Day 5: Kansas City

Day 5: Kansas City


On day 1, we asked for two Keurig decafs for the room, and here's where we are now:

It's not just the towels that is growing exponentially (though the creamers have disappeared totally)

Weather: You probably thought THB had forgotten to put in the daily weather. NOT SO! THB was just not going to bother you with the consistency of cold in the morning, clear air, brisk, cool in the evening, and one lousy intermittent rainstorm. Today, THB has something different to report: IT SNOWED!! Light snow flurries, nothing collecting on the ground. Sunny by late afternoon.

Pretend you can see the snow...THB could see it

THB runs out after an in-house Ambassador workout to a different coffee shop for a decaf cafe au lait for DB. Not bad...and very cold out with intermittent rain drops (and THB is wearing his work out clothes, extra light weight).  NYT and coffee $7

Breakfast at Reserve (not a single other person in the dining room): THB gets it his way: berries and yogurt with a light dusting of granola, dry sourdough; DB has oatmeal and coffee, $30

Our usual trek up the street to the bus, leaves at 8:40. Down to The Bottoms we go, a low area below downtown that used to be the site of the livestock transactions. Now it is turning over to cheap spots for art galleries, and there is an upscale NCECA show at Haw Contemporary and pop-up like exhibition by two artists at Plug Projects.

Haw:

We're liking the soft kiln brick look as display

The new hyper-modernism in painting: showing smart phones

Plug:

Joey as Jesus, he claimed to THB that it was just a role

And his way into the hearts of all men

Next up is a return visit to the Kemper Museum, we were here in 2013. While the large exhibition hall is full of ceramics, and attached were artist studios, THB found it pretty dull, unlike in 2013 when the main exhibit, on maps, was excellent as was the food in the cafe (THB is clearly reaching his ceramics absorption level).

More soft kiln bricks as display (THB no longer cares what is on top of the bricks)

There's enough time to slip in a half hour collectors house visit, and the place is full to the gills of works on paper, some ceramics, some odd sculptures (e.g., a "guitar" that appeared to play music - diaphragms moving in and out - and no sound). Tour opinions mixed: some really liked all the antiques and zebra striped dining room chairs; most felt the place needed some serious pairing down or change of wall paint. THB liked a lot of the works on paper; since this is a ceramics tour, maybe the group for the most part doesn't look at 2D work?

Chris Brown on paper

Bartlett piece in Benesse House museum on Naoshima is a one terrific painting (and the row boat down below on the beach makes is totally unique)

Lunch at Q39, a bbq spot. THB and DB swear they have eaten here, yet it wasn't open in 2013. There must be a double to this place somewhere else in the US. Buffet style, THB has cole slaw, small piece of corn bread, few thin slices of brisket (not fatty enough) and a part of a chicken breast, iced tea.

After lunch is another Belger gallery, this one called the Belger Arts Center. A number of exhibitions set up just for NCECA.

A pop-up for NCECA at the Vulpes Bastille gallery, co-curated by Susan Beiner who we visited at her home/studio in Phoenix and saw a large installation piece at the Lawrence Art Center.

Susan on the left (duh!)

D took a ton of pictures with this monster lens

Another gallery visit, this time featuring a Chinese artist, Bai Ming, who needed a translator, and is prolific in many styles. Through some weird international agreement with China, no prices on hand.

One last collectors house visit, this time at a local artist's third floor loft walk-up. You should recognize the dog (he was in a gallery two days ago):

NFS; THB and DB agree we should get a bowl for the loft to resonate with the sewer pipe going to the beach

The odd lighting is from leds in the back of the display case

the guy making the airplancs

LEDs aglow

The new version of donuts (or are they cupcakes?)

The last event of the tour for THB and DB is the going away dinner at Bristol Seafood Grill. Food very ordinary, nothing of note to report. We say goodbye to the tour members on hand (some had departed earlier in the day). Tomorrow we're on our own, and then home to E-ville.