CALIFORNIA - KANSAS DOUBLE EXPOSED

In 2004, I escaped Los Angeles and fled to rural Central Kansas. I had a Nikon film camera and had taken pictures of a dance rehearsal at Studio A in Silver Lake before leaving. The rehearsal was for a Memorial, honoring the beloved founder, Terrance Curtis, who had just passed away. I was also attempting to make a documentary piece, but that was ill fated. It may have been my sadness over the loss of the film, as well as the dissolution of my relationship with the dance studio that resulted in my completely forgetting I had those pictures still in the camera, needing to be developed -- and a malfunction in the camera caused it not to stop after the film ran out, but instead ran it through, as I took more photos--unwittingly laying them over the California ones.

My first week in Lucas, Kansas (pop. 450, they claimed -- although my friend who invited me liked to say that "most of those are in the rest home"), I was generously gifted with a "Mystery Tour" hosted by the Red Hat Ladies.

The Mystery Tour was an elaborately planned and orchestrated day and evening of fun that required a few vehicles filled with middle-aged and older women who set out to find pre-designated spots in "Eccentric Kansas" (what they called their area that had been settled by Bohemian pioneers) that even the natives may not have visited or known about.

Among the sites (which are not all shown here): Post Rock Quarry (where they make the ubiquitous limestone posts that help to fence in cattle, etc.).

The pictures on the Kansas side also grabbed a gathering of the Grass Roots Arts Center in Lucas that was held at my friend Margaret's home, which was a former "hotel" that she fixed up the downstairs to look like a New York City apartment (where she had once lived).

There's more, of course. But here are the pictures. I wanted to show them at the Grassroots Art Center, although I never had the nerve to ask them directly. One of the local artists, who was international but found that he could have an enormous studio made out of a former Chevrolet dealership for a song if he settled in Lucas (and grants via the Center) -- Eric Abraham -- told me that these photos would not qualify as "Art" because they were made "accidentally."

But...isn't "Accident" a part of all Art. Especially photography?

I've recently felt more bold and confident about sharing these. The windows are from the beautiful Studio A space and they appear in all the photos. As you can see, there is one happy accident where the pattern on a dancer's leotard blends directly into the pattern of a screen door.

For me, it's a visual reminder of the beauty of both "worlds": California and Kansas.

CA Dancers on the left appear to be reaching for a favorite party food in KS: Kolaches.

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR: RED HAT SOCIETY - LUCAS, KS

"Marlan, we are not in California anymore!" : Magical Mystery Tour sets out for the day.

I gave my camera to someone to take this picture. I'm the blond in the second row on the left in the denim jacket. Next to the lady in the purple jacket. The man in the first row is holding what looks like a round rock, but it's actually a meteorite. There was a reason for that...

Post Rock Limestone Quarry

Limestone Cutting Demonstration

Post Rock Quarry Man

My friends invited me to live in Kansas because as anyone who has ever seen "The Wizard of Oz" knows, there is something very trippy about Kansas. It makes sense to me that my camera saw this.

State Representative Laura (I need to look up her name) on The Yellow Brick Road: Magical Mystery Tour.

GRASSROOTS ARTISTS GATHER AT ARTIST MARGARET WADE'S HOME

KS Artist Erika Nelson, World's Largest Things Sculptor

Through the door on the street: Erika Nelson, sculptor of the "World's Smallest Versions Of The World's Largest Things" -- melding with L.A. dancers. The leotard blending into the screen door.

The late great sculptor Eric Abraham (Left) and two people who were associated with an art grant I was interested in (Salina, KS). The kitchen is Margaret Wade's -- her black stove is not visible.

Erika Nelson again. 

Rosslyn Schultz, Director, Grassroots Arts Center, Lucas, KS

No, they did not have dancing entertainment, but I just love one of the dancers seems to be reflected in the glass of the painting on the wall in Kansas. Margaret Wade's home again here.