June Nelson-Atkins E-news: Summer of Style

June 2010 Enjoy your summer in style at the Nelson-Atkins! Enjoy glamorous photographs, discover ancient treasures, admire beautiful glass and more on your next visit. Admission is free every day. Museum members receive free tickets to exhibitions, free parking in the Museum garage and special discounts. Click here to learn more about membership. Visit our current exhibitions and check the calendar for details on all upcoming programs and events. Now @ the Nelson-Atkins is the free monthly e-newsletter of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The Nelson-Atkins is located at 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri. For more information, visit our website. High Fashion and Hollywood Glamour Step into the golden age of Hollywood glamour with the new exhibition Edward Steichen—In High Fashion: The Condé Nast Years 1923-1937. The exhibition features approximately 150 photographs of some of the 20th century's best-known celebrities and public figures, including Gary Cooper, Katharine Hepburn, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford. Make a date, and reserve your tickets today! Members see it FREE. Are you the cat's meow? Take our Guess Who's In High Fashion quiz and find out! Explore the Fashion of Edward Steichen Coco Chanel said, "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." Find out more about the fabulous Chanel and her creations featured in Edward Steichen—In High Fashion at a lecture by fashion historian Valerie Steele Saturday, June 12. Click here for free tickets. For more insight into the world of fashion and photography, join curator April M. Watson for a gallery talk in the exhibition Friday, June 18. Exhibition tickets are required. Explore Treasures of Egypt The new Egyptian galleries are the perfect destination for a day trip this summer. Explore the treasures of an ancient Egyptian tomb including coffins, statues and a real mummy. Bring your friends and family to decipher hieroglyphics, learn about gods and goddesses and unlock the mysteries of the ancient underworld. Get a new perspective by visiting Exploring Egypt: 19th Century Expeditionary Photography to view photographs of historical places, including the pyramids, where many objects like these were found. Admission is free. Come back as often as you like. Collection Highlight: Examining Water Lilies In 1893, Monet bought land adjacent to his property in Giverny, dug a pond and turned it into a Japanese-inspired water garden. This contemplative environment served as inspiration for a series of paintings over the next 20 years. Typical of others in the series, it is not so much the lilies that have captured Monet's attention, but rather the dream-like effects of mist and light on the delicate forms and colors in this liquid, floating world. At the end of June, the Museum will begin an examination of Monet's Water Lilies. Special in-gallery presentations will explain the process. Details coming soon. Imagine Venice Close your eyes and imagine romantic architecture, shimmering light, canals and gondolas. Venice. Three Visions in Glass explores the dramatic and versatile work of three artists inspired by the city of Venice and its history. Combining tradition and innovation, these artists produce visually dazzling and unexpected forms derived from the diverse cultures surrounding Venice. This exhibition is free and open through Aug. 15.   FIRST: Edward Steichen, American, 1879-1973. Lee Miller wearing a dress by Jay-Thorpe and a necklace by Marcus in Condé Nast's apartment, 1928. Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York. © Condé Nast Publications. SECOND: Edward Steichen (American, b. Luxembourg, 1879-1973). Marlene Dietrich, 1932. Gelatin silver print. Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York. © Condé Nast Publications. THIRD: The Egyptian galleries. Photography by Bob Greenspan. FOURTH: Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926. Water Lilies, (detail) ca. 1916-1926. Oil on canvas. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust, 57-26. © The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. FIFTH: Laura de Santillana (Italian, b. 1955). Blu 4, Meteor, 2008. Hand-blown and shaped glass. SIDEBAR FIRST: Edward Steichen, American, 1879-1973. Actor Gary Cooper, 1930. Print from the Matthieu Humery Collection, Paris. Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York. © Condé Nast Publications. SECOND: Laura de Santillana, Italian, b. 1955. Flag 12 (Giallo/Nero Diverso/Nero Diverso), 2008. Hand-blown and shaped glass, 17 x 17 1/2 inches. Photo courtesy of Barry Friedman Ltd. THIRD: Francis Frith, English (1822-1898). The Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx, 1858. Albumen print. Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2007.17.19. Edward Steichen—In High Fashion is organized by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, Minneapolis, and the Musée de l´Elysée, Lausanne, in collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Mo. In Kansas City the exhibition is supported by the Campbell-Calvin Fund and Elizabeth C. Bonner Charitable Trust for exhibitions. Venice. 3 Visions is courtesy of the artists and Barry Friedman Ltd. This exhibition is supported by the Campbell-Calvin Fund and Elizabeth C. Bonner Charitable Trust for exhibitions. Exploring Egypt is supported by the Hall Family Foundation and the Campbell-Calvin Fund and Elizabeth C. Bonner Charitable Trust for exhibitions.

