Category Archives: Favorite People

My Better Half – Kyle Dahlquist (or “I just can’t shake him!” )

December 11, 2012 by Chris | 2 Comments

Then (circa 1990)

I’d probably be remiss if I didn’t introduce you to the most talented and influential artist in my life, right?

 

If you know my artwork then you know just how beautifully – perfectly, he frames it. If you have worked with him you know what an elegant problem solver he is. If you have been in our house you know what a masterpiece he created from floor to ceiling (and hidden in the walls). But until you have seen him on stage, or heard the music that he makes, I would say you don’t really know him. Continue reading »

Buy Personal – Erin McGrane and Jeff Freling

November 23, 2012 by Chris | 23 Comments

As the countdown to Christmas officially begins, I have been thinking about what is important to Kyle and me and how we live that through this season. The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate what is the center of our life – to live creatively and to support others that do the same.

For the last couple of years, we have been able to successfully embody that in our gift giving by only giving things we or our friends have made. We try to take buying local one step further and “Buy Personal”. Continue reading »

Recollections of a Home and Family that Once Was…

November 22, 2012 by Chris | 2 Comments

Grandmommie & DaddyBuck

I posted this letter last year but it is my annual tradition to read this letter first thing on Thanksgiving morning, and really once a year isn’t enough. So I hope you enjoy it once again!

It was written on Thanksgiving Day, 1945 by my Grandfather Rev. Dr. W.W. Jones to my Grandmother, Adena White Jones, while he was away in the army. They were newlyweds and they were expecting their first child – my father. I am thankful!

Thanksgiving Day, 1945

…All the reams of paper couldn’t contain the mercies that I’m thankful for today, for they pass my imagination in a never-ending parade. The rain of yesterday, the bright sunshine of today: the little ponds of ice I saw outside this morning, a shelter warm as toast: memories, rich and mellow, embroidered with hearty friendship and camaraderie; enemies – and the joy of being able not to hate them; cool water from a spring on a long, hot hike; good food that makes one comfortable inside; flitting glimpses out of the past that now seems so far away, so much apart of another world that one gives pause to think – could it be so and could that have been me? Continue reading »

Plaza Art Fair #13 – Thank you Kansas City!

September 27, 2012 by Chris | 4 Comments

What a welcome home!

 

After 13 years of doing shows around the country, my hometown show, my 13th Plaza Art Fair, provided the best show of my career! It was great to see familiar faces as well as make new friends at the show, so my special thanks to all that came out and made it a fantastic time! It really is all about the people!

 

Here are some of the awesome things about this week that you didn’t get to see:

 

pleeeeease

  • Our street filling up with large vans signaling the arrival of our people!
  • An impromptu and delicious dinner party with a houseful of my favorite artists: Beth Bojarski, Mark Winter, Lynn and John Whipple, Jim Brown, and Gregory Story. (Ask them about the tamales!)
  • Helping Laura Robson orchestrate a surprise visit from Oregon. And despite the fact she hadn’t done a show with all of us in six years, it felt just like old times.
  • Laughs so hard on our car rides to and from the show that my side still hurt the next day!
  • Hosting a fantastic party for the artists after the show with the AMAZING help of our good friends from Pandolfi’s. I never want to host anything without these guys ever again!
  • Sitting back and thinking about the collected talent at the party, and the interesting lives they are leading traveling from all corners of the country (and Canada). A brain trust assembling in our house, overflowing onto the porch, driveway and yard!
  • Dozens of sleep deprived and staggering artists digging through the River Market Antiques the day after the show, and the show and tell that happens afterwards.
  • Card playing on Monday night that is so exuberant the house vibrates with the excitement. (Who knew that dime ante poker could get successful adults so wound up?)
  • Quiet porch conversations that begin to happen as the crowd starts to thin.
  • The energy created by having so many of our best friends gathered in one place to sustain us through the winter season until we all meet up again in Florida in March.
  • My new piece of artwork from Kina Crow that perfectly expresses how I feel when everyone leaves.

Somebody pleeeease come play with me!

 


 

Switching Gears

September 13, 2012 by Chris | 2 Comments

Alacartoona - by Rich Sugg/KC Star

After 5+ weeks on the road we arrived home on Monday to abruptly change gears.

 

Kyle (the smiley one that is usually behind the scenes at my shows) was in the photo studio with his band Alacartoona within two hours of our arrival in KC, but not behind the camera like I am – he shines best in front of it. Continue reading »

Words for Art

August 30, 2012 by Chris | 0 Comments

Tom Ryan

A tribute to a friend on his birthday.

