Portrait of a City
Through February 21, you can check out this continuing exhibit organized by the Kansas City Society for Contemporary Photography (KCSCP) at the Box Gallery at 10th and Walnut downtown. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Portrait of a City was inspired by the late Evelyn Hofer, a German-born photographer recently exhibited at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Hofer was known for her photobook projects of American metropolitan cities.
In September of 2023, the Nelson put on a Portrait of the City Photography Workshop asking attendees how they pictured our town and what change and transformation spoke to them. They invited attendees to train their camera lens on Kansas City and selected images from each participant to form the Portrait of a City exhibit first held at Cerbera Gallery earlier this year.
All in all, they gathered the works of 49 local photographers, including Shirley Harryman’s 2023 inkjet print The West Bottoms and Don James’s Supply Lines, 25th and State Line, Kansas City, Missouri.
Come see this place we call home from the unique perspectives of our local photographers.
Alpine Christmas: A Celebration of German Christmas Carols
Some of our most beloved Christmas traditions have their roots in Germany.
The Christmas tree, which traces back to Winter Solstice celebrations when evergreens symbolized the sun’s return and life during winter, originated in the Baltic area. When German Prince Albert married Queen Victoria, he brought the Christmas tree to England, and then on to us across the pond.
And then there are the beloved carols. Starting at 7:30 p.m. on December 10 at the 1900 Building, you can enjoy the music, the holiday décor, and the treats with Alpine Christmas: A Celebration of German Carols. This festive concert by the Kansas City Chorale features lush adaptations of Stille Nacht (Silent Night), O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree), Lo, How a Rose E’er Bloomed, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and other timeless favorites.
Enhance your holiday experience with a visit to the Christkindlmarkt stands, where you can enjoy mulled wine, hot cider, and gingerbread. Whether you’re savoring traditional treats or reveling in the music, this concert promises a magical evening filled with celebration, connection, and the true essence of Christmas in the Alps.
Life on Mars: A Cultural History
Hounded by holly-jolly Christmas music everywhere you go, you might wish to escape to Mars for a bit.
If you register for this Zoom webinar, you can visit the Red Planet from the comfort of your own home.
From 7 to 8 p.m. on December 12, you are free to wonder Is there life on Mars? What is at stake when we ask this question?
The speaker is Jordan Bimm, PhD, an assistant instructional professor of science communication and public discourse at the University of Chicago. Bimm is a historian of science focused on U.S. space exploration who specializes in space medicine and astrobiology. His research investigates big questions like Who should go to space? and What happens if we discover extraterrestrial life?
Examining different eras of Mars exploration, we learn how the question of life has factored into different social and cultural movements here on Earth. These include theological debates, military conquest, scientific research, and most recently, commercial settlement. This historical perspective reveals how human plans for the Red Planet have evolved over time and deepens our understanding of both our important cosmic neighbor and the ongoing search for life in the universe.
Bach Aria Soloists’ Annual Holiday Concert
At 7:30 p.m. on December 14, Bach Aria Soloists invites you to their beloved Holiday Concert in beautiful St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with heartwarming music that includes joyous arias from Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, and Handel, plus traditional carols.
This year, they welcome a special guest. Baritone Cameron J. Rolling, a member of the Detroit Opera, makes his debut in Kansas City.
He will join critically acclaimed artistic director/founder/violinist Elizabeth Suh Lane, soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson, and multi-talented Elisa Williams Bickers, on the harpsichord, organ and piano. Bach Aria Soloists present the genius and relevance of Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries, and those he inspired from then to now. The ensemble’s repertoire is adventurous and broad, including chamber music from Renaissance to contemporary, vocal arias, Bach-centered and inspired chamber music and arias, tango and new living composer commissions. Their signature arrangements bring ancient and modern music to new life.