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(10/26/10 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The record-holder for the most Academy Award nominations and one of the most accomplished female television journalists have graced the stage before countless audiences, and very soon, they will be coming to the IU Auditorium.On Nov. 12, the IU Auditorium will feature “An Evening of Conversation with Jane Pauley and Meryl Streep at Indiana University.” The event is free and open to the public.Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, said the women will be discussing their experiences in media, journalism and the arts while sharing with the audience some of their insights on their perspective fields.“The two will come out on stage and basically have a conversation,” Booher said. “Jane Pauley is one of the most gifted interviewers to work with in the media, and we’re very excited to see her in action.” Booher said the event should also feature a component where members of the audience will be able to pose some of their questions.Questioning why these icons are coming to Bloomington?Streep and Pauley both have connections to IU.Pauley, an Indianapolis native, graduated from IU in 1972 with a degree in political science.A distinguished journalist and news anchor, Pauley was co-host of NBC’s “Today Show” for 13 years and co-host of “Dateline NBC” for 12 years.Streep’s Hoosier connection is through her husband, Don Gummer, a sculptor who studied at the IU-Purdue University Indianapolis Herron School of Art in the ’60s.In addition to these Indiana ties, Booher said IU attracts speakers of such caliber for a reason.“We have an incredible student body,” Booher said. “The students focus on professional success after their time at the University. When we have ties with successful people, they love to come back and share enthusiasm for students to embark on their own success.”John Kinzer, director of audience development for the IU Department of Theatre and Drama, was surprised today when he heard from a student about the event.“I love Meryl Streep,” Kinzer said. “She is one of the most versatile and accomplished actors of our generation.”From her various roles in “Sophie’s Choice” to “Mamma Mia!,” Kinzer said Streep has an incredible range that is hard to find in today’s actors.As for Pauley, Kinzer also expresses an admiration.“Jane Pauley is one of our distinguished alumna, and I think any time we have our distinguished alumni coming back, people should take advantage to learn from them,” Kinzer said.The event, brought to campus by the IU Foundation’s Kate Benns Sturgeon Fund, is expected to see a full audience. Barbara Coffman, the director of Communications for the IU Foundation, said the event should be a very interesting conversation between two prominent celebrities.“It’s an incredible opportunity to see two very famous people who will be interacting with each other and having a great time,” Coffman said. “And I think the audience will have a great time with them.”
(10/25/10 12:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As two 30-year-old sisters banter back and forth about bar fights and babies, spontaneous laughter paints the image of a comical, dysfunctional family. The audience soon discovers how the accidental death of Danny, a 4-year-old boy represented as buried beneath stacks of brightly colored toddlers’ clothing, has left the family struggling to grasp the reason for his loss.The pain and uniqueness of human suffering are two hardships examined in the Department of Theatre and Drama’s production of “Rabbit Hole,” David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.In her sixth year as a professor of acting and directing in the Department of Theatre and Drama, Fontaine Syer, the director of “Rabbit Hole,” said the play’s mix of comedy and tragedy provides a great image of man’s attempts to cope with loss.“So here’s this terrible accident,” Syer said. “Everyone would like to be able to point at someone and say, ‘You fucked up.’”While Danny’s death seems a particularly cruel fate, Syer mentioned that tragic accidents happen every day and that grieving death is a universal experience.“Tragedy happens a lot in our world,” Syer said. “What happens with this family is that they all love each other unreservedly, and the play is about how much we can hurt the people we love, even when we try to help them.”Throughout the play, each character grieves Danny’s loss with his or her own coping methods, ranging from a subconscious erasing of memories to support groups to writing.“Everyone in the family is at a different point in the process of grieving for this child,” Syer said. “Everyone wants to pull them to the place where they are, but it’s about understanding the larger incomprehensibility of life.”Freshman Kate Olsson, who acted in her high school’s production of “Rabbit Hole,” said the play’s use of comedy amidst tragedy is an effective way of relating the issue to a wide variety of people.