Wise words
From Robert J. Hoard, PhD, Native Clay Workshop co-instructor
Robert J. Hoard, PhD, is state archaeologist with the Cultural Resources Division of the Kansas State Historical Society. His workshop this fall, Native Clay (co-taught by the Arts Center's own Ben Ahlvers), takes a crack at exploring Kansas' rich cultural history in the ceramic arts. The following article is excerpted with Dr. Hoard's permission from the Web site mentioned below.
A Brief History of Pottery
People have been making pottery vessels for over 10,000 years. Pottery making appeared independently in many parts of the world and at different times. Some of the earliest pottery known in North America is from the eastern seaboard, where clay mixed with plant material such as Spanish moss was used to make clay vessels, replacing vessels carved from soft stone. This pottery first appeared about 4,000 years ago.
Prehistoric pottery is closely linked to farming across the world. About 3,000 years ago people began to eat more seeds and grains. At first, people probably roasted and then ground the seeds to make a paste or flour. But boiling seeds helps release the nutrients they contain. As we all know, seeds and grains require cooking at low heat for a long time before they are palatable, which is where ceramics pots come in.
Pottery vessels are an important adaptation that made the use of domesticated plant seeds useful as food. Early ceramic vessels were very thick and probably were not placed on a fire for cooking. Instead, heated stones were added to the food in the pot. Thick vessels, with their insulating properties, worked well for this. Archaeologists have found that later pots are thinner, and it is not unusual to find a crust of burned food material in the bottom of the pot, suggesting that the pots were placed on the fire to cook food. Thinner pots are better for this - they conduct heat well and are less likely to crack upon abrupt changes in temperature.
Some of the earliest pottery vessels in Kansas were made about 2,000 years ago, though prehistoric potters further east were making pots hundreds of years earlier. Early Kansas pottery is moderately thick and has sand or crushed rock added to make the clay easier to work and strengthen the finished vessel. The outer surface often bears the marks of a cord-wrapped paddle used to thin the vessel walls during construction. Oddly, some of the earliest prehistoric pottery is also the most highly decorated. As people continued to make pottery, they tinkered with the process. Later pottery vessels are larger, thinner and rounder. Thinner, rounder pots are further adaptations to cooking on an open fire.
In some areas of the state, burned, crushed shell was added to the clay. The inclusion of shell made the clay easier to work with. Vessels made of clay with shell additives are even thinner than earlier forms of pottery, and have a wider variety of shapes.
The next time you fire up a crock pot for a 12-hour cook down, think about the potters from a thousand years ago. That crock is a continuation of the technology that came along with farming, and transformed the way people live forever.
For more information about prehistoric pottery and agriculture please visit: www.kshs.org/resource/ks_preservation/kpmayjun01pottery.pdf or, if you are looking for a hands-on experience, enroll in our Native Clay Workshop this October, co-taught by the author and the Arts Center's Ben Ahlvers.
Upcoming Imagination & Place Events
- Benefit Opening Reception: Sept. 9, 8-9:30pm
- Reserve tickets by Sept. 7 by calling 843-0141 or 843-6830
- Awards Presentation, Silent Auction, Art Preview, Sale and Entertainment
- September 16,17,18 (registration limited to 7)
- Registration fee: $300
- Lecture by Michael Kabotie on Hopi culture and art: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7pm in the Arts Center gallery.
- Lecture by Joni Murphy on the art of Jane Quick-to-See Smith and Edgar Heap-of-Birds: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7pm in the Arts Center gallery.
- Sept. 10 and 11
- Reception: Oct. 22, 6:30-9:30pm, Arts Center Gallery
- Opening Reception: Oct. 22, 7:30-9:30pm
- Gallery Hours: Sunday, 1-4:30pm; Monday-Wednesday, 8:30am-4:30pm; Thursday, 8:30am-9pm; Friday, 8:30am-1:30pm. Closed Friday afternoons and Saturdays.
- Panel discussion on "Convergence" and Visual Arts, sponsored by the Lawrence Art Guild. Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont, Monday, Oct. 17, 7-9pm.
- Presentation and book-signing by Canadian Convergence artist, Susan Rennick-Joliffe: "Collaborating with Authors to Illustrate a Children's Book," time and place TBA.
- Children's book reading: The Twelve days of Summer written by Jan Andrews, illustrated by reader Susan Rennick-Joliffe, and published by Orca (www.orcabook.com). Written for the age 7-and-under age group, the story is a cumulative poem based on the "Twelve Days of Christmas" counting song, and features the creatures and plants living in the same area of Canada as the author. Times and location TBA.
