It’s time to head outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather.  Whether you’re gardening, swimming, playing sports, or simply showing off your pedicure, here’s what you need to know to protect against skin cancer.

Sun Safety
Skin should be protected from intense sun exposure by using an umbrella, clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher).  Seek shade when available and use caution near water and sand as both can reflect natural sunlight.  The use of tanning beds and sun lamps should be avoided, as these products have been linked to a higher incidence of skin cancer, including melanoma – a deadly form of skin cancer.  To obtain a golden glow, consider using tanning lotions or sprays instead.

Changes to Sunscreen Labeling
Effective this summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring sunscreen makers to update their product labels to better educate consumers about the sun protection their products provide.  Here are some key changes you’ll notice:

Broad spectrum protection.  Prior sunscreen labels dealt almost exclusively with a sunscreen’s ability to protect against sunburns, which are caused by UVB rays.  Going forward, labels will also indicate whether the sunscreen protects against skin cancer and premature aging, which are caused by UVA rays.  Sunscreen products that protect against UVB and UVA rays and also have an SPF rating of 15 or higher will be labeled as a “broad spectrum” sunscreen.  (These are the sunscreens you’ll want to purchase!)

Water resistance. The FDA will ban companies from claiming that a sunscreen is “waterproof” or “sweat proof”, as this is simply not possible.  You’ll now see the term “water resistant” instead.  The new labeling will also state whether the product remains effective for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating.

Early Detection
The best way to detect skin cancer early is to recognize changes in skin growths.  Adults should examine their skin on a monthly basis and notify their physician of new or unusual lesions or a progressive change in a lesion’s appearance (e.g., size, shape, color).

To help with early detection, a free community skin cancer screening is offered again this spring marking the event’s 24th year.  The screening will be held on Saturday, May 5 from 8 to 11 a.m. at GraceMed Health Clinic located at 1122 North Topeka in downtown Wichita.  Appointments are not necessary.  For more information, call (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org/holymoley.

“Protecting your skin from the sunlight’s harmful rays is the most important preventative measure against skin cancer,” said Dr. Krista Shackelford, a board-certified dermatologist with The Dermatology Clinic, P.A. and medical director of the May 5 screening.  “The second is detecting skin abnormalities early.  This free screening is the perfect opportunity for those who have put off getting checked for any reason.  Now, there’s no excuse.”

The screening is sponsored by the following organizations: the American Cancer Society, Via Christi Health, Wichita-area dermatologists, GraceMed Health Clinic, United Way, Project Access, The Coleman Company, Union Rescue Mission, American Academy of Dermatology, and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County.

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Carol Hughes’ Journey

Her voice has been a common occurrence on KFDI since 1999, but before she became a local celebrity, Carol Hughes was a cancer patient.

Hughes journey first began at a party when she expressed her concern about what she thought to be a pimple that didn’t seem to get any better. A concerned friend told her she should get it looked at because it might be skin cancer. With a family history of skin cancer, Hughes wasted no time in getting the “pimple” checked out. She ended up at a free skin cancer clinic where she was examined and told it was possibly skin cancer.  

Hughes was referred to Dr. Chris Moeller of Moeller Dermatology for a biopsy. The biopsy showed her “pimple” was a basal cell carcinoma – the most common form of skin cancer.  

Hughes underwent what is referred to as Mohs surgery to remove the tumor and any cancerous skin cells around it. The position of the cancerous tissue left Hughes with seven stiches from the corner of her nose to her outer lip.

“The incision area was so big,” Hughes said, “it looked like I had been in a fight because it bruised up to my eye, my eye swelled shut, my lip was numb for a couple of weeks. I didn’t think I would get the feeling back in my lip.”

Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer. Melanoma is the third common and most life-threatening form of skin cancer. Mohs surgery is generally not used for melanoma, which is related to wider cuts and testing by an oncologist to ensure the tumor has not spread. The most common location for melanoma in women is on the legs and on the back for men.

“We are seeing a tremendous increase in incidents of skin cancer in the United States,” Dr. Chris Moeller said. “The biggest dramatic increase has been in melanoma and the biggest increase in incident has been in women under the age of forty.”

