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It's First-Friday Weekend, And Kansas City Is Stocked With Holiday Art Sales

Kelly Seward
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Belger Crane Yard Studios
At the annual holiday open house at the Belger Crane Yard, you might not find a partridge in a tree, but maybe a ceramic pig.

The traditional art-opening weekend meets the traditional gift-giving season at the following shows and sales, which involve multiple Kansas City artists.

Belger Crane Yard Studios Open House & Holiday Sale
2011 Tracy Ave., Kansas City, Missouri
Artists in their studios sell handcrafted pottery, jewelry, sculpture and ornaments as part of the Kansas City Clay Guild’s Annual Pottery Tour.
Friday, Dec. 4, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Credit courtesy of the artist
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courtesy of the artist
Hello Art is featuring more than 40 artists, such as Vanessa Lacy, in its holiday show and sale.

Hello Art Small Works Show and Holiday Sale
The Hotel Phillips, 106 W. 12th St. Kansas City, Missouri
This free event puts work by more than 40 artists, most of it priced less than $100, on multiple levels of the hotel, along with live music by Alyssa Murray, Jessica Paige, Vi Tran, Victor & Penny, The Snow Globes and others and complimentary mimosas, Bloody Marys, coffee, hot chocolate, and a cash bar. The hotel's artist in residence, Megan Gallant, will also be on hand.
Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Credit Courtesy the artist
'Kansas City Magic Shrinks' by Michael Schliefke are among the items for sale at the Holiday Art Market in the River Market.

Holiday Art Market Group Show
River Market Event Space, 140 Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri
“This show is an attempt to bring more art into the River Market neighborhood," says curator and artist Michael Schliefke, who promises work from 20 artists – paintings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, furniture and locally crafted creative holiday gifts.
Opening reception: Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m.-8 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 7, and Tuesday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Kansas City Art Institute End of Semester Student Exhibition and Sale
4415 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
People start to line up early, especially outside the ceramics building, at the end of each semester when Art Institute students display and sell their works across the campus. Bargains abound, as well as chances to meet up-and-comers who just might stay and make a living in Kansas City.
Friday, Dec. 4, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 6, noon-5 p.m.

Credit courtesy of the artist
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courtesy of the artist
Allan Winkler is one of the artists with works on display at Amy Meya's open studio and sale.

Open Studio and Sale with Amy Meya and Friends
3345 Baltimore, Kansas City, Missouri
Ceramic artist Amy Meya opens her studio to the public for this annual sale. Look for "brand spanking new" works from Meya and her cadre of artists: Desiree Warren's vintage recycled clocks, Laura Nugent's colorful lined paintings and flat file prints, and whimsical cut-outs from Allan Winkler. Plus, there will "eating and sipping." 
Friday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair's 4th Annual Holiday Swing
Uptown Theatre Shoppes, 3600 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri
In 2014, Buzzfeed listed Strawberry Swing as one of the "35 Indie Craft Fairs Every Creative Person Needs To Visit." This event, "full of creatives who are experts at their craft," includes more than 75 vendors, as well as food, drinks, music, and a photo booth. A portion of the vendor fees will be donated to The Family Conservancy and Great Plains SPCA.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 

Telephonebooth Gallery
3319 Troost, Kansas City, Missouri
Telephonebooth got its scrappy start in the mid-1990s, in the hallway of a Crossroads building owned by Jim Leedy. This tiny gallery relocated in 2002 to a former hair salon at 33rd and Troost. The December Market offers artwork from its roster of emerging and professional artists, framed and unframed, as well as "accessories of note." As an added bonus, writes artist and gallerist Tim Brown, "there will be hot tea and electric lighting."
Dec. 3 - 19, Thursdays through Saturdays, noon-6 p.m.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
A free press is among our country’s founding principles and most precious resources. As director of content-journalism at KCUR, I want everyone in our part of America to know we see them and we’re listening. I work to make sure the stories we tell and the conversations we convene reflect our complex realities, informing and inspiring all of us to meet the profound challenges of our time. Email me at cj@kcur.org.
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