“Comedy is realistic,” Olsson said. “People still make jokes about the past. It’s a way of coping and projecting.”Bloomington residents and close friends Sheri Benham and Kaye Hill were two audience members who attended Saturday’s performance. During intermission, they remarked about the accurate representation of the comical and imperfect grieving process of a middle-America family.“It’s like you’re eavesdropping on something, something that’s so painful,” Benham said.Years ago, Hill’s sister lost her son and faced similar hardships.“People would cross the street to avoid her,” Hill said. “Because it was painful, people didn’t want to talk about him, but she did.”With seven performances this week, Syer said she wants the show to reach as many people as possible.“Students might say, ‘I don’t want to go see a play about a dead child,’” Syer said. “But it’s so human and so rich. You’ve got to get in the building and see it.”RABBIT HOLEWHEN 7 p.m. Oct. 26 through Oct. 30, 2 p.m. Oct. 30WHERE Wells-Metz TheaterMORE INFO Student tickets are $15, and regular admission is $22
(10/13/10 1:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It can hold the key to unlocking the vaults of ancient history, have the power to expose social injustices and is capable of sculpting society’s view of culture. Museums are the gateway to the past.The beginning of October marked the start of “Celebrating the Museum,” a year-long event to recognize the contributions and impact of museums within the IU and Bloomington community. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, events and exhibitions highlighted through the celebration will encourage students and residents to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available within local museums.IU Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson, who spoke at the celebration’s opening ceremony, said the campus and city museums provide an intersection for a variety of interests displayed within the community. “We know we have an especially rich environment on campus for such collections,” Hanson said. “We’re especially blessed with a number of top notch museums.”Hanson said IU’s museums work closely with faculty and staff to encourage student interaction with the variety of resources available to them.“Museums preserve culture and make the culture, whether it’s artistic objects, artifacts, costumes or household objects, available for students and residents, enriching the natural environment,” Hanson said. From the IU Art Museum to the Kinsey Institute, IU is home to a wide range of museums that help preserve the past. The Mathers Museum of World Cultures, named 2010 Best IU Attraction by the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau, focuses on the question, “What is culture?” The museum’s various exhibits are intended to help visitors explore and understand the broader themes of global traditions and history.Geoffrey Conrad, professor of anthropology and director of the Mathers Museum, said he believes museums represent the global perspective present at IU.“A large theme for the University is international unitization,” Conrad said. “As the world becomes more interconnected, it is vital to understand how we can connect between cultures and their similarities.”The Mathers Museum’s newest exhibit, which opens Oct. 23, is titled “The Big Bang to the World Wide Web: The Origins of Everything.” The exhibit will explore a concept known as “big history,” which seeks to gather an understanding of human history by starting at the beginning of time.Free to the public, IU museums serve as a bridge between the University and the community.“As an archeologist, we have an obligation to reach a public audience,” Conrad said. “There is a great deal of public interest in archeology, and we want to help feed this interest and also help in the field of archeology and anthropology.” Kelsey Bidwell, a senior currently taking an Introduction to Museum Studies class at the Mathers Museum, said she feels that museums are a central element of the college experience.“When you earn a degree from IU, part of that degree should be what you’ve learned from the museums, which adds to a well-rounded education,” Bidwell said.Bidwell said she finds that the Mathers Museum represents a commonality of cultures throughout the world. When walking through the exhibits, she said people are likely to find many similarities between cultures and make personal connections with the world’s people.Bidwell said the Lilly Library is her favorite campus museum for its collection of mechanical puzzles and various rotating exhibits. Bidwell said the University is lucky for having such a narrowly focused collection of rare books that attract professional scholars.While students have the opportunity to take classes and even intern at IU’s museums, Hanson said she finds most students walk right past them, despite their accessibility.With the year-long initiative to celebrate the importance of museums, Hanson said she hopes it will inspire people to explore the unique opportunities that these institutions afford. “We want to get them on people’s radar,” Hanson said. “Once they visit, they’ll see how much they can drive from these museums.”