Current Exhibitions Edward Steichen—In High Fashion: The Condé Nast Years 1923–1937 May 15–July 25, 2010 Venice. 3 Visions in Glass-Cristiano Bianchin, Yoichi Ohira and Laura de Santillana March 6–Aug.15 Exploring Egypt: 19th Century Expeditionary Photography March 6–July 18 Museum Hours Wed, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Thurs, Fri, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun, Noon–5 p.m.

Kansas City’s business community is widely known and admired for its generous support of the arts. But what happens when businessmen move beyond philanthropy and became active participants…imagining, designing, and fabricating alongside some of the greatest architects and artists of our day?

Bill Zahner, CEO of ZAHNER architectural metals, runs his company with the sensibility and inventiveness of an artist. ZAHNER’s mission, “to advance the boundaries of metal” is achieved daily through his interactions with architects like Frank Gehry and artists-in-residence Reilly Hoffman and Dierk Van Keppel. ZAHNER continues to forge new frontiers in art and architecture, making this Kansas City company an international treasure.

Please come for a special “Arts & Issues” as Bill Zahner shares his portfolio of work and discusses ZAHNER’s unique approach to business and art. Joining Mr. Zahner will be artists Reilly Hoffman and Dierk Van Keppel.

Friday, June 4th
12:00 am – 1:15 pm
Central Exchange South
6201 College Boulevard, Ste. 245
Overland Park, KS  66211
Registration: $20.00 (Free to members of the Central Exchange) 
Call 816-471-7560 or visit www.CentralExchange.org  to reserve your seat

Group Show Opening at Byron C. Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art

The Byron C. Cohen Gallery for Contemporary Art will open a group show featuring artists Liu Hong, Grant Miller and Mary Ann Strandell among others on First Friday, June 4^th from 7 9 pm. The show will run through August 13^th.

1. Liu Hong, Beautiful Language Series, 2010, oil on canvas, 31 x 39 in.

2. Mary Ann Strandell, Bridge, Country Wave, 2007, 3D lenticular print, 19.5 x 22 in.

3. Grant Miller, Untitled (EMV-941), 2010, mixed media, 31.5 x 44 in.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 20, 2010

Belger press contact - Mo Dickens, mdickens@belgerartscenter.org

Belger Arts Center / Red Star Studios Collaboration Begins

KANSAS CITY, MO - On Friday, June 4, the public will get their first opportunity to view the new collaboration between the Belger Arts Center and Red Star Studios. The two organizations have been mainstays of the Kansas City art scene for more than a decade and will share space this summer as Red Star prepares for a move into a permanent, larger, facility. For the summer, ceramics-centric Red Star will have gallery and workspace on the ground floor of the Belger Arts Center at 2100 Walnut St., in the Crossroads Art District. The Belger Arts Center will continue to operate on the first and third floor of the same building.

The Belger Arts Center is currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary with Beneath the Surface - Excavating the Belger Collection. This exhibition attempts to give the public some perspective on the wide-ranging collection. Beneath the Surface features multiple works from all seven artists who comprise the foundation of the Belger Collection - Terry Allen, William Christenberry, Jasper Johns, Robert Stackhouse, Renee Stout, William T. Wiley, and Terry Winters. Works from Viola Frey, Creighton Michael and Ed Ruscha are also included. The exhibit runs through August 6. The Red Star Studios gallery will feature pottery and sculpture by two former resident artists, Michael Fujita and Mike Jabbur.

Evelyn Craft, Executive Director of the Belger Arts Center, says Beneath the Surface is "one of our most ambitious exhibitions. This will be a chance for the public in Kansas City to see the depth of the collection." This exhibit marks the beginning of the second decade of existence for the Belger Arts Center in the headquarters of the Belger Cartage Service at 2100 Walnut St. in Kansas City, MO. During the first 10 years, the Belger Arts Center hosted more than 40 exhibitions by artists from North America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. More than 60,000 visitors attended these exhibitions and performances.

The galleries of the Belger Arts Center and Red Star Studios will be open to the public from 10 am until 4 pm, Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 4 pm on Saturdays. On the First Friday of every month the galleries are open from 10 am until 9 pm (unless we are closed for installation). All exhibits are free. To schedule a group tour please call Gallery Assistant Mo Dickens at 816-474-3250.

Plenum Space Gallery : 504 E. 18^th Street : Kansas City, MO 64108

Contact: Hannah Mott

Cell: 816.929.5930

Email: plenumspacekc@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

"What Have You" by Hannah the Mott

I love people, I love Kansas City and I love the people of Kansas City.  The time I have spent within the Kansas City Art Scene has been a fantastic learning experience that I would not trade for the world.  As a 'swan song' I would like to display paintings I have worked on during my last year as Plenum Space Gallery Manager. 

