Kansas City Seems To Be Having a Year of Racism Awareness

I just keep getting more surprised about racism in Kansas City. Certainly not that it's here but that we keep getting revelations about it all here in town. For a first example, there was, of course, this.

Kansas City Star apologizes for decades of racist coverage

That was a nearly earth shaking evaluation right there, totally unforeseen.

Then, after that, our own Nelson-Atkins Museum announced, because of the Star's public self-evaluation, they might well do the same thing. That is, they were certainly self-evaluating but might--GASP--CHANGE THEIR NAME??

Might a name change be in store for Nelson-Atkins museum

The Nelson-Atkins Museum to consider removing Nelson's name

Keeping in mind, of course, the city of Kansas City, Missouri took the name of very famous and very racist JC Nichols off the fountain on the Country Club Plaza he created, in Mill Creek Park. That was surprising and refreshing enough, eh?

And now, today, there is this from our Kansas City Star.

I was a Black fire captain for KCFD. Racism there is real, and it risks public safety

The man, the now former Captain makes what are to me stunning claims. It's not just that there's racism in the organization, the Kansas City Fire Department. It goes far worse than that. He says Black firefighters don’t get training on the equipment needed to keep Kansas City safe. It's a fascinating, even, I would say, important article to read as it gives some history in the city of the systemic racism there. What concerns me is that not enough citizens of the city, especially white people, will read--and absorb--the entire article.

Again, it's just stunning to the point of outrageous. These men and women are there to protect us all from fire and fires and he's saying they aren't as fully, completely trained as the white firefighters? In the same jobs? That's nearly unbelievable, at least to those of us on the outside of the organization. It's unforgivable.

So we're still learning about ourselves, Kansas City.

Can we handle it?

More to the point, can we change?

And soon as possible?

Additional links:

I was surprised but pleased of fellow citizen Steve Kraske for so singularly and publicly taking on a big load of the racism in the city a few years ago, when he lead the charge, nearly singlehandedly, to get the JC Nichols Fountain renamed.

Steve Kraske: Kansas City should confront racist past

Steve Kraske: I’m still talking about J.C. Nichols, racism

Run, Don't Walk, to the Nelson!

If you have not yet been to our Nelson-Atkins Museum lately, to see the new acquisition, The Gates of Paradise, and new exhibit "Through the Eyes of PIcasso", it cannot be stressed enough, get this on your calendar.

Through the Eyes of Picasso

For myself, I personally always enjoyed Picasso's works, certainly, of course. But I hadn't studied his source for his work, one of the inspirations of his work early in his life and that is African art. I knew he was an accomplished, traditional painter and artist early on but that was it.

Wow.

This exhibit is a stunner.

It shows many, many of the pieces of African art he himself owned and carried with him his entire life and from which he got so much inspiration. It shows his development as an artist. It is a real education.

There's one more really fantastic thing about this exhibit, too, and that is the way our Nelson positioned the African art from the permanent collection, years ago, when the Bloch addition first opened leads nearly magically, fantastically right into this exhibit. It's almost as if they knew, years ago, that one day they'd get and have this new exhibit and of course, that's impossible.

It reminded me again of how perfect the placement is upstairs, in the old, original building, of the Native American art, next to the early American gallery. Brilliant on their part, once again.

One last thing to be said, too, about this PIcasso exhibit, folks. It's the only gallery in the nation that has it or will have it, presently. It is that special. We are that fortunate.

Then there are the doors.

Go, too, to see Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise. The original doors are in Italy at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore. The pair at the Nelson-Atkins are a sister set to those at the Baptistery.

I keep thinking the Nelson can't get any better.

After they opened the American wing of the permanent gallery, I thought "That's it. It can't get any better."

Then they opened the Bloch Gallery and I thought, "That's it."

Then they recently got all the Impressionist pieces from the Bloch family.

And I thought that was it.

Now they have these doors, in the permanent collection and we got this Picasso exhibit, sole exhibit in the nation.

I now no longer think there is a "top" we cannot reach.

All I can say is, Director and CEO Julián Zugazagoitia must live forever.

And remain here.

We. Are. So. Incredibly. Fortunate.

Go.

Go now. Enjoy.

And while you're at it, if you haven't done so already, become a member. It's the best $55 you will ever spend. Besides helping out a fantastic, local institution, you also get discounts on meals at the Rozelle Court and free parking on site and entrance into certain exhibits you would otherwise pay for and finally, part of the membership fee is deductible. If you aren't already a member, you're missing out and in more ways than one!

