“Walking on Eggshells” A Metaphor in the Park

Alison Greene will present “Walking on Eggshells” a  performance on Thursday, August 18, between 11:30 and 1:30, in Oppenstein Park, at 12th & Walnut in Downtown Kansas City.

“Walking on Eggshells” is a metaphor that is often used when describing a feeling of being trapped by another’s will and when our voice is silenced.  The installation and performance of Greene’s artwork flips the meaning of this metaphor and presents a perspective where walking on the eggshells, as hard and painful or slow as it may be, is the purpose; to transform an uncomfortable feeling into a liberating one of self-compassion and divine expression.

Alison Moyna Greene is a multidisciplinary artist currently living and working in Kansas City Missouri.  Alison received her Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2006 and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2003.

Food will be available for purchase from local food trucks, Cheeesy Pop’s (http://cheeesypops.com/) and Pie Hole (http://www.pieholekc.com/).

This performance is free and open to the public and is part of the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect brought to you by the Art in the Loop Foundation with the support of the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement District, City of Kansas City, Missouri, KC Streetcar Authority, Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Trust and Development Fund, ArtsKC and many corporate sponsors.

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Make a “Connection” Friday on the KC Streetcar

IMG_2026CONNECTIONS

Presented by Jon Michael Johnson and SITU INC.
11:30am and 12:30 pm, Friday, August 19, 2016
Starts at Union Station Streetcar Stop

CONNECTIONS is a site-specific performance piece.   This mostly improvised event, as presented by Jon Michael Johnson and SITU INC., will follow one passenger as he boards the streetcar at Union Station.  He will be connected with someone new at each stop as the streetcar progresses through the route.  Will it be someone too different, someone too much the same, someone laughing,  crying,  spying,  hiding, someone lost — or found?
The theater of life will play out on the enclosed “stage” of the streetcar.  Each interaction should give us a glimpse into how we connect with those around us, and by extension, the community at large.  As the streetcar makes its way around the route and back to Union Station, CONNECTIONS will be an opportunity to tell a few tales — some tall, some with a spark of truth — and with the telling and a little luck, maybe we can create a “connection” or two.
Make a connection on Friday, August 19 at 11:30am and again at 12:30pm, starting and ending at the Union Station Streetcar stop.

This performance is free and open to the public and is part of the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect brought to you by the Art in the Loop Foundation with the support of the Downtown Council, Downtown Community Improvement District,  City of Kansas City, Missouri, KC Streetcar Authority, Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Trust and Development Fund, ArtsKC and many corporate sponsors.

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“A Net Full of Hope” Poetry Performance in the Park

Annette Hope Billings will present “A Net Full of Hope” a poetry performance on Thursday, August 11, between 11:30 and 1:30, in Oppenstein Park, at 12th & Walnut in Downtown Kansas City.

In the words of the poet: “In our divisive society, much exists that serves to further a sense of separateness. Despite this, well­spoken poetry remains as unifying a force as it has ever been. The written/spoken word yields influence on the common fabric of our lives. It can connect threads of human experience­­love, loss, anger, hunger for justice, grief­­ by weaving in hope. There seems to be a frequent urge to cast stones at one another. What my poetry suggests and demonstrates is the casting of hope in written/spoken form.”

Billings is known for the dramatic presentation of her work. She is an award-winning poet, actress and playwright. Her most recent collection of poetry is “A Net Full of Hope,” available on Amazon.

Food will be available for purchase from local food trucks, Greg-Go BBQ and Bop N Bowl.

This free performance is part of the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect brought to you by the Art in the Loop Foundation with the financial support of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, KC Streetcar Authority, Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Trust and Development Fund, ArtsKC and many corporate sponsors.

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World Music Duo Performs at KC Streetcar Stop

Kansas City’s newly opened streetcar stops are not just a place to sit and wait!

On Friday, August 12, from 11:30 to 1:30 at the Metro Center Northbound Streetcar Stop (12th and Main, adjacent to the Town Pavilion), multi-instrumentalist Amado Espinoza, along with his wife Karen Lisondra, will surprise pedestrians and streetcar commuters alike with their cosmopolitan playfulness, performing music from around the globe – with a twist: their instruments are made from recycled materials and found objects!

Constructed by Amado himself, you will hear a classical Arabic flute made out of a broom, an Andean pan-flute made from dried-up markers, a Bolivian guitar made from a cookie tin, and much more, inspiring listeners of all ages to use their imagination and help protect our environment. A concert to indulge the eyes, ears, and our inherent necessity to be a little silly, it might just make you tap your feet while waiting for the next streetcar!

