Everything arts

It's been one heck of a ride. This week marks our final one as arts editors at the IDS. The arts section has certainly seen a multitude of events this semester. From the opening of the new Theatre and Drama Center to the 30th anniversary of the IU Soul Revue, from the Cabaret Nouveau Series at the Bloomington Playwrights Project to three IU alumni performing in "Annie Get Your Gun" at the IU Auditorium, the arts section has been there. The arts community of Bloomington definitely got a boost with the opening of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, which showcased four fabulous shows -- including a revamp of "Much Ado About Nothing" and the Indiana premiere of the musical "Parade" -- and provided a new home for the African-American Arts Institute. With renowned actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee present for the dedication, it was truly a day to celebrate the arts at IU. We've talked to the stars of both IU productions and the national touring companies that performed at the IU Auditorium. The stars of "Ragtime" and David Copperfield come to mind. Like always, the IU Auditorium excited audiences with several high-profile performances, such as Theodore Bikel in "Fiddler on the Roof" and the amazing illusions of David Copperfield. Also, the John Waldron Arts Center continued to provide entertainment for the community with shows such as "Little Shop of Horrors." Props go out to the Union Board for a great semester of events. By bringing high-quality acts like Margaret Cho and Nikki Giovanni to campus, they enriched the overall educational experience for IU students -- not to mention the awesome Little 500 show with Rubyhorse, Flickerstick and headliner Guster. IU gained another valuable asset to education with artist-in-residence Melvin Van Peebles. An esteemed actor, writer and director, Peebles brought with him true experience as a pioneer and legend among African-American filmmakers. Arts Week, a week-long celebration of arts in Bloomington, brought together virtually every performing and artistic group in town and made the magic of art more accessible to the community. With events like this, it's clear to see how much dedication Bloomington has for the preservation and presentation of the arts. Performances by student groups haven't gone unnoticed by us. Straight No Chaser and Ladies First, male and female a capella singing groups on campus, have done some amazing things this semester. They are just a couple of examples of the wonderful talent to be found at IU. It's also fun to take a laughing look back at the flops throughout the semester. One of the most noted would have to be Fabolous's 30-minute quickie at Zeta Beta Tau. In the fashion of Nelly's performance last year, Fabolous disappointed a large audience of excited fans who were just looking for a good time. What is it about rap stars and Bloomington? The semester has also seen its share of controversy surrounding artistic works. With Chancellor Sharon Brehm's decision to leave the Thomas Hart Benton murals in Woodburn Hall 100, we should be proud of ourselves for not censoring or hiding from our past, but also use the murals as a painful reminder of that past and to keep striving for unity. Despite the fact that many students will be leaving town for the summer, the Bloomington arts community will continue going strong. This summer there will be a variety of shows, craft fairs and concerts for you to take part in if you'll be here in Bloomington. The Brown County Playhouse, the IU Opera Theater, the Bloomington Area Arts Council annual art auction, the Taste of Bloomington in June…these are just a few of the many events you can enjoy this summer. Also, new and exciting developments might be closer than you might expect. With the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre currently in negotiations with Kerasotes to lift a "movie ban" currently in place, students may soon be able to see their favorite films -- and maybe some "artsy" movies as well -- right downtown. We've enjoyed our time here. We hope we've been able to bring a wide range of events and performers to your attention and we hope that you gained a respect for the arts offered to you in Bloomington. We've both certainly tried to experience as much as possible in our tenure as arts editors and we hope we've inspired you to go out of your way to experience as many new and exciting arts as you can. Jamie Sanders is a senior majoring in journalism and is the IDS arts co-editor.
Ryan Heath is a sophomore majoring in journalism and is the IDS arts co-editor.