KC STUDIO

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For the Holidays: ‘A Perfect Merging’

When British-based vocal ensemble Stile Antico had to cancel their U.S. tour — for the second time — it was a big disappointment for local fans of their unique choral sound and thoughtful, unexpected programming.

Artist Pages: Immersive Art vs. Immersive Entertainment

As two immersive van Gogh exhibits land in Kansas City, there are distinctions to be drawn.

Nelson-Atkins Moves Forward with Pay Raise, New Board Chair, Stronger KC Art Focus

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on Sept. 1 announced a series of initiatives including higher pay, new board leadership, greater emphasis on diversity, and a Kansas City-focused exhibition series.

Artist to Watch: Enrique Chi

The official music video for Making Movies’ powerful 2019 song, “Tired of Giving In,” begins with the Kansas City Latinx band perfunctorily performing onstage while literally handcuffed to their instruments. But the band’s seething front man, Enrique Chi, can play nice for only so long.

From the Magazine

Bakker Brown: Stylish But Not Scratchy

Cecilia Bakker could not find clothing she considered acceptable. Together with her husband, Tim S. Brown, she founded Bakker Brown in 2016.

Master of Mid-Century Modern

Unless you are “of a certain age,” the name Paul McCobb may not trigger any memories. But if you recall home décor of the 1950s and 1960s, his work may look familiar if you visit the “Paul McCobb: America’s Designer” exhibit at the Johnson County Museum.

Artist to Watch: Vanessa A. Davis

She shone in Kansas City Actors Theatre’s reading of “The Women.” She’s done music videos for Making Movies, Grizzly Bear and Not a Planet, as well as corporate videos, including one during the pandemic for UMB’s education department.

KC Studio Gift Guide 2021

For our 2021 gift guide — back after a year off due to the pandemic — we asked KC Studio’s designer, Carrie Brophy, to indulge her eye for minimalism, offering a reprieve from the holiday glitz and a collection of beautifully designed items that can pretty much fit in anywhere.

Online Reviews

Performing

A Sluggish Staging Saps some Holiday Magic from the KC Rep’s “A Christmas Carol”

Slow pacing drags down this "Christmas Carol," but the spectacle, scenery, and holiday warmth remain.

Performing

“The SpongeBob Musical” at the Coterie Is 70 Minutes of Exceptional Silliness

The Coterie Theatre debuts the world premiere of a new version of the Broadway hit, geared specifically towards young audiences.

Visual

“Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology,” Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

As we come out from behind our screens, bleary with tech fatigue, Kansas Citians have begun to seek out safe and meaningful ways to come together.

Performing Arts

A Golden-Age Evening with “Lyric Opera Goes to Hollywood”

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City celebrated the connection between opera and film for their return-to-the-stage performance in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre with a concert of popular pieces from the golden years of opera.

KiYanna Uchawi: Drag as Performance as Social Commentary

For KiYanna Uchawi, “Drag is not just about going on TV. It’s more than that — it’s about making an impact on the community.”

Visual Art

The 12 Days of Christmas

Twelve artists in the Johnson Country Developmental Supports Emerging Artists Program interpret the Christmas classic.

The Bottom Line is Self-Expression

It’s about more than the art for those who take part in the Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists Program.

“Avian Conspiracy Theory by Krystal Anton, Kip Haaheim, Steve Huey, Kenn Peters,” Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

For artists, the art of bearing witness is a tricky one. How does one mix a politically potent agenda with an aesthetic vision and make both equally compelling?

Cinematic Arts

Honors: Rodney Thompson

The Kansas City filmmaker continues his commitment "to tell our own stories" with a new film supported by an Artistic Innovations Grant from Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Kansas City Underground Film Festival, Charlotte Street Foundation

The Kansas City Underground Film Festival, which opened Sept. 16 and runs through Sept. 26, features 114 films, culled, says KCUFF’s director and co-founder Willy Evans, from 800 submissions requiring 400 hours of viewing by the KCUFF board.

In Memoriam: Robert Fletcher

ou love “Star Trek,” George Balanchine, Orson Welles, Liza Minnelli and the “Game of Thrones,” then you love the art of famed designer Robert Fletcher.

Arts News: KC Artist Raises Awareness of Transgender Issues in New Film

The “T” in LGBTQIA+ has been the sharp focus of attack in recent years.

Literary Arts

Chronicling the Great and Necessary Contradictions of an Artist

In his upcoming book, “Literary Alchemist: The Writing Life of Evan S. Connell,” Steve Paul turns his meticulous scrutiny toward the late author of “Mrs. Bridge” and “Mr. Bridge,” and reveals him to be so much more than “the late author of ‘Mrs. Bridge’ and ‘Mr. Bridge.’”

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