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(02/16/11 3:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Watch a movie and take a trip. The East-Central European Film Series for the spring semester begins this week. Movies will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays until April 21 in the Student Building 015 unless otherwise specified. Films from European countries will be brought to Bloomington audiences thanks to the Polish Studies Center and the Russian and East European Institute.This is the second year of the series, but this year’s series will differ from last year, said Bill Johnston, chairman of the comparative literature department. Johnston compiled the list of films to be screened.“This year we are casting the net wider in terms of countries of origin,” Johnston said.In the past, the series has exclusively shown Polish films. Russian, Hungarian, Romanian and Polish films constitute this year’s lineup. Despite their different countries of origin, most of the movies have shared themes.“We have a particular interest in films that go beyond national boundaries and involve cultural contact,” Johnston said.Director of Polish Studies Padraic Kenney said many of these films look back on a country’s recent past and many incorporate the concept of communism. He also said the films showcase ordinary people caught up in changes and making sense of them. Johnston said this trend of turning to more intimate subject matter is a new emergence in European cinema. Apart from showcasing the films, the series will provide unique opportunities for attendees to come in contact with industry professionals. Croatian feminist writer Slavenka Drakulic will be present for the U.S. premiere of “As If I’m Not There,” a film based on one of her novels. “I’ve been wanting to see her speak on campus, so when we heard she was coming, we naturally asked if we could show the film,” Kenney said.Both Kenney and Johnston stressed that the series is a valuable chance to experience foreign film. Johnston said many films in the United States are quite narrow in their subject matter, style and film technique, and as such, they don’t always show the potential filmmakers have. Similarly, Kenney said European filmmakers are often more experimental with the medium.Johnston said, the range of topics and the striking storytelling and acting incorporated in European cinema can serve as more than entertainment for American audiences.“They can extend our appreciation of film and inform us about the world we don’t know about. They are a valuable and accessible way to extend our horizons,” Johnston said.
(02/10/11 2:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>ArtsWeek will take a school-like spin, as the theme for this year’s week of creativity is “ArtsTeach.” One event is offering a showcase opportunity to a group of people who might not have their work on display otherwise: local students.“What does art teach you?” is a photography exhibit highlighting the artistic work of Bloomington High School South students at a variety of local venues from now until Feb. 28.The project’s initiative, BHSS photography teacher Staci Jennings said, was to have students practice capturing pictures but also have a more intimate interaction with their subjects. Students interviewed the subjects of their photographs, asking them what art meant to them and what they have learned from art.Jennings, who has been teaching photography for 12 years, said this project resonated strongly with the students and they became more serious about the artistic process as the project progressed.“Most students don’t know how galleries work. Once they see their work on display, they start taking themselves more seriously. They start to see that they can make something great,” Jennings said.Some locations where the photographs will be on display are considered typical artistic venues, like the By Hand Gallery, but they will also be displayed at the Pour House Cafe and Starbucks.Ruth Conway, a member of the By Hand Gallery, shared Jennings’ sentiment and said putting student work on display for the local community shows them that their art is appreciated and relevant.“When people work really hard on something, it should be shared with an audience,” Conway said.Emilé Brandon, a junior at Bloomington South who will be displaying her work, knows that sense of hard work. Brandon said she spends about three hours a day in the dark room working on her photographs.Bloomington South sophomore Becca Dvorak is another student artist participating in the show. She said her photograph of a little girl with a crayon drawing is more than what meets the eye.“I chose this as my subject because children are innocent and don’t realize what they gain from little things like making Play-Doh figures or painting a picture,” Dvorak said. “Little kids tend to have the biggest imaginations, and as we grow older, art gives us a way to hang on to that.”Her message was echoed by Jennings, who highlighted the important outlet art provides students. Jennings said though students may not excel in academics, art gives them something to focus on, a motivation to come to school and creativity that can apply to other areas.As the pictures of Bloomington South students hang on the walls of local galleries and coffee shops, each picture will have a different meaning to each viewer. Despite different perspectives, it is the common medium of art that Dvorak said will provoke thought.“Whether it teaches a little kid to use their imagination or it teaches someone who has traveled the world to see things in a new perspective, there is always something art can teach us,” Dvorak said.