- Inside Out/ Outside In/ Spencer Museum at Work: Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi Street, Oct. 20, 1-4pm. "Convergence" artist Diana Dunkley will present "The Wacky World of Conceptual Art" on the lawn of the Spencer Museum. The project is inspired by the museum's fall exhibition Lee Friedlander: At Work that includes art and activities both inside and outside the museum, focusing on the theme of work, and highlighting the real work of people in and around Lawrence. Dunkley will set up the tools of her trade within a large-scale picture frame surrounding the grass plot in front of the museum. Other "workers" are scheduled Tuesdays through Thursdays, Sept. 27 through Oct. 20, 10am-4pm. For information, please contact Betsy Weaver, Inside Out/Outside In Project.
- "WomenSpeak Series," sponsored by 100 Good Women at the Arts Center Auditorium, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7-9pm, featuring guest speaker Saralyn Reece Hardy, director of the Spencer Museum of Art.
- Convergence Workshops at the Lawrence Arts Center: Children's Workshop: Folded Figures paper folding, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 3-5pm, by Susan Rennick Jolliffe and Roberta Huebener. See class listing for registration information.
- Metal Leafing by Missy Hamilton: Saturday, Oct. 15, 1-5pm. See class listing for registration information.
- Felt Rocks by Maggie Glossop and Wendo Van Essen (date, time, location to be announced).
- Side by Side, artwork by Jan Gaumnitz at CornerBank, 4621 West 6th Street. Opening Reception: Friday, Sept. 9, 5-7pm. Exhibit: Sept. 9-Oct. 29
- Artwork by Laurie Culling at Jewelry by Julie, 9 West Ninth. Open House: Friday, Oct. 28, 5-7pm
- Event Participant V and artwork by Diana Dunkley at FIELDS Gallery, 712 Mass. Street, Friday, Oct. 28, Event: 6-7pm, Opening Reception: 7-9pm. Exhibit: Oct. 22-Nov. 30.
- Artwork by Ann Kuckelman Cobb at Southwest and More, 727 Massachusetts Street. Reception: Friday, Oct. 28, 7-9pm
- Artwork by Jan Gaumnitz and Cathy Tisdale at Phoenix Gallery, 919 Massachusetts St. Reception: Friday, Oct. 28, 7-9pm.
- Reception: Dec. 10, 7-9pm
- Gallery Talk with the artist: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 7pm
- Reception: Dec. 9, 7-9pm
- Gallery Talk: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7pm
- Coming in January: Coterie Theatre's Treasure Chest for the very young.
- More of the First Saturday Players: No TV, Mar. 4; The Princess and the Pea, Apr. 1; and The Great Alphabet Robbery, May 6.
- Amelia Earhart, First Lady of Flight by Ric Averill: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 and 12, 2pm.
- City Youth Theatre Cabaret Showcase: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25, 7:30pm.
- The Diary of Anne Frank: Friday and Saturday, Mar. 3 and 4, 7:30pm.
- Escape from the Space Pirates, a musical adventure by Ric Averill: Saturdays and Sundays, Apr. 22, 23, 29, 30 at 2 pm.
- Martha Boatwright
- Marcy Bray
- Michelle Lenihan
- Molly Mitchell
- William Mockry
- Paula O'Callaghan
- Laura Parkinson
- Jenny Schwering
- Anne Underwood
- September 19: MICHAEL HAGER. Michael has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa and works at the Sabatini Gallery in Topeka. He will discuss his recent work, an ongoing series of figurative works that deal with the creation and interpretation of mythology. "My artist's statement and my methodology explain how I go about creating the images with the models' bodies," he says. Attendees will receive copies of Michael's curriculum vitae, artist's statement and methodology.
- October 17: PANEL DISCUSSION by Canadian Artists and Lawrence Artists in conjunction with the Convergence show in Lawrence. (See pages 18-19 for more information.)
- November 21: PAUL DORRELL. Kansas native Paul Dorrell will speak about his book, Living The Artist's Life, an artist's guidebook with a stiff upper lip, with tough love. Paul tells the stories behind the painting and behind the sale. His book is fun to read, has received rave reviews nationally, is in its second printing, and has been adopted by 60 universities. Paul is a gallery owner and novelist who represents primarily Kansas artists, and does so on a national level. He founded the Leopold Gallery in Kansas City.
LECTURE
From the Ground Up: The Kansas Digital Landscape by Paul Hotvedt and Garth Myers
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7pm
This collaboration between the Lawrence Arts Center and The University of Kansas will allow residents of northeastern Kansas to interact with their regional landscape in a new way and to use visual art to teach ideas in the humanities to students of all ages. The Web site will include a detailed map of northeastern Kansas with links to images of site-specific artworks. Also included will be essays discussing various historical, geographical and cultural aspects of the landscape.
