Choreographer Andrea Skowronek says after she creates a new work, she steps away and lets it have a life of its own. She says it then "becomes the dancer’s piece." The annual event called "A Modern Night at the Folly” celebrates local choreography and dancers, brought together for one night of dance on the Folly stage.
Backstage on the set of "Martha Speaks" puppeteer Mike Horner operates the puppet Helen. When Martha the dog finds her voice adventure ensues. In its 25th season, Paul Mesner Puppets features seven different performances for children.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppeteer Mike Horner operates and voices multiple puppets from his spot beneath the stage.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
A chance encounter with a fellow dog owner reveals that Martha speaks her mind without considering other's feelings.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppeteer Erika Baker and apprentice puppeteer Finoula Emmons guide Martha as she peruses the phone book to order a pizza.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Helen and Martha play onstage operated by the puppeteers below.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Apprentice puppeteer Finoula Emmons concentrates on the action onstage.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
When Martha's verbal antics prove challenging, the family silences her.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppeteers control the action using sticks.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppeteer Erika Baker holds a puppet aloft and is the voice of the talkative Martha.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Multiple puppets call for multiple puppeteers.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
After the show, the audience has a chance to see how the puppets operate.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppets from previous shows on display.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Puppeteer Mike Horner assists in the creation of a paper puppet after the show.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
A wall of letters from eager fans line the walls of the Paul Mesner Puppets office.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
As the audience leaves, puppeteers Finoula Emmons, Mike Horner, Erika Baker say goodbye.
At a recent Paul Mesner Puppets performance of "Martha Speaks" (based on the book by by Susan Meddaugh), puppeteers Mike Horner, Erika Baker, and Finoula Emmons worked their magic behind the scenes. Operating multiple puppets from below the stage, the three brought to life the story of a dog who let a bowl of alphabet soup go to her head.
For the first time in 15 years, Kansas City, Mo. is examining its arts-related policies through Mayor Sly James' Task Force for the Arts. This task force is composed of important political members from the city and a variety of artists and advocates for the arts in Kansas City. The task force launched the Envision Arts & Culture KC campaign Monday night, which is the first step in trying to make the arts a more prominent and meaningful part of life in Kansas City.
Kansas City Mayor Sly James arrives at the podium greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
More than 300 artists crowded into the ArtsTech building to kick-off Envision Arts and Culture KC.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
David Sullivan, Executive Director of ArtsTech, addresses the crowd of artists gathered to kick-off Envision Arts and Culture KC, the arts and culture planning project of the Mayor's Task Force held at ArtsTech.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Tracey S. C. Lewis, President of the Board of ArtsTech, speaks to the group.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mayor James outlines his plan for the Task Force.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mayor James speaks to the crowd of artists gathered at ArtsTech.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mike Burke, Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts, jokes with Mayor James.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Pat Jordan, Co-Chair Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts, is recognized by the crowd.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Diane Scott, Manager of Professional Development Programs at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, separates the artists into separate groups for discussions.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mayor James poses for a picture with Elijah Taylor, 15, and Lynn Rundle, of Sequel Holdings.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Porter Arneill, Public Art Administrator speaks with Michael Grimaldi, of the Trozzolo Communications Group.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Larry Thomas, Fine Arts Chair of Johnson County Community College, strains to hear a comment from his group.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
David Plettner-Saunders, of The Cultural Planning Group, encourages discussion from his group of artists.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mike Burke, Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts, speaks with visual artist Marilyn Mahoney as the discussion groups get underway.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mike Burke, Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force for the Arts, poses for a picture with Kansas City Mayor Mayor Sly James.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Larry Thomas, Fine Arts Chair at Johnson County Community College, responds to a question from his group of artists.
This week marked the launch of a series of public meetings – at community centers, libraries, churches, a museum, an art gallery, even a police station - to discuss the future of the arts in Kansas City.
Long time readers of the Kansas City Star and Times might remember a column by a woman named Mrs. Sam Ray. The columns always featured commentary and a reproduction of an old postcard from Mrs. Ray’s vast collection of cards. They were usually intricately colored historical images of noteworthy mansions, municipal buildings, industry and civic life of Kansas City.
Today, the cards live in the Missouri Valley Special Collections of the Kansas City Public Library and the library is staging an exhibit with them that opened Monday, January 28th.
As the Xijing Men work a sign requesting silence is posted on the door of the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Chalk hieroglyphs created by members of the Xijing Men guide the students in a visual language project.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artist Tsuyoshi Ozawa, of Japan, listens to evolving discussions as the KCAI arts students work.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Will Meier, a student at the Kansas City Art Institute, creates a visual story with other students.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artists (from left) Tsuyoshi Ozawa, of Japan, and Gimhongsok of Korea, discuss the visual languages they are creating during a language exercise.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Rigged with a camera to document the process, Zach Hermann dashes to the other side of the room to capture the action.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Kansas City Art Institute students Amber Thomas, (from left) and Sharon Gradischnig discuss their visual languages with Gimhongsok, of Korea.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artist Chen Shaoxiong, of China, takes a closer look at the work of a student during an exercise.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artist Chen Shaoxiong, of China, speaks with students as they work.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Sharon Gradischnig attempts to interpret the work of other students.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men Collaborative artists Gimhongsok, of Korea, (from left) Chen Shaoxiong, of China, discusses the next activity for their students with Michael Schonhoff, assistant curator of the H&R Block Artspace as Tsuyoshi Ozawa, of Japan, looks on.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Communicating with the aid of a drawing, Tsuyoshi Ozawa, of Japan, (from left) Will Meier, a student at the Kansas City Art Institute, Chen Shaoxiong, of China, discuss Japanese American artists as Gimhongsok, of Korea, speaks with another arts student.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artists Gimhongsok, of Korea, (from left) and Tsuyoshi Ozawa, of Japan, introduce the next lesson.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Xijing Men artists Gimhongsok, of Korea, laughs with arts students.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Students teach a song to another student which they have to pass along to the next student.
Kansas City Art Institute students experienced cross-cultural communication through art during a Sunday workshop with visiting artists at the H&R Block Artspace. As part of their 1o-day residency in Kansas City, the Xijing Men led the students through activities designed to inspire them to use their skills as budding artists.
Composer Kirke Mechem grew up in Topeka, Kansas, but he's lived in San Francisco since 1963. He says he still considers himself a Midwesterner: "You can take the boy out of Kansas, but you can never take Kansas out of the boy."
In memory of acclaimed author Evan S. Connell, who passed away on January 10, 2013, New Letters on the Air brings you this 1991 interview by former New Letters on the Air host, Rebekah Presson.
In Christian Petzold’s moody and beautifully shot Barbara, audiences are given a peek into what life might have been like in 1980 for smart and talented people stuck on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall.
This edition of New Letters on the Airfeatures very different approaches to intertwining poetry and music, resulting in equally different performances.
ByAngela Elam and Stephanie Hughes and Jamie Walsh
During the President’s inauguration ceremony on Monday, Richard Blanco delivered a poem written especially for this occasion. At age 44, he is not only the youngest, but the first Latino and openly gay poet to have this honor.