Hannah received her BA in Fine Art with an Emphasis in Art from the University of Kansas in 2008.   She has only been involved in group shows during her time as a student at the University of Kansas so this is her first solo show.  Hannah was born and raised in a small town south of Kansas City.

###

Show runs June 4th through June 25th. After June 4th, viewings are by appointment only. You can contact Paula Rose at the above email address to schedule an appointment.

The centerpiece of our annual fundraiser this June will be dolls. Nearly 40 of them! The children at the orphanage make these wonderful, whimsical dolls out of banana fiber (the stuff you strip off the bottom of the banana tree.) The dolls have always been big sellers at our events; they are clamored over, actually. Each has a distinct personality, and all are beautiful. This year, we are asking area artists to select a doll and do a "collaboration" with the child who created it. The artist will alter or decorate the doll any way he/she sees fit.

The really exciting part is that some of Kansas City's preeminent artists have agreed to take on this project - indeed a generous gift of their time and talent. The artists will have the doll for about a month to put their "signature" on it and transform it into a new piece. Among those who have kindly taken on the challenge are ceramicists, painters, printmakers and fabric artists.

Just to whet your appetite for the June 25th auction, here is a sampling of some of the amazing and highly respected artists who have graciously agreed to participate:

Shea Gordon
Tom Corbin
Jane Voorhees
Marcus Cain
Lonnie Powell
Linda Lighton
Susan White
Robert Quackenbush
Allan Winkler
Archie Scott Gobber
Holly Swangstu
Shane Evans
Peregrine Honig

Included in this fantastic mix of creative rock stars will be art educators, high school students and emerging artists.

Original paintings and drawings by the orphanage children will also be available for purchase. African crafts will be for sale in our Kajjansi Marketplace.

Food and drinks. Music provided by Blue Orleans. Fun for all ages!

This is an event you won't want to miss.

Mark you calendars and tell your friends (by forwarding this email using the link below). 

We look forward to seeing you on
June 25th!

Where & When

Date:Friday, June 25, 2010

Time:7 PM - 10 PM

Location:

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center
2012 Baltimore
Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, MO -- Time Magazine’s theatre critic Richard Zoglin has proclaimed Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of VENICE  the best musical of the year.

Read Zoglin’s review: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1989375,00.html#ixzz0nw29xk4g

VENICE is a ripped-from-the-headlines story of war, love and the ultimate quest for peace, told through a dynamic mix of musical genres, including hip-hop, R&B and traditional theatre music.  Two brothers are in conflict over how to save their city from a terrorist war; one brother seeks peace while the other is mired in treachery and destruction.  Given a contemporary setting, Venice brings the theatricality of hip-hop to a large-cast musical.

The  VENICE cast of twelve musical theatre performers includes: Uzo Aduba as Anna Monroe (Coram Boy, 365 Plays/365 Days); Clifton Duncan as Markos Monroe (Twelfth Night); Anna Eilinsfeld, ensemble (I Come for Love, In the Bubble); Jay Garcia, ensemble (Altar Boyz, Legally Blonde tour, Avenue Q);  J.D. Goldblatt as Theodore Westbrook (Broadway revival Les Miserables); Andrea Kiyo Goss as Willow Turner (Rent); Colin Hanlon as Michael Victor (I Love You Because, How Now, Dow Jones); Javier Muñoz as Venice Monroe (In the Heights); Angela Wildflower Polk as Hailey Daisy (Crowns, Permanent Collection, Bat Boy, the Musical—Unicorn Theatre); Matt Sax as Clown MC (Clay); Brandon Sollenberger, ensemble (Moisés Kaufman’s Into the Woods, KC Rep); Jasmin Walker as Emilia Monroe (Avenue Q, 365 Days/365 Plays).

The creative team includes musical director Curtis Moore (Into the Woods at KC Rep, The Bridge Project, The Coast of Utopia, Sam Mendes’ The Cherry Orchard), choreography by John Carrafa (Tony Award nominations for Urinetown, Into the Woods) and Tanisha Scott (Sean Paul, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Rihanna), set and costume design by Meghan Raham (Clay), lighting design by David Weiner (Steven Cosson’s Bus Stop at KC Rep, Equivocation, Reasons to be Pretty), projection design by Jason H. Thompson (assistant design, Jersey Boys) and sound design by Joshua Horvath (Clay).

The Rep’s co-producing partner for VENICE is Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles, which commissioned Rosen and Sax in 2007 to write another musical following the success of their critically acclaimed show Clay, which premiered in Los Angeles and had subsequent sold-out runs at Kansas City Rep and in New York, where it kicked off Lincoln Center Theater’s new programming initiative LCT3, devoted to producing the work of emerging playwrights, directors and designers.  