LECTURE
Freedom, Dignity and Justice in the Land of the Snows by Palden Gyatso
Imagination & Place Lecture: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7pm
Palden Gyatso was born in 1933 and raised in a small Tibetan village. At the age of 18 he became an ordained Buddhist Monk at Drepung Monastery. In 1959, Palden was jailed along with thousands of other religious prisoners as the Chinese under Mao undertook the "Cultural Revolution" which determined to destroy Tibetan culture and produce "thought reform" among the Tibetan people. Palden remained in prisons and labor camps for 33 years, where he was a victim of religious and class oppression. He endued various forms of indoctrination and torture intended to make him accept communist/socialist ideology. Throughout his imprisonment, Palden resisted the Chinese repression and served as an inspiration to his fellow inmates.
Released on August 25, 1992, from Drapchi prison in Lhasa, Palden Gyatso fled out of Tibet into India. He procured instruments of torture like the ones that had been used on him in order to show the outside world.
Since 1992 Palden has devoted his life to exposing the atrocities of the Chinese occupiers. He has spoken extensively to people around the world. In 1995 he gave evidence at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. He also testified before the United Nations and the U.S. Congress about the human rights abuses he suffered, fulfilling his dream to tell the world about China's torture techniques and prison conditions in Tibet. In 1996 Palden co-led a 300-mile walk from the Chinese Consulate in Washington, D.C. to the United Nations in New York City. Organized by the International Tibet Independence Movement, the walk began on March 10, the Tibetan National Uprising Day.
In 1997 Palden's story, The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk, was translated by Tsering Shakya and published by Grove Press.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Landscape: Reality and Image
Imagination & Place Roundtable: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7pm
Join a roundtable discussion that will explore the differences and similarities between landscape images and reality. Hosted and facilitated by the Committee on Imagination & Place. Open to the community.
JTPS Update
Grand Central Station? Not quite, but the JTPS basement studio is certainly getting a lot more traffic. From last year's numbers, class and workshop enrollment is up almost 300%.
300%! Let's all take a moment to let that sink in.
The increased JTPS enrollment has also led to increased donations and new class offerings. Ever-popular Letterpress instructor, Tim O'Brien, is excited to now offer a Letterpress 2 class on Monday nights, and look for a JTPS-sponsored class in Simple Papermaking, to be taught in the Painting Studio upstairs this fall. Likewise, do not forget to take advantage of silkscreen guru Nick Alley's workshop offerings. This fall, he will also teach a workshop in Xerox Transfer Techniques. We would also like to introduce a fantastic new instructor - Christa Dalien! Look for her to take on the Intro class.
O'Brien and JTPS member Karen Matheis also scored a marvelous donation of new type. In July alone, we received approximately 14 new drawers. At an auction, member Ed Miller located a shear (used for cutting metal plates), and Member K.T. Walsh located a photo enlarger. Several other folks have dropped by paper, art books, and other very welcome donations.
To reserve your space in our fall classes, enroll early! For a studio tour, just email Maril Hazlett at mhaz@sunflower.com.
Shows. To see the work of JTPS Members and other local printmakers this fall, just drop by the Art Affair Gallery in Baldwin beginning on Friday, Sept. 16. The opening reception will be held from 7 to 9pm as part of the events surrounding the Baldwin Artwalk. The work will remain on display through October.
Fundraiser. Make plans to attend Roll Your Own, the first JTPS fundraiser! To be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, 1-5pm, this event will give you a chance to "roll your own" holiday cards through our Vandercook and Gordon presses. JTPS provides the card design and the paper, and you provide the roll-power. For a $5 donation, you can roll five sheets of card stock through the presses, and in turn, create 10 cards. Extra sheets will cost $1 each. Note: unless we receive copious donations of A-2 envelopes before November, you are probably on your own for those. Sorry! But mere words cannot express how cool original letterpress holiday cards are; any need for envelopes pales in comparison.
Gallery Exhibitions and Events
Sept. 10-Oct. 8
17th Annual Lawrence Indian Arts Show: a juried exhibition
Poster/T-shirt Artist: Michael McCullough
Michael McCullough is a member of the Choctaw Indian Nation of Oklahoma. Born in Texas and educated at West Texas State University, McCullough earned his B.S. and master's degrees in art in 1973. Since that time, he has devoted his time to making fine art. He lives in Albuquerque, N.M., with his wife Judy and their three dogs.
Native American Jewelry Making Workshop with internationally known artist Michael Kabotie
Registration materials and information available at the Arts Center and at Southwest and More Gallery, 727 Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence.
Lawrence Indian Arts Show Lectures (free and open to the public)
Haskell Indian Market
Join us at the Pow Wow Grounds on the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University just south of 23rd and Massachusetts St.
Spencer Museum of Art
On The University of Kansas campus:
A Discourse on Discovery: Native Perspectives on the Trail.
The Spencer will display a recently acquired portfolio of 15 prints produced by the Missoula Art Museum entitled Native Perspectives on the Trail: A Contemporary American Indian Art Portfolio. Several pairs of moccasins, borrowed from the collections in the former Museum of Anthropology at KU, also will be displayed.
Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
On the Haskell Indian Nations University campus: American Indian Education at Hampton Institute, 1878-1923.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm; Sunday, 1-5pm.