(02/10/11 2:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From campus to past Kirkwood, IU students are faced with plenty of options for spending their free time. The trouble is picking just one, depending on the day. “The local music scene, The Bishop and WIUX are three of my favorite things at IU. Put those three things together for free, and you have my perfect night,” freshman Bari Finkel said. It looks like she’ll be getting what she wants.WIUX will be sponsoring a free show 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop showcasing local metal bands Medusa, Beast In The Field and We Are Hex. Senior Katie McKenna, special events director for WIUX, said the night will be offering something different for music lovers. “WIUX puts on a lot of indie rock shows, but I wanted to do something different this time. I personally love all the bands on the lineup, as do a lot of other people,” McKenna said.That sense of a strong local following was echoed by James Bauman, guitarist for Medusa. Bauman said after the group won the Bluebird’s Battle of the Bands last year, enthusiasm for Medusa’s performances has only increased. Senior Stephanie Foreman has been a DJ for the student radio station for three semesters. She showed passion for the event as she described memories from seeing We Are Hex perform for the first time and said Medusa always gives 110 percent energy.“It’s definitely metal, which they push to the limit with brain-numbing riffs and high intensity stage presence that will melt your face off,” Foreman said. “Not to be worried though — I never thought I’d really be into them since they are pretty hardcore, and I’d say I’m a fan now.”When organizing the event, McKenna said she chose The Bishop because of the intimate and unique environment it offers. Finkel said she values the vibe of the local venue.“The Bishop always creates a great connection between the band and the audience which I love being a part of,” Finkel said.McKenna said the initiative behind the show is not just to bring music to the people of Bloomington, but to spread the visibility of WIUX. Also, it gives the station a chance to reach many listeners with new and local music talents.Medusa has been involved with WIUX before, as Bauman said they played a show at the station a few years ago. He said the students on staff are genuine and enthusiastic about what they are doing and the station offers Bloomington something unique.“A college station offering such a wide variety of music the way WIUX does is pretty cool,” Bauman said. “A lot of the music that gets played at the station wouldn’t normally be heard over the airwaves in Bloomington if it weren’t for them.”
(02/04/11 3:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tom Sobel said he believes most IU students and Bloomington residents aren’t aware that one of the best places in the nation for stand-up comedy is in their own backyard.“People aren’t aware of what has been a Bloomington institution for longer than most students have been alive,” he said.Sobel, the owner of Comedy Caravan, said Bear’s Place is one of Bloomington’s hidden gems.This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Comedy Caravan, a semiweekly stand-up comedy show at Bear’s Place. The first Caravan show at Bear’s Place was in April 1982. Sobel said the night didn’t go too well, but the show quickly evolved into the legendary event it is now. The show is so renowned that USA Today included it in its list of “The Ten Best Places to Sit Down and See Stand Up.”Sobel’s descriptor “legendary” seems especially fitting, considering the comedy greats that had their humble beginnings on the small stage at Bear’s. Comics from Sinbad to Bill Nixon and even Ellen DeGeneres all grabbed the mic to make the audience laugh in the Bloomington bar.The goal of the Comedy Caravan is to help kick-start the careers of future comic geniuses, Sobel said.“Our job is to know who the funniest people in America are before anyone else has a clue,” he said. “We help them reach their comic potential, provide them with an opportunity to learn and hone their craft.”The impressive lineups at Bear’s create what local comic Tucker said is an environment unlike any other. Tucker is also the host of the Comedy Caravan.On Feb. 12, a new milestone will be marked in the life of the stand-up show. IU Radio and Television Services will be filming both shows that night as part of a new comedy series for WTIU.Senior Tricia McNutt is the producer of the series. With her co-producer David Gonzalez, she will coordinate the shoot to create a pilot for the show.“Laughter is something everyone can relate to and something local programming doesn’t have yet,” McNutt said. “We hope to pick up more viewers and offer our current viewers something different.”The show’s title is “LMAO: Comedy Showcase” and may not be too far from what comedy lovers see on television.“The pilot will be shown throughout Bloomington and will be like Comedy Central but through Bear’s Place,” Tucker said.McNutt said the community aspect of both television and comedy is something she loves. To Sobel, comedy is many things, from entertainment to a workout. He said hard science backs both the facts that students retain information and test better when they are entertained and that a 20-second belly laugh has the same aerobic effect as a 20-minute workout.No matter the individual reason, there is one thing that comedy can elicit from its audience: the sometimes uncontrollable outburst of laughter.“Bear’s Place is a magical room, where people can get their dose of humor therapy,” Sobel said.
(02/02/11 1:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Music and the sweet treat of chocolate will be paired as the Week of Chocolate festivities continue.Rhino’s Youth Media Center and All-Ages Club will be the host of the Chocolate Prom from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday.The night, which takes the form of the traditional prom with music and dancing, has been part of the Week of Chocolate for five years. David Britton, assistant director of Rhino’s and organizer of the event, said each year has an enthusiastic turnout.“Last year was actually our biggest turnout, even though it snowed and classes were canceled the day of the show,” he said.Will this year’s show measure up to last year’s precedent? Britton said he thinks so.Sophomore Kyle Houpt said the title of the event and the factor of a good old-fashioned dance are what sparked his interest. Houpt and other attendees will dance to music played by Britton’s strategic lineup of bands.Britton said when putting together the bill for the night, he usually tries to get one student group, one townie group and one or two high school groups. This year, the lineup includes Xenosound, The Best Friends, The Vallures and Taco caT.“I really just try and get bands that will be enjoyed universally, that will play music that is fun and danceable,” he said.Taylor Campi, sophomore and lead vocalist for The Best Friends, said the free chocolate was a perk but that the real appeal in playing the prom was in the audience.“We’ve never played with any of the other bands before, and you get a whole new scheme of people in the audience that you play to. You get to make an impression on a whole new group of fans,” Campi said.Bands playing Friday will play to an audience Britton marked as unique.“You get families, high school kids, college students. It’s really a mixed bag of the community, super fun and energetic, truly and all-ages kind of thing,” he said.While guests enjoy the music and free chocolate, they’ll also be doing something charitable. The event serves as a fundraiser for Rhino’s. All proceeds will go toward the center’s various after-school programs.