VENICE closed the Rep’s 2009-10 season on May 9.

About Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Now in its 45^th year, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is one of the nation’s leading professional theatres and a member of the League of Resident Theatres.  The Rep produces a full season of plays and events at Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus, where the Rep is the professional theatre in residence, and at Copaken Stage downtown. Its diverse repertoire includes new works, musicals and classics of literature.  The theatre serves approximately 100,000 patrons annually and employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators.  This year, more than 8,500 students from 150 schools in the two-state region will attend special matinee performances, and more than 1,200 students will experience the Rep’s classroom programming and workshops.

Friday/Saturday, May 21–22

The concert, by the Conservatory's resident dance company, includes Desire, by Gary Abbott, co-director of Deeply Rooted Productions in Chicago, To Each Her Own, choreographed by Conservatory faculty Paula Weber, and multi-media works Moore in Time and Southern Exposure choreographed by Conservatory faculty Mary Pat Henry, co-founder of Wylliams/Henry. Both concerts begin at 8:00pm at the Spencer Theatre, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center on the UMKC campus. Tickets are $24 and $18 for adults or $18 and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.wylliams-henry.org or by calling the Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222, http://www.umkc.edu/cto

Robin Hood the Prequel

By Jason Gregg

I questioned myself before viewing “Robin Hood” (directed by Ridley Scott) – do we really need another movie about Robin Hood?  It seems to me that there is a retelling of this fictional character every 20 years, and each director and actor has their own take on how the legendary character should be portrayed (Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Daffy Duck, etc).  In the end I hope this isn’t just another ploy for studios to make a buck but hopefully to introduce the legend to a new generation. 

The film begins with Marion Loxley’s (Cate Blanchett) village of Nottingham being over run by thieves in the night.  It was refreshing to see a strong woman role in this story that is set back in the 1200’s.  She doesn’t need to be saved by a strong male character; she is doing fine on her own. 

The plot line is set up quite quickly and if you can adjust to the English and French accents in time you should be able to follow what is going on in England and France.  King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) is crusading his way back to England while his ‘runt of the litter’ brother Prince John (Oscar Isaac) is the interim king back home.  Prince John is an immature, boy king who is making horrible, selfish decisions for his country. 

There is a lot of action in the first 30 minutes, in addition to the village being attacked; there is an attack on a castle and an ambush, which raises the death toll considerably.  Over 800 years ago the archers must have been incredibly accurate or the arrows must have been incredibly sharp.  The archers’ victims seemed to die immediately no matter where they were hit; unless, the victim was crucial to carry on the story line, then that person would live just long enough to deliver his lines and then die. 

We are introduced to Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) during the initial battle sequence and even though he helps his immediate friends in the English army, he is a more or less a jerk. Crowe was perfect for this character. Longstride soon becomes an army deserter and through some convenient identity theft, he hitches a free ride back to England with his crew of miscreants. There he delivers on a promise where he ends up in Nottingham and Marion grudgingly takes him in. All along Longstride is the reluctant hero. He doesn’t really want to help, but hey, since he is there he might as well do something with his free time. 

England is about to go to war with itself because Prince John has trusted the wrong man and it is up to Robin to unify the country before the evil French invade. Why Robin? Why aren’t any of the other thousands of Englishmen qualified to do the job?  I am still not clear on why Robin is giving motivational speeches.   

There are a few scenes with undertones relevant to today and the United States’ involvement in the conflicts in the Middle East.  If this movie came out a few years ago while George W. was still in office, the commentary would have had a stronger impact.  

The grand finale battle is on a beach where the action has been seen several times before in similar movies.  We have been overrun with these sword and shield movies (even Scott has contributed to this with “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Gladiator”) that when a good medieval story comes along we compare it to “Lord of the Rings” or “Braveheart” or “Gladiator.” Have you seen “Kingdom of Heaven”? Great movie, but it is easily forgettable.  

So where does this lead the film industry when it wants to tell a story that takes place in the time frame of 1,000 A.D. – 1,600 A.D.? There has to be hundreds of stories that screenwriters can draw from in that era. The caveat is that they have to make it memorable.  “Robin Hood” isn’t giving us much new material. 

After all is done, we are introduced to how Robin Longstride became Robin of the Hood.  And, when that happens, you might think to yourself “yes, now it’s pay back time, let’s go Robin, kick some ass.”  But, no. It ends. Ouch.   

Should you see this movie? Sure, go ahead. The acting was brilliant; Blanchett can’t really deliver a bad performance. The action sequences were tolerable (the film has a PG-13 rating; it isn’t dripping with too much blood).  However, with our exposure to so many Middle Ages films out there, I feel that this is going to be one of those movies that you see once and forgot you saw it in three months.