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The sign for Pangaea Arts as viewed from North 2nd Street.
Photo: Valerie Skubal

  On top of a stage built of milk crates, local band Colony Collapse plays for a crowd in a room full of art supplies and walls decorated with colorful paintings. Pangaea was supposed to be an art studio for a student to explore his creative side but a slight change of plans has made it much more.   

    From reopening a bar that is close to their hearts to unexpectedly turning your personal art studio into a live music and dance venue, some students are becoming young entrepreneurs.

Joshua Nold, Auburn, Kansas junior needed a studio where he could comfortably work on his art whenever he wanted. He stumbled across an empty commercial space in North Lawrence and thought it would be perfect for an art studio.

Colony Collapse on stage at Pangaea April 24. Photo: Valerie Skubal

    "I looked inside and decided it would be perfect for my studio, but it was unrealistic to get a commercial space," he said. "I really thought it would be too much money."

    But he was able to talk the landlord into a deal of $550 a month and he had his studio in October of 2008. With student loans he didn't have to worry about affording his new studio. He had ideas for the space to make money by using it as a place to sell his art and other items while also showing local artists from painters to musicians.

    "I called it Pangaea Arts Gallery and I filled it with local, organic art," he said. "I went around meeting all these people for an opening show November 22. I got the place pretty full of art."

Joshua Nold stands with his paintings that hang on the
walls of Pangaea. Photo: Valerie Skubal

    But Pangaea was broken into and all of Nold's merchandise was stolen to total to around $3000. Nold had to change his plans. Instead of selling merchandise and showing art primarily, he began booking bands for a small donation.

    "I just wanted to open it up for bands to play, I didn't think it would be an avenue to make money for me," he said.

    Nold has hosted a variety of live art, live music and dance parities since opening and Pangaea is gathering a few regulars because of it. Though only few local bands bring in enough people to profit from, the dance parties have been a good way to make money. Damon Walker comes from Olathe, Kansas to attend events at the venue that his production company, EKB Productions, hosts with success. 

Joshua Nold, owner of Pangaea Arts explains how his art studio transformed into a venue. Video: Valerie Skubal

   "I like the atmosphere in general," Walker said. "The owner, Josh, is a good guy. The place
is all about good vibes and good times. I never pay to get in and I usually leave with more than I came with."
    Located next door to Pangaea is the empty Gaslight Tavern, which was closed in October of 2008. But to three people it was a place they called home and they decided to take over. Cara Mae Thiele, Leavenworth senior, Leslie Hardin, Lawrence senior and Matt Stambough decided to use bank loans and investors to lease the building together and start back up the place they missed so much.
    "It was our home bar and it was so unfortunate that it closed," Stambough said. "There needs to be more venues in town to add more bands to the circuit as well as a nice chill lace to hang out away from downtown."
    Stambough worked at the Gaslight and often played shows there with his band, Deadman Flats. The group plans on keeping the Gaslight basically the same with some small maintenance work and with the help of Interior Design major Thiele as co-owner they hope to update the inside. The outside area is a staple of the bar and they plan to make it a little friendlier for the cold weather. Though they don't have plans to open it before the summer they are confident that they will be able to make money and continue the Gaslight's legacy.
    "Even though the economy is bad, it's a good time to open up a bar," Stambough said. "Liquor is recession proof."
    Sisters Alex and Emily Akers, Prairie Village seniors, also decided to start up their own business in March. They opened The Barrel House, a dueling piano bar where Last Call used to be on the block of 8th and New Hampshire.
    "It had always been a dream of ours," Emily said. "I was a little stressed out about what I was going to do after college and this just seemed to be the right fit. We proposed it to our long time friend, Danny Williams, and 6 weeks later, with a lot of time and effort put in it, we signed our lease."
    Emily said the funding came from three very supportive private investors to put their dream into action. And the bar's success has been a pleasant surprise since opening, drawing a curious crowd to see the spectacle of dueling pianos.
    "The city of Lawrence has really seemed to like the concept," Emily said. "Our dueling piano nights Thursday, Friday and Saturdays have been busy."
    Though Pangaea, the Gaslight Tavern and The Barrel House are very different, they both hold the same feelings to gather people to enjoy an atmosphere and expose them to local flavor. Whether it was a matter of luck or the purpose of not letting go of your favorite bar these students are willing to make sacrifices.
    "About five years ago I decided things needed to change and I see this as the beginning of that change," Nold said.
    With the slouching economy students are playing the odds with starting their new businesses. According to a study by the Small Business Administration, 67 percent of new employer establishments survive at least two years, 44 percent survive at least four years, and 31 percent survive at least seven years.
    "I think that anytime is a good time to own your own business," Emily said. "Being a student, it is hard to balance both the business and student life, but a little less sleep never hurt anyone."