Once one skin cancer appears, regardless of treatment, patients are at a 50% risk for another skin cancer within five years. Hughes was almost to her five year, cancer-free mark when she noticed the growth of another spot on her face. This time she didn’t need a biopsy to tell her what it was.

“I knew,” Hughes said. “I knew exactly.”

Hughes underwent another surgery, this time with five stitches from her nose to upper lip. With her cancer reoccurring before the five year mark, Dr. Moeller told Hughes it would be something she would always have to deal with. Then seven years ago, Hughes applied a chemotherapy cream to her face to eat out the precancerous cells. Pimple-like spots surfaced, spots that could have turned cancerous had she not done the cream. Hughes described the treatment as a “very intense face peel.”

“It was highly unpleasant to do chemo cream,” Hughes said. “But I do think by doing it, it’s kept me from having my face cut on some more.”

It has been seven years and her cancer hasn’t returned. Hughes attributes it to the chemo cream and her vigilance with sun protection.  

“[Dr. Moeller] told me after the first one, ‘you will wear sunscreen on your face every day for the rest of your life and I don’t care if it’s snowing outside,” Hughes said. “And I do, every single day.”

Those prone to skin cancer are those with a family history of cancer, who are fair skinned and continually use tanning beds. You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by taking sun protection measures like wearing sunscreen, wearing protective clothing such as wide brim hats, long sleeve shirts and long pants, and changing your outdoor activities to early or later in the day. Adults and children six months or older should wear a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with a 30 SPF or higher.

“The most common misconception about sunscreen,” Moeller said, “is people think ‘if I put sunscreen on then I can be out all day and not burn.’ We recommend you continue to protect yourself, put the sunscreen on, wear a wide brim hat, long sleeves and pants when you can, and alter your behavior because those are the things that are associated with most skin cancers.”

The greatest way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to stay out of tanning beds. Moeller warned that tanning bed exposure doubles to quadruples your risk of melanoma. The World Health Organization rated tanning beds as high a carcinogen as tobacco. There is an increase in legislation across the United States to restrict people under the age of 18 to use tanning beds.

“Teenagers this day and age have almost a 1 in 6 chance of getting skin cancer now,” Moeller said. “More young women die from melanoma than any other type of cancer between the ages of twenty and twenty eight.”

Look for the signs. If you notice a mole changing in size, shape, color or bleeding, it’s best to get it checked out. The American Academy of Dermatology holds a free skin cancer clinic every year. Locally, over 10,000 patients have been screened and 1 out 10 have been diagnosed with skin cancer. This year marks the 23rd annual skin cancer screening and will take place on May 5 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at GraceMed Health Center, 1122 N Topeka.

“You’ve got to listen to your gut,” Hughes said. “If you think it could be something, well, maybe it is. Just have someone tell you. If you have to get it biopsied, get it biopsied.”

When it comes to finding just the right standout piece for a room, homeowners often feel as if they’re hunting for treasure without a map — wandering through department stores, thumbing through catalogs and scouring the Internet for that elusive sofa, console or wall art.

Treasure hunters, you’ve just been handed a GPS: Mr. Diggs Dwelling & Co.

“We’re not in the decorating business,” said Annette Shankle, manager of Mr. Diggs. “Instead, we find unique pieces for your home — I call them ‘onesies.’ People today like to use antiques, repurposed furniture and new items all mixed together. Mr. Diggs has talented shoppers specializing in a range of styles and pieces so that we have an eclectic mix of offerings for each special event.”

Shankle believes that Mr. Diggs is distinctive because of its unique environment.

“Mr. Diggs is not a store — it’s an event,” said Shankle. “We’re only open one weekend a month and, every month, we have different themes.” She explained that large cities across the nation have incorporated this event concept as an effective means of building anticipation.

“Shopping and ‘digging for your treasure’ should be fun,” Shankle said. “We try to enhance the social aspect of finding that unique piece for your home. We want the shopping experience with us to be like getting your favorite decorating magazine — you open it up and say, ‘Ah!’”

Treasure hunters at Mr. Diggs’ event one month won’t see the same layout the next month. The displays in the two-story warehouse space will continually evolve. A “Friends”-style sofa may be replaced by an industrial étagère, or an authentic railroad sign may be displaced by a 1920s-era mirror.

