Musical Art Monster

Putto and Mark Southerland comprise a match made in
heaven. And tonight, in the courtyard just west of the Folly Theater
(300 West 12th Street), it may be hard to tell the two apart. All
flailing tentacles and twisting limbs, “Putto 2x2x4” — a work by
Kansas City-born sculptor Michael Rees — conducts an endless,
perverse dance on a digital screen mounted on a wall outside the Folly,
right beside an 18-foot sculpture of the treelike creature. Like freaks
gathered at Burning Man, Southerland and his Urban Noise Camp
compatriots will pitch their colorful tents at Putto’s feet from 4:30
to 6:30 p.m. in order to pay tribute to Rees’ creation with noise and
dance. Expect to see people cavorting in body suits, occasionally
doubling as living instrument stands for Southerland’s twisted horn
sculptures. Southerland’s Wee Snuff free-jazz unit, which includes
venerable local jazzers Jeff Harshbarger and Brad Cox, provides the
soundtrack. The reception kicks off the Avenue of the Arts Foundation’s
summer program of setting up art along Central Street downtown. For
more information, call the city’s Capital Improvements Management
Office at 816-513-2720.

Thu., May 21, 4:30-6:30 p.m., 2009