting to agree wholeheartedly ... but in this economy, and with profit margins in the restaurant industry already as thin as a truffle shaving, I can't say, "Yes. Absolutely," and mean it wholeheartedly. I know people in the business, and I know it can be a struggle just to keep the doors open.
You've already heard my contention that restaurants should showcase local art, and a program of rotating exhibits provides one way to do that. Such shows also allow a venue to change its "look" on a monthly, bimonthly or seasonal basis.
That said, there should be some intrinsic economic benefit to the artist, not merely the possibility of sales. Why? Because artists will send/invite their friends and family to the restaurant to see the works, and most people will get something to eat or drink while they're there. That's a tangible plus for the venue, while the artist can only hope to realize a real benefit.
One solution might be for the restaurant to pay for publicity materials, and commit to promoting the artist during the run of the show. It's not new cash for the artist, but it would save him or her an expenditure. Art rental is another option; so is a commitment to purchase one piece from each show, to build a permanent collection. (Yes, I know that would limit opportunities for new artists after the first year or so of operations; no plan is perfect.)
All of this is preface to asking, "What do you think?"
Should artists just be grateful for the exposure, especially in a brutally tight market, or do they have as much right to expect remuneration as the people who supply the table service, the furniture and the mood lighting?
No answers here ... just questions and what-ifs.
During one stop, near the end of the walk, the subject of art in restaurants came up.
A gallery-owner friend advanced the proposition that restaurants, rather than offering artists shows and taking commissions on sales, should purchase art outright from those artists -- whether from existing stock or by commissioning works -- just as they'd buy any other items of decor.
It's tempting to agree wholeheartedly ... but in this economy, and with profit margins in the restaurant industry already as thin as a truffle shaving, I can't say, "Yes. Absolutely," and mean it wholeheartedly. I know people in the business, and I know it can be a struggle just to keep the doors open.
You've already heard my contention that restaurants should showcase local art, and a program of rotating exhibits provides one way to do that. Such shows also allow a venue to change its "look" on a monthly, bimonthly or seasonal basis.
That said, there should be some intrinsic economic benefit to the artist, not merely the possibility of sales. Why? Because artists will send/invite their friends and family to the restaurant to see the works, and most people will get something to eat or drink while they're there. That's a tangible plus for the venue, while the artist can only hope to realize a real benefit.
One solution might be for the restaurant to pay for publicity materials, and commit to promoting the artist during the run of the show. It's not new cash for the artist, but it would save him or her an expenditure. Art rental is another option; so is a commitment to purchase one piece from each show, to build a permanent collection. (Yes, I know that would limit opportunities for new artists after the first year or so of operations; no plan is perfect.)
All of this is preface to asking, "What do you think?"
Should artists just be grateful for the exposure, especially in a brutally tight market, or do they have as much right to expect remuneration as the people who supply the table service, the furniture and the mood lighting?
No answers here ... just questions and what-ifs.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Resolved: That no matter the season, the walls should be bedecked.
Yes, the reviews are coming. But, as said, things are changing 'round these here parts, and today is a soapbox moment.
So, it's January 2, the day when we pause in memory of the New Year's resolutions which -- like as not -- died in under 24 hours.
So it goes.
That said, there's nothing wrong with planning to do things differently in 2012. And so, this one's for you, People Who Have Space to Show Art But Don't.
Look, you don't need a gigantic venue. The Bourgeois Pig in Lawrence is tiny, for example, and yet month after month you can find really good work on the walls there.
Nor do you need a conventional space (and in this, I'll count coffeehouses as "conventional," seeing that most of the ones I know already show local, original art). Got a medical/dental/optical/etc. office? A hair salon? A bank lobby? Free wall space in your church?
Instant gallery. Just add art. (And, for the record, I can cite examples, in any of the above categories, of places which already double as art venues.)
I've typed this before, and I'll type it again: Showing local art is a win-win-win -- for the artist (who receives exposure), the venue (which gains foot traffic, awareness and a chance to win new clients) and the public at large (who benefit from having something real to look at, rather than the same old furniture-store art and craft-store posters).
Whats that you say? You don't know any artists? The easiest way to meet some is to put up a sign saying that you'd like to show original work. You'll meet artists. Trust me on this one.
Rather go another route? Check out the "Now Showing" program, offered by the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. Take an art walk (First Friday, for example) and offer a show to an artist whose work you like. Or just Google "Kansas City Artist" and spend some time browsing the huge variety of work available for display.
All else failing, email me. I know artists, and I'd be happy to make recommendations.
I'm not saying you have to do it all today. By Sunday will be fine.
Looking forward to all the February openings ...
So, it's January 2, the day when we pause in memory of the New Year's resolutions which -- like as not -- died in under 24 hours.
So it goes.
That said, there's nothing wrong with planning to do things differently in 2012. And so, this one's for you, People Who Have Space to Show Art But Don't.
Look, you don't need a gigantic venue. The Bourgeois Pig in Lawrence is tiny, for example, and yet month after month you can find really good work on the walls there.
Nor do you need a conventional space (and in this, I'll count coffeehouses as "conventional," seeing that most of the ones I know already show local, original art). Got a medical/dental/optical/etc. office? A hair salon? A bank lobby? Free wall space in your church?
Instant gallery. Just add art. (And, for the record, I can cite examples, in any of the above categories, of places which already double as art venues.)
I've typed this before, and I'll type it again: Showing local art is a win-win-win -- for the artist (who receives exposure), the venue (which gains foot traffic, awareness and a chance to win new clients) and the public at large (who benefit from having something real to look at, rather than the same old furniture-store art and craft-store posters).
Whats that you say? You don't know any artists? The easiest way to meet some is to put up a sign saying that you'd like to show original work. You'll meet artists. Trust me on this one.
Rather go another route? Check out the "Now Showing" program, offered by the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. Take an art walk (First Friday, for example) and offer a show to an artist whose work you like. Or just Google "Kansas City Artist" and spend some time browsing the huge variety of work available for display.
All else failing, email me. I know artists, and I'd be happy to make recommendations.
I'm not saying you have to do it all today. By Sunday will be fine.
Looking forward to all the February openings ...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Format
After a needed hiatus, and some long thinking about how to move forward, ARTKC365 is back online.
If this is your first encounter with the project, here's a brief bit of history:
ARTKC365 first launched in 2009 with the goal of featuring one artist per day, and not repeating any artist in a given calendar year. I hit the wall after two and a half (thoroughly enjoyable) years, but I've missed the daily fun. So, here goes ... with a new premise and the same old promises. I suppose you could call it ARTKC365 v.2.0, but that would be way too many letters and numbers.
(If you're interested in the archives, they're here.)
New things first: Yes, I'll still do reviews/essays/commentary/caffeine-hazed blathering on individual artists and shows. But that won't be all I do. Plans for daily content also include previews of upcoming events, occasional venue and artist profiles, or whatever else happens to suggest itself that day.
No matter what, though, art -- the works themselves, the people who make them and the places that show them -- will be at the forefront of the daily posts.
The first ongoing promise is this: The only artist I'll never promote on here is myself. I have another site for that (although it sorely needs to be updated).
The second is that if I ever start writing in Artspeak (a language which uses English words and sentence structure but is decidedly not English) or making High Holy Pronouncements in first person plural, you all have my permission to hold me down and hamstring me with dull palette knives.
Anything else? Oh, yeah. You can email me here. If you're a spammer ... well, I have dull palette knives of my own.
So ... Happy 2012, and here's to an art-filled year.
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