(10/06/10 12:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the cast and crew of Rent, rehearsals have not only become a space for practicing scenes, but also a space where they must confront some of life’s most painful challenges.During the IU Department of Theatre and Drama’s first production of the 2010-11 season, sex, addiction, love and economic hardship are just a small sample of themes that audiences will see, starting with the opening performance at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8. Director George Pinney, who has been with the department for 23 years, has never put “Rent” on his list of musicals that he wanted to do. But after living through all the issues portrayed in the musical, the memories bring forth a different meaning.“The personal stories and where people come from are so raw,” Pinney said. One of the key struggles that touches the lives of several characters in the show is AIDS.Angel, one of the main characters, is a gay drag queen who maintains a spirit of compassion and generosity despite his struggle with AIDS.Cosmo Clemens, a junior studying musical theater, said since he was cast as the role of Angel, he has not only become a better performer, but also a better person.“The characters have different struggles, but you learn from their mistakes,” Clemens said. “Whether you can relate to them or not, how they handle themselves is eye-opening.”When the cast first began rehearsals, the members discussed how their emotional connection to the characters would prove to be a powerful experience.“There will be parts where you cry, and it’s OK,” Clemens said of what Pinney told them during a rehearsal. In addition to the original roles in the performance, IU’s production will feature the “nameless, faceless ensemble,” which will perform much like shadows on stage. “The message they show is so much larger,” Pinney said. “They represent the forgotten people.”The new ensemble creates a backdrop that highlights the unique, yet relatable experiences of the main characters.For senior Gina Ricci, playing the role of Mimi, an exotic dancer and heroin addict, has always been a childhood dream.Ricci said Mimi is a character who experiences lots of ups and downs but still maintains an image of happiness. “She’s on fire, and she loves her life,” Ricci said. “In the first act, she’s fun, gorgeous, playful and energetic. Everyone wants to be around her.”Unlike Mimi, who jumps into things full throttle, Ricci finds herself to be more guarded. Since being cast as Mimi, Ricci said her emotional connection with the character has deepened to the point where she has broken down and cried several times during rehearsals.“I admire her character so much,” Ricci said. “Everything she does she puts her heart into. She knows what she wants and goes for it.”Throughout the show, Mimi is constantly battling her need to be in a relationship, which Ricci said is a relatable issue for many girls on campus. “These girls all put love into relationships, yet they deny their own problems,” Ricci said. “They never truly know themselves and love themselves.”The importance of self-love and respect is a message that has penetrated the cast and crew, and according to Pinney, a message that has caught on in the department like wildfire.While the characters are facing their own unique challenges, their connection brings forth several sobering sentiments.“For me, the message is that above all else, love and friendship are the keys to success,” Ricci said. “Never block anyone out of your life, and live life in the present.”
(10/04/10 2:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As residents of the City of Bloomington address free speech in public forums, the IU Student Association is working to make campus a friendlier space for students to speak out.On Sept. 22, Bloomington City Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith asked a resident to leave the council’s regular meeting because of unruly conduct. Council Attorney Daniel Sherman said it was the first time in 20 years he had seen someone escorted from a meeting; the same night the council voted to amend its rules regarding open public forum.“Because this is a limited public forum, certain rights are attached to these speakers,” Sherman said. “When it becomes political speech, it becomes protected.”But how do First Amendment rights on IU’s campus compare to Bloomington City Council sessions?The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, is an organization that rates universities according to the freedoms students have when speaking on campus. During the summer, the organization gave IU a “yellow light” rating.This designation means it found IU’s speech-related policies ambiguous, which they believe might lead to administrative abuse or arbitrary application.This ranking sparked a reaction from IUSA. Murat Kacan, chief of communications for IUSA, issued a letter to the student body on July 28 in response to the rating.In the letter, Kacan said IUSA strongly opposes any University rule that seeks to restrict students’ rights to free expression.