Artspeak Radio October Edition

Artspeak Radio, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 9am -10am CST, 90.1fm KKFI Kansas City Community Radio, streaming live audio www.kkfi.org

Producer/host Maria Vasquez Boyd welcomes artist/filmmaker Hugo Ximello-Salido, Digital Dreams creator/founder Mary McCawley, musician/performer Calvin Arsenia, Curator / Sr. Manager of Learning & Engagement with The National Toy and Miniature Museum Madeline Rislow, Carlos Ortiz-Gallo Curatorial Fellow for Local Artists Go Miniature, and exhibiting artist César López.

MARY McCAWLEY – Celebrating 25 Years of Immersive Wonders: The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium Hosts Anniversary Event Curated by Digital Dreams KC
November 1st & 2nd, 2024 — The Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a landmark event curated by Kansas City’s own Digital Dreams. This two-day celebration will immerse attendees in a unique fusion of performance art, live music, laser light displays, and the magic of the planetarium dome. Headlining the event is the extraordinary Calvin Arsenia, a local musician who will be singing and performing with his multi-instrumental talents, including the harp and banjo, accompanied by a breathtaking live aerial silk performance beneath the stars. Laser artist “Laser” Lew Wilkinson will showcase his highly anticipated “Laser Visions”, featuring a live laser setup that will transform the dome into a celestial light show.
Closing out the night will be DJ Stevie Cruz alongside video artist Cyan Meeks, presenting a mesmerizing live DJ and visual performance. Guests can enjoy drinks available for purchase as
they immerse themselves in this one-of-a-kind artistic experience. On Saturday morning, attendees can also join Yoga Under the Stars at 9:30 a.m., led by Kristin Rea, offering a serene way to connect with the cosmos.
Patrick Hess, Manager of the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium, expressed his enthusiasm for this special event, stating: “This 25th anniversary celebration is unlike anything we’ve done before. Bringing together live music, performance art, and lasers in our iconic dome is an incredible opportunity to expand the types of experiences we can offer to the community. Digital Dreams KC has curated an event that truly showcases the innovative potential of our space, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Digital Dreams KC, known for its forward-thinking approach to merging technology and art, has crafted an event that speaks to Kansas City’s vibrant creative community. This celebration
represents the future of immersive media experiences, fostering a sense of community and artistic exploration in a space where science and creativity meet.
Event Details:
● Dates: November 1st & 2nd, 2024
● Location: Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium, Union Station Kansas City
● Doors Open: 6:00 p.m.
● Performances Begin: 7:00 p.m.
● Tickets: Available through Union Station
● Yoga Under the Stars: Saturday, November 2nd, 9:30 a.m.
For more information and tickets, please visit Unionstation.org
About Digital Dreams KC:
Digital Dreams KC is a digital art gallery and curatorial team dedicated to bringing cutting-edge
immersive media and artistic experiences to Kansas City. By merging art and technology, Digital
Dreams strives to expand access to digital creativity and foster a deeper connection between
artists and the public. digitaldreamskc.com
About the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium:
A cornerstone of Union Station, the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium has been inspiring wonder and curiosity about the cosmos for 25 years. As one of the largest planetariums in the Midwest, it
continues to be a destination for educational programming and immersive media experiences for all ages. Gottlieb Planetarium is located in the Union Station, KCMO, 30 W. Pershing Rd.
unionstation.org
CALVIN ARESENIA Singer, harpist, and author Calvin Arsenia has built a reputation for turning the arts world on its head. Voted Kansas City’s Best Musician 2018 – 2023 (The Pitch), and featured on Billboard.com, NPR.org, NEWNOWNEXT, Pride.com, and GRAMMY.com, Arsenia’s angelic stylings on voice and harp create rare harmonies and arrangements that look past the boundaries of his traditional gospel and classical upbringing. Known for his elaborate and ceremonious sensory concert experiences that merge jazz and electronic influences, “Calvin has consistently deliver(s) genre-bending (and gender-bending) shows that tackle sexuality, religion, and race in a stunningly unorthodox manner – somewhere between sacred and sacrilege.” – Fally Afani.
The music is just one part of his prodigious performances, for Calvin believes the art is in crafting the perfect moment. His music is best served live, with sensational performances and high fashion from the visually striking performer who stands at 6’6”.
Alongside his best friend and co-host New York based comedian Justin Randall, Arsenia explores the ups and downs of being a queer person raised in the Evangelical Church in the 2020-2021 podcast We Were Christian Kids.
In 2021, Arsenia released a book of poems and stories called Every Good Boy Does Fine; Both a journey of individual healing and a call for action, these poems show that, with a little love and acceptance, anyone can flourish. calvinarsenia.com

MADELINE RISLOW, Curator/Sr. Manager of Learning & Engagement, CESAR LOPEZ, Artist, CARLOS ORTIZ-GALLO, Artist/curatorial Fellow, Local Artists Go Miniature- Fine-scale miniature artists in the collection of The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures create astoundingly small objects inspired by everything from Louis XV’s study at Versailles to an Art Deco bathroom to a tray of chips, salsa, and guacamole. These small versions of full-scale objects invite the viewer to look closer at the world around them in exciting new ways. What have you always wanted to make in miniature?
The Museum invited artists within a 60-mile radius of Kansas City to submit up to three visual artworks small to be considered for a juried exhibition in the Museum’s newest gallery. 2D and 3D submissions of any media and concept were welcomed, but objects could be no larger than 12x12x12”.
Artworks could be realistic, abstract, and/or imagined subjects and did not have to be inspired by an existing, full-scale object. All artists will have their work on view at the Museum for the duration of the exhibition, October 25, 2024 – June 9, 2025.
The National Toy & Miniature Museum is located at 5235 Oak St. KCMO, 816.235.8000 www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org

Carlos Ortiz-Gallo was born in Lima, Peru, in 1993 and eventually migrated to Miami, FL. Currently based in Kansas City, Ortiz-Gallo works with a diverse array of mediums to create large hybrid installations. Ortiz-Gallo has participated in several solo and group shows and has exhibited work at galleries in Missouri, Illinois, Florida, and Texas. He obtained his BFA in Printmaking and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2016. Ortiz-Gallo was a resident artist at Art Letter & Numbers in Averill Park, NY, in the fall of 2021 and a resident at ACRE Projects in 2018.

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