Link:

Kansas City Picasso Exhibit - USA-Exclusive KC Tour Location‎

Gates of Paradise at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

That Bloch Impressionist Gift to the Nelson?

Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Matisse, Pissaro, Boudin, Caillebotte and so, so much more.

Run, don't walk to the Nelson-Atkins Museum. It is nearly, now, an embarrassment of riches.

This piece, by Gauguin, kicks it off. It is a stunning piece.

There are several, in fact, many, many pieces that I found it difficult to believe we have here in town, right here, here at the Nelson and in the permanent collection. This one, of the dancer, by Toulous Lautrec, is one.

This next one must be seen, there, up close, to be believed.

If the new Impressionist exhibit doesn't give you chills, something may be wrong with you.

The Nelson has always been terrific, of course, and it does keep getting better and better. Now, it very much reminded me of the feeling and experience I had when first I went to the Chicago Art Institute. Even more fantastic than it was and always has been. With this improvement, these additions, it has improved and expanded exponentially.

Go.  Go now. Go soon as possible.

Our Own Nelson-Atkins, One of the Best

We all know our Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a fantastic facility for which we are rightly proud but it just got some national recognition, at least.

The 25 best museums in America, RANKED

Mind you, we come in at the tail end, at number 23 but, as the article states, keep in mind there are at least 35,000 museums in the nation. That's some fantastic recognition.

We should also keep in mind this isn't the first time, either. The following recognition came last December, 2015 from USA Today when they ranked the Nelson at the top spot on the list, at number 1.

Top 20 museums in the USA

Then, not to be overlooked, our own National World War I Museum made this second list, too, at number 5 so Kansas City is all over these lists and these recognitions.

Also not to be overlooked, Missouri's St. Louis City Museum, across the state, is also on this above, 2nd list at number 11.

If you haven't been to one or the other lately, by all means, go. Go and enjoy.

Have a great Labor Day Holiday, y'all.

Bad Portents for the Nelson-Atkins?

This article is in the New York Times today:

The Chinese Want Their Art Back

Chinese art has become a prized liquid asset for superrich collectors, who, instead of putting their treasures on display, often deposit them in carefully guarded, climate-controlled warehouses. But the media’s emphasis on the white-hot market for contemporary Chinese works overlooks a more interesting story: the effort by the Chinese government, state-run companies, private collectors and even, quite probably, some criminal networks to bring Chinese antiquities back home.

One impetus for this effort is the Communist Party’s embrace of traditional culture as “a foundation for China to compete in the world,” as President Xi Jinping said in October. Having for decades viewed antiquities as relics of feudal oppression and bourgeois decadence, the party now says art can “lead people to live a life abiding by the code of morality,” in that way contributing to social stability. This is a turnabout from the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), when museums were ransacked, and countless antiquities destroyed. Old art is again prestigious; new buyers seek canonical work for the social status, not just potential profit, it confers.

The party has taken its new stance on culture at a time of rising nationalism. China openly promotes efforts to repatriate works pillaged during its self-defined “century of humiliation,” from the Opium Wars of the 1840s and 1850s to the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949.

We shall see. 

It doesn't look like it will be an issue, when you read the article, but one never knows.

Good word out on our fair city

Out today from Travel & Leisure Magazine and now, the Kansas City Star:

Travel + Leisure ranks KC as nation's most affordable getaway

Not only that but we rank No. 1.

What they have to say:

No. 1 Kansas City, MO

It’s one of the few cities where hotel prices have stayed the same or even dropped in the past year (the average summer rate is $137, according to Kayak). Sightseeing also remains a great value: you’ll get in free at three of Kansas City’s main art museums, as well as two fun factory-style tours (the Hallmark Visitors Center and the Boulevard Brewing Company). The savings continue at dinnertime. KC won the survey for its budget-minded, slow-smoked barbecue: a classic “burnt ends” sandwich at Danny Edwards’ Boulevard BBQ is just $5.99.

So kudos, Kansas City. If anything, let's just make it better.

Link to the Star's coverage of it:  Travel + Leisure ranks KC as nation's most affordable getaway

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4246261/kansas-city-offers-nations-most.html#storylink=cpy

Arts, anitiquities and the Nelson

There's a good to great article in The New York Times yesterday about, as said above, arts and antiquities at some American museums nationwide, from the Met in New York to the Getty in Los Angeles:

The Great Giveback

THE news has become astonishingly routine: a major American museum announces it is relinquishing extraordinary antiquities because a foreign government claims they were looted and has threatened legal action or other sanctions if it doesn’t get them back.