Espinoza’s music is rooted in the spiritual traditions of the Andes mountains, while drawing inspiration from his musical-wanderlust personality. As a current Charlotte Street Studio resident and recent recipient of an ArtsKC inspiration grant, he is artistic directing and composing for a new theatrical collaboration called “We Are The Landscape” scheduled to debut this fall.

He will be performing with his wife and collaborator, Karen Lisondra, who is back in KC after more than a decade touring the globe with different South American theatre companies.

This free performance is part of the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect brought to you by the Art in the Loop Foundation with the financial support of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, KC Streetcar Authority, Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Trust and Development Fund, ArtsKC and many corporate sponsors.

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Soundtrack for the City Coming to KC Streetcar

©Paul Andrews PhotographyOn Friday, August 5, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. KC Streetcar patrons will have a unique opportunity to experience new and original music composed by local artist Stacy Busch for the KC Streetcar!

Soundtrack for the City is a musical experience designed specifically for the Kansas City Streetcar. Busch composed 9 new and original songs that are inspired by the various stops along the streetcar route.  To participate in the performance simply hop off the streetcar and listen to the music.

Interested in learning more? Meet the artist, Stacy Busch, at the Metro Center NB stop, 12th & Main Streets, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Want to check out the music now? Click on the links below to play the audio files:

This soundtrack for the city promotes artistic participation and accessibility with playfulness and provides rich and thoughtful songs that feel integral to the culture of Kansas City.  The composition and performance are part of the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect. For information visit www.artintheloop.com or contact Ann Holliday, Art in the Loop program director, ann@downtownkc.org.

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What Inspires Art in the Loop Artists?

07-19-16-ArtInTheLoop_Kickoff2016_001Many of the artists and performers participating in the 2016 Art in the Loop Project have provided examples of books, music, film, performances, and other sources that they draw inspiration from. They invite you to learn more about the things that feed their creativity and influence their work… many of which can be found in the Library’s catalog!

Download the reading list here:   http://www.kclibrary.org/sites/default/files/ArtInTheLoop2016_ReadingList%20copy.pdf

 

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2016 Art in the Loop Project – Flyer Available

The 2016 Art in the Loop Project flyer is now available. Click here to download the complete calendar of performances and list of art installations.

The 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect infuses the center of Downtown Kansas City with innovative and engaging temporary art that will refresh, intrigue and surprise Downtown employees, residents, and visitors. The project is a curated outdoor exhibition of 10 temporary artworks and 17 performances presented in four locations Downtown:

1) Ilus Davis Park at 11th and Oak;

2) KC Streetcar stops, located along Main Street between 4th Street and Pershing Road;

3) Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 12th and Walnut; and

4) Prairie Logic on the Green Roof, 6th floor above Cosentino’s grocery store at 13th and Main.

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July 28 Art in the Loop Performance Moved to KC Public Library

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to forecasted rain, this performance will take place in Kirk Hall at the Kansas City Public Library, Central Library, 14 West 10th Street.  You can still enjoy your lunch with the performance; food will be available for purchase at the Central Library coffee shop , the Nine Muses.  They offer sandwiches, salads, house made snack packs plus baked goods from scratch. The food trucks will remain in Oppenstein Park.

 

Join artist Timothy Amundson, Turkey Creek Institute for Phenomenal Awareness for a performance of Water Yield  on Thursday, July 28, from 11:30-1:30, in Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park, 12th & Walnut.

Amundson will bring an exhibition of photo-sculptures to the park on Thursday creating a virtual tour of Turkey Creek.  Empty space between the flags will be activated for a participatory exploration with an immersive soundscape and artifacts gathered at the creek.

Come hungry, food trucks will include Cajun Cabin (http://www.cajuncabin.org/) and KC Pinoy (http://kcpinoy.com/).

For more information about the artist and artwork visit http://turkeycreekinstitute.tumblr.com.

For more information about Art in the Loop visit www.artintheloop.com.

 

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Nritya Performs Dances and Music of India, July 29th

Photo, Copyright 2008 Mike Strong www.kcdance.com

Photo, Copyright 2008 Mike Strong www.kcdance.com

The Nritya School of Indian Dance and Music will perform on Friday, July 29, from 11:30-1:30 in Ilus Davis Park at 11th and Oak  as part of the Art in the Park project.

Dance is the universal language of the world. Dance is a way of expression, an identity. As with most traditions, dance is different around the world, in every country that you travel to. Certain genres can identify a particular destination, a way of life. As with music, it is highly emotive.

Hema Sharma is the artistic director of Nritya, founded in 1988. Nritya is a versatile company of dancers who work primarily in the South Indian Classical dance style called Bharatha Natyam, and folk dances. Nritya produces dynamic and captivating programs that appeal to all ages.

Enjoy lunch with food trucks Estrella Azul  and Greg-Co BBQ.

