Art Abounds

It seems that art is everywhere in Lawrence. This bustling college town of 80,000, situated in northeast Kansas, is as arts-friendly as a community comes. In fact, Lawrence was recently named one of the "100 Best Small Art Towns in America," by author John Villani. Art is in the restaurants, public buildings, galleries and literally on the street corners of Lawrence.

The Downtown Lawrence Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition is a successive series of one-year exhibitions by national artists. The sculptures are on display in the downtown shopping district year-round. Add to that nearly 30 more outdoor sculptures and murals and 30 galleries and museums around town and it's easy to see how Lawrence has earned the reputation as an arts community.

The Lawrence Arts Center serves the community and region by providing an extensive calendar of exhibitions, performances and classes. Housed in spacious, new quarters, the Arts Center is the hub of arts activities in Lawrence.

The new Arts Center has two galleries that feature exhibitions by area and nationally known artists. The 300-seat theatre and two dance studios are some of the center's most active areas and are home to the professional Prairie Wind Dancers and the Seem-To-Be Players Children's Theatre Company. Classes and workshops, available to the public, are offered in fully equipped studios for drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography and printmaking.

Lawrence's First Friday Gallery Walks are a great way to view some of this art in an informal setting. Lawrence galleries and museums participate in the walks, which take place on selected first Fridays of the month throughout the year. The galleries remain open for the evening and offer visitors the chance to peruse the artwork at their leisure.

Lawrence also plays host to a variety of performing arts each year. The Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence Community Theatre and the University Theatre feature live plays and concerts ranging from family favorites such as "South Pacific" and "Kiss me Kate", to cutting-edge dance from Twyla Tharp and multimedia spectaculars from Blast II o Shockwave.