Lawrence.com

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One hurdle a lot of artists encounter is the notion that art is unapproachable, elite, boring... "yawn, can I get out of this stuffy place already, PLEASE?" As an artist, I have been to my fair share of dry lectures and white-wall-wine-and-cheese parties...for full disclosure, I have been part of or responsible for a lot of them too. As I begin this month's Final Fridays blog though, I challenge you to walk away from the upcoming Final Fridays with that notion intact. In fact, it is my guess that if you show up downtown on Friday, you will be back next month, and the month after that.

What you must remember is this: 1.Artists love to have fun too. 2.They want you to walk away talking. 3.They don't make art just for critics.

Final Fridays art walks are designed to open up the closed-door notion that art is for the select few and bring the greater public into the fold. On April 29th, you will find high flying aerialists, a man in an inflated 35 feet-long suit, art from the youngest generations of Lawrence and the public school system, a Brooklyn-based artist's return to Kansas with a book and exhibition, an artist who only started painting after a serious bike messenger wreck left him without the ability to read, a visiting group of internationally renowned artists from San Antonio, empty storefronts transformed into pop-up galleries or flash spaces,fiber arts from a MoMA-collected artist, music, dance, poetry, painting, drawing, fiber, furniture and cupcakes... need I go on?

Many Lawrencians start the art walk at The Lawrence Arts Center, and this month they will be met with high flying dancers from Quixotic Fusion performing demo vignettes on a twenty foot truss. Venturing into the air, wrapping, contorting and swooning across the sky, this group is a collaborative effort of dancers, composers, musicians and artists who create an audience experience outside any traditional definition. Inside the Arts Center, you will find the work of 33 artists from San Antonio (who are also bringing up a bus of friends and artists to attend the Lawrence Final Friday events) in the show "The New Old San Antonio: Tales from the Little Big Town." Concurrently, one of the artists will be doing a performance at The Spencer Museum of Art in his 35' inflatable suit. (While you are at the Spencer, go inside and check out two amazing exhibitions, one by Shanghai artist Jin Shan, and the second, the recently acquired collection given to SMA from the famous Vogels of New York.) After the Spencer performance, the artist will be changing into the "much more practical" 10' inflatable suit and walking/bouncing down the hill into downtown, ending at The Lawrence Arts Center. The artwork of hundreds of Lawrence public school students will be on view in the Ann Evans Gallery, highlighting the process of creative development from early years to the more sophisticated understanding of the principles of art by high school students on a college track. At 7 p.m., in the theater, The Lawrence Arts Center’s Dance Program presents “Emergence.” This concert is the first of its kind, featuring the artistry of the newly-formed Lawrence Ballet Theatre and the dynamic Advanced Jazz Ensemble.

In the alley, behind the Arts Center, you can find the Lawrence Percolator with bigger-than-life cardboard sculptures by Juniper (TJ) Tangpuz that will delight kids and adults alike. This will be the closing of the show curated by Eric Farnsworth, so if you missed it last month, be sure to stop by. Also along the alleyway, The Social Service League joins Final Fridays this month with the show "Waste Not, Want Not." "The League", as most of us know it, is a familiar spot for many artists to scavenge one-of-a-kind art materials, frames, and unique supplies. Waste Not, Want Not will feature the work of five artists showcasing American Indian bead work, paintings, decorated gourds, and whimsical pieces.

Alicia Kelly will be taking over an empty storefront at 815 Massachusetts, and transforming it into a one-night art wonderland with the support of Mark's Jewelers. Kelly's show, "Blame the Moon" will include installations, spacial manipulations and artwork from a group of eight artists:Christa Dalien , Kenneth Kupfer, Andrew Huffman, Andrew Jilka, Tim Dwyer, Clint Ricketts, Whitney Mahoney, Mari Lacure, Robert Gandy and Lindsay Deifik.

The Hobbs Taylor Lofts has been hosting The Lawrence Art Party for several months, every month grabbing a new group show, new musicians and artists displaying work. This month will include blues, rock, and country music by the popular and talented Lawrence band BRC Sounds, four group shows, and paintings, sculptures, photographs, and mixed media art by more than 20 amazing artists as well as work by Van-Go! artists.

Notable solo shows include "Jason Wood: New Works" at The Invisible Hand Gallery, "Pyramid Lake" by Ray Sohn at Wonder Fair, "Some Seasonal Views of Inland Landscape" by Colette Bangert at Teller's Restaurant, "Recent Paintings" by Sue Ashline at The Bourgeois Pig, and paintings by Lisa Grossman at Pachamama's.

Four NEW venues to check out are Acme, Foxtrot, Salon Pearl and Do's Deluxe, all having art openings of work by local artists. Foxtrot will feature works by Kristin Morland, Salon Pearl will have a group show of prints, and Do's Deluxe will feature works by Marty Olson, Richard Gwin and Jennifer Joie Webster. Acme will show the work of Amy Fore, and you can make your own art T-shirt while you are there!

Jewelry lovers/hoarders/collectors should be sure to make a stop at Diane's Artisan Gallery either during the Final Friday art walk or Saturday for a special trunk show of works by Todd Reed. Diane's will be open from 11 am to 9 pm on Final Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm the next day.

Many art-walkers may be unaware that the Lawrence Public Library always features three exhibits or more for Final Fridays. This month the shows featured are "New Works by Liza MacKinnon," "Girl in a Box: Shadow Box Illustrations by Ruby Love," and "Bishop Seabury Academy Student Artwork."

Local writer and musician, Mark Hennessy will be reading new works/poems from I Lost It All The Night The Day The Circus Came To Town, with musical guest Olassa at The Dusty Bookshelf.

Art In The Park has been a Lawrence tradition for 50 years, and in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary, The Lawrence Art Guild-run-gallery, 1109 Gallery, will open the show "Art By The Park." You can find live music, tons of artwork, libations and snacks at 1109 openings.

The Phoenix Gallery presents a demonstrating artist every month. Anne Egitto will be the demonstrating artist at the gallery for Final Fridays this month. AND, last but not least on my highlights list for this month, The Phoenix Gallery will also have cupcakes for you to taste from Cupcake Construction Company, a new business that will be opening soon in Lawrence.

So there you have it, from Quixotic to cupcakes, you have have a free evening of activities laid out for you. This is just my highlights list, so don't forget to check out all the venues (listed on Lawrence.com under "Final Friday Venues in a side box) or simply head downtown Friday at 5 and start walking.