(01/31/11 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jazz trumpet echoed to the high ceilings. Sweet and savory scents perfumed the air.The Week of Chocolate started in high style at the IU Art Museum on Sunday. The building’s atrium was crowded with lovers of sweet treats for “The Art of Chocolate” event to benefit Options, a local Bloomington organization.As attendees entered the revolving door of the museum, they were instantly greeted with sweet choices. Local bakeries and restaurants like Bloomingfoods and Scholars Inn Bakehouse displayed their most decadent creations for tasting. Chocolate peanut butter truffles, bite-sized portions of tiramisu, chocolate tartlets and even chocolate paninis and drinks covered the surfaces of every chef’s table.Sophomore Kyoko Yanagihara said the chocolate mousse was her favorite treat and that she came with friends to enjoy something they all shared a love for.“This only happens once a year, and we all love chocolate, so we had to come,” Yanagihara said.Chocolate lovers stood at tall tables as they nibbled on their treats. However, Options, an agency that aids people with disabilities, also offered a feast for the eyes: a juried art show featuring local Bloomington artists. Artist works ranging in mediums from sculpture to painting neighbored the tables of food, providing patrons with something to ponder while they savored the sweetness.Anna Witte, a supervisor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, was one of those artists with work on display. She said the pair of chocolate and art was a creative and harmonious one.“It is my first time being here at the event, and it is great so far,” Witte said. “It is a wonderful idea to combine art with such a great cause like Options.” Smooth sounds of jazz added to the harmony as they radiated from the landing in the atrium. The Mahuli/McCutcheon Jazz quintet added their serenade to the sweetness.The second level of the atrium had a more surprising use for chocolate. Bloomington resident Dan Alexander participated in the art show last year and was so inspired that he decided to bring new meaning to combining art and chocolate.With a brush, some water and chocolate, Alexander painted a portrait of Miles Davis throughout the night. As he spread the dark brown color across the canvas, he spoke of his inspiration for his work.“Black history month is coming up,” Alexander said. “The event has really decadent music and food to go with it.”
(01/28/11 6:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The atrium at the IU Art Museum serves as the gateway into the building’s various galleries. Visitors traverse its floors as they view art from around the world, and students carry their portfolios to studios in the adjacent building. But once a year, the atrium serves a different kind of museum patron: the chocolate lover.The Art of Chocolate event is 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the IU Art Museum.As a part of The Week of Chocolate, a Bloomington tradition, the evening puts the spotlight on local artists and chefs. “It is an elegant evening filled with great people, decadent hors d’oeuvres and chocolate creations from the finest local chefs, live entertainment, libations and, of course, art,” said Karen Scherer, development director for Options.The love of art and chocolate is not the only reason for the event.Options, a local organization that assists people with disabilities, wanted to come up with a signature fundraiser in 1999, Scherer said.“A list of ideas was presented to the event committee, and when the committee read the word ‘chocolate,’ everyone smiled,” she said.Scherer added that the Art of Chocolate was started in 2006 in order to have an event that was a little more upscale than Chocolate Fest and to draw more donors. The pairing of something sweet with something visual did just that.Hannah Carmichael, IU Art Musuem manager of events and volunteers, said enthusiasm for the event has only grown. This year, the art auction will be online in order to compensate for the increased interest.“There are usually about 220 people in attendance. This year, the auction will be online because we wanted to make more space for those attending,” she said.Though not all of the art up for bidding will be at the event, Carmichael said the 10 best works will be on display in the atrium for patrons to admire. And as attendees observe the works, they can also sample hors d’oeuvres and chocolates from local bakeries and restaurants, such as hand-painted chocolates from BLU Boy Chocolate Café and Cakery.David Fletcher, owner and executive chef at BLU Boy, has participated in the event each year since it began and said the night is the perfect chance to have a bit of fun and still support an important cause.“I used to work in a group home in college and so the cause is near and dear,” Fletcher said. “In addition, the event is a great one for chefs to show off a bit.”
(01/27/11 4:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The laughs started early Thursday as patrons of The Bishop prepared for a night of comedy and music. Claps of elation and shouts of enthusiasm that emerged from those in attendance marked the positive vibe of the energetic performances to come.The Bishop sponsored “A Night of Music and Comedy to Benefit Rhino’s Youth Center” in an effort to raise money for the all-ages music club. Rhino’s has been in Bloomington since 1992. Its ongoing mission is to provide an engagement and entertainment center with a safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment. Emcee and organizer for the evening Mat Alano Martin opened the evening underneath the Bishop’s blue stage lights. As he encouraged patrons to move toward the stage, they crossed the wood-paneled floor, eagerly awaiting his comedic lines.Martin started his routine with a reminder to why the evening was being held: Rhino’s existence, its mission and, most importantly, the kids. He said the venue provides Bloomington youth with the unique opportunity to let their creativity grow.After a brief monologue, Martin surrendered the stage to the first of five comedians to perform. Jon Hancuff was received with resounding ovations as he climbed on stage. This show was unique because it paired both music and comedy. The presence of comedians is exactly why first-year graduate student Ethan Stanislawski was drawn to the evening.“The music and comedy is good here, and there is a sense of being in this together with the art folks,” he said.Stanislawski, who has performed at the Comedy Attic himself, said he feels some aspect of camaraderie in comedy. Hancuff made the crowd laugh with stories of his children, camping and his own experience with Rhino’s.“The first time I went to a show there, I got a boot in the face. But I’m still here!” Hancuff said.The crowd was full of energy as they laughed and jeered throughout Hancuff’s routine. With the closure of his final jab, Hancuff welcomed to the stage the first musical act, Unravellers. Martin’s anticipation for the event was that the energy would only grow with each act.“There are people here for comedy, but it will progress to more of the rock vibe because we’re here at The Bishop,” Martin said.With a lineup consisting of groups like Applecore, The Hollows and Busman’s Holiday, the evening musically delivered. And with the arrival of each new comedian, the number of people crowding the narrow room only grew.Thursday’s turnout marks a continuation in enthusiasm and support for this unique venue from the entire community.
