CornerBank exhibits sculptor, painters

A sculptor and a group of painters are the featured artists in the next exhibit at CornerBank.

George Paley is a Lawrence sculptor whose works (like the one above) incorporate stone, metal and found objects.

His sculptures will be shown alongside Painting Together, a group of area artists, who prefer painting en plein air (outdoors, in the open air). Members include Martha Barr, Carol Bloom, Pat Doemland, Mary Jane Grinter, Maryam Hjersted, Jan Holmer, Joyce Schild and Linda Tuttle.

Jewell Willhite, also a member, won’t be exhibiting because she has previously shown at CornerBank.

The public is invited to meet the artists at a wine reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at CornerBank, 4621 W. Sixth St.

The exhibit remains on view through Oct. 1. It may be viewed during bank hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Octarium to perform at choral convention

Kansas City-area vocal ensemble Octarium has been selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Assn. National Convention in February.

Octarium, several of whose eight members live in Lawrence or attend Kansas University, was one of 100 choirs chosen from a record number of applicants from choral groups throughout the world.

The association is a nonprofit music-education organization that promotes excellence in choral music and strives to elevate choral music’s position in American society. The 2005 convention will take place Feb. 3-6 in Los Angeles.

For more information, see the Octarium Web site at www.octarium.org.

Unity Gallery to exhibit local photographer

Lawrence photographer Robbin Loomas will exhibit her work Saturday through Sept. 11 at Unity Gallery, Ninth Street and Madeline Lane.

A reception will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Fall book group forming at public library

Registration is underway for the Lawrence Public Library’s fall 2004 book discussion group.

The theme is “Community: The Way We Live.” Participants will read and discuss four books that explore the ways in which Americans live together and define community.

Books to be read and discussion dates are:

l Sept. 22: “Snow Falling on Cedars,” by David Guterson

l Oct. 6: “Cannery Row,” by John Steinbeck

l Oct. 20: “The Milagro Beanfield War,” by John Nichols

l Nov. 3: “Bailey’s Cafe,” by Gloria Naylor

All discussions are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the auditorium at the library, 707 Vt.

The group is free and open to the public, but registration is required and group size is limited to 30. To register, call 843-1178.

The group is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council, which will provide the books.

Grant helps museum preserve winter wear

The Costume Society of America recently awarded the Watkins Community Museum of History a grant to help it preserve its collection of winter outerwear.

The museum was one of two applicants chosen from 26 nationwide to receive the $1,500 grant.

The grant will enable the museum to care for more than 100 winter outerwear items, including capes, furs, coats, snowsuits, mittens, snowsuits, scarves and stocking caps from the 19th and 20th centuries. Objects will be cleaned with a low-suction vacuum and screening, photographed for the museum database and cataloged. They will be re-housed in acid-free archival boxes according to standards in the museum field.

The project will culminate in the exhibit “150 Years of Winter Outerwear,” set to open in October.

Community members are asked to donate items of winter outerwear used or owned by Douglas County residents. Capes, snowsuits, men’s coats and winter boots are especially welcome, as are items with accompanying photographs or unique stories.

Contact museum curator Alison Miller at 841-4109 with any items that may be candidates for donation.

Arts Commission seeks poet laureate

The Kansas Arts Commission is taking nominations for the newly created post of poet laureate.

The position is designed to recognize a poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment while encouraging appreciation of the genre among a wider audience throughout the state.

Nomination deadline is Sept. 1. Nominees must be 18 years old and nonstudents, have resided in Kansas for the past 10 years, intend to remain in the state during the poet laureate term of two years (July 2005-June 2007) and be willing to travel.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have a poet laureate. The position is established by tradition as an honor given to an individual writer in recognition of a high level of achievement in the art of poetry.

Guidelines and nomination forms are online at http://arts.state.ks.us/programs.html. For more information, call (785) 368-6545 or e-mail karen@arts.state.ks.us.

Applique artist to lead Lawrence workshop

Nationally known applique artist and quilter Jane Townswick of Breiningsville, Pa., will be the featured speaker at the August meeting of the Kaw Valley Quilters Guild.

She will speak at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 and 9:30 a.m. Aug. 17 in the meeting room at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt. Her lectures, called “Color-Blend Applique,” are free and open to the public.

Townswick also will conduct a one-day workshop on blended applique from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 17. Register by contacting Georgann Eglinski at 842-8625.

Party Arty tickets on sale now

Tickets are on sale now for Party Arty, the annual fund-raising gala for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s education and community outreach programs.

This year’s party, themed FUSION, will use lighting, shifting color and interactive art to create an energetic ambiance for the party, which will be Sept. 10 in the downtown Crossroads Arts District.

The benefit is sponsored by the museum’s Young Friends of Art. It will be in two historical buildings: the Pabst Brewing depot, 2107 Central St.; and the AD Jacobson building, 2030 Central St.

The patron party will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Party Arty from 9 p.m. to midnight. Patron party tickets are $75 for members, $85 for the public. Party Arty tickets are $35 for members, $45 for the public ($50 at the door).

For more information, call (816) 751-1ART.