Oct. 17-Nov. 30 [this isn't the latest version of this...]
Convergence: Work by Canadian and U.S. Women Artists
An upcoming series of Lawrence art events in October and November will combine the creative efforts of artists in Lawrence with those in Ottawa, Canada.
The F.A.N. Club, a women's artist support group based in Lawrence, is joining the Northern Nine, a coalition of women artists from Ottawa, Canada, to present exhibitions and programs in Lawrence. The collaboration is part of an international exchange that began in 2001 when the F.A.N. group participated in Common Ground, exhibits and workshops in Ottawa. The 2005 projects will explore cultural issues in both the United States and Canada under the theme of "Convergence."
The Arts Center exhibition will feature paintings, ceramics, sculptures, installation works and performance art by the Northern Nine and the F.A.N. Club. A concurrent exhibition, Convergence: Paths and Structures, will be on view Oct. 17-28 at The University of Kansas Art and Design Gallery, and include a large, collaborative artwork created by the Northern Nine, F.A.N. Club, KU staff and students and other Lawrence artists and community members. In addition, Fields Gallery and the Phoenix Gallery, downtown art and craft galleries, will show work by the "Convergence" artists.
Kansas University Art and Design Gallery presents "Paths and Structures"
Paths and Structures celebrates interconnectedness among artists internationally and within the community of Lawrence. Diana Dunkley and Margaret Rose of The F.A.N. Club, and Maria Velasco, associate professor of Art at KU, designed the show to honor the spirit of collaboration by asking approximately 75 artists and community members to create the piece. Paths and Structures will form a path that conceptually links Ottawa, Canada, with Lawrence. Participants will walk a path based on the geography of Ottawa, leaving their imprint by tracking powdered materials on the floor to create lines. The path will be traced over the floor, which will be divided into areas based on a street map of downtown Lawrence.
Artists (and groups) participating as of the time of this printing are: 100 Good Women, Creativity Group, The F.A.N. Club, Free State and Lawrence High Schools, All Strings Considered, the Lawrence Art Guild Association, Dave Loewenstein and 4-1-1, Adrianne Meckel and Meghan Bahn, Yoonmi Nam, The Northern Nine, Wayne Propst and Piggies, Ardys Ramberg, the Valley Lane Studio Group, and Gina Westergard and KU Enameling Students.
The "Labyrinth"
Also at the Art and Design Gallery will be Labyrinth, a felted-rock sculpture created/coordinated by Canadian artists Maggie Glossop and Wendo Van Essen. Felting will be used to create the rocks. Felt-making workshops will be offered to community members of all ages to create rocks that will be used in the project. For this and other workshop information, call 842-2858, or pick up a brochure at "Convergence" locations.
Multi-venue Reception
Visitors are invited to a multi-venue "Convergence" reception from 6:30 to 9:30pm on Oct. 22. The reception will include shuttle bus transportation between the Arts Center, the KU Art and Design Gallery on campus, and the art galleries downtown.
F.A.N. Club members are Ann Kuckleman Cobb, Laurie Culling, Diana Dunkley, Jan Gaumnitz, Missy Hamilton, Susan Jordan, Nan Renbarger, Margaret Rose and Cathy Tisdale. The Northern Nine artists are Ann Bird, Maggie Glossop, Roberta Huebener, Susan Rennick Jolliffe, Maryse Maynard, Liz Minnes, Chandler Swain, Wendo Van Essen and Yvonne Wiegers.
For more information about "Convergence" exhibitions and activities, please visit www.convergenceart.com. To learn more about this exhibit at Arts Center and other related events call 785-843-2787, or visit www.lawrenceartscenter.org.
The Lawrence Arts Center will offer several workshops and lectures in association with "Convergence," including a "WomenSpeak" lecture sponsored by 100 Good Women, a Lawrence non-profit organization.
Lectures and Panels:
Related Exhibitions
LATE FALL EXHIBITIONS
Dec. 10-22
Beyond Origami: Floating Objects by Nancy Bjorge
Lawrence artist, Nancy Loo Bjorge, was born in Shanghai, China, and raised in Hong Kong. While growing up she lived in a household that included her grandmother who observed all the old Chinese and family traditions. One activity was to perform the ceremony of paying respect to family ancestors. She would ask the grandchildren to fold paper into a special shape for use in this ceremony. Nancy would fold hundreds of pieces. Paper folding made such an impression on her that whenever her hands were free she would pick up a piece of paper and start folding. Nancy did not receive any classroom instruction in paper folding, but she learned how to fold paper into the shapes of animals and other objects from adults and other children. After high school, Nancy came to the United States for college and earned a degree in mathematics and obtained a master of fine arts degree with an emphasis in jewelry design and metal-working.