(01/25/11 1:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When someone mentions they have a degree in formal jazz performance, you might not instantly think of the front man of a funk jam band. Until you talk to Joe Hettinga.Hettinga, and the other members of the group Strange Arrangement, will perform Thursday at the Bluebird Nightclub.Strange Arrangement has a deep history both musically and personally. Members Jim Conry, Kevin Barry and Joe Hettinga started the band in high school. After a brief break and gaining Steve Sinde as a drummer, the group started making music together again in 2006.As the group’s keyboardist, Hettinga said this history has forged familial bonds between members and that it allows for more security and openness in the creative process.“If we get in disagreements, it doesn’t affect the overall outcome,” he said. “We can disagree and come back together to fix it and make it better.”The band has been likened to Umphrey’s McGee and Phish and said it draws from a variety of musical genres when creating music, including a genre the bands have in common — jazz. Conry, Hettinga and Barry attended the School for Music Vocation together in Iowa, and focused their studies on improvisational jazz. Hettinga said the unlikely pairing of the jazz and jam styles is surprisingly compatible.“Jam music is just as improvisational as jazz. For me, it was natural for our music to turn to what is considered the pinnacle of good musicianship,” he said.Hettinga honed his skills as a young musician in his hometown of Chicago, playing in jazz clubs Friday and Saturday nights. Michael Hancock, a first-year Ph.D student at IU, went to school with Hettinga and recognized his musical talent.“We had a composition class together, and I was always in awe of his piano chops and songwriting,” Hancock said.Hancock said Strange Arrangement’s sound blends folk with funk and other genres and that the members all know their music intellectually as well as viscerally.“This is definitely a group that I expect to make a pile of new fans at the Bluebird this week. Fortunately, with the band being located in Chicagoland, Bloomington can expect to see them again if they get the warm welcome they deserve,” he said.Strange Arrangement’s show will highlight its most recent release; the second album entitled “Polygraph.” Hettinga said this record returns to what the first album lacked: improvisation. “It was all recorded live. The songwriting integrates more of the pop and jazz funk than the first album,” he said.But despite the changes in genre that the band’s music may take, Hettinga still goes back to those weekends playing in Chicago and how it got him where he is now.“I would play thinking that I didn’t know if this is what I wanted to do 10 years from now,” Hettinga said. “I wanted to do more than just play on a Friday or Saturday night. This is so much more than that to me.”
(01/21/11 1:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Wednesday will be a night of new combinations: A venue will play host to a venue, musical acts will intertwine with comedy routines and the audience will be a mixed bag of entertainment lovers, Mat Martin said.Martin, of Magnetic Bichon Presents, is the event organizer and emcee of “A Night of Music and Comedy to Benefit Rhino’s Youth Center,” set to take place 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Bishop.The idea of mixing comedy and music came to Martin when he thought about the role Rhino’s plays in the Bloomington community. The youth center offers local teens a variety of free creative after-school activities, ranging from screen-printing workshops to radio tutorials and shows.Martin first chose the comedic acts for the night and then requested that each comedian choose a band they would like to see to perform. The resulting list of performers is a unique one that Martin said he hopes will make the event more interesting than the average show.“You always hope for the best, but we have a really diverse lineup of bands, from country to crazy rock ’n’ roll,” he said.Martin said the organization of the event will alternate between comedians introducing their band of choice and musical acts playing a set.Comedians to take the stage Wednesday include Ben Moore, Joshua Murphy, Jon Hancuff, Pete Schreiner and Casey Allegree. Their jokes will be coordinated with the musical performances of Busman’s Holiday, Mustache!, The Hollows and Unravelers.Murphy, a junior at IU, selected The Hollows as his band for the night.“I think they’re the best band in Bloomington right now,” Murphy said. “Their music gives this delicate, melancholy tinge of sepia to everything in life.”As the show is a fundraiser, comedians and musicians will be donating their time. This factor is one that the performers are enthusiastic about as they support the efforts of Rhino’s. Kate Long, vocalist of The Hollows, said she values the creativity that Rhino’s encourages. Comedian Jon Hancuff echoes her sentiments.“I wish I would have had a place like Rhino’s where I grew up. Not every kid is into sports or school activities. Rhino’s provides those kids with an environment where they can pursue other interests,” Hancuff said. “Also, I was a huge music fan growing up, but there were no all-ages venues where I grew up. It’s a privilege that can’t be taken for granted.”Fun and positive were Hancuff’s adjectives of choice for his expectations of the night, but whatever the adjectives used, Hancuff is excited about the event’s potential.“I’ve been doing quite a few shows lately in rock clubs with bands on the bill and they all have been a lot of fun,” Hancuff said. “The rock crowds are usually really smart, and they enjoy it when performers push boundaries.”