“We called FIRE that week and talked through every issue,” Kacan said. “We agreed that there were definitely areas of ambiguity. We don’t ever want free speech to be seen as a form of instigation.”The University’s designation of free speech zones and what constitutes “fighting words” were too vague, members of FIRE said.After reviewing the student code with IUSA, the organization found the University labels Dunn Meadow as a free speech zone, yet it fails to mention that all areas of campus are free speech zones as long as they don’t interfere with classroom curriculum.The second area of ambiguity relates to literature that informs students where to report offensive language or expression. The language used was unclear regarding the procedures taken when a student brings forth a claim, members of FIRE said.“The warning was ambiguous and didn’t clearly demonstrate the campus’ main goal, which is protection of free speech,” Kacan said.While IUSA is working to improve these areas of ambiguity, the changes will require input from many groups on campus. Kacan said one major group IUSA is working with is the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services office, among others.“The process is more important than the results,” Kacan said. “I’d rather know that the students’ rights are being protected.”IUSA is also similar to the Bloomington City Council, Kacan said, in that it allows for public comment at its congressional meetings. Students can attend and voice their opinions about campus-related issues. The next IUSA congressional meeting is at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Kelley School of Business 200.Jennie Peterson, a senior and vice president of the congress, said students who are not part of the congress can only speak at IUSA meetings if they have previously signed up on the speaker’s list 48 hours before the start of the session.“Because it’s a student group, the way we govern ourselves is that we like to keep things in order,” Peterson said. “We uphold First Amendment rights almost 100 percent and prefer you follow our rules.”
(10/01/10 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Searle Slutzkin’s senior capstone project is all about giving back to the community — a community of prisoners from 16 states. Slutzkin, originally from Johannesburg, said as a former victim of crime in his home country, he was eager to see how the justice system in the United States operated. As a student in the Leadership, Ethics and Social Action Program, Slutzkin chose to volunteer with the Midwest Pages to Prisoners Project, a volunteer-based organization that seeks to promote self-education among prisoners by supplying free reading materials upon request.“I chose Pages because I wanted something different,” Slutzkin said. “Behind bars is so different from the typical community setting.”After seeing the impact MWPP has made on the prisoners who take part in the program, Slutzkin created his current art show, Prisoners on Paper. The show features artwork from prisoners who have received literary materials from the organization. The show will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 15 at The Lodge, on Sixth and Walnut streets near Subway. Admission is free, but donating $5 or used or new books is suggested. Slutzkin said he hopes the show will serve as an eye-opening experience for members of the Bloomington community. Through art, he plans to raise awareness about the incarceration system in the U.S.“Some really want to help,” Slutzkin said. “Some come out of jail and become productive members of society.” Visitors can expect to see artwork with a strong political focus, including pieces in a variety of nontraditional mediums, from napkins to dream catchers.Slutzkin said each creation is a sign of what a prisoner is interested in, revealing a side that society might not have the chance to see.One organization that supports the MWPP is Boxcar Books and Community Center, Inc., a nonprofit and volunteer-based bookstore located on East Sixth Street.When people come to sell their books, they have the option to donate the ones Boxcar doesn’t have a need for to MWPP.Taylor Dean, a volunteer at MWPP, said supporting prisoners through book donations is a very meaningful way to give.“When you’re incarcerated for however long, I can’t imagine not having freedom, to be stuck in a cage all day,” Dean said. “These books are a way to remove them from their situation.”Dean said dictionaries, thesauri and almanacs are the top three items prisoners request. Graduate Record Examination books are also in high demand for those who want to pursue their education while in prison.Another component of the MWPP is its pen pal program, through which prisoners and volunteers communicate through letter writing. “When they write in to us, they are so thankful,” Dean said. “I pass them (letters) on to my friends so they can see the impact this has.”
