PHOTOS: Home mural by artist Alexander Austin

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

Homes stand out for different reasons - whether it's the beautiful lawn, the size of the home or the color of it.

One home on 79th Street and Longwood in Kansas City, Kan., stands out in a different way.

A large mural from Kansas City-based artist Alexander Austin was completed on Friday. The mural, located on the eastern wall of the home, includes Civil Rights icons Martin Luther King Jr., and Ghandi.

"I grew up in the 1960's and experienced racism," Austin said. "Those icons have always been a part of my life."

Austin's art career began somewhat on accident. During his time in kindergarten, he developed a reputation for cutting out paper neatly and art was recommended for him.

Over the next few decades, his horizons would expand from cutting paper to painting very large murals in the Kansas City metro area. 

He's painted a number of murals across Kansas City - including the Buck O'Neil mural on 18th and Vine, the Kansas City Power & Light Mural and a Martin Luther King, Jr., one in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City film production crew hoping to raise dollars for sci-film short film

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

As a kid, local filmmaker David Matheny was a big fan of science-fiction films from the 1980's, including The Terminator and Ghostbusters. Years later, Matheny wants to play a part in the sci-fi film scene - but he needs your help.

Matheny is working on an independent project entitled "The Runaway Sun," a short 15-minute film set in the distant future where the human race is an endangered specie.

Matheny gained his passion for the films early on in life.

"I was always a big movie fan," he said. "Movies like the Alien films and The Terminator. My brother had a large collection of them."

Matheny has won awards as a writer and a director. He started filming "fight scenes" with his friends after school.

After attending Avila University, he produced a short film called "The Scientist" and has worked in Los Angeles, Calif., as an editor for the series "Bite Me."

His newest project takes movie viewers to a future that includes aliens and robots. Because of the special effects involved in it, Matheny and Kansas City area producer Jenny Brinkman need $30,000 by mid-June to make it happen.

"This is a short film and it's a lot different than a movie," Matheny said. "We want this to be an emotional journey in 15 minutes."

Eisenhower Recreation Center to host craft show Saturday

Release:

The Annual Holiday Craft Show will be November 17th at Eisenhower Recreation Center. There will be a wide variety of vendors selling both hand crafted and  commercial items.  There are still a limited number of booths available for rent. For more information regarding the craft show, please call 913-573-8327.