Visit: http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol19/rules.htm to find 10 rules for small business success.

Jerry Nyhoff stands in his garden where he grows fruits and
vegetables to sell and barter with. Photo: Valerie Skubal

 Jerry Nyhoff's hands are worn and tired. There is dirt underneath his fingernails. His face

and arms are pink from the newly emerged spring sun. His sandy blond hair is messy on top

 of his head and his face is decorated with a salt and pepper beard. He won't reveal his real 

age, "I tell everyone I'm 25," he said. Jerry has been planting in his garden in North Lawrence

since Spring weather began, he has been planting for the last 14 years since he lost his job

and was evicted in 1995. He hasn't had a place to call home since.

      Jerry had dreams of being engineer. He wanted to design things and use his hands. After two years at Kansas State University he decided that engineering was not for him. "I couldn't handle the math," he said. He continued school at Johnson County Community College and graduated with an associates degree in electronics. But all of this was put behind him when he was dismissed from his job at the Lawrence Paper Company when he was injured by a lift when it came down on his back. After healing he was unable to get his job back so he worked various jobs to make ends meet but he had grown wary of the politics of the workforce. "Working for anyone else forces you to take on their problems," he said. He received workman's compensation and unemployment but when that money ran out he was evicted from his home.

Jerry showing off his rhubarb which is identified with limestone
that he uses to label his plants. Photo: Valerie Skubal

Today Jerry uses fruits and vegetables as currency to obtain the things he needs and wants. "I'm trying to take money out of the equation, I like to barter and trade," he said, "I have stuff people can use, they have stuff that I can use." Now that spring is here he can focus on working his land and getting his plants to grow. He has an 1/8 of an acre to himself to plant on his friend Danny's land growing garlic, "Which is like printing your own money, really," he added, basil, cabbages, collard greens, spearmint, peppermint, sage, tomatoes, rhubarb, horseradish, white onions, black raspberries and strawberries. Jerry grew up in Downs, Kansas on a small farm with a five siblings and his parents, though he doesn't talk about his family much he appreciates what they taught him. "My parents don't relate to the outside world well, but they did teach me how to grow plants on my own," he said.

      Right now Jerry is focusing on seed-saving, a process that keeps the genetics of a crop pure and organic unlike the crops in mass production. He brings these vegetables to businesses downtown where they could use them in exchange for breads and other goods. He also attempts to maintain the traditional plants and methods of Native Americans. Though he is not a Native American himself he thinks it's important to keep the culture alive. Along with his fruits and vegetables he grows traditional plants like tobacco, yucca root and comfrey, which is a traditional healing plant for deep cuts. Though these plants aren't in high demand he likes to keep them available for people and himself.

Jerry looks for useful things in the dumpsters behind the
shops between 8th and 9th Street. Photo: Valerie Skubal

Even though he isn't working a traditional job, Jerry still keeps himself busy. Most days he has a routine: in the mornings he will do odd jobs for cash where he is asked like landscaping, remodeling and painting, around noon he will go to places like the Salvation Army and Link where they offer free meals for the homeless and often goes dumpster diving to find food or items for his garden that would be useful, "I found a shop-vac that was used just once, people throw away a lot of things that are still good to use, they just don't care," he said. After he makes his dumpster rounds he usually stops at the Round Corner Cheese Shoppe where the employees all know him well and let him grab some soda for the rest of his day but after that he is quick to go go work on his garden.

