ARTS
American troupe showcases Japanese puppetry
In 2004, Martin Holman turned his passion for puppetry into a full-fledged performance group when he created the Bunraku Bay Puppet Theater. The group consists of mostly MU students who are trained during a summer exchange program in Japan and perform with the group as long as they choose.
September 02, 2010
Bunraku Bay: Only American troupe that performs Japanese puppetry
The troupe features MU students who travel the world showcasing the puppets
Watching Martin Holman describe a scene from one of his performances is like watching a kid retell a favorite part of a movie. Giddy with excitement and bubbling with emotion, Holman has a flicker in his hazel eyes that complements the crow’s feet around his temples and the wrinkles near his grin. Thirty-three years ago, Holman saw his first Japanese puppet show, and the fire is still in his eyes.
September 01, 2010
Gallery showcases MU Art Faculty's talent
George Caleb Bingham Gallery holds exhibit for MU Art Faculty
(Web Exclusive) After spending hours teaching students how to create masterpieces, MU’s very own art faculty will have a chance to showcase their own work. The George Caleb Bingham Gallery is displaying the faculty’s exhibition from Aug. 30 to Sept. 16. The gallery features categories like photography, printmaking, painting, drawing, video, sculpture, fibers, ceramics and design.
August 26, 2010
Pure Gallery showcases local photography
The business also offers a studio and classes
The idea sounds simple: Create a place where people can come together to celebrate the rarely captured moments in life. In other words, create a community-oriented gallery that sells and displays photography, has a studio and resource library and offers classes, something Columbia did not have until Pure Gallery & Studio opened in April.
August 19, 2010
North Village Arts District experiences growth
Along with redevelopment of the area, an influx of artists have moved into the district
Jeweler Ken Greene demonstrates how quickly a piece of jewelry can be made by pounding a thin piece of silver around a bracelet mandrel, a bar that holds metal in place while it’s being shaped. But he, like the other artists in the North Village Arts District located along Walnut and Orr streets, takes his craft much more seriously than a bracelet made in 10 seconds suggests.
August 12, 2010
Amber Atkisson body paints Columbia
Meet the Monet of naked painting
Take out the brushes, and take off your clothes. It’s time to get artistic with local body painter Amber Atkisson. If you want to become a piece of living art, now is your chance. Atkisson got into body painting as a fluke. After posting pictures on her MySpace page of children’s faces she had painted, a photographer saw them and was impressed. He asked her if she would be interested in doing some body painting, something she had never even hea
(Web Exclusive) The price of real vanilla extract — about $19 for an 8-ounce bottle, or about 237 mL — is enough to make some bakers resort to the imitation stuff. But thanks to this homemade vanilla extract recipe, there’s no reason to skimp. Vox shows you how to make genuine Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract from scratch. Keep in mind that it takes several months to cure.
August 05, 2010
What you don't need for line dancing
Leave these misconceptions at home
(Web Exclusive) If the plan is to get a little country tonight, there’s not a whole lot to bring. In fact, all you really need to do is show up. So if you need to, leave these things at home (although bringing them doesn’t hurt).
CARE Gallery program serves at-risk teens
Columbia exhibit showcases teen artwork
Connect with line dancing in Columbia
Midwest Country Connection two-steps at Whiskey Wild
On a Wednesday night at Whiskey Wild Saloon, Letha Blackford calls out a rapid-fire series of steps. Some people surrounding her gracefully follow in step while others desperately struggle to catch up. “Double-step, rock step, jazz box!” she shouts. Everyone manages to finish the sequence somewhat together, shrug off missed quarter-turns and joke with each other about offbeat scrambling.
July 31, 2010
Crusty Old Columbia Punks show off art skills
Celebrate the '80s with Columbia's scenesters
(Web Exclusive)
July 29, 2010
CoMo artists' galleries go online
Vox offers tips to get yours up and running
Peggy King’s kiln-fired fused glass plates come in intricate patterns of brilliant sky blue, fiery magenta and neon yellow. Looking at her plate collection is like seeing into a kaleidoscope. Each turn of the eye reveals a new spectrum of color. Glass is notoriously difficult to photograph, but King’s website gives surfers a glimpse of her artwork’s complexities. Online galleries such as King’s offer artists the chance to network with other artists and attract clients who might not be able to see their art in person.