Lawrence Photo-Alliance Members Show
Dec. 7-22
Performances and updates
DRAMA
On Center Stage: Fall 2005! Check out our fall Family Theatre Season, featuring the Seem-To-Be Players professional theatre, local actors, our own students and a few special guests!
Gala Season Opening: Saturday, Sept. 24, 10:30am and 2 pm
Featuring Richard Renner, VodVill Klown!
Vaudeville returns to stage in a frantic form called the "Slapstick Circus." Pantomime and circus arts performer Richard Renner has recreated the stage style of silent films and vaudeville variety acts through his character the VodVill Klown. Hats come to life, unicycles run with motors and spectators become clownish comrades in the chaos on stage. Through Renner's old fashioned buffoonery each person, whether child or adult, rediscovers the simpler times of Vaudeville theatre and the deep love of laughter within us all. Fun for the very young and for the whole family.
First Saturday Players
Saturday, Oct. 1: Just So Stories
Saturday, Nov. 5: Beauty and the Beast
Saturday, Dec. 3: Pinocchio
Bring your preschoolers and family to performances by our incredible ensemble of teenagers performing short plays, sing-a-longs and other entertainment for the VERY YOUNG in traditional Seem-To-Be style. All plays at 2pm.
The Witch of Lok Island, by Ric Averill
Saturdays and Sundays, October 22, 23, 29, 30
This beautiful and evocative Nordic story tells of Bella, a young girl, who goes on a quest to save Huorn, her childhood friend from frightening Sea Witch. This play will include more than 20 students along with professional actors and original music and dance. Auditions: August 31. Recommended for kindergarten and up. All performances begin at 2pm.
Halloween Costume Contest and Concert
Monday, Oct. 31
Join us at 4:30pm on Halloween - just before the downtown trick or treating! The Seem-To-Be Players will sing our favorite Halloween songs and do a few sketches, then host the world's best costume contest - with prizes! All ages!
City Youth Theatre Fall Play
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5
Come join our 8th through 12th graders as they present a challenging play that will delight and inspire both teen and adult audiences. Possible titles include The Man She Was, One Girl Drummer, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet Alive and Together at Last, or something else Shakespearean! Auditions: Sept. 12. Performances begin at 7:30pm.
Looking Ahead to Spring
Developing Film
We are building our film program. Please come join our film professionals and start to make that movie you've always dreamed of creating. As this program grows, the Arts Center will be investing in editing equipment and cameras that will be available for student use. Get in on the ground floor! Call us for details: 785-843-ARTS.
Cool New Things
The City Youth Theatre newsletter will be an e-zine available to those interested in what's happening in theatre for 7th-12th graders. To receive your copy of CYT NEWS, simply send us your email address (lacdrama@sunflower.com). We"ll include a calendar of auditions and performances, articles, interviews, reviews, a comic or two, and provide a way for area youth to network and support each other's theatrical efforts.
Finally, a Music Class!
Join us for a circle of singing. Discover, rediscover and uncover your authentic voice in our new class, Coming Full Circle: Singing from the Heart.
Throughout time, people have come together to sing in circles and deepen their experience of community. Not only is singing healthy for the body, mind and spirit, it is healthy for the planet! Many of us need courage to tune and claim our authentic singing voice and to develop a deeper sense of our expressive powers. We will learn firsthand, by singing together, how to relax, express ourselves, have fun, feel more alive and we enjoy a greater sense of community.
Deborah Pine and Janette Michaels will guide you through ways to relax and open the throat, sing in tune, listen deeply, build courage and express boldly. Using some familiar and some new songs, we will learn to develop our voices and create harmonies.
No experience is necessary, only a desire to explore and sing in a non-judgmental and encouraging environment. Let us sing ourselves into uncharted territory.
Deborah and Janette have been singing together since 1982. Founding members of the 1980s folk band Full Circle, they have performed in many bands and were participating artists for the Kansas Artist Touring Program and the Mid America Artist Touring program. In 2002, Deborah and Janette won the Kansas State Folk Singing championship. Their years of singing together have culminated in rich, beautiful harmonies. Deborah and Janette can be heard in the area singing with their band LILA. They have two CDs. See page 11 for enrollment information.
DANCE
940 Dance Company Season
940 Dance Company (formerly the Prairie Wind Dancers) has a new name and a new home season that promises an exciting year and wonderful new experiences for dance audiences.
940 Dance Company also will travel to Kansas City, Mo.; Satanta, Kan.; and Arkansas City, Kan. to perform in concert and will perform their children's show, Word Dance, in over 30 Kansas City, Kan. schools through the auspices of Kansas City Young Audiences, Inc. and Arts Partners.
Company Changes
In addition to a new name, the 940 Dance Company will have a new dancer for the 2005-06 season. Kathleen O'Connor grew up in Topeka and graduated from KU in 2004. She danced with the University Dance Company and the Cohen and Suzeau Duet Company and was a founding member of the Bowery Dancers. We welcome her talents and look forward to watching her dance this year.