(01/19/11 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They have been together for 13 years, and it keeps getting better, Tea Leaf Green guitarist Josh Clark said. Clark and the rest of the band will kick off its most recent tour in Bloomington on Thursday.The show will take place at 9 p.m. at The Bluebird Nightclub.This San Francisco-based jam band is no stranger to Bloomington. Thursday’s show will be the band’s fourth time performing at the Bluebird. Clark said the group returns to Bloomington because every time it plays, it is a good time.While the group has experienced changing membership since its creation, it now exists as a five piece — guitar, bass, keyboard and two drummers. Having such a large group doesn’t inhibit the band’s ability to create, Clark said, but rather offers ample material to pull from.“Everyone’s different in what they dig — classic rock, folk. The common ground is what we grew up on,” he said.In addition to musical genres, members often take a personal or more individual approach when formulating songs, he said.“It isn’t necessarily just music,” Clark said. “It’s what happens to us, our life experiences that shape our inspiration.”Junior Chris Lucas said this musical diversity paired with a unique energy sets Tea Leaf Green apart from similar bands.“They have a Phish feel to them, but their jams aren’t as guitar-centric. I really like the fact that the piano player sings a lot of songs and jams a lot,” Lucas said. “This is a component of jam band music that I really like, when the keyboardist goes crazy, because they have so much versatility with the sounds they can make on their instruments.”Allie McFee, who graduated from IU last year, said she is a fan of Tea Leaf Green. She said the heavy piano presence in the band’s music is what keeps her coming back to see the band live.“The real reason why I like seeing them and why I keep going is because I really like the piano and it’s easy to dance to,” McFee said.A long-time fan, McFee said she noticed an evolution in the band’s music, citing that the sound has recently taken a new direction, though some sort of evolution was bound to happen in the course of the 13 years of Tea Leaf Green’s existence. Despite shifts in sound and the hardships of being on tour, Clark said the hard life of sacrifice is worth it.“When you think about being on tour, you think about freedom, but it’s really about being places and meeting obligations,” Clark said. “But beyond that, the freedom part is getting the chance to scream into a mic, making music at night, being in charge of your own destiny.”TEA LEAF GREENWHEN 9 p.m. ThursdayWHERE The Bluebird Nightclub, 216 N. Walnut St.MORE INFO Patrons must be ages 21 and older
(01/13/11 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As he walked up to the mic, Nick Young made a few powerful strums on his guitar. Clad in a plaid shirt and denim, it was just Young and his guitar on stage at Rachael’s Café.This self-described folk Americana singer booked his show at Rachael’s as his final stop on his tour throughout the South and Midwest. Young, powerful strums transitioned into improvised plucking as he casually chatted with the few in attendance before beginning his first song. Though the coffeehouse was not full with people, all eyes watched Young attentively as he serenaded the audience.Paired with each acoustic guitar melody were lines of lyrics filled with meaning and emotion. Young sang about relationships, human interactions, going on trips and getting and losing jobs.This lyrical simplicity was something Brooke Hill thought Young was successful in, calling him a good songwriter.Paul Greiner observed a unique quality Young possessed apart from the typical Rachael’s act. “He’s a more contemporary act than what you normally see here,” Greiner said. “All the acts I’ve seen here have been more experimental.”Young’s Southern inspirations were visible as he sang about longing to return to Tennessee and hoping for a Southern sweetheart. Despite this difference, there was optimism about Young bringing a country vibe to Rachael’s and the Bloomington audience. “He definitely won some people over,” Greiner said.Between songs, Young maintained the casual atmosphere as he joked with and complimented the audience. Though this was his first solo tour, Young gave off the air of a seasoned professional as he made technical adjustments while singing and maintaining a consistent strumming tempo. Young closed his set with a single off his new, self-titled album. He said he valued the chance to play at Rachael’s specifically because of those in attendance.“It’s fun to play to a crowd, but especially somewhere where there are musicians in the audience,” Young said. “I usually don’t get that opportunity.”Though his tour is done, Young plans on keeping up his musical momentum. With a single stop scheduled in Philadelphia in the next few weeks, Young starts up another tour throughout the Northeast in April. This tour might be more than just him on stage, he said.“I have this guy that’s like my bass brother that I might pick up,” he said. “It’s just better to have someone with you on tour.”His first stop in Bloomington also made a good impression as he hopes to return to perform again.“Just sometime when the weather’s better,” Young said.
(01/12/11 5:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They may be a new band, but Hotfox is staying productive.Hotfox will release its first album at 9 p.m. Thursday at a performance at The Bishop.Oliver Hopkins, Duncan Kissinger, Chris O’Conner and Michael Preuschl make up the indie-rock group. Though Hopkins and Kissinger had been making music together for about five years, the four musicians formally came together and created the group last June.Al Sigman, sophomore and member of the Live from Bloomington committee, said he was energetic about Hotfox’s musical promise.“Hotfox is a great addition to the Bloomington music scene,” Sigman said. “They are very much their own sound but also add a lot to the already great bands that call this city home.”The premiere album, titled “You, Me, & the Monster,” is a play on personal and psychological struggles we all face, said Kissinger, guitarist for the group.“That’s the title because we all have tendencies to be haunted by our inner demons and get possessed but not in a necessarily bad way,” he said.Music performed at the show will be exclusively from “You, Me, & the Monster” and will include a song the group has not yet performed live. The Broderick, another local indie-folk group, will accompany Hotfox on Thursday.Kissinger said they also chose this name for the album because it serves a motivational purpose both for the band and their fans.“We embrace it as a way to creatively create and express ourselves with complete authenticity,” he said. “Also, we think it engages our listeners.”This first release comes early in their career, but Sigman said he anticipated more good things from this musical foursome.“I am excited to see what they can accomplish in the coming year and beyond,” he said.
(01/10/11 2:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Wednesday will bring a kind of musical act to Rachael’s Café that John Flannelly, sound technician for Rachael’s, said the café hasn’t seen in a while. Though Rachael’s often plays host to musical performances of various types, it has been some time it has had what Flannelly calls an alt-country act.Singer-songwriter Nick Young will fill this void at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.It is a period of firsts for this seasoned musician: his first solo tour, his first acoustic show and his first time in Bloomington. Young, who hails from Rochester, N.Y., will stop in Bloomington as part of his tour through the South and Midwest. Young’s previous musical project was Burning Daylight, a country band that he described as a revolving door in terms of tour success and whose inconsistencies lead him to create a solo album.“It was something I had been building toward for a couple years. It also made more sense practically and economically,” Young said.Though the genre of American or folk is consistent between Burning Daylight and Young’s solo career, he described the music on his solo album as more raw and song-focused.“It’s really a natural progression of getting back to what’s simple,” Young said. “It’s just me, my guitar and my voice.” Wednesday at Rachael’s will highlight three other acts besides Young: Sleeping in the Aviary, Amo Joy and Normanoak, all of which vary in musical style and genre.“It’s kind of an experiment of a night, which I like, due to the fact that there are two touring bands with such different sounds, and I’m excited to see how that turns out,” Flannelly said.This musical diversity promises interest, as Bloomington residents generally appreciate a wide variety of musical styles, Flannelly said.While a large crowd is beneficial to a venue, it can often be daunting for artists. However, Young said it reminds him of his purpose as a performer.“For me it’s exciting and daunting, but excitement wins out once you get up there and plug in,” Young said. “You remember why you’re there and why you’re doing this.”
(01/07/11 1:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bishop will provide two things Shawn Rosenblatt says he values in his band’s shows: an intimate setting and an interested audience.The Netherfriends, which consists of Rosenblatt and a rotation of his friends, will perform at 7 p.m. today at The Bishop.The Netherfriends, of the DIY Lateral label, recently took a break from a 50 songs in 50 states project, but Rosenblatt said the band maintained a good level of productivity during the break.He created more ambient and experimental loops, something he called atypical. He paired these musical compositions with video projects. The resulting album, “Alap,” was released New Year’s Day.Tonight’s show promises to deliver similar ambient layers of sound, Rosenblatt said. Using three loop pedals, he coordinates noise he makes from his guitar, keyboard and voice to create songs unique to each show and venue.“I don’t really play songs from my albums in shows,” Rosenblatt said. “I’m basically building the song before everyone’s eyes.”The experimental and constructive nature of the Netherfriends’ music attracts listeners like sophomore Seth Mutchler.“I really wanted to see Netherfriends at Pitchfork (Music Festival) but had to miss their set, so I’m really excited that they’re coming to Bloomington,” Mutchler said. “They just write exceptional pop music and by listening to them, I can tell they put on a great live show.”Rosenblatt also said smaller shows make his music possible. He lives on tour — from show-to-show — and has experienced some difficulties along the way.“There are always some snags, but it has been an interesting ride,” he said. “Flaky musicians make touring hard, but every tour seems to get a little better. It’s a humbling experience.”Throughout the tour, the Netherfriends have had drummers come and go, which Rosenblatt said is unfortunate but something he deals with.Despite the hardships, Rosenblatt highlighted the influence of such experiences on the formation and course of the Netherfriends. To lesser-known artists, the necessity of resourcefulness and the maintenance of and dedication to music is important, Rosenblatt said.Rosenblatt said he values any chance to share his music and that any audience is an audience, regardless of its size.“Bands that instantly get big and play for a thousand people miss that process of formation as a small band,” Rosenblatt said. “If I ever get that big and grow to that, I would still be really grateful that I could play to smaller audiences.”
(12/03/10 4:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Life is something that is temporary, while nature eternally exists. Artist Paul Sweany used the sustaining beauty of nature as inspiration for his art, which will be featured in a show at the Wandering Turtle Gallery. The show’s opening reception will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the gallery.Paul Sweany, who died last year, painted images from nature in the technically difficult style of transparent watercolor.In this technique, the paints are used more as a wash rather than in thick layers of opaque color, and where white is seen within the piece, it is the paper rather than white paint.Jaime Sweany, the daughter of the artist, said this medium allowed not only her father’s technical skills to shine, but also his passion for the world around him.“It wasn’t an option for him not to paint,” Jaime Sweany said. “I think most people will be blown away by his technical skill and attentiveness to nature.Most people don’t pay attention to their surroundings as intensely as he did.”Anne Hurley and Jim Krause, local musicians who will be playing at the show, said they share Paul Sweany’s sentiment of care and attention toward the natural world.“If our music has a common message with Paul Sweany’s art, it’s to enjoy the beauty of the world around you and celebrate it through your art, your music, your poetry, whatever it is that you do artistically — share it with others,” Krause said.Both Hurley and Krause have artistic backgrounds other than in their music. Hurley studied comparative arts in college, and Krause is a photographer and videographer. Krause said it had been natural for them to incorporate visual art into their performances and to enhance sight with sound.The goal of the show is to pay tribute to the man who made the gallery’s existence possible. Paul Sweany opened the Wandering Turtle with his wife shortly after they retired to Bloomington in 1999. Jaime Sweany chose this time of year to showcase her father’s work because she said it seemed like a good way to end the year.“Winter is a reflective time, and there will be a lot of traffic in and out of the gallery because of the holidays,” she said.The exhibit will have a retrospective angle, displaying both earlier and more recent works of Paul Sweany’s. All pieces will have the common theme of nature, with many highlighting birds and orchids, which Paul Sweany raised as a hobby.Whether attending the exhibit for the art or in remembrance of the artist, Jaime Sweany said she hopes that all viewers come away with the same sense of awe and reverence for their surroundings that her father had.“He wanted people to slow down, to appreciate the world they live in. He wanted them to open their eyes and look at the beauty surrounding them and not take it for granted,” Jaime Sweany said.
(11/30/10 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mugs with woodland creatures, porcelain pots with delicate designs and containers shaped like food will fill the first floor lobby of the Fine Arts building and be available for purchase Wednesday and Thursday.These handmade creations and other pieces of pottery will be the goods for sale in the Fine Arts Ceramics Club’s Biannual Pot Sale.The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and will be located in the first floor lobby of the Fine Arts Building.Lauren Duffy, a second year graduate student in ceramics and the president of the Ceramics Guild, said the pieces for sale will be diverse in both form and process.“They range from clean, minimal forms to intricately carved surfaces, from hand drawn designs and quirky characters to decals to the beautiful effects of wood and reduction firing,” Duffy said. “Each artist has their own unique way of handling clay, and thus the style in which they work is specific to each person and will be evident in the work they produce.”This wide range of artistic expression is visible in how the artists describe the works they will have up for sale.Senior Rob Kolhouse will be selling mugs with anthropomorphized woodland creatures printed on them and junior Marta Finkelstein will offer mugs that look like they’ve been sewn together as well as some in the style of beer steins. Adams Puryear, a master’s student in ceramics, is making mugs with graphic imagery on the surface.Third year graduate student Ben Fiess has created porcelain pots glazed with bright colors.Kolhouse, Finkelstein, Puryear and Fiess all said they enjoy ceramics because of the adaptability of the medium and the possibility of creating something different every day.They also said rather than being upset when a piece is sold, they take joy in knowing the new owner appreciates their art.Finkelstein said it is a wonderful process to be the creator of an object, even though he might feel a part of himself is attached to the object. “It is also wonderful knowing that once you sell something, like a mug, it may well be someone’s everyday favorite mug,” he said. “It’s a worthwhile trade.”Most items for sale will be priced between $5 and $30, with some of the larger items and sculptures ranging higher, Duffy said. The funds that are generated through the sale are split between the artists and the guild’s visiting artists program.Besides this educational and creativity enriching advantage, Duffy said the sale is perfectly placed before the holidays.“The sale will be a perfect place for people to find affordable, quality gifts,” she said.
(11/29/10 1:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Musical and theatrical groups will have the chance to learn more about summer performance opportunities in Bloomington Tuesday.
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department will present an
informational meeting for groups interested in applying to participate
in the 2011 Performing Arts Series.
The meeting will be at 5 p.m. in City Hall.
Theatrical groups and musical acts that are accepted will perform at outdoor venues throughout Bloomington.
Featured venues include Peoples Park, Third Street Park and Bryan Park.
The series has taken place during previous summers with much enthusiasm
and success, said Kristy LeVert, program specialist for Bloomington
Parks and
Recreation.
“The concerts are a great place to enjoy the park, bring a picnic, just
relax,” LeVert said. “There have been as many as 1,000 people in
attendance at the Bryan Park concerts.”
The series looks not only to showcase local music and theater, but encourage creative diversity.
Previous performers include the Jenn Cristy Band, Gordon Bonham Blues Band and the Bloomington Community Band.
