The Real World

A couple spring days off work? Can life get any better!?

I'll be rejoining the real world tomorrow, but I sure enjoyed my long weekend. I spent it 1) shopping, 2) looking at art, 3) spending time with family, 4) reading, and 5) getting a pedicure.

Evan-Piccone Dress now in my closet - I know, I know. It's not exactly what I thought I was looking for, but it really suits me! Plus, black-and-white is oh, so versatile. I can add colored accessories to suit any mood or situation, not to mention this baby is washable and wrinkle-free!

1) My mom, sister and I went shopping for Easter dresses/spring staples on Friday. We all found some springy wardrobe updates, and my sister and I both found Easter dresses. Because the one I found (a really pretty American Living dress) was dry clean only, my mom and I went back out on Saturday, where I found a more user-friendly dress. Yay for dresses that are washable and don't wrinkle! Looking for dresses can be trying, so I am grateful I found more than one option! 

My cousin really enjoyed Jennifer Onofrio's work on display at Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art. Her work is gorgeous and inspires me, too. Above: The Space Between, 2010, Silver gelatin print with ink, 38 3/4 in. x 27 3/4 in. x 3 1/2 in.

2) On Friday night, my sister and I took my 16-year old cousin Robert to his first First Friday. I felt really good about introducing him to the modern art world. Oddly, enough, there were lots of skulls and skeletons featured in the exhibitions we saw. This was great, because that is one of Robert's favorite art subjects. After we walked around taking in all the art, we treated Robert to dinner at Rosedale Bar-B-Q. Rosedale's been around since 1934, but it was our first time. The meat was divine (especially the pulled pork), although the sauce was a little spicy for me. The baked beans also had a little kick, which I liked. All in all, I think Robert had a good time. It's hard to read teenage boys.  

I felt a great deal of responsibility while sharing art with Robert. My goal is to impress upon people, and especially young people, the value of art in and to our society. If more people grow up learning and believing art is meaningful, then art programs will be valued even when things get tough economically. Maybe. Hopefully.

Easter Eggs!

3) I stayed with my parents over the weekend. I always feel recharged after spending time with them. It's true, there's no place like home. I also saw all my cousins on Easter Sunday. After a really thought-provoking church service, we drove down to my cousins' home in Raymore, MO. They live on Silver Lake, and they know how to throw a party. We had good conversation, a delicious potluck and an Easter egg hunt. Growing up, we always collected candy during our Easter egg hunts, but my cousins fill their eggs with money... Aaaaand, I am still considered a "kid." Maybe I'll be one until I have kids of my own?? Or perhaps until I have a few noticeable wrinkles? 

Enjoyable read.

4) I have made it about a quarter of the way through The Girl Who Played with Fire, the follow-up to Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am really enjoying the series. It's dark. It's suspenseful. It is filled with intriguing and "human" characters. The first book hinted at Lisbeth Sander's disturbing past, and in the second book we begin to learn how and why Lisbeth is who she is. From reading the book jacket, I know there's another large-scale mystery or two to untangle. As soon as I finish here, I am going back to reading!

5) My mom treated me to a pedicure today. What more can I say? Thanks for the luxury-treatment, Mom! Now, my feet are fit to be seen (but no pics to prove it).

How do you fill your time off of work? What do you do to treat yourself when you have a few days of your own?

Alison :)

The First First Friday...

...For me in a really long time.

A couple getting close at the Slap & Tickle Gallery in Kansas City, MO. Images by Dave Michael, left, and Sandy Woodson, right.

Yes, that is what you think it is at the Slap & Tickle. Artist Dave Michael is pictured at far left.

More from the Slap & Tickle - the galleries were all hopping despite the rain and cold. The photographs at left are by Bad Gira, and the painting in the background is by Betsy Barratt.

If you visit Kansas City, you may be surprised by its vibrant art scene. Most people who are not familiar with our (unexpectedly) cultured ways are. Every First Friday galleries open new exhibitions to an eager and educated public. Kansas City has a very welcoming art scene and is home to many artists, art writers, arts administrators, art collectors and art lovers (and, of course, many of those titles overlap in each individual).You will see work by everyone from students to old hands, from homegrown to internationally known artists.  This month I cajoled my friend Conor into joining me for my first gallery trot in months - it was long overdue. 

We started our night at the Slap & Tickle Gallery in the East Crossroads, where the Fifth Annual Erotica Art Show was on display. The exhibition, and the gallery itself, blends public and private beautifully. Half gallery and half studio/home, partners Apryl (Murray) McAnemey and Thom Richart offer a variety of exhibitions and performances to the public each month. While we were there, Conor and I ran into my pal artist Mary Ware. She makes beautiful paintings, and she had several intimate (in subject and scale) drawings on display tonight. Unfortunately, 1) I don't have any photos of her work and 2) I only have photos from our first gallery visit.

After the Slap & Tickle, we headed west to the Spray Booth Gallery, where we saw XOXO Salon Show & Benefit, a salon style exhibition featuring both art students and established Kansas City artists. This exhibition is what got me out of the house tonight. Several co-workers, friends and many students I interact with on a regular basis had work on display. The work impressed me, and, like you might expect of a salon show, it was quite diverse in tone and subject matter. I saw many students I know, but, to be honest, I felt nervous around them without my official workaday title about me, so I didn't really talk to anyone besides Conor.

Since we were already walking, Conor and I headed back out into the cold to see what else might be on display in the Crossroads. We stopped by several galleries and saw projected images of architecture, a gorgeous installation of Reilly Hoffman's metal sculptures that brought to my mind the phases of the moon, collaged paintings, and luxurious rugs. Then, Conor and I headed to Kemper at the Crossroads.  Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry, an exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Eric Fertman, opened tonight. I really enjoyed what I saw - humorous totems to these our modern times, refined woodwork, horse hair accents described in laugh-out-loud terms, and stream of consciousness-like drawings. At Kemper at the Crossroads we also saw a former co-worker  of mine and a former student.

I could have danced through the galleries all night, but I was wearing bad walking shoes and grew hungrier for food than art. Conor and I decided to stop at Hamburger Mary's. Conor had eaten earlier and just indulged in drink, whereas I had one of my favorite BLT's in all of Kansas City with a side of sweet potato fries. A student I know was there to meet some friends, and we chatted for a few minutes. You just can't go out in the big small town of Kansas City without running into at least one person you know well enough to converse with.

Conor was such a dear to put up with my art asides and long dinner time tonight. I really enjoyed his company and all the art I saw. It's just too bad I can never make it to all the galleries on First Friday. I was especially disappointed we didn't get to Jim Sajovic's exhibition Graphic at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. Jim is an amazing artist, and he was my Foundation instructor at the Kansas City Art Institute. As such, he has been very influential to me! Never will I be able to hang a piece of artwork with pins in the top corners - I will always pin all four corners! I will be sure to visit his exhibition before it comes down. The images I have seen  look really exciting!

What type of art to you enjoy viewing? Do you ever go to art openings?

Alison :)