photo by: Contributed photo

Artist Matthew Lord holds one of the woodcuts he'll be displaying in a pop-up gallery in the Lawrence Arts Center's elevator on Sept. 27 and 28, 2019.

When visitors to the Lawrence Arts Center ride the elevator this weekend, they’ll be entertained with a pop-up gallery inside.

Artist Matthew Lord, the mastermind behind the “Elevator Project,” plans to greet passengers as they enter the elevator car and will give a quick performance as it goes up or down. On display in the car will be some of Lord’s woodcuts — of grain elevators, naturally.

“Most people get in an elevator and throw away the moment,” said Lord, a Lawrence resident who works in the children’s department at the Lawrence Public Library. “They stare at the ceiling or look at their phone.”

Lord is hoping to turn that time into an engaging experience, however brief it might be.

“This will be a full-on art opening,” Lord said. “There will be a guest book and hors d’oeuvres — tiny, bite-sized, because it will be a short trip.”

The Elevator Project will be open 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

New York Elementary birthday bash

photo by: Richard Gwin

New York Elementary School, 936 New York St., is pictured in this file photo from September 2015.

Students, teachers and members of the community will be celebrating New York Elementary School’s 150th birthday with a party on Saturday.

The festivities will start at 1 p.m. with tours of the historic school at 936 New York St. Volunteers will be collecting oral histories from those who want to share their memories of the school.

Then, from 3 to 5 p.m., there will be a free kids carnival at the school with face painting, games, balloon art and a bounce house.

When the festivities at the school wrap up, the fun will continue at the annual East Lawrence Neighborhood Association Block Party on East 10th Street between New York and New Jersey streets. There will be food trucks, a potluck dinner and live music. Though the event is free, ELNA will be selling T-shirts and beer and will host a raffle.

Fall Parade of Homes

photo by: Kathy Hanks

This new home at 229 Bramble Bend Court is one of the 24 homes on Lawrence’s 2019 Fall Parade of Homes.

Some of Lawrence’s newest homes will be open for free tours this weekend during the 2019 Fall Parade of Homes.

Twenty-four homes will be open for this year’s event, said Bobbie Flory, executive director of the Lawrence Home Builders Association, which hosts the tour. The 17 single-family homes and seven townhouses range in price from $194,900 to $779,900, she said.

“This is a way for builders to showcase their work,” Flory said, adding that the builders will be at the houses to meet with visitors. “… The push isn’t for selling, but showing the latest and greatest on the market as far as elements of energy efficiency and the latest designs.”

The homes will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6. Visit lawrenceparade.com for a map, descriptions of the homes and contact information for the builders.