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I always find time to kick up some stones and see what's happening in the Kansas City art scene. With my own artistic past intrinsically connected to the scene, and fulfilling my own need to compare notes with Austin's scene, I listen to some of the local gossip, gallery openings and closings, and of course, catch up with the bigger institutions on the radar, namely, the Nelson Atkins Museum, the Kansas City Art Institute as well as the upstart but never underappreciated Nerman Museum at JCCC. |
the replacement for the tree that my friend D.M. fell out of and broke his arm.
Twice. | KCAI
It's always fun to head back to the old campus, and see just how much and little its changed over the years.
As we arrived, we saw the campus' courtyard covered in gingko leaves. Predictions flew about when the first art student would tread through the piles and clear out a path that would invariably be reflected upon as art. As we circled around the campus, futilely tried to get in
the painting building, and continued our stroll down memory lane, pointing out places we all liked to vomit to the little ones.
We passed an unusually young looking student who had all the trappings of modern life that popped up after our collegiate years: an ipod and a cellphone, but the glare she carried was consistent with the days gone by: hatred and distrust of the world fortified with an unhealthy dose of self loathing and deep inner turmoil. |
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As we walked through the campus, we noticed a plethora of new sculpture made by proud, clueless art students, a campus that has expanded and been cleaned up by ever rising tuition costs (a four year degree now costs well over $120,000). E. played the part of the young art student Gen to a tee - grumpy and shy, it was like she was already grown up and ready to leave the nest. Lil O. seemed less prepared for art school, until Uncle Mikey picked him up out of his
stroller and tried to get a picture with a wind sock sculpture inexplicably placed outside the painting building. |
HE'S CATCHING UP:
Work produced since death:
Tupac Shakur, west coast rapper: 6 albums
Notorious B.I.G., east coast rapper: 4 albums
Lester Goldman, painter, sculptor, esteemed KCAI painting professor: 1 sculpture on the campus of KCAI |
NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM
After a series of trips to Kansas City to see one my favorite museums in the world torn apart for a much needed facelift and expansion project, all construction finally ceased and I was able to peruse the new modern wing lodged right next door to the traditional limestone museum left untouched next door.The collection was scattered between both parts of the museum with a bit more breathing room, and while a few new acquisitions and pieces made it to the light of day, there really wasn't much that on display that I
hadn't seen already.
I really wanted to desperately love the new wing - a rare chance for a museum to spread its wings and further cement its status as one of the premier museums in the country that often is overlooked by the rest of the world. Instead of an inviting showspace with innovative lighting and a vibrant, lively use of space, the entire wing was a dull, modernist dud filled with awkward hallways and galleries disconnected by stairs and poor lighting. Physically, the walls and ceilings, obviously meant to be part of the show, were
finished poorly and left me sad, but at least glad that the renovations were done and did allow the museum in a position to attract a slew of worthwhile exhibits inside its walls. |
NERMAN MUSEUM
Never to be outdone by anything that goes on in the heart of the Kansas City, Missouri, the rich white folks who starting settling Overland Park in the mid 80's banded together to tax themselves and build an art museum of their own for the Johnson County Community College. Through a bunch of random visits over the years, I've seen this little collection grow rapidly in quantity and quality, which is no small feat for any museum, let alone a community college (UT Austin, are you listening?
Forget about expanding your football stadium for once and do something about that horrid collection of art at your overly large and overly underwhelming Blanton Museum). The collection is incredible, with vibrant contemporary works in an inviting space that was designed incredibly well and makes the art, not some poor designer's vision, the focal point of the experience. If anyone out there is reading this is planning a trip to Kansas City (and really, why wouldn't you be?) the Nerman should be near the top of your art going list. |
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THE LATEST
STORIES...
+ IRON MAN AND MY IGNORANCE
my trouble with Hollywood continues
+ A TRIP TO KANSAS CITY
Thanksgiving with friends and the cold
+ SNEAK PREVIEW
at Tales of the Really White Vigilante #2
COMING SOON:
+ HOME BEFORE DARK
A depressing trip through the mind of artists
+ NORTH(EAST)ERN EXPOSURE
My two month sabbatical in the North
+ THINGS TO DO IN DENVER
The splendor of Colorado
ALREADY THERE:
+ TALES OF THE
REALLY WHITE VIGILANTE
the tale of one young man's attempts
to stop the gentrification of East Austin
a 62 page comic book.
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| ARCHIVE | | |
ONGOING AND UPCOMING SHOWS
2008
MAY 10-11
Alter Ego Show
Gallery DV8 2300 East 16th, Austin, Texas
nearly thirty Austin artists explore their other sides
JUNE - JULY
Tales of the Really White Vigilante, Volume 2
our intrepid hero battles hipsters, SXSW and battles his own demons
NOVEMBER
Solo Painting Show
my first complete solo
show since April, 2006 with all new works
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