Lawrence Love

A hop, skip and a 45 minute jump from the convention center, in nearby Lawrence, KS, you’ll find three exhibitions showcasing the heart of the region.  Midwest Mentors, organized by Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, represents work from artists across the US and internationally, who have presented workshops there since the last Kansas City NCECA.  Although they have created a complete electronic catalog of this exhibition, this is definitely a show you will want to see in person.  Included artists are  Steven Branfman, Jim Connell, Paul Lewing, David Gamble, Ian Currie, Robert Piepenburg, Tim Frederich,  David Sturm,  Don Davis,  Pete Pinnell, Angelica Pozo.   Robin Hopper , Lana Wilson, Conner Burns, Linda Arbuckle, Paul Wandless, Sue Morse, Wally Asselberghs, Linda Ganstrom, Kristin Kieffer, Dan Gegen, Ron Roy, Eric Stearns, Andrew Martin, Forrest Middelton, Adam Field & Marcia Selsor

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A similarly themed exhibition also found here in Lawrence is  “701 Louisiana.”  Don’t be fooled by the title of the show, this collection is on display at Lawrence’s beautiful Cider Gallery, at 810 Pennsylvania.  The title of this exhibition references the home address of two incredible Lawrence art patrons.  All of the artists invited to this exhibition have stayed with Bird and Michel Loomis while in Lawrence, Kansas as demonstrators for the Lawrence Arts Center’s Ceramics Symposium. At some point each invited artist has enjoyed spirited discussions and cup of coffee while perched around the Loomis’ kitchen island. Bonds and unexpected connections arise from the warmth and energy in the Loomis’ Victorian home filled with contemporary art.  This exhibition is a ledger, a record, and a signal of paths that have crossed (despite any separation of time or distance).

The common thread in a sense is that “we were here.”

Included artists are: Dan Anderson, John Balistreri, David Hiltner, Mark Burns, Matt Long, Tom Bartel, Christa Assad, Josh DeWeese, Charity Davis Woodard, Pattie Chalmers, Akio Takamori, Chris Gustin, Stan Welsh, Sunshine Cobb, Auymi Horie, Liz Quackenbush, Roberto Lugo, Sergei Isupov, Steve Lee

Back at Brackers, you’ll find another exhibition organized by Marko Fields titled Kansas Clay Connection II.  This show is an encore to an exhibition that harkens back to the last Kansas City NCECA.  This show will feature work by 100 ceramists and potters who are from Kansas, or who have taught or were educated at a Kansas college or university including Andy Brayman, Elaine O. Henry, Linda Ganstrom, Patrick Taddy, Yoshiro Ikeda, Mika Negishi-Laidlaw. Marko Fields, David Hiltner, Ken Ferguson, Scott Dooley, Julie Galloway and many, many other accomplished artists.

While you’re in Lawrence, you might also want to check in and see: