Please note that this is the 16th annual Lawrence ArtWalk, which takes place at 21 artists’ studios and other art spaces in and around Lawrence, and is not exclusively held at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Please note that this is the 16th annual Lawrence ArtWalk, which takes place at 21 artists’ studios and other art spaces in and around Lawrence, and is not exclusively held at the Lawrence Arts Center.
There may be a shortage of commercial galleries but let's not forget that there are still plenty of other opportunities for artists to show off their work. Lawrence artists do not exactly have to "scrape for outlets for their art." Annual events such as the Lawrence ArtWalk, Art in the Park, Holiday Art Fair and Bizarre Bazaar also put artists in direct contact with the public. Gallery shows such as the juried Lawrence Own-Your-Own exhibition and the Lawrence Art Guild's and Lawrence Photo Alliance members' annual shows also expose artists to a wider audience. And glaringly absent from any mention in the article are the incredible number of downtown restaurants, retail stores and even the Lawrence Public Library that routinely exhibit local artists' work.
The Lawrence art scene is far from bleak, and ljworld.com and lawrence.com readers' comments that "recent gallery closings were just the last gasps for air" are premature to say the least. Calls for a space for curated shows have already been met by the Lawrence Arts Center, which is the closest this town comes to having a "great art venue." Granted, it may be seen by 'guerilla' artists as an institution with its own agenda when it comes to exhibitions and I wish it would accommodate more work by local artists.
Whether any new commercial galleries can survive simply depends upon market forces. Perhaps the recent closings are a sign of the times, that there are simply not enough buyers to sustain retail gallery outlets here?
So, what should be done about the state of the arts in town? For one, it would certainly help if the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau could resurrect and seriously get behind the now-defunct City of the Arts moniker to promote us to regional and national audiences. Without substantially increasing the number of visitors that come to town it's just going to be 'business as usual.'
Secondly, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members could perhaps provide more support through sponsorships or in-kind services to help under-served artists and arts groups to further their creative endeavors. Such support from the business community across the entire spectrum of the arts could really become a hallmark of this town and give substance to the City of the Arts moniker.
Thirdly, and maybe the best way to get the ball rolling again is for the arts community to first make a concerted effort at better coordinating its many disparate parts so that we're all 'on the same page.' By encouraging discussion we will stand a better chance of identifying what our collective needs are and how we can best achieve them, which may make it easier for city entities to get behind us and get us on our way.
However, in the meantime, meetings such as the one hosted by Dave Loewenstein can only but help.
PLEASE NOTE: LAWRENCE.COM HAS ERRED IN SPECIFYING WHERE THIS EVENT OCCURS! THE ARTWALK HAPPENS ALL OVER LAWRENCE AND BEYOND BUT DOES NOT - REPEAT, DOES NOT - OCCUR JUST IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE!
PLEASE NOTE: LAWRENCE.COM HAS ERRED IN SPECIFYING WHERE THIS EVENT OCCURS! THE ARTWALK HAPPENS ALL OVER LAWRENCE AND BEYOND BUT DOES NOT - REPEAT, DOES NOT - OCCUR JUST IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE!
None
Please note that this is the 16th annual Lawrence ArtWalk, which takes place at 21 artists’ studios and other art spaces in and around Lawrence, and is not exclusively held at the Lawrence Arts Center.
John Wysocki, Director, Lawrence ArtWalk. info@lawrenceartwalk.org
September 23, 2010 at 6:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
None
Please note that this is the 16th annual Lawrence ArtWalk, which takes place at 21 artists’ studios and other art spaces in and around Lawrence, and is not exclusively held at the Lawrence Arts Center.
John Wysocki, Director, Lawrence ArtWalk. info@lawrenceartwalk.org
September 23, 2010 at 6:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Heads above water
There may be a shortage of commercial galleries but let's not forget that there are still plenty of other opportunities for artists to show off their work. Lawrence artists do not exactly have to "scrape for outlets for their art." Annual events such as the Lawrence ArtWalk, Art in the Park, Holiday Art Fair and Bizarre Bazaar also put artists in direct contact with the public. Gallery shows such as the juried Lawrence Own-Your-Own exhibition and the Lawrence Art Guild's and Lawrence Photo Alliance members' annual shows also expose artists to a wider audience. And glaringly absent from any mention in the article are the incredible number of downtown restaurants, retail stores and even the Lawrence Public Library that routinely exhibit local artists' work.
The Lawrence art scene is far from bleak, and ljworld.com and lawrence.com readers' comments that "recent gallery closings were just the last gasps for air" are premature to say the least. Calls for a space for curated shows have already been met by the Lawrence Arts Center, which is the closest this town comes to having a "great art venue." Granted, it may be seen by 'guerilla' artists as an institution with its own agenda when it comes to exhibitions and I wish it would accommodate more work by local artists.
Whether any new commercial galleries can survive simply depends upon market forces. Perhaps the recent closings are a sign of the times, that there are simply not enough buyers to sustain retail gallery outlets here?
So, what should be done about the state of the arts in town? For one, it would certainly help if the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau could resurrect and seriously get behind the now-defunct City of the Arts moniker to promote us to regional and national audiences. Without substantially increasing the number of visitors that come to town it's just going to be 'business as usual.'
Secondly, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members could perhaps provide more support through sponsorships or in-kind services to help under-served artists and arts groups to further their creative endeavors. Such support from the business community across the entire spectrum of the arts could really become a hallmark of this town and give substance to the City of the Arts moniker.
Thirdly, and maybe the best way to get the ball rolling again is for the arts community to first make a concerted effort at better coordinating its many disparate parts so that we're all 'on the same page.' By encouraging discussion we will stand a better chance of identifying what our collective needs are and how we can best achieve them, which may make it easier for city entities to get behind us and get us on our way.
However, in the meantime, meetings such as the one hosted by Dave Loewenstein can only but help.
John Wysocki, Director
The Center For Art
www.thecenterforart.com
100% Rag: Lawrence's only online forum dedicated to the visual arts
http://wysocki.co.uk/smf/index.php
December 6, 2006 at 11:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lawrence ArtWalk 2005 -- 10/30/05 at Downtown Lawrence
PLEASE NOTE: LAWRENCE.COM HAS ERRED IN SPECIFYING WHERE THIS EVENT OCCURS! THE ARTWALK HAPPENS ALL OVER LAWRENCE AND BEYOND BUT DOES NOT - REPEAT, DOES NOT - OCCUR JUST IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE!
October 17, 2005 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lawrence ArtWalk 2005 -- 10/29/05 at Downtown Lawrence
PLEASE NOTE: LAWRENCE.COM HAS ERRED IN SPECIFYING WHERE THIS EVENT OCCURS! THE ARTWALK HAPPENS ALL OVER LAWRENCE AND BEYOND BUT DOES NOT - REPEAT, DOES NOT - OCCUR JUST IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE!
October 17, 2005 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )