John Wornall House Museum | Kansas City, Missouri

The John Wornall House Museum, built in the Greek Revival architectural style, was originally constructed by John B. Wornall in 1858 for a total cost of $4,505.69. John Wornall, a successful farmer, served as the president of The Jackson County Agricultural and Mechanical Association and the chairman of William Jewell College’s Board of Trustees. In 1879, Wornall co-founded the Kansas City National Bank and was also elected to the state senate, representing Cass, Jackson, and Bates counties. The John Wornall House Museum is currently functioning as a historic house museum, representing the life of pre-Civil War era.

No Comments / May 07.10 / Travel / by Jen-Kuang Chang

Composers of Concordia University | Spring, 2010

Preparing a concert of newly composed works could be a trickily-tricky task now and then. Loads of things could go off beam. To be 100-and-10 % ready, I recited the wise words by Chinese educator/philosopher Confucius that “success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure,” and nested myself in a secured corner in a café 28 days, 4 minutes, and 33 seconds before the concert, jotting down countermeasures for every foreseeable-and-unforeseeable issues. Everything. I jotted down everything, not aiming for a successful event, but hoping that composers who I have been given the privilege to work with will get to enjoy the concert of new music as, from my own perspective, an opportunity to share their life experience and thoughts through musical works.

On the day of the concert, after driving 523.18 miles from Chicago back to Seward, Nebraska, I quietly listened to what they have to say, with a big smile.

Sonata for Five Buckets | 2010 | Scott Dinslage

Joe Beran, Scott Dinslage, Paul von Kampen, Nicholas Jerome Lee, Michael Palomaki: bass drum

Here We Go | 2010 | Nicholas Jerome Lee

Theron Jenkins, baritone; Julia Gremmer, violin; Joel Heckmann, viola; Katie Wollman, piano

Remember Now | 2010 | Music by Chase Reihmann & Lyrics by Cody Jeffries

Lindsey Auten, Caledonia Gerth, Megan Heidemann, Holly Petersen: soprano; Julia Gremmer, Rebecca Kaaz, Bethany Kuhnle, Katelyn Wollman: alto; Robert Cody, Eric Gross, Andrew Saenz, Andrew van Velson: tenor; Charles Chaveriat, Paul von Kampen, Nicholas Jerome Lee, Michael Palomaki: bass; Chase Reihmann: piano; Theron Jenkins: conductor

No Comments / May 07.10 / Music / by Jen-Kuang Chang

Lee Dam Center for Fine Art | Marysville, Kansas

The structure of the Lee Dam Center for Fine Art, located in downtown Marysville, was constructed back in 1903 with bricks and limestone and originally functioned as a Methodist church. The restoration process was conducted in the 1990s and the building is currently serving as the headquarters for the Marshall County Arts Cooperative. In addition to hosting concerts and performances, the Center also provides puppeteering, watercolors, and rug hooking workshops.

No Comments / May 06.10 / Travel / by Jen-Kuang Chang

Bloch Building | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

“That’s it!” She declared and basically refused to walk not even for my all-you-can-listen collection of Beatles CDs. We were in the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a warm Sunday afternoon and the Plaza was not-too-surprisingly overwhelmed with happy-cheery shoppers. We stopped in front of the LatteLand Espresso & Tea Café and I unfortunately had to charge into the café like a wounded sea lion just to get a small cup of Caffe Mocha for her.

“Phew.” I said and watched her taking her sweet time to drink her Caffe Mocha like the long-long-long Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Six movements and all that. When we finally reached the Bloch Building of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, it was about to close, giving us just enough time for a quick visit to its comfy restrooms with Sol LeWitt’s Conceptual sculpture 1 3 5 7 9 11 conceptually yelling at us to hurry up.

“So,” she said, “how about dinner?”

No Comments / Apr 18.10 / Art, Travel / by Jen-Kuang Chang

Western Historic Trails Center | Council Bluffs, Iowa

Marvin Gaye’s “You Are A Wonderful One” was gleefully mingling into sunbathed sceneries when I reached Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sun was up. Breeze was on. A perfect spring Saturday morning, minus the inconvenience that I forgot to pack my dark chocolate reserve in my backpack. I hummed alone with Gaye like an old-fashioned karaoke machine and soon let go of my little chocolate emergency.

You are so wonderful
That being near you is all I’m living for
You show me more kindness in little ways
Than I’ve ever known in all my days

The Western Historic Trails Center, located in on 425 acres of land in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was developed by the National Park Services to exhibit information regarding Lewis & Clark, Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, and California Trails. Interactive exhibits are presented in the center, which is surrounded by well-maintained hiking trails.

No Comments / Apr 18.10 / Travel / by Jen-Kuang Chang