Shankle added, “I like moving things around; it’s always been a passion. I love looks and textures, no matter where a particular piece came from. If people can’t seem to find a cerain item that really speaks to them, we can do their personal shopping. Most of all, we want to provide our clients with a unique piece that pops in their room. That’s what it’s all about.”

Located on the northeast corner of 1st Street and St. Francis, Mr. Diggs is open the third weekend of every month, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more details, go to mrdiggswichita.com.

Photos By Darrin Hackney

Some people go through life doing what is expected, following norms and making few waves.

Not the Andersons.

One of Wichita’s coolly eclectic couples, Torin and Georgia met through a circle of musicians in the late 1990s and never looked back. Both are multitalented artists — Georgia plays piano, accordion, guitar and vibraphone, and Torin plays keyboards, organ, drums and solo laptop shows of electronic music, plus guitar in the local instrumental band Spirit of the Stairs.

“The band plays really hard rock down to quiet, whispery sounds,” said Torin. “Not like typical soundtrack instrumental — it’s post-rock, having all the rock ingredients but without the singer.”

The band is, as Torin continued, “in a really good spot these days.” Spirit of the Stairs is traveling more and about to have a documentary released. Looking ahead, Torin would like the band to be featured more for video work.

“I like the idea of video producers putting that sound in a completely different arena than what the live shows are like,” said Torin.

Georgia teaches Spanish at The Independent School and maintains an Etsy shop, The Big Harumph. Influenced by writer and illustrator Edward Gorey, Georgia’s shop offers letterpress typography, linocut prints, gifts, greeting cards and message pencils — all a bit unconventional and some deliciously scandalous.

“My favorite artistic medium is linoleum because of its versatility,” said Georgia, “but I also enjoy painting and piano. I go back and forth between visual art and music.”

The couple’s home, too, is evidence of their offbeat creativity. Originally a church and then a halfway house, the space was converted by the previous owner into an artist’s loft, with old lockers used as kitchen cabinets and wide-open interiors vast enough for Torin to cruise around in on his bike.

The Andersons’ style is mid-century modern mixed with industrial. And while they are quick to point out that they don’t take artistic credit for the concrete exterior walls and floors, nor the wood for the bar that came from the city’s old Kingfisher building, they have definitely added to the home’s “it” factor: a shower with barn metal walls and a
glass door.

“It’s kind of like a playhouse,” Torin said.

That’s an accurate description, given that Torin has an incredible ability to connect with children and animals (“he’s a dog whisperer,” Georgia laughed) and Georgia taught herself Morse code on a whim and can juggle (“she’s phenomenal — she should juggle more,” Torin added).

The playhouse, then, suits the Andersons just fine.

Photos By Darrin Hackney

Flavors of  Sabor Latin Bar & Grille in Old Town Square and Standard Beverage Corporation

1 oz Herradura Reposado Tequila
.5 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
.5 oz Sugar
2 oz Grapefruit Juice
.5 oz Grand Marnier
Top with Lemon-Lime Soda

Excluding Grand Marnier, with ice combine all ingredients in shaker, shake vigorously and strain into a salt rimmed Collins Glass.Top with Grand Marnier and garnish with a Lime Wheel.

Steven’s Short Rib Enchiladas:
A recipe That is sure to delight the palate.

Short Ribs Recipe
3.5 Lbs Short Ribs,  2.5-3 Inch Cut
1 Yellow Onion-Rough Chop
1.5 Large Carrots-Rough Chop
1/2 Celery Stalk-Rough Chop
3 Cloves Of Garlic
3 Sprigs Of Fresh Thyme
1.5 Tsp Whole Black Peppercorn
3 Bay Leaves
1/2 Cup Red Wine
1 Cup Demi Glace
1/2 Gallon Water

Rib Rub
2 tblsp Paprika
2 tblsp Chili Powder
2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 tblsp Brown Sugar
3 tsp Cumin
3 tsp dry Oregano
3 tsp Salt
6 tsp Black Pepper

Short Rib Procedure
Evenly coat both sides of the short ribs with rib rub.
Sear both sides of the ribs golden brown in a braising pan.
Retain oil in braising pan and sauté vegetables with garlic.
Deglaze with red wine.
Add demi glace, water, fresh thyme, black peppercorns, and bay leaves.
Bring to boil, cover and put braising pan in a non convection oven for 3 ½ hours at 375, or until tender.

Enchilada Sauce Recipe
4 cups hot water
1.5 cups chicken base
4 cups Guajillo base
½ yellow onion – medium diced
½ tblsp minced garlic
1.5 tblsp salad oil
6 oz. tomato paste
1 tblsp chopped oregano
½ tblsp Chipolte puree
¼ tsp cumin
1/8 cup corn starch slurry mix (mix with ¼ cup of cold water)
½ cup Ancho Chili powder

Enchilada Sauce Procedure
Sauté onions and garlic.
Add the rest of the ingredients, except the corn starch. Bring to a boil, and stir with a whisk.
Make corn starch slurry by adding ¼ cup of cold water in a separate mixing bowl then whisking in corn starch.
Once, corn starch slurry is made, whisk into the sauce for thickening.

Tortilla Assembly Procedure
Warm up the Enchilada sauce.
Dip six inch flour tortilla in sauce for a couple of seconds and lay in shallow pan.
Add 2 1/2 oz. Short Rib Meat and ½ oz. shredded monterey cheese and roll.
Place together tightly in a shallow baking pan.
Lightly coat enchiladas with sauce and sprinkle some cheese on top.
Cover and bake until hot, approximately 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Roasted Black Bean Salsa
1 ½ Roasted Corn Shaved
   *Grill two ears of corn, let cool, and shave the kernels off the cob.
½ Pint Grape Tomato
¼ Cup Roasted Red Bell Peppers
2 ½ Green Onions- chopped on the bias
1 tsp Honey
1 Lime-Juiced
1 tsp Ancho Chili Powder
1 tsp Cumin

Procedure:
Mix all ingredients together.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

Latin Rice
4 cups partially boiled white rice
4 cups chicken stock
1 red bell pepper – diced small
1 celery stalk – diced small
¼ cup yellow onion – diced small

Procedure:
Sauté all the vegetables with 2 tblsp of vegetable oil to tender. Add the rice.
Continue to cook for about three minutes to incorporate flavor.
Add chicken stock to the rice.
Slowly bring to a boil to prevent burning the rice. When the rice has absorbed all of the water, turn off flame.
Cover for approximately 10 minutes before serving

In August 2010, second grade teacher Jesse Sterling traded in her whiteboard and markers for a canvas and paintbrush. While on maternity leave with her third child, Sterling had the idea to provide Wichita with a unique place to create and socialize at the same time. With diligent research into a concept made popular around the coast and a teacher turned business owner, Paint the Towne was born.

Paint the Towne offers painting instruction to anyone and everyone while providing a laid back social experience. From birthday parties and field trips to bachelorette parties and team building exercises, Sterling’s business caters to the young and the old, whether they are a novice or connoisseur. By appointment only, Paint the Towne has grown from only offering classes Thursday through Saturday to offering private parties almost every night of the week. With adult parties featuring bring-your-own-beer and a fun and unique experience unlike anything in Wichita, it’s no wonder Sterling’s business has thrived.

“It’s a place where you can come and have a good time while creating,” Sterling said.

Her experience as a teacher has allowed Sterling to see the differences in instructing kids and adults. The eagerness of little hands that want to use their imaginations and create something on their own is displayed against the nervous self-doubt of their older counterparts who worry if what they create will be viewed as anything less than perfect. Sterling works to create an atmosphere of encouragement and positivity, where anyone can create anything if they just put their brush to the canvas and try.

“[Adults] have a thousand questions,” Sterling said, “and it’s like just relax a little bit and kind of go with it. It’s funny the difference in kids and adults and letting them let loose a little bit. That’s where the wine comes in.”

Though customers learn to paint, it is hardly as educational as the normal art class. The concept behind Paint the Towne is more about having a fun time and trying something new. In this place, it is not necessary for one to have experience or an artist’s eye.

“People should be able to enjoy it,” Sterling said. “There is no reason to get upset just because it turns out a certain way. Art’s fun and forgiving. It’s your canvas, do what you want on it. If you like blue then go for it.”

Painting sessions last about two hours. At the end of each session, a group picture is taken and painters take their paintings home.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m in the business of showing people how to paint or the business of showing people how to have a good time. I always tell people, do you like to drink, do you like to have a good time? Yeah, then you’ll love to paint too.”

Around 1997, a group of local artists known as the Famous Dead Artists set out to improve Wichita’s art scene.

“We were aware that every city that had a ‘real art scene’ had a regular gallery walk,” said Marc Bosworth of the Famous Dead Artists. “We felt like we were building some momentum and we wanted something more consistent for ourselves, something to supplement these kind of guerrilla shows that we’d been doing.”

Brent Miller, an artist with a gallery across the call from the Famous Dead Artists, gets the credit for calling it “Final Friday.” “The rest of us – being very much into death and darkness – just loved that idea,” said Bosworth.

Fast-forward 10 years to the opening of the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation and Final Friday had the support it needed to make it on to every art lover’s calendar.

“The Qline trolley was a request by artists back in 2005,” said Ann Keefer, vice president of marketing for the WDDC.

“While they enjoyed the event as it was, they had the foresight to see the potential in making the event even bigger. The WDDC worked with the artists to find funding to make the trolleys happen and help people get to the galleries. We secured a grant from the Knight Foundation and got the funds needed to operate the trolley and also get a phantom gallery space for WSU students.”

Within six months, Final Friday events went from 40 to 400 people in a gallery at one time. They stopped counting traffic when an estimated 4,000 people were circulating in one night. Today, the event features work in 35-45 galleries, mostly downtown. And the once phantom gallery for WSU students has since become permanent (Shift Space).

“Final Friday is the perfect way for the community to show support and respect for local artists,” said Keefer. “Art is about what you take from it, and our local artists are what’s going to take this city forward.”

Final Friday takes place the last Friday of each month. Between 7 and 9 p.m., art galleries, restaurants, retail establishments and museums around Wichita stay open late for the public to view work created by local artists for free. The Qline trolley also offers free rides for visitors to park once and visit several galleries during the evening. For more information visit www.downtownwichita.org

LAUREN FITZGERALD

Taking risks comes with the territory of calling oneself an artist. Most often it’s the risk of facing rejection, harsh criticism or creative block. For cut paper artist Lauren Fitzgerald, she also faces a risk that’s a little more painful.

“One moment of distraction could lead to a sliced finger,” said Fitzgerald. “Luckily, I still have all my fingers. But usually by the time I’m done working on a piece, my hand is like a claw from clutching the X-Acto knife for so long.”

In her free time, Fitzgerald spends hours at her kitchen table cutting paper for her creations. “I prefer working at the kitchen table to stay focused. It comes back to the kitchen – it’s always been where everything is happening.”

From Cary Grant to Katherine Hepburn and Greta Garbo, Fitzgerald enjoys using cut paper to create portraits of movie stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. “I love 30s and 40s movies,” said Fitzgerald. Each portrait is created with small pieces of cut paper and built up with three to four layers to make an image. “People don’t realize it’s paper, they think it’s paint.”

Actually, it’s both. Fitzgerald first paints sheets of paper to get the colors she wants – this includes adding effects such as splattered paint, sand and scratch marks. Then she cuts up the paper in small pieces and mounts them to a board or Masonite to create her portrait.

“Cut paper is a style I developed for a project in art school and I’m always trying to find ways to improve it,” said Fitzgerald. “I originally thought I’d be a painter, but I like doing this. People call me crazy.”

Crazy or not, Fitzgerald sold a portrait of Marilyn Monroe at her very first show, “Sweet Art” at City Arts. “It was the first time I ever showed my work,” said Fitzgerald. “I was so happy, it was such a nice feeling.” Ten years later, she is still showing (and selling) her work at various galleries for Final Friday.

As for her work that hasn’t sold? “My grandma and my mom fight over it.”
To see Fitzgerald’s work for yourself, stop by T&J Photography during the August Final Friday for a group show that includes Fitzgerald and three of her friends.

“The major reason I do art is because it’s fun and I enjoy it,” said Fitzgerald. “Luckily, there are galleries in town that will show it.”

CONNIE ERNATT

One man’s junk may be another’s woman’s treasure. For bronze sculptor Connie Ernatt, it could just end up in her latest piece of art.

