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Fresh Produce Art Collective

FPAC was an artist collective based in Lawrence, Kansas, USA. Active from early 2006 to late 2010, the group hosted weekly public meetings for five years and created hundreds of art exhibitions and happenings in Kansas, Missouri, and one in Paris, France.

Fresh Produce Art Collectivewas founded on an 'open door' policy, meaning everyone was welcome to come to the weekly meetings and have a chance to participate in collective exhibitions and events. different artists thousands of works were created and hundreds of creative happenings hosted locally and internationally.

HISTORY FPAC first began in late 2006 with six Lawrence, Kansas-based artists meeting weekly to plan and create new exhibition opportunities at a time when many local galleries were closing. By early 2007, successful FPAC group exhibitions began appearing in alternative art spaces such as restaurants, cafes and homes. Area artists were invited to participate and a broad spectrum of the community reacted with excitement and support. By the end of 2007, about 25 FPAC exhibitions had occurred featuring over 100 artists working in various mediums. Many new ideas and relationships were formed at FPAC's “Salon Style” exhibitions and wildly creative parties.

The open format of FPAC continued, hosting public meetings and eclectic group exhibitions. At least 50 individuals have exhibited art work for the very first time in an FPAC exhibition. As a result, many new art careers were christened and a general spirit of free expression encouraged. This has only increased Lawrence's reputation as a "creative oasis" in the midwest and numerous artists including JOUVELT and Brandon Mateer moved to the area to participate in the exciting art scene. In 2009 FPAC's proposal to initiate a monthly art walk failed to garner funds from the Lawrence Arts Commission but the idea took hold nonetheless and now Lawrence hosts an exciting and well-attended "Final Fridays" monthly art walk. Visible results of FPAC actions include boosting the local arts scene with the formation of several new art spaces in Lawrence as well as accelerating development in the careers of local emerging artists who have since found success nationally and internationally.

DotDotDot ArtSpace In 2008, FPAC artists sought venues for greater curatorial freedom. In an East Lawrence strip mall, DotDotDot ArtSpace was formed and was until 2010 a home for the artists to develop their skills and vision. FPAC worked at DotDotDot to present a monthly rotation of ambitious and experimental shows. Wayne Propst created the inaugural exhibition by accepting unfinished works from 50 artists and finishing them in a live performance utilizing a "painting machine" which he had built from repurposed industrial supplies and various paint squirting devices. The collaborative and performative aspects of this spectacle set the tone for much experimentation in mediums and expression. Group exhibitions included Concoctions, Scapes (Land and Other), ...it came from the 3rd Dimension!!, PHILM. Solo exhibitions were presented by Whit Bones, Aaron Storck, Ostaf Heller, Jeromy Morris, Molly Murphy, Jeremy Stephenson, Yuri Zupancic, Rob Gandy, Josie Wrath,

Most artists presented were local to Lawrence but international submissions were accepted from FPAC's growing network of emerging artists.

FPAC got an opportunity to move their operation to the heart of downtown Lawrence and in 2011, Lost Art Space was formed. The artists rose to the occasion and the public enjoyed the monthly openings and sporadic creative happenings. The Lost Art Space became a hub for cutting-edge art and diverse public interaction. The collective tightened many aspects of their approach and a committee formed to handle new opportunities. Erok Johanssen, Jeromy Morris, Jesse Gray, Paul Flinders, Jeremy Rockwell and Yuri Zupancic have created a new studio space at SEED CO., a large warehouse in East Lawrence's new Arts District. Lost Art Space has moved to a new gallery space at 825 1⁄2 Massachusetts St. and is pleased to showcase their most exciting works in a fresh new venue. The artists and art-lovers of Lawrence have much to look forward to and are determined to continue the rich creative history of Lawrence.

