Arts Features
KCUR
KCUR’s Arts & Culture Desk covers arts news from music to visual art to dance and theater, with a focus on Kansas and Missouri. Our reporters explore the behind-the-scene stories about newsmakers and emerging artists. We also take a look at the intersections of arts and technology, science and creativity, and present profiles of creative people.
Location:
Kansas City, MO
Networks:
KCUR
Description:
KCUR’s Arts & Culture Desk covers arts news from music to visual art to dance and theater, with a focus on Kansas and Missouri. Our reporters explore the behind-the-scene stories about newsmakers and emerging artists. We also take a look at the intersections of arts and technology, science and creativity, and present profiles of creative people.
Twitter:
@kcur
Language:
English
Contact:
4825 Troost, Suite 202 Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 235-1551
Website:
http://www.kcur.org/
Email:
kcur@umkc.edu
Episodes
Seg. 1: Rep. Sharice Davids | Seg. 2: Coronavirus & Communication | Seg. 3: Art & Social Distancing
3/20/2020
Segment 1: "I'm going to continue to work really hard, I'm just going to do it from home," said U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Despite deciding to self-quarantine after potential exposure to the novel coronavirus, Kansas' U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids said she's still working to ensure any stimulus package out of the Capitol prioritizes people who need it most. She also emphasized the importance of practicing social distancing, listening to public health officials and taking the coronavirus situation...
Duration:00:56:03
Seg. 1: Rep. Sharice Davids | Seg. 2: Coronavirus & Communication | Seg. 3: Art & Social Distancing
3/20/2020
Segment 1: "I'm going to continue to work really hard, I'm just going to do it from home," said U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Despite deciding to self-quarantine after potential exposure to the novel coronavirus, Kansas' U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids said she's still working to ensure any stimulus package out of the Capitol prioritizes people who need it most. She also emphasized the importance of practicing social distancing, listening to public health officials and taking the coronavirus situation...
Duration:00:56:03
Seg. 1: Kansas Legislature Preview | Seg. 2 State Of The Arts
1/10/2020
Segment 1: Kansas lawmakers prepare to tackle myriad issues in the upcoming legislative session. Kansas' Medicaid expansion seems to be the hottest issue going into the 2020 legislative session, but it won't be the only thing keeping senators and representatives busy in Topeka. Possible outcomes and implications for everything from abortion to state debt to prison reforms were previewed. Stephen Koranda , statehouse bureau chief for Kansas Public Radio Patrick Miller , associate professor of...
Duration:00:48:57
With Millions Of Dollars On The Line, Stakes Are High For Kansas City's Art World In 2020
1/10/2020
The KCUR news staff presents the State of Kansas City series as a look ahead to 2020 on topics of importance to the region. Find the State of Kansas City report on other topics in the series as they are published each weekday, Jan. 6–Jan. 20. Follow coverage on these topics at KCUR.org and on 89.3 FM throughout the year. Kansas City’s art world is at a turning point.
Duration:00:04:48
Seg. 1: Hew Locke's Exhibit | Seg. 2: Who Needs This Art | Seg. 3: The Anniversary Reunites
1/3/2020
Segment 1: An exhibit at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art explores the theme of British colonialism. The artist behind the exhibit grew up in Guyana and experienced reverberations of British colonialism in his life firsthand. Today he lives in London and wrestles with Britain's history and the version of itself that it exports through his art. Hew Locke , artist Segment 2, beginning at 14:24: An art exhibit at Haw Contemporary was designed around a simple question. The gallery had to...
Duration:00:50:09
Danny Cox (Repeat)
12/13/2019
The life story of a Kansas City folk musician and civil rights icon. From freedom songs to commercial jingles ("the grass pad's high on grass"), Danny Cox has been a reconigzable Kansas City voice for decades. But his introduction to the city was also an introduction to our history with segregation and racism. This show originally aired in 2015. Danny Cox , musician
Duration:00:50:08
Seg. 1: Artist Apartments | Seg. 2: My Fellow Kansans
12/3/2019
Segment 1: Why attracting artists is a goal for a new affordable-housing complex. Pendleton Arts Block is a new project unfolding in the historic Northeast, providing affordable housing with an eye toward attracting artists. Because of competitive grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the effort to transform this block is happening on a national stage. This is a discussion about what affordable housing means for artists, and for the ecosystem of a city....
Duration:00:50:03
Seg. 1: Heidi Gardner | Seg. 2: My Fellow Kansans
11/26/2019
Segment 1: A Kansas City native's take on being a Saturday Night Live cast member in 2019. On a visit home, Heidi Gardner discusses her roots in Kansas City, her most popular characters and what it's like to respond to today's news with humor. Heidi Gardner , cast member, Saturday Night Live Segment 2, beginning at 25:30: Episode 4, Season 2, My Fellow Kansans . We continue sharing weekly installments of this podcast from the Kansas News Service. In this episode, we take a hard look at the...
Duration:00:49:49
A New Movie Theater Gives Spanish-Language Cinema A Home In Kansas City
11/15/2019
At the corner of St. John and Askew in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast is a nondescript red brick and stone building that almost blends with the surrounding neighborhood. The exterior stands in contrast to lively Spanish language movies being screened inside. Yosmel Serrano opened the movie theater, La Selva De Los Relojes (or the Jungle of Clocks), to help a Latino community embrace its cultural voice and heritage. "I know English, but I love Spanish, and I don't want to lose my Spanish...