 

 

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Artist Neil Goss to Demonstrate Mayan Weaving Method

Nationally known artist Neil Goss will present a demonstration of backstrap weaving at noon on Friday, July 29th ; the demonstration will be in Ilus Davis Park, 11th and Oak. This presentation coincides with Art in the Park, an outdoor exhibit of several artworks, including Goss’s Hempen Support: Vines of Passion.

Backstrap weaving is a method of weaving used for over 5000 years by indigenous people in Central and South America and the Philippines. In this method, parallel sticks hold the loom’s vertical base in place, with one end attached to a tree or post and the other wrapped around the back of the weaver’s body. Backstrap weaving is the method by which Goss created the work that is part of this year’s Art in the Park exhibit. The method is ever-popular, and people travel to Guatemala, Bolivia and Peru for vacation workshops.

 

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Art in the Loop Kick Off Event & July 18-22 Schedule

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The 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect, a curated outdoor exhibition staged in partnership with the Downtown Council, KC Streetcar and City of Kansas City, Missouri, features 25 temporary artworks and performances in Oppenstein and Ilus Davis parks and at stops along KC’s new streetcar route.  We look forward to providing you with a weekly schedule of performances.  Events and performances for this week include:

Kickoff Program and Reception
Tuesday, July 19, 6:30 pm
Kansas City Public Library-Central Library
14 West 10th Street

As the series ramps up, a number of the participating artists, dancers, musicians, and poets take turns discussing their works. They are introduced by curator Jessica Borusky, an artist and educator who lives and works in Kansas City. A reception immediately follows the program.  Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

 

Traveling Tunes
performed by Betse & Clark
Thursday, July 21, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park

Musical adventurers Betse & Clarke will present historical and modern songs about transportation inspired by the new KC Streetcar. Performing on fiddle and banjo, the duo will create a connection between past and present.  Enjoy lunch with local favorite food trucks: Saac Lunch and Estrella Azul.

Charlotte Street Performing Arts Showcase

Friday, July 22, 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park

Charlotte Street Foundation is pleased to present a free Performing Arts Showcase featuring Mackenzie Reed, Brian Padavic, Arnold Young, Amado Espinoza, Catherinette (Cody Kauhl & Mikaela Sullivan), and Joshua Williams/Shades of Jade.  Inspired by the evolving landscape of our city, the residents’ performances are a response to the ever-changing, developing landscape of Downtown, Kansas City. Performances range from improvisational jazz to folk-influenced sound, experiments with self-made instruments, theatrically performative piano compositions, and collaborative/multidisciplinary approaches to music and performance. Click here for the showcase schedule of events.

For more information about the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect, visit artintheloop.com. Contact Ann Holliday, program director, ann@downtownkc.org, or Jessica Borusky, curator, curationprojects@gmail.com, with any questions.

 

 

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Innovative Art in the Loop Dance Performance – Friday, July 15, 12 pm

The Inspired Pedestrians

Join us for an innovative dance performance organized by Kansas City artist Elizabeth Stehling on Friday, July 15, 12 noon at the Kansas City Streetcar Union Station Stop.  The performance will start at Union Station and end at the Kauffman Center NB Stop.

Stehling is inspired by the new opportunity the streetcar provides for pedestrian connections. The Kansas City streetcars will give new opportunities for pedestrian connection. “The Inspired Pedestrians” is a video and performance project capturing an idealized dance of pedestrian traffic.

The performance will be enacted by acclaimed dancers from the Kansas City Ballet including Joshua Bodden, Ivan Braatz, Miranda Dafoe, Tempe Ostergen and Molly Wagner. Ostergen and Wagner recently danced the legendary role of Odette/Odile in the Kansas City Ballet’s production of Swan Lake earlier this year.

Click here for additional program details and credits.

 

Headshot_StehlingAbout the artist

Elizabeth Stehling’s artwork explores relationships between people using dance and gesture. She has shown her short films at festivals and galleries across the country. Stehling earned her M.F.A. from The Pratt Institute in 2010 and moved to Kansas City in 2015. Learn more about Elizabeth at http://www.elizabethstehling.com

About the 2016 Art in the Loop Project: Connect

Art in the Loop is partnering with the KC Streetcar Authority, KCMO-Office of Culture and Creative Services, KCMO-Neighborhood Tourism and Development Fund, KCMO-Municipal Art Commission, the Missouri Arts Council and many corporate sponsors to create a curated outdoor art exhibition and series of performance in Downtown Kansas City, July -September, 2016.

Learn more about the 25 projects at www.artintheloop.com and check out our event listings at www.facebook.com/artintheloop.

Don’t miss our Art in the Loop Kick Off Program & Reception, Tuesday, July 19, 6:30 at the KC Public Library, Central Library. Click here to learn more and RSVP.

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