"The Fresh Produce Art Collective is a group of artists devoted to the continuing creation and exhibition of new work. Our openly-constructed collective comprises progressive, motivated, and ambitious artists who meet weekly to plan new art projects, shows, and parties, as well as share ideas on techniques and process. In addition to showing work, the collective aims to create a community of artists that can learn from and work with each other. It is the philosophy of the collective that a strong art scene is a direct result of strong ties among a community of artists.

Although we take a collective approach in the development of ideas and shows, we take a distinctly individual approach to our own art-making. From painting to printing, photography to sculpture, members of Fresh Produce work in a variety of different mediums and subject matter. What ensues is a visual feast. Our salon-style shows become conversations among influences and styles. Collectively, our medium is culture. Through the creation of of original “Art Tries” (events, happenings or parties), we orchestrate our individual voices to sing harmoniously, producing original and distinctly Fresh Produce “avants.”

-Fresh Produce Art Collective July 2008

Fresh Produce Art Collective Original Members

Charles Ray

EroK Johanssen (Current)

Jeromy Morris (Current)

Jeremy Rockwell (Current)

Yuri Zupancic (Current)

Aaron Stork

Anne Dye,

Betsy Timmer

Eric Dobbins

Matt Ridgeway

Rob Gandy

Whit Bones

. . . a contemporary arts gallery in lawrence, ks, usa. . . convergence point. . . visual. . . musical. . . whimsical. . . run by artists. . . hosts monthly art openings.

The Fresh Produce Art Collective brings its particular brand of visual stimulation to not one but two new art spaces in Lawrence this summer. Seed Co. located in the developing Eastside Arts District will operate as a working studio and event space, hosting multi-media shows and performances while continuing the cross-pollination and collaboration that is a key component of FPAC's creative process. In addition a satellite gallery downtown underneath the Phoenix Gallery on Mass St. will be the continuation of the Lost Art Space, showcasing the work of resident artists and hosting featured guest artists and curated group shows.The space will feature an open studio as well, giving visitors a chance to view not only artwork, but the people and processes that create it as well. SEED CO. Located at 826 Pennsylvania in a monolithic brick warehouse, this space is ideal for making, showing and engaging in all aspects of contemporary fine art. With studios on the lower level and event space in the main hall, the potential for creating and collaborating on projects at all scales is practically limitless. Seed Co. is envisioned as a creative factory/laboratory with each of the resident artists bringing their singular artistic identity and prowess to expand and delve deeper into conception and production. At the heart of this project is a conscious intent to transform post-industrial space into a fluent medium all its own, specifically designed to transcend temporal and spatial values and condense them to create a heightened sensory experience. A multi-disciplinary approach emphasizing cooperation, collaboration, and community involvement and encompassing elements from fine art, sculpture, graphic design and production, fashion, construction, digital media, and street art, the scope of this endeavor is far-reaching, but the flavor is distinctly home-grown. With its placement in the center of historic redevelopment, directly behind the monumental Poehler building, Seed Co. has the chance to act as a catalyst for creative growth, not only in Lawrence proper, but radiating outward into the surrounding regional area and beyond. LOST ART SPACE Fresh from a residency in the former Penny Annie's candy shoppe, artists Paul Flinders, Jeromy Morris, Erok Johanssen, Jeremy Rockwell, Jesse Gray, and Yuri Zupancic will continue to bring their outsider perspectives into the fold of the downtown Lawrence art scene. Located at 8251/2 Massachusetts St. in the basement below the Phoenix Gallery, the Lost Art Space will depart from an abandoned storefront aesthetic in favor of a clean white box, but the art presented on the walls will continue to push the envelope with content, style and material innovation. Revolving shows featuring prominent works by the artists interspersed with smaller, more accessible pieces will occupy the space, along with featured guests and curated installations. The open studio platform will continue as well, providing a window into the creative processes at work, and giving patrons a chance to engage in a dialogue with the makers themselves. The space will present its first show, Soft Opening, on June 29 to coincide with downtown Lawrence's Final Fridays Art Walk.