Duration:00:04:28
Meet The Woman Who Connects Visiting Opera Stars With Barbecue And Other Kansas City Necessities
11/8/2019
Singers often travel to Kansas City from places like San Francisco, New York and Moscow to perform at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City . And they arrive with a question that might surprise people who have stereotypes about opera. "The number one question I probably get when they come in is: ' What's the best barbecue ?'" said Sarah Zsohar, "which is probably the hardest question in Kansas City to answer." As the Lyric's artist services manager, Zsohar's job is essentially to organize...
Duration:00:04:29
Seg. 1: Warren & Cox | Seg. 2: Can You See Me? | Seg. 3: Sesame Workshop
10/4/2019
Segment 1: A Kansas City dance performance is a transatlantic collaboration. Krystle Warren and Brad Cox have been musical collaborators for years, continuing to make music together across an ocean. As Warren prepares to head from Paris to Kansas City for an October performance, the two discuss their shared history and their craft. Brad Cox , Owen Cox Dance Group Krystle Warren , musician Segment 2: A painter explores the invisibility of "regular, hardworking, simple black men." Harold D....
Duration:00:50:12
Seg. 1: Perspective from Ukraine | Seg. 2: Hispanic Lowrider Club | Seg. 3: 50 States of Mind
10/1/2019
Segment 1: How Ukranians view the whistleblower case For many Americans, the whistleblower scandal surrounding President Trump is a matter of politics and presidency. For the other country involved, Ukraine, the perception of these events is part of a larger web of scandals. Anna Yakutenko , Journalist for Kyiv Post Segment 2: Hispanic Leadership Lowrider Bike Club While Erik Erazo was working as a security guard at an Olathe high school, he saw Hispanic kids struggling with something he...
Duration:00:49:41
Missouri Blacksmiths Are Keeping a Tough, Old Trade Alive
9/27/2019
Mike McLaughlin has a slightly unusual grievance: He has more blacksmithing equipment than he can actually use. His backyard smithy is 16-by-24 feet and includes two kinds of forge, three anvils and a bunch of hammers and other tools. But to practice this ancient skill, he notes, "all you really need is a hunk of dirt and a little cover."
Duration:00:04:22
Seg. 1: Amazon Forest | Seg. 2: Emerging Artists
9/23/2019
Segment 1: A KU researcher's studies provide context for news from the Amazon. As global leaders gather for a climate change summit, a KU researcher shares new satellite-based data on the impact of deforestation in the Amazon, with particular insights into where this year's fire (which is still raging) fits in, both environmentally and politically. Gabriel de Oliveira , post-doctoral researcher, KU Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science Segment 2: Is Kansas City a good place to get...
Duration:00:50:25
Seg. 1: Sprayseemo | Seg. 2: Opera Family | Seg. 3: Space Meatball
9/6/2019
Segment 1: Muralists descend on Kansas City to make art. In its third year, Sprayseemo has become a big international festival for creating outdoor public art in Kansas City. Amy Harrington and Jason Harrington (AKA Riff Raff Giraffe), artists and festival organizers Segment 2: A world-renowned opera singer performs in his native Kansas City, alongside his mom. Ben Bliss grew up with opera. His mom's been a professional opera singer since he was a kid. But he came to opera on his own terms...
Duration:00:50:15
Seg. 1: Community News | Seg. 2: Race And Museums
8/22/2019
Segment 1: What's up in northeast Johnson County? As part of our continuing conversations with community newspaper editors, here's some inside perspective on the news in the Shawnee Mission Post. This episode's focus: contested municipal elections in Overland Park and Shawnee, and non-discrimination ordinances in several cities countywide. Jay Senter , editor, Shawnee Mission Post Segment 2: The story of a new play inspired by the 30 Americans exhibit. A new play, Coloring Within The Lines,...
Duration:00:50:38
Seg. 1: Simon Tam | Seg. 2: Chiefs' Name
8/20/2019
Segment 1: On taking a bandname all the way to the Supreme Court. Is it possible to be offensive to oneself? That's a question Simon Tam, frontman for a band called The Slants, brought before the U.S. justice system. He's using his story to encourage Asian American professionals in leadership positions to "lean into" their values. Simon Tam , author, Slanted: How An Asian American Troublemaker Took On The Supreme Court , keynote speaker, National Association of Asian American Professionals...
Duration:00:49:23
A Glass Of Wine Helps Adults In Kansas City Learn To Play Violin
8/15/2019
Learning to play an instrument as an adult can be difficult, especially when many beginner level classes are geared toward kids. However, a Kansas City class allows adults to learn how to play the violin with an added component made clear in its name. Drunken Fiddles is a no-pressure and relaxed environment, says Laurel Parks, who started the class in 2015. Besides string instruments, it’s about socializing, making friends and drinking a little wine, too. Parks says the class places a little...
Duration:00:04:11
Seg. 1: Elderhood | Seg. 2: 816 Day
8/15/2019
Segment 1: A new book on aging proposes a third stage in life. First comes childhood, then adulthood and finally, elderhood, which begins roughly in your 70s and can last for decades. It comes with a unique set of challenges, joys and needs, and our cultural reluctance to acknowledge that comes at a cost. Louise Aronson , geriatrician and professor of medicine, University of California San Francisco; author, Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life Segment 2: How...
Duration:00:50:28
Portrait Session: Harvey Williams
7/19/2019
Harvey Williams is the founder of a black-owned theater in Kansas City; he sees that as an important addition to the arts ecosystem here in town. In this intimate conversation, Williams tells his own story, which begins at 12th and Vine, and explains why despite all the major iconic roles he's played on Kansas City stages, it matters enough to him carve out a space for diverse voices that he's doing it in his retirement years, when he could be "sitting on the porch, watching the mailman run...
Duration:00:50:31