For once, I disagree with The New York Times. I doubt this will happen frequently.

In an article about antiquities going back to the individuals piece's origin, The Times is defending the US and our American arts institutions in this lengthy writing about why we should be able to keep them. The paper says "Needless restitution of antiquities makes ancient art less available for the public."

Various arts pieces were looted from these locations in the past, only to sit in these institutions today. 

And naturally, the Times--and the US--would be all behind keeping these pieces here. The article says "Baseless lawsuits by foreign governments are intimidating American museums."

And isn't that just too bad?

First, "baseless"?  What's baseless?  If these lawsuits were truly baseless, they wouldn't achieve the return of any items.

Second, their other quote about making these pieces "less available for the public"?  Yeah, right.  For what public, though?  For the American public?  That one?  Or are they suggesting it would be seen by far more people in New Yawk City?  I don't know the answer to that but it seems at least fair to the people of the country of origin would and should be able to have and see and show their own people's art and antiquities.

It will be interesting to see if Chinese arts institutions, backed by the Chinese govenrment, of course, will ever go after the The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art  since the Nelson got a lot of their pieces during the 30's when the museum was first created.

Stay tuned.  We'll see, of course.

The Nelson has a new exhibit of photography

If you haven't been to the Nelson for this yet

If you haven't been to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to see their World's Fair exhibit, you owe it to yourself to do so. It is one terrific, unique exhibit.

It is more officially and completely called "Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs: 1851--1939" and it's a stunner.

Who knew anyone ever made a piano out of papier mache', aluminum and mother of pearl?

You can see either one of few or the only one, here.

Also, you can learn a lot, too, if you wish.



For instance, you can learn that the St. Louis' World's Fair in 1904 was the first in the Western Hemisphere.

Take your family.

Or take your friend or friends.

Heck, go alone if you must.

Just go.

You'll likely enjoy it a great deal.

Links: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/exhibitions/worldsfairs/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Purchase_Exposition

KCMO: One of "10 best cities for new graduates"

Well, in spite of all the naysayers and negative bloggers, our own Kansas City, Missouri hit yet another big, national list of good things about us.

We are, in fact, listed as one of the best cities in the nation for new graduates by CNBC. It's also being blared out on Yahoo! right now, too.

Their stats on us:

Unemployment rate: 7.6%

Cost of living index: 97.8

Mean annual income: $45,050

Top industries: business, agriculture

Followed by this little blurb about us:

"K.C. is well known for its contributions in the categories of barbecue, jazz, and blues, but it continues to evolve. 'Healthy living and an eco-friendly lifestyle are just one part of the booming downtown of Kansas City,' says Christina Aragon, director of strategy and customer insights at Rent.com.

So there you go. Yet one more feather in our cap, so to speak.

Fact is, there are a lot worse places to live in the world and country, folks, by a long shot.

Enjoy.

Links: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10-best-cities-for-new-graduates.html; http://www.cnbc.com/id/47376598?__source=yahoorealestate%7Ccitiesforgraduates%7C&par=yahoorealestate

An exciting Kansas City development

 

I have to tell you, I've been so looking forward to this new Performing Arts Center here in town, I can barely wait until it opens.

When the new Bloch Gallery of Contemporary Art opened at the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery, that was incredibly exciting itself. It's such a beautiful building, even if it is just at night. For everything from its position on the site to the same lighting at night, the views from within the gallery, the natural light inside the gallery and so much more, it's been a stunner since it opened.

Since that opening, I've looked forward to this additional addition to the Kansas City landscape. With the Moshe Safdie design--which is going to be brilliant both figuratively and literally--and what it will mean to Kansas City in terms of live art performances, it will be a huge, historic and important addition to the city and, really, the region.

We're a lucky, lucky people here in Kansas City.

(In spite of what Tony says on his blog).

(Just having fun, Tony).

I'd like to start thanking the Kauffman Foundation and all the people who have contributed to this facility we will have soon, now.

More Photography, less rants

 

I've decided I haven't put enough pictures on my site so here goes. This is another of the Bloch Gallery of Contemporary Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, here in Kansas City. It's stunning at night. I think most of the city has never ventured over in this neighborhood to see this. It's too bad because it's a knockout. Anyway, I love the building and really enjoy this set of pictures, but that's me. I'll get back to ranting about the Bush Administration next entry.

Also, be sure to look at the bottom of this front page as I added more pictures I haven't shown before there, too.