Wednesday | July 28, 2021 |
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We’re happy to report that capital giving is on the rise again! This month we received an extraordinary capital gift from the W. T. Kemper Foundation. This gift, together with several significant capital contributions in recent weeks, heralds the return of fair winds on the fundraising front. We’d like to thank the W. T. Kemper Foundation and all of our major donors for their vital support, and for trusting in the vision. Land Ho! (hOle?)
If you, your foundation, or someone you know is interested in making a transformative gift, contact [email protected].
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This month, our team began fine-tuning The Rabbit hOle's exhibit design for Curious George to celebrate one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in children's literature. Based on the first seven books by Margret and H.A. Rey, our Curious George tabletop exhibit will afford visitors the opportunity to explore his world in brand new ways. By combining the series' physical settings into a single environment, the episodes represented throughout the exhibit will harken to the many favorite moments and mishaps of Curious George. |
H.A. Rey also illustrated Katy No-Pocket, written by Emmy Payne, which tells the story of a mother kangaroo in search of a pocket for her joey. A life-sized Katy will greet visitors at The Rabbit hOle entrance. Check her out on our exhibit page!
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In addition to the World's First Explor-a-Storium, The Rabbit hOle will house several key programming areas, including a fully operational bookstore outfitted with an amphitheater for hosting author/illustrator events, performances, and festivals. The garage door to the bookstore (pictured below) will enable open-air events and welcome visitors from Kansas City and beyond! Currently, this space provides a perfect spot to enjoy monthly staff lunches. |
Volunteer at The Rabbit hOle! |
We're gearing up for more events, parties, and fundraisers at The Rabbit hOle! If you have a hard-working and go-get-'em attitude, event experience, and flexible availability, fill out our Event Volunteer Interest form on our website.* |
*Volunteers must be 18 years or older |
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Book Pairing - The early works of John Steptoe, paired with Summer of Soul, directed by Questlove
Pairing by Lindsey, The Rabbit hOle's Content and Communications Director.
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When John Steptoe’s first book Stevie debuted in the August 29, 1969 issue of LIFE , the magazine featured articles on Woodstock and the moon landing. But that same summer Harlem, where Steptoe lived, worked and set many of his books, hosted another extraordinary event: the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The new documentary “Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, uncovers the important series of free concerts that took place every weekend between June 29 and August 24, which was largely overlooked by dominant white media. Three hundred thousand people gathered to see performances from artists including The Staple Singers, B.B. King, Nina Simone, the 5th Dimension, Stevie Wonder and more. Watching the documentary recently, I couldn’t help but think about author and illustrator John Steptoe’s early books Stevie (1969), Uptown (1970), and Train Ride (1971). Perhaps best known for Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (1987), which won a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award, Steptoe was a trailblazing children’s book creator. His first three books revolve around the everyday lives and dreams of Black boys in a way few books did in that era, or have since. Beyond a shared time and place (Uptown actually mentions Mt. Morris Park, where the festival was held), the documentary and Steptoe’s books share Black artistry and social justice messages that are just as powerful, essential and beautiful as 50 years ago.
-Lindsey
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Watch it for yourself: “Summer of Soul” is out in theaters and streaming on HULU
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Double Feature - Watch These! |
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The Rabbit hOle is currently working with Javaka and Bweela Steptoe to design an exhibit celebrating the work of their father, John Steptoe. Varying in style and subject matter, Steptoe's works are united by their beauty, vibrance, and honesty. His illustrations for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (featured in the exhibit design along with several other works) received a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Award. Below is one of our scale models and studies for the exhibit that we hope to begin working on this fall. |
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Thank you to everyone who attended our Open House event last month! Our intern, Kel, documented the fun - check out a few highlights from the day: |
Hey you...yes, YOU! Keep your ears out for more Rabbit hOle events in the future! |
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Summer days are long and fruitful at The Rabbit hOle. We're making and learning new things every day, and having a ton of fun while we're at it. Follow us on social media for more updates! |
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Curious to see what else is up our sleeves? Head to www.rabbitholekc.org to read more about our mission, exhibits, and other stuff
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