The company says goodbye to Malinda Crump who is pursuing her dance career and massage therapy training in Kansas City, and to recent KU graduate Beau Hancock who is KU's nominee for the coveted Marshall Sherfield Fellowship for 2006-07. Beau will travel to New York and possibly England next year to study and learn more about the art of dance. They will be missed. Returning this fall for more wonderful dancing will be Bridget Bartholome, Whitney Boomer, Tuesday Faust, and Amanda January.
Company Artistic Director Honored
Artistic Director Susan Warden was honored last spring by Kansas State University with the Roni Mahler Award for contributions in dance to KSU and the state of Kansas. Susan taught dance at KSU for five years, directed the Susan Warden Dancers for 12 years and toured throughout the state and beyond, and has been teaching and choreographing in universities, schools and communities, as well as the Arts Center for many years. She was modern dance trainer for the Prairie Wind Dancers and choreographed a number or wonderful works for them over the years. The Lawrence Arts Center is delighted to see Susan receive this honor and looks forward to the 2005-06 season with keen anticipation.
Dance Program News
We are proud of our students and faculty who make the Arts Center such a wonderful place to dance! If you have interesting news to share, e-mail lacdance@sunflower.com or drop it off at the main desk for Candi Baker, dance program director or Mary (Shahrokhi) Devlin, dance program administrative assistant.
New Faculty
This fall we welcome the expertise and teaching of six exciting new teachers! Cynthia Crews Griffith (Ballet, Variations En Pointe) holds a BFA in dance pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She performed as soloist and principal with the Tulsa Ballet Theatre and numerous other companies. She studied in New York at the Harkness Ballet (with David Howard and others) and the American Ballet Center. She has been teaching for 31 years.
Carly Fox Horton (Ballet) is finishing her BA in dance after transferring from Texas Christian University. She has taught in a number of studios in Texas and trained in all styles of dance and in Pilates.
Royce Matthews (Tap, Jazz, Modern Dance) hails from Fresno, Calif. where he participated in theater and dance in high school and college. He is a junior at KU and has performed with the University Dance Company. He has studied and taught tap extensively and has worked in several children's theater programs.
Rachel Moses (Ballet, Modern Dance) holds a BA in dance and in human biology/pre-medicine from KU. She has won numerous scholarships, honors and awards and danced with the University Dance Company, Cohen/ Suzeau and KU Crimson Girls. She developed a modern dance program for El Centro's Migrant Education Program 2004.
Saul Stahl (Argentine Tango) has studied many forms of ballroom and partner dancing and has developed a passion for Argentine Tango, studying it extensively. He works in the math department at KU.
Meggi Sweeney (Movement Exploration, Tumbling and Dance) is working toward her BFA in dance at KU. She taught all styles of dance and Pilates for four years in Missouri. She performs with the KU University Dance Company and Cohen/ Suzeau. We welcome back our returning teachers, too, and look forward to a great semester!
Alumni Faculty
Kimber Andrews will be one of only four graduate students accepted each year at the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana this fall. She has a teaching assistantship, will teach beginning jazz and will assist the university company dance director. She is pursuing an advanced degree in performance and choreography.
We say goodbye to Ellie Goudie-Averill this fall as she enters a two-year program to gain a master's degree in dance performance at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She also is a teaching assistant on full scholarship. Sarah Grunwaldt danced this year with the American Ballet Company in San Diego, Calif. Mary (Shahrokhi) Devlin has returned to the Arts Center as dance program administrative assistant and preschool teacher/aide. We are delighted to have her as part of the staff.
Students
Each year we award two Carmine Ballere Dance Scholarship Awards to dance students who have grown through dedication and hard work. This scholarship is in its ninth year and is underwritten by Dan Sabatini and Sabatini Architects in honor of Dan's grandfather Carmine. The scholarship is to encourage serious study of ballet through daily classes and to encourage study of other dance forms. The 2005-06 merit winners are Lucy Shopen and Hannah Bailey. Zoey Hearn Feldman and Helen Hawkins are alternates. LAC dancer Martha Keslar won a blue ribbon and competed at the state level with her dance she choreographed for the 4-H this spring.
Student Alumni
Graduating senior Rachel Sanner has won a scholarship in dance at KU. Anne Laue-Minden, 2004 freshman dance and architect major at Washington University in St. Louis, was selected as a dancer in guest artist Gus Solomon's work set on students.
Growing up with the Arts Center
At the Arts center, we "do art," of course, but our real function is building community. Thanks to 30 years of excellent programs, we're seeing people who grew up with the Lawrence Arts Center return with children of their own or become involved in new ways.
Take Jason Edmonds. He's about to begin his fourth year on the Arts Center Board. His business, Morgan Stanley (formerly Robert W. Baird & Co.), lends financial support to the annual Art Auction. His wife, Machaela, serves with Hearts for the Arts and helps with the Children's Holiday Shop. And their children - Jack, 7, Graham, 5, and Sarah, 18 months - now are enjoying Arts Center programs, too.