 

“Her landscapes, or rather skyscapes, give one intellectual elbow room to dream a bit. She takes you to that in-between place in life, the space between sleep and awake on those nice mornings when you awaken without the alarm.” -Tom Ryan

 

When I begin creating a body of artwork, I work by intuition, I follow my gut, I let my sub-conscious lead me. Many times I can not articulate why I am doing what I am doing or its meaning. I am simply too close to the work to assign words to it. This giving of language is the role of a really great art writer. So I would love for you to meet my friend, the writer Tom Ryan. Continue reading »

There are no people like show people!

July 19, 2012 by Chris | 4 Comments

I am blown away by the talent that Kyle and I are surrounded by.

 

Katie Gilchrist

When we are traveling to shows, we are surrounded by tons of talented visual artists, some of which I have already introduced you to. But in contrast, because of the solitary nature of my studio work, when we are back in KC we are surrounded by Kyle’s people – performers. Continue reading »

Move Your Hands

June 7, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

One the road

Kyle and I are on the road – heading to one of our favorite shows in one of our favorite neighborhoods, the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago. We are excited to have a full extra day in Chicago to see some galleries and spend some non-work time with our friends (and gracious hosts) Gregory and Clark.

So while my face is planted in the windshield of our van, I thought I would share a piece from our great friend Lynn Whipple. I have a print of it above my desk and I LOVE IT! If you endeavor to make anything, from cupcakes, to artwork, to the next great american novel, this is the guide for you. You should buy one here!

 

The Arc of Making Something – Lynn Whipple

 

The Arc of Making Something by Lynn Whipple

 

From Lynn-

Heres how it goes:

Step 1 MOVE YOUR HANDS!!

Step 2 Happy moving hands will let your instincts take over- follow them

Step 3 WHOOPS! Now, you might have a big ol’ mess- no worries- that is perfectly normal, perfectly healthy

Step 4 Take a break, relax, chill, your brain will continue to solve the problem

Step 5 Return to your work with enthusiasm and feeling refreshed! Keep going

Step 5.5 Positive Feedback

Step 6 Go for the big finish, edit, be clear about your bigger idea and what you want to communicate

Step 7 REPEAT!!

Step 8 This is super important. Keep the cycle going and going…….

MR. DEADLINE!! He is kind of bossy, but he’s a poophead that keeps you in line and causes a FINISH, which is very important! Now you can relax and start again….and again…..and again!!

 

What do you want to get your hands moving on? join the conversation

The shipping department

April 26, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

Shipping department.

Ever wonder who takes care of the “shipping department” while we are away?

 

We have had many house sitters over our years of travel. In fact, our house sitting roster includes some of the most talented performers in Kansas City. Many have been in transition or recently back to Kansas City after a time of performances away. At times, our sitters spend almost as much time living in our house as we do – they are our invisible roommates. They are an essential part of our team. You get to see us and my work in Florida, Texas, Oregon etc. because they allow us to travel without concern for the furry assistants (aka shipping department) that reside with us.

 

Cory Imig (photo from Ink magazine)

But none have approached it in the way our current sitter does, for Cory it is a life style and an art project.

 

Cory Imig has foregone traditional living and an abundance of material possessions to live as a minimalist. By sharing other people’s homes with them while they are away, she gets to experience different ways of interacting with a space and different parts of the city. Her job as an artist is to question the status quo and for now that is living arrangements. And while this life-style choice certainly wouldn’t suit all, it is the perfect fit for this well organized, responsible young artist that likes to shake things up.

And in addition to being the best house sitter ever, her project is getting local attention (good thing we book our year of travel in advance!).

Read what Ink Magazine has to say about Cory here.

Follow her ongoing adventures on her blog: At Home Without a Home.

 

Thanks Cory! We couldn’t do it without you!

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Kinda like summer camp

March 14, 2012 by Chris | 3 Comments

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Lynn and John's back yard!

 

Kyle and I have arrived a few days early for this year’s Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. We are looking forward to the show this weekend, with great hospitality, beautiful weather and the wonderful Park Avenue. But what always makes this trip special is that in addition to visiting with lovely patrons old and new, our days here with our friends feel a lot like summer camp (albeit with more margaritas); there is art, music and lake time, nap time, an off site bowling activity planned, and much, much laughter. As I sit on Lynn and John Whipple’s back porch and watch a boat pass on the lake I just can’t believe how lucky we are.

 

It also makes me realize that with the upcoming work ahead for the show this weekend, I better take advantage of this beautiful day and the fact that it is margarita time! I wish you could be here!

Here is our friend Lynn Whipple with a wish for you!

 

What are you doing to make today spectacular?!?

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