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About our Summer Guide Cover
The cover of our Summer Guide features art by local Gavin Snider. He depicted both Kansas City music legends and current musicians in our Listen Local collection. Grab a Guide at any Johnson County Library location and enjoy illustrations of:
- Kianna Alarid: Lead singer and songwriter of pop band Yes You Are.
- Lester Young, American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Helped forge the bebop style in the 1930s and 40s.
- Larry Garrett, folk singer-songwriter, guitarist.
- Ada Brown: Blue Singer. Brown was both a pioneer of Kansas City jazz and a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1936.
- Marty Hillard, hip-hop artist, Ebony Tusks. Ebony Tusks is one of Kansas City's most hard-hitting hip-hop acts.
- Julia Lee, blues singer and musician. Lee had a string of R&B hits in the 1940s.
- Lupe Gonzalez, musician, bandleader and civic leader.
- Qizhen Liu, cellist. Performs throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician.
- Count Basie: Jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. An unparalleled musical innovator, Basie's music helped define 20th Century jazz and popular music.
- Amado Espinoza, composer, collaborator, maker of custom-made native instruments. Originally from Bolivia, Epinoza's instruments are being played by clients in places as far-flung as France, Spain, Netherlands and South America
- Charlie Parker: Jazz musician and composer. Along with Dizzy Gillespie, this Kansas City-born jazz artist invented bebop.
- Chico Sierra: Singer-songwriter, visual artist, poet.
- Chloe Jacobson: Singer-songwriter. Chloe Jacobson will release her first album of melodic and personal indie-pop this summer.
- Unknown mandolin player, Fishers Gibson Orchestra
- Melba Liston: Jazz instrumentalist and arranger. First noted female jazz trombonist
- Joyce DiDonato, Opera singer and recording artist. A Multi Grammy Award winner of the 2016 Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Joyce and Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall and the 2012 Best Classical Vocal Solo
- Calvin Arsenia, harpist, singer, songwriter, collaborator.
- Sara Teasley, drummer of garage rockers Cave Girls.
Memorial Day Music Monday: Americana
Julie Bennett Hume's musical journey has taken many twists and turns. A folk artist who began writing songs when she was a high school senior, Hume became grounded in bluegrass, Appalachian and Cajun music, sharpening her skills as a singer, bassist and guitarist. We're fortunate to share an interview with Hume about her life's work, her new album, the aptly titled Late Bloomer, and what inspires her.
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Please introduce yourself. Describe your music for new listeners.
Happy Memorial Day
We're closed for Memorial Day today, but our eLibrary never closes! Check out hilarious eAudiobooks to keep you laughing while you grill out, or a mystery eBook to curl up with this evening.
Throwback Potato Sack!
It's Throwback Thursday and May is National Physical Fitness month. So, potato sack race anyone? We feel there just are not enough potato sack races anymore! Do you feel the same? Or, are you one of those snooty three-legged race fans? ;) Whatever is your bag, we support you in your physical fitness pursuit. Go! Fight! Win!
See more local history at jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Now at Blue Valley: Juniper Tangpuz
Juniper Albert Tangpuz, a.k.a. T.J. was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Kansas and currently works as a mild mannered studio assistant at Johnson County Community College. He is able to express his art in a range of materials, but considers paper to be his "native language". He is known for unlocking the secrets of the paper and cardboard sheet. He envisions universes where ideas compress, expand, and inspire. See more of his work on his website.
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What comes first – the medium or the message? Tell me a little about the work that will be on view.
It depends. There are two approaches when I make something. When I have a specific message I want to express then I try to keep focused and every decision is based on supporting that message. Other times, I just look at a piece of material and do some improvisational building. The work on view is a collection from different series of artworks . I picked pieces that had somehow affected the viewers in a special way.
What do you feel is your role as an artist?
It has changed and continues to change as I get older. At first, it was trying to gain an understanding of my soul. Then I felt I should be a guide who helps people get to the artistic realm.
What influences your practice/works?
I love to make things that I think should exist in this world. Most of the time I’m inspired by looking at people, places and things. I believe that most artists can see connections that most people overlook. I’ve found that some connections are absolutely absurd.
Who are the other artists you look to for inspiration? And what about their works do you like?
I’ve always liked the artists that make art from a place in there soul when they were free to play. I can always tell when it is genuine because it often has no other intention but to bring someone to happiness. I appreciate the art when I can sense that it flowed out naturally.
What other writings do you recommend reading to have a better understanding of your artworks and your art practice/process?
The Elements of Pop-up by David A. Carter
Between the Folds: A Film About Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Music Monday: Musician and Artist Sterling Witt
Melodic and aggressive, abrasive and pretty, political and universal, the music of Sterling Witt has many starting points. In addition to writing catchy, rocking and thought-provoking tunes, Witt is an accomplished painter whose visual work is as vibrant as his music. His art is currently on display at our Lackman location.
Clubs for Kids
Kids! Love the American Girl Books? Want to have some fun with <b>coding</b>? Whatever you're interested in, we've got a club for you!