"I grew up around the arts, mostly because my mom's an artist and my dad's a big fan of my mom," Jason says. "They spent a lot of time at the Arts Center when I was small, and so I did, too."
Jason's mom, Chris Wolf Edmonds, has an international reputation as a fiber artist. His businessman dad, Steve Edmonds, served on the Arts Center's Board of Directors for many years, helping to oversee the Center's move to its new facility.
As a young child, Jason performed in theatre productions at The University of Kansas. It was only natural that he signed on with Arts Center's Drama Education Program by the time he was in junior high school. Jason played a part in the Center's history as he performed in our first-ever production of In Robin's Wood.
Truth is, everyone involved at the Arts Center plays a part in its history.
"We're lucky to live in a community that supports the arts and arts education," Jason says. "It creates tremendous opportunities for everyone."
Arts Center welcomes new board members
The Lawrence Arts Center is pleased to name new members to its Board of Directors. They are David Adams, Emprise Bank president and CEO; Louis Copt, artist and teacher; and Mike Maude, president of Partners in Philanthropy, Inc.
The Board and staff sincerely appreciate the leadership of these board members whose terms are ending: Brad Chindamo, Central National Bank president; Ed Samp, financial consultant with A.G. Edwards & Son; and Connie Sollars, community volunteer.
Officers elected to guide the Arts Center during the upcoming year are: John Olson, Hy-Vee Food and Drug Stores store manger (serving as president); Mike Maude, (serving as vice-president); and Maurice Joy, professor emeritus, School of Business at The University of Kansas (serving as secretary/treasurer.) Dan Sabatini, president of Sabatini & Associates Architects will serve as past president.
Other board members are Sidney Garrett, president of Brown Cargo Van; Gunda Hiebert, art patron; Kathleen J. Hird, Hird Design Studio; Evan Ice, attorney with Stevens & Brand; Marty Kennedy, president of Kennedy Glass; Elizabeth Schultz, professor emeritus, department of English at The University of Kansas; Dolph Simons III, vice president of operations for The World Company; Glee Smith, attorney with Barber and Emerson Attorneys; and Tim Stultz, owner of Highland Construction Company.
"We are so fortunate to have these individuals who care so much about the Center and our services to the community - and who are so generous in providing leadership for our exciting future," says Ann Evans, executive director of the Center. "They are truly wonderful and very special to our continuing success."
Be Our Guest!
Lawrence Community Theatre announces season
Lawrence Community Theatre is pleased to announce that it has acquired the rights to Disney's Beauty and the Beast for its 2005 holiday show. The show will join a variety of musicals, comedies and dramas set to entertain audiences during the 2005-06 theatre season.
The season will open in September with Jerry's Girls, a sophisticated musical revue of songs from some of Jerry Herman's most famous musicals. The show features songs from Mame, Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel, La Cage Aux Folles and Milk and Honey.
Just in time for the holidays, Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman from a provincial town, and a selfish young prince trapped in a spell placed by an evil enchantress. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, Disney's "tale as old as time" is filled with special effects and memorable songs. The theatre will also be scheduling a number of special events and family friendly activities in conjunction with the production, including costume and mask workshops and Mrs. Potts' Tea Party. Girl Scout Badge workshops will also be available.
Beau Jest, following in January, promises to brighten the winter. This warm, funny story is about a young Jewish woman who hires an actor to play her Jewish doctor/boyfriend in an attempt to appease her traditional parents. Unfortunately, the closest the actor has ever been to the Jewish faith was a tour with Fiddler on the Roof.
Three love stories, a murder mystery and a nuclear espionage plot converge in Red Herring, a comedy about marriage and other explosive devices set in 1952.
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson tells the classic story of young Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan.
The season finale will be the musical, George M! It describes the life of George M. Cohan, known as "the man who owned Broadway," featuring such well-known songs as "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Over There" and "Give My Regards to Broadway." The patriotic themes will offer a great lead up to July 4th celebrations.
Season tickets are now on sale. Tickets may be ordered through the box office by calling 785-843-7469 or visiting the office at 1501 New Hampshire.
Thank you, Eli Powell,
for your desire to help others!
Four-year-old Eli Powell, a former preschool student, approached the front desk at the Arts Center recently, piggy bank in hand. Eli told staffer Laura Rose, "I cashed out my piggy bank to bring you dollars so that other kids can come to the Arts Center too," and handed her $4. He intended the money to go into the new Youth Scholarship Fund that was recently created with a generous $100,000 private donation. As we learn every day, whether it be a $100,000 gift or a $4 gift from a preschooler, all private donations are greatly appreciated and needed at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Please take a look at pages 24 and 25 of this issue of The Arts in Action, as we publicly thank all of our generous donors in the community. Through private support, the Arts Center will remain a truly unique and accessible place for children and adults to experience the arts in northeast Kansas. Our mission is to enrich individuals and the community by nurturing love of the arts through education, exploration and expression. Thank you to all of our members, as we could not do it without you!