Doug Davis, chairman of the Board of Directors for the Bloomington
Community Band, said the series is one of the things that makes
Bloomington a great place in the summer, but it also has benefits for
musicians involved.
“It gives a band a chance to showcase its talent to the community,” Davis said.
Davis also said the concerts typically show a variety of performers and types of music, something that LeVert echoed.
“We’re always looking for new talent to appeal to all ages,” she said.
Musicians or groups that are looking to apply must submit an
application, two recent photos, a CD and any press they have received.
LeVert said the process of choosing groups begins so early because they typically receive about 90 applications.
LeVert encouraged student groups to apply and said that they would add to the diverse nature of the series.
The deadline for the application is 5 p.m. Dec. 10.Informational MeetingWHEN 5 p.m. TuesdayWHERE Hooker Conference Room in City Hall, 401 N. Morton St.WHAT The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department will have an informational meeting for theatrical groups and musical acts interested in applying to participate in the 2011 Performing Arts Series.
(11/22/10 1:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A stylish crowd rushed in from the chilly weather Friday. Clad in plaid coats with coordinated scarves, berets and fur trimmed hats, they lined up eagerly at the stroke of 6:30 p.m. outside the Willkie Auditorium.They were ready to see S.W.A.G.“Stylish, Wearable And Gorgeous’, presented by the Epiphany Modeling Troupe, was the group’s first fashion showcase of the year. Passion and enthusiasm for the show were visible Friday, as each seat in the fashionably transformed auditorium was filled with attendees. They cheered and shouted to models as they confidently posed and walked the runway.The show followed precedent for past EMT shows and was far from the typical runway show. The night was organized in a series of eight scenes, each highlighting a different trend or style. The scenes each had titles that meant more than they seemed, similar to the acronym title of the show.“All the scenes in the show had an underlying meaning. For example, one scene was Print Quota, which in college is the count of paper, but to us it was about prints such as zebra, cheetah and tiger,” said Lauran Sanders, public relations coordinator for EMT.From the first scene, Ruffle Roulette, which highlighted the ruffle trend, to the final Sugar Coated scene, which displayed winter coats, the audience got a diverse taste of looks for the upcoming season.Ciera Rowe, president of EMT, said the high point of the show was during intermission.Rather than letting the crowd sit in the seats in silence, EMT board members facilitated a best-dressed contest between audience members. Seven attendees were called onstage, and they were narrowed down to three. The winner was chosen from the top three after a walk off.Sophomore Kyandra Hysaw said this part of the show was her favorite.“I like getting the chance to see regular people showcase their own style. And it’s interactive,” Hysaw said.Rowe agreed with this sentiment.“It was a lot of fun to see the crowd so involved with that part of the show and to see them having a good time made us all really happy and grateful,” she said.Intermission also featured IU Essence, a hip-hop dance group, as well as Lin Z, a local recording artist. The attraction of fashion still resonated, however, as both acts were wearing designs by local designer Trent Lloyd for Rotten Scoundrel.Despite the differences between Epiphany shows and the typical fashion show, there is one common thread that makes both function: the models. Many EMT board members said it was the models for this show that made it such a success.Most of the models walking in Friday’s show were new to EMT, Sanders said, so this gave them a chance to practice all that they had learned. This new membership led to greater enthusiasm for the show on the models’ part, according to Rowe, and it lead to a more successful show in the long run.“I feel this one was a much bigger success due to the fact that the show was such a buzz around campus,” Rowe said. “I had a lot of people come up to me personally saying how excited they were about the show and how they had heard great things about it from the models.”
(11/22/10 1:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Action. Cut. Let’s try that scene one more time.The Sprite Refreshing Films project is giving students a chance to direct commands in their own production.The competition is open to students ages 13 through 19.Students from a select 12 universities nationwide, IU included, may apply for the role of screenwriter or staff intern.“A contest like this allows budding filmmakers to work in an intensive and professional environment, giving them a taste of the demanding yet rewarding nature of filmmaking,” said Jacob Sherry, a senior double majoring in telecommunications and filmmaking.From all contest entries, six finalist groups will be chosen, and these finalists’ films will be put on the Sprite Refreshing Films website for members of the public to cast their votes. These six finalists will then be narrowed down to three, from which a panel of industry professionals will choose the final winner.The winning film will be showcased at a film festival in June 2011.Sherry said he thinks the incentives of the contest are extremely beneficial to students interested in film.All scripts written for the contest must be based off the designated theme: Ingenuity takes the unexpected path and is rewarded for it. Screenwriters are encouraged to develop their own individual takes on this guideline.“Sprite Refreshing Films encompasses what the Sprite brand is about, it sparks creativity among young people and encourages them to take on unique opportunities that they wouldn’t find anywhere else,” said Caren Pasquale Seckler, vice president of Sparkling Non-Colas for Coca-Cola North America in a press release.Regardless of level of expertise or creativity, Kevin Domar, a senior with an individualized major in film production, said there is one aspect of the contest that is beneficial to all aspiring filmmakers: hands-on interaction. Domar said getting your hands on the equipment and interacting with a crew are vital skills that will allow applicants to gain experience and find their voice.The deadline to apply is Nov. 30.