July 23, 2010
Boonslick Art & Music Crawl offers daylong, family-friendly activities
Experience local art and music in Boonville
(Web Exclusive) The streets of downtown Boonville will be full of activity Saturday as it hosts the first annual Boonslick Art & Music Crawl. Organized by Turner Hall River Rats for the Arts, the event will feature art from more than 15 artists at 10 galleries, with special exhibits of work created by area children. Live music will start at Taylor’s Bake Shop, 519 E. Morgan, and continue every hour on the hour throughout the day. Musical performances will begin at 10 a.m. with Bluegrass Roundup and end with The Wild Cat Daddies at 9 p.m.
July 22, 2010
Going on a photo walk with the world
Columbia photographers take over downtown
Take a walk down Cherry Street. On a routine stroll downtown, it’s likely you’ve bypassed the overgrown mushroom tucked in the corner by the former location of the Underground Cafe or never noticed how artistically aligned the coin meters look when viewed from the ground up. But in a photographer’s eyes, the details and angles are the muses inspiring the photo.
Expect variety from Artrageous Friday
Local artists paint the town
Prepare for an evening of culture, taste and talent as downtown galleries offer dazzling displays of both new and seasoned local artists. This July, one evening lets burgeoning artists show Columbia what they’ve got. For the first time, this Artrageous Friday offers a free trolley to take guests to more than 20 different venues. These are just a few of the places preparing visual feasts sure to make eyes pop.
July 15, 2010
Terry Simmons snaps unconventional portraits and landscapes
Local photographer takes freeing photos
Hidden beneath the appearance of a wise dad from a family sitcom, Terry Simmons has a deep passion for capturing life in a creative way and says he wants to take the kind of photos your uncle wouldn’t. Simmons views portrait photography as a way to help people see “the sports cars” they have hidden within.
Celebrate the Wabash Centennial through art
Wabash station comes to life through train art
One hundred years ago, the sound of train whistles was heard throughout Columbia, and puffs of black smoke intermittently filled the air. Trains came to Wabash Station to pick up and drop off passengers and be on their way. A century later, the station houses city transit buses. Only art has been able to capture the memories from Columbia’s train era, and some of this art will be on display at the Wabash Centennial Jubilee.
July 14, 2010
The Heart Gallery brings adoption awareness to CoMo
Portraits of foster kids attempt to inspire action
(Web Exclusive) The Heart Gallery of America has made a pit stop at the Columbia Public Library this week. The traveling gallery features photographs of children in the foster care system who are waiting for a permanent family. According to Daniel Boone Regional Library public relations manager Mitzi St. John, the Heart Gallery travels the U.S. in the hopes that people will view the gallery and pursue adoption and to raise awareness for foster children in general.
July 08, 2010
International money art exhibit at Orr Street Studios
Greenbacks and other currency star in an upcoming Truesdell documentary
(Web Exclusive) Money is made, spent, saved — and sometimes wasted, lost or shared. At times, business owners frame their first dollars earned, but currency is often overlooked when it comes to the world of art.
Artist Jim Ross can make a sculpture out of just about anything
Assemblage art makes old things new
Experts might call his artwork sculptural assemblage, but if you ask Jim Ross, he’ll tell you that he builds gizmos. By the look of his artwork, Ross, 55, certainly fits the part of an eccentric inventor. His enthusiasm is engaging and contagious, and he taps the table excitedly as he talks about his most recent creation, a contraption that he calls the Weatheratorometer.
Sunny days bring hot works of art to the PS: Gallery summer exhibit
Opening reception on July 10 celebrates the new show
It might be another seasonal art show, but PS: Gallery’s summer 2010 exhibit is no cliché. The seasoned white walls of PS: Gallery are ready to welcome a new collection of art. CoMo residents can expect their eyes to widen and artistic tastes to broaden.
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