“I’m an organized hoarder,” said Ernatt. “I use found objects and let them spur the idea for a piece of work. I go with the flow and do what feels right. It’s different than some of the work I’ve done that’s more planned out.”

Ernatt’s work can be seen around Wichita at public landmarks and at the homes of private individuals. In 2010, Ernatt celebrated the completion of the Wichita Law Enforcement Memorial – a project that took seven-and-a-half-years and 70 pieces to complete. The life-sized statue is located at Central and Main. Ernatt also created the life-sized sculpture of “Marbles” the chimp at the Sedgwick County Zoo, designed the fairy houses and salamanders in the new Children’s Garden at Botanica and has new pieces ready to install at both Wichita attractions in the near future.

“Half of my work is commissioned either by public works or individuals,” said Ernatt. “The other half is my own personal work that I sell through shows and galleries. This is the fun stuff that I make with found objects or ‘artifacts.’ I love doing public art but I also like doing work for individuals that lets me do stuff I never get to do. It allows me to work on a different scale.”

A full-time artist for the past 15 years, Ernatt and her husband John, a painter, have two boys and own Diver Gallery on Commerce Street. They have been a part of the Final Friday scene for the last six years.

“Final Friday adds a whole new element to our gallery,” said Ernatt. “Before, we were a destination. Now we get a lot of exposure without having to advertise. It takes a lot of the pressure off – we don’t feel like we have to have a full-blown show every month.”

Many wonder how Ernatt got into bronze sculpting in the first place. “It involves heavy material, grinding and welding,” said Ernatt. “I grew up on a farm and am used to the physical labor so it doesn’t bother me. I also like the permanence of bronze. It’s there forever and will out live me. It lets you leave your mark.”

To see more of Ernatt’s work, including her fascination with chimps, stop by Diver Gallery at 424 S. Commerce during the next Final Friday. Diver Gallery – you can’t miss it with the big diver over the main door. “It’s named after a piece I did, but it’s also catchy and easy to find.”

FISCH HAUS

You never know where inspiration will strike. For the Fisch Haus founders, it was somewhere on north Broadway.

“Three of the four founders were driving around Wichita one day with their close friend and foreign exchange student, Jurgen Dostert, from Germany, trying to think of a name for their first show,” said Elizabeth Stevenson, artist with the Fisch Haus. “They drove by a house at Broadway and 12th with a neon sign flashing ‘Hot Fish.’ Jurgen yelled out ‘heisser fisch’  (the German translation) and the others thought it was awesome.”

From Hot Fisch to Cold (Kalt) Fisch, the artists of the Fisch Haus gallery incorporated “fisch” into the titles for their first exhibitions. Later, when they purchased the empty warehouse that would later transform into the gallery, they named it the Fisch Haus.

The core group of artists that founded the Fisch Haus were Patrick Duegaw, John Ernatt, Eric Schmidt and Kent Williams. Today, there are five artists behind the gallery – founding artists Patrick, Eric and Kent along with Patrick’s wife, Elizabeth, and Eric’s wife, Jamie Tabor (of Chicken PoopTM lip balm). John Ernatt now works out of Diver Studio (just down the street), which served as the original Fisch Haus warehouse. Today, the Fisch Haus resides at 524 S. Commerce.

“After they bought this space it got crazy for the Fisch Haus guys,” said Stevenson. “This is a big space to fill and changing the show out once a month for Final Friday was insane. They were young men with lots of priorities. They weren’t administrators and it needed to be a run like a business if they were to produce shows every month. It became impossible, so Fisch Haus respectively bowed out.” Other galleries followed suit and Final Friday went away.

Years later, there were new artists on the scene hoping to revitalize the monthly event. At the same time, word got out that Commerce Street could become a parking lot for a new arena the city was planning. “It looked like we were close to being demolished so the Commerce Street Art District Association tried to make it politically impossible to bulldoze this area,” said Stevenson. “We all had as many events as possible and resurrected Final Friday with a bang. The street was packed. I felt an incredible rush of relief that our group saved our street.”

And save it they did. Commerce Street is now a thriving arts district that consists of six galleries, a new loft development and a handful of shops. “None of this would be possible without the community’s support,” said Stevenson.