Big thanks to our summer class volunteers!
Please call Laura at 843-ARTS if you are interested in volunteering at the Arts Center!
Are you in the market for art?
This is the first year that a bold new art fair series - the Lawrence ArtMarket - is being presented to the public at one of Lawrence's most visible landmarks, the Lawrence Visitor Center or "Depot" (the former Union Pacific Depot). The Lawrence ArtMarket is held every third Saturday, 9am-3pm, rain or shine, and ArtMarket dates still to come are Aug. 20 and Sept. 17. The Depot is located immediately to the north of and across the river from downtown Lawrence, and is easily accessible from I-70 via the east turnpike exit.
Artists and artisans - featuring as many as 30 of the area's talented artists - exhibit their work outside under their own tents or the Depot's track-side canopy, or inside the Depot. Artwork of all kinds is usually on display and typically includes ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalworks, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.
The ArtMarket is open to all artists and registration deadlines for each ArtMarket are typically the first of each month. For more information, contact John Wysocki, director, at artmarket@lawrenceartwalk.org or 785-865-4254 or Mick Braa, assistant director, at braahaus@earthlink.net or 785-542-3829. Visit the ArtMarket on the Web at www.lawrenceartwalk.org.
Lawrence Art Guild
The Lawrence Art Guild is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to promote art awareness in Lawrence and the surrounding areas. This guild supports the creative growth of our members and area artists. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, 6:30 to 9pm, in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium at 707 Vermont Street. The public is invited to attend and to become members.
For more information about the Guild and its upcoming events, or for a membership form, visit www.lawrenceartguild.org or call 785-887-6010.
Artist Forums
Forums begin at 7pm, following the 6:30pm business meeting at the Lawrence Public Library. The Guild takes a summer break and does not meet in August. Look for our next monthly meeting to be held on the third Monday night of September.
Holiday Art Fair
The Lawrence Art Guild's Holiday Art Fair is held the first Saturday in December every year. Join us this year on Saturday, December 3, at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire, from 10am to 6pm, with a reception from 6 to 8pm. This fine art fair is a great opportunity to find special holiday gifts for family and friends. Strolling musicians add to the ambiance of this wonderful event!
Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award
Through the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards, the Lawrence Arts Center and the Raven Book Store celebrate the creative genius of one of the United States' greatest writers and a native son of Lawrence. Hughes spent the critical years of his boyhood in Lawrence (1907-1915), living with his grandmother on Alabama Street. His memories from these Lawrence years enriched not only the poetry of his later years, but also provided the basis for his first novel, Not Without Laughter (1930).
The Lawrence which Hughes remembered was racially divided, with injustice apparent even to him as a boy. A tradition of music and dance, however, sustained the hard-working African-American community. Today an elementary school in Lawrence is named in Hughes' honor. The city has adopted his statement - "We have tomorrow bright before us like a flame" - as its motto, and the Raven Book Store and the Arts Center are sponsoring the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards for the ninth consecutive year.
Awards are given to winners of the Hughes' contest each year on his birthday, February 1. Two awards of $500 each - one in poetry and one in fiction - are usually made. Submissions may be made by anyone living in Douglas County, 21 years or older, except for previous winners and for those who have previously published a book-length work in either fiction or poetry. The application deadline is November 15, and no more than 20 pages may be submitted. Manuscripts must be in English and typed. Please ask at the Arts Center or the Raven for further details and for the application form.
Throughout his life, Hughes supported the work of beginning writers - not only through his own writing but also through his personal interest - and it is through the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards that the Arts Center and the Raven Book Store hope to keep his flame and his vision brightly burning. -by Elizabeth Schultz
Lawrence ArtWalk: Oct. 29-30
Art Walker is sold on art. Are you?
Mark your calendars for the 11th annual Lawrence ArtWalk! In what has become one of Lawrence's most eagerly anticipated annual arts events, many of Lawrence artists' private studios and other art spaces in and around Lawrence will once again open their doors to the public. The ArtWalk will feature over 50 Douglas County artists - including three artists' groups - and is a fabulous opportunity to meet some of the area's finest artists in their creative work environments, see demonstrations of their arts and crafts, and purchase locally produced art.
The ArtWalk, which is free, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, Oct. 30, noon-6pm. Guide maps for the ArtWalk, which is self-guided, will be available from the Lawrence Arts Center in October.
Visit the ArtWalk on the web at www.lawrenceartwalk.org for more information and to view samples of every artist's artwork that are for sale. For more information, contact John Wysocki, director, at info@lawrenceartwalk.org or 785-865-4254.