In the dumpster at Kennedy Glass, 8th and New Jersey Street,
Jerry finds screens he will use to protect his plants and
keep mosquitoes out of his rain water collector.
Photo: Valerie Skubal

      Jerry has become friendly with employees at many local shops like the Cheese Shoppe, Rudy's Pizza, where they give him free pizza that they would otherwise throw out, and the Mirth. Sometimes he will barter with his fresh vegetables in exchange for a sandwich or coffee. Leslie Hardin, Lawrence senior and Cheese Shoppe employee has known Jerry for over two years. He has given her vegetables in exchange for soda and sometimes cheese. Hardin admires his lifestyle. "Jerry is really smart and decided to be on the fringes of society, he contributes to society and the well-being of Lawrence unlike a lot of people here," she said. Though the employees may enjoy Jerry some local owners don't feel the same. "Tom [Round Corner Owner] doesn't like Jerry, he thinks he is a freeloader on society," Hardin said.

When Jerry has free time he is able to do the things he enjoys. He goes to the Kansas River and watches for bald eagles and other animals, hunts for mushrooms, hikes, plays harmonica, "I'm not that good, I just do it for myself because I really enjoy music," he said, and he also likes to keep a journal and write.

      Without any money Jerry has to find a way to survive with what he has. He camps in milder weather outside of Lawrence city limits, "I camp once there is foliage and growth because it's easier to hide my campsite from people who want to bother it," he said. But winters are hard for him because of the bad weather and lack of growth, "I know how to survive in the winters and stay warm, but it's not easy. There's no cover for my site and my vegetables aren't growing," he said. This past winter he was able to stay with a friend in exchange for doing work around their house.

      "I wouldn't say I was happy with my life, but I'm learning how to take money out of living because it's not necessary," he said. He knows what it takes to survive beyond the boundaries of society. "If the economy really does go the way everyone fears I'll be ahead of everyone because I already know how to survive without money and material things," he said.

The planters on Massachusetts Street sit empty gray. But very soon, they will burst with color: pansies in orange, yellow and blue. 

An empty mid-block planter between
10th and 11th before the Spring transformation.

On Monday, March 23, 50 volunteers are scheduled to dig their hands and trowels into mid-block and corner planters from 7th St., to 11th Street.

The volunteer effort is part of a four-year downtown beautification project meant to increase tourism along Massachusetts Street. The project ends this year.

            The Lawrence Department of Parks and Recreation is gathering volunteers for the to planting of pansies. The department has been planting flowers using volunteers for 6 years as part of a four-year downtown beautification plan finished this year. The project's aim is to improve Lawrence tourism. Started in 2006, it consisted of cleaning up the streets and sidewalks of downtown, replacing old trees, fixing the concrete planters and having colorful flowers year-round.

Fresh pansies much like the flowers being planted March 23rd
found at the Sunrise Garden Center on 15th and New York St.  

           Flowers may just be the solution for drawing people downtown due to their ability to heighten moods. According to a study conducted by the Evolutionary Psychology Journal, flowers increase happiness. in people. The presence of flowers is said to improve mood and social tendencies.

 

Different plants are grown on Mass St. depending on their compatibility with the season
to keep downtown looking colorful and fresh.

            "Both men and women presented with flowers were more likely to smile, to stand at a social distance rather than at an impersonal distance and to initiate conversation," the study concludes. It is important to the plant to keep downtown aesthetically pleasing and pleasant all-around. 

            According to Crystal Miles, horticulture manager with Parks and Recreation, there are over 50 volunteers already signed up for the week of March 23^rd to help out, which Miles says is the highest turn-out ever. Previously there have only been high schools and small groups that have contributed.

Miles attributes the increase to the easy on-line volunteer sheet. Most volunteers don't sign up until the second planting of the year.

"It's a good activity for people to get involved with, exercise and enjoy doing this activity. It also gets the work done quickly," Miles said.

            Shawnee sophomore at KU, Jacob Mirocke signed up to volunteer this year. Being a transfer student, this is his first year in Lawrence and he wants to help liven up Mass St. for summer.

"I decided to volunteer to be a part of improving the community," Mirocke said.

Mirocke enjoys the downtown area and looks forward to the change.

"I go downtown a lot and seeing it in the winter isn't too appealing so it will be nice to see more vibrant colors downtown, and know I was a part of it," Mirocke said.

Mirocke believes it is his duty to help the area because it helps people be more environmentally aware and locals can unite through this task.

"I think it's important for my generation to take charge of becoming more conscientious of the environment. I hope it brings about a sense of community. It'll be nice planting flowers with others that are concerned for the environment like I am," he said. "I hope it will make people want to go downtown more," Mirocke said. 

             Plantings take place four times a year and $1,500 is dedicated to the 1,500 pansies being planted downtown. The pansies are chosen because they can withstand the weather of early spring like frost and cold weather. Late this spring the pansies will be replaced by heat-loving annuals for the rest of the summer. According to the official budget of the $8,000 is budgeted for the planting of flowers, shrubs and trees on Mass St.

More empty planters at the intersection of
10th and Mass St. ready to be planted.  

            The four-year re-landscape project was proposed due to the old trees, plants and planters scattered around downtown. Landscape around downtown hadn't been changed since the 1970's.

Some rare facts about the flower that will be
brightening up Mass St. by the end of March.
Source: www.theflowerexpert.com and Freethought Today

One of the famous Love Garden Sounds cats sleeping on some used vinyl.

      With so many ways to listen to music today, music stores around Lawrence are changing displays and lowering prices to keep business up to avoid the fate that other retailers have seen.

      Major music retailers are closing their doors permanently; Virgin Megastore in New York City's Time Square announced in a press release Tuesday that it will be having the "biggest sale in music retail history." It is not stated in the press release why it is shutting down but recent numbers have shown that hard-copy music sales are decreasing. According to the Recording Industry Association of America consumer purchases have dropped 7.9 percent since 2002. The retail price of the compact disc dropped 20.5 percent from 2006 to 2007 while retail value for full-length album downloads has risen 54 percent, according to RIAA. 

Internet has caused a spike in downloading over the last few years.

      According to a Billboard Business story recapping a two-day meeting for entertainment retailers, industry representatives spoke of the stress of the economic times. A corporate head of Hastings Entertainment spoke at the meeting, which has a Lawrence location at 23^rd and Iowa, who spoke of the impact on Hastings, "In 1976, music was 75 percent of our business, today it is 15 percent," John Marmaduke CEO of Hastings Entertainment said. NPD Group conducted a consumer survey that showed 37 percent of survey participants were buying fewer CDs because of personal cutbacks and "spending less on entertainment" because of the economy. "We've done these studies since 2001, and this is the first time I've seen people say the economy is the reason they are buying fewer CDs," NPD Group analyst Russ Crupnick said. 

KU students get on their computers for their music more often than going to a store.

      Smaller stores in downtown Lawrence are noticing the effects the economy has on the business as well. Kief's has been selling music since 1959 and has been forced to make some changes to stay in business at their downtown store. While the store is used to having a broader range of music to choose from, in the recent months it has narrowed it down to solely what the customer wants, said store manager Steve Wilson. Wilson said he has noticed that vinyl records are selling more in Lawrence so he has started a "garage sale" vinyl section in the store.

Kief's Downtown Music garage sale vinyl ranging from $1.91 to $3.91. 

      "We're making more prominent displays for vinyl and used CDs. Lawrence is a place where young people want to rebel against the norm so we're selling a lot more vintage vinyl," Wilson said. 

      So far the store has been able to keep up and Wilson has an optimistic view on the effects of the recession. "I hope that it will weed out the less serious stores and the big chain companies and we'll come out on top," Wilson said.      

      Love Garden Sounds hasn't felt the pressure as Keif's has. Supplied with mostly used items it is able maintain healthy business. "It's bottom up in the record industry now. There are no more N*syncs selling millions. Big record labels are down, and we're doing fine because we sell used stuff," Love Garden co-owner Kelly Corcoran said.

The 99 cent sale section of Kief's.

      Loyal customers keep coming back even with less money in their pockets. Frequent Love Garden customer Noah Compo from Lenexa refuses to shop for music anywhere but independently owned stores. "The people who work in used record stores like Love Garden are actually music people themselves, and you get both a more informed staff at the store and a very positive sense of camaraderie when you shop there," Compo said.

      The laid-back atmosphere and obscure merchandise keeps him coming back, though he isn't afraid that the economy is going to hurt the stores he loves so much. "The current economic environment is making people watch their money more, which may lead them to spend eight dollars on a used CD instead of 15 on a new one," Compo said. The buy, sell and trade philosophy of used record stores keeps their customers happy by giving them extra cash for their CDs, which in turn broadens their selection for other customers. "Besides, people are loyal to independent record stores in a way that no one would ever be at a big chain store," Compo said.