BRAD RUDER

One of Final Friday’s biggest current mysteries might just be Tangent Lab. Owned by graphic designer and artist Brad Ruder, Tangent Lab has been hosting shows off the beaten path for the past seven years.

“One of the best things I like about Tangent Lab is that it’s been out of the way,” said Ruder. “You had to know where it was, search it out and find it. It was a destination.”

Ruder recently gave up his space on the third floor of the Rock Island Market Building and plans to continue producing art exhibitions, but at various makeshift venues in town. The goal? To create a completely unique experience for the patron and artist.

“I still want Tangent Lab to be an entity that people would expect interesting events, but have the exhibits at different places and not tied to a specific venue,” said Ruder. “This means a lot of the details have to be worked out … electricity, liability, bathrooms … little details come with an unused space. I’m looking for things that aren’t currently being used as a business or venue. Something unexpected.”

Something you can expect, however, is a show that meets Ruder’s standards. “The shows I’ve tried to have are ones I’m interested in,” said Ruder. “If I know I would want to go to a show, then I know my friends will too. It’s worth the time and effort.”

The first show Ruder is working on is a solo show for Dustin Parker, a graphic designer and illustrator. Ruder is still searching for the right venue, but the show will go on in the fall and coincide with a Final Friday.

In the meantime, Ruder is kicking around the idea of organizing a summer event and working on his own art projects in his spare time. Ruder combines photos with found imagery and integrates them in Photoshop. When he’s not working his full-time job running Tangent Lab and freelancing, Ruder enjoys spending time with his family and keeping up his running after completing Wichita’s Prairie Fire Marathon last year (his first).

“Sometimes I feel like the jack of all trades,” said Ruder. “I like trying new things.” Including this new direction for Tangent Lab. “I’m curious to see how it turns out myself.”

To follow what’s happening with Tangent Lab, visit tangentlab.com.

Knowing the right people can open doors and make things happen – no one knows that more than Ann Keefer, vice president of marketing for the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation (WDDC).

“I have a knack for remembering faces and a really full Rolodex that I reach out to often,” said Keefer.
Keefer’s extensive list of connections (around 1,500), her passion for Wichita and experience in event planning and marketing is what landed her the job at WDDC 10 years ago. “I’m responsible for helping downtown revigorate itself,” said Keefer. “I put feet on streets, butts in seats and heads in beds. I’m really just a loudmouthed cheerleader.”

Her enthusiasm can be felt citywide. Keefer has her hand in a number of activities that includes promoting downtown events, working with property and business owners and coordinating with government agencies. She sits on the Arts Council and works diligently to get Wichitans and artists engaged in Final Friday. As former board president of the Tallgrass Film Festival, Keefer claims the event “grew up” under her leadership from 2008 to 2010 and she celebrated with staff members as the event sold 10,000 tickets last year – the most tickets ever in the event’s nine-year history.

“As board member for the film festival, my job is to educate businesses on the importance of festivals – the people they can attract and the talent they can bring,” said Keefer. “If we create it, they will come.”

Most recently, Keefer and Teri Mott (formerly of Society of Decorative Painters) have started Mojo Events and Promotions, an event planning business that focuses on nonprofit and retail promotion. Keefer uses her Rolodex to hand pick the right people for each job. “What makes our events stronger is that it isn’t the same people putting them on – our events never look the same,” said Keefer. “Tell me what you want and we’ll create the dream team to make it happen.”

While she spends most of her days rooting for Wichita and helping make it a place for people to be proud of, Keefer’s favorite thing about the city is its people and size. “I love the ability to run into five people I know at the grocery story but then go 20 years without seeing someone. ” What is she not so fond of about Wichita? “The malaise we have. We’re afraid to promote ourselves. It irks me when people ask someone who has just moved here, ‘Why Wichita?’”

Why not? “Wichita is the next Austin just waiting to happen,” said Keefer. “We have just as much to offer, if not more, because we’re Midwesterners. I can’t wait to see the city in 10 years.”

In the meantime, Keefer will continue to work endlessly, doing what she loves for the city that she loves. “I live and breathe thinking about events,” said Keefer. “I get energized by it. At the end of the day, what I enjoy most is to sit back and see all the creativity come together and knowing you made it all happen.”