(09/20/10 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Savoring the sunshine, with sweat beading on their foreheads, the audience gathered around theTree of Life Stage on Saturday at Lotus World Music & Arts Festival’s free event, Lotus in the Park.Rainbow-striped lawn chairs, plastic cups filled with wine and tattered picnic blankets littered the ground.Standing in the middle of the stage, Jessica Fichot, singer and songwriter from Paris, held her accordion across her chest. Her body swayed back and forth as she began to sing her music, which incorporates French chanson, the sounds of gypsy jazz, along with Chinese and Latin American folk music.“I’ve been wanting to play at this festival for years now,” Fichot said to the audience. “This is my first timein Indiana.”Fichot, who lived in France from age 3 to 20, is an alumna of the School of Audio Engineering in Paris and one of the many artists who filled Bloomington’s streets during this year’s Lotus Festival.Fichot traveled to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and currently lives in L.A., where she has resided for the past six years.“I always knew that I wanted to be a singer or a poet,” Fichot said. “From an early age I knew I wanted to be musical.”While she started learning music by playing the piano, she said she was never disciplined enough to stick with one particular instrument and throughout the years has dabbled in a variety of musical sounds.Fichot, who sings in six different languages, said she did not always have the same sense of pride in her multicultural background. Growing up in France, she found herself attracted to the foreign aspect of English. It wasn’t until she moved to L.A. that she realized she wanted to do something more exotic with her musical style.“Music is a universal language,” Fichot said. “I usually perform for an audience that doesn’t understand what I’m saying. My music is a way to unite them.”One of the musicians who works with Fichot, Dave Wilson, played the clarinet, flute and saxophone alongside her Saturday. Wilson, a 2002 graduate of the Jacobs School of Music, first met Fichot five years ago when he moved to L.A.When Wilson heard about the opportunity to perform at the Lotus Festival with Jessica, he knew he had to return to his alma mater.“I was going to drop everything to make sure that I could come,” Wilson said.For both Fichot and Wilson, their performances this weekend were an expression of their connection to home and a new sense of community they have created through their music. The warm air lingered as nightfall approached Saturday, waiting for musicians to begin their performances at seven different venues in the downtown area.George Huntington, who has volunteered with the festival for 15 years, directed volunteers to help with various parts of the stage setup and artist hospitality.Standing alongside four paid staff members, Huntington said the festival is run entirely on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers.“In Bloomington, there is a strong sense in the quality of life that is embraced,” Huntington said. “It brings in diversity because people are happy to give their time to something like this.”Huntington described the festival as controlled chaos with an awful lot of dancing.“Lotus is part of my core being,” Huntington said. “I eat, sleep and breathe it.”Crooked Still was this year’s recipient of the Lotus Dickey award, which is an award named after the Indiana native musician for whom the festival is named. Two minutes before they were scheduled to start, the group was still gathered around a table outside of the Lifecycle Tent on Fourth and Grant streets, drinking UplandBrewery beer and writing out their song list for the evening.On stage, the emcee introduced Crooked Still as a group often described as “easy to listen to, but difficult to describe.” While they are labeled as new folk, the band likes to consider themselves as alternative bluegrass or chamber grass, with emphasis on the grass.As their introductions finished, Crooked Still bounded onto the stage and picked up their instruments, beer still in hand. The Boston-based band is composed of five members who play the banjo, fiddle, cello and the double bass. Lead singer Aoife O’Donovan lit up a smile as she began singing the folk sounds that took the audience on a journey through the roots of the heartland.Cellist Tristan Clarridge seemed mesmerized by the bluegrass rhythms as he closed his eyes and allowed his arm to flow effortlessly across his body, guiding the bow as an upbeat melody streamed from his cello.Fiddle player Brittany Haas has been playing since she was 4 years old and chose to play barefoot on stage that night in order to feel more comfortable.Despite a busy schedule of traveling and performances, Haas said she and the rest of the band love playing together.“Mostly we just feed off the energy of the crowd,” Haas said. “We are so lucky to get to do it all the time. It brings us so much happiness and joy.”O’Donovan, who studied at the New England Conservatory, grew up in a musical household and said music is 100 percent a part of her being.“I was taken by the energy and people’s willingness to be right up there next to the stage,” O’Donovan said. “It’s rewarding to see music affecting people note by note.”For audience member Kim Meyer, eating was no excuse to stop dancing. Meyer, who has been attending the Lotus Festival with her husband for the past eight years, said they keep coming back because of the joy and sense of community that the festival creates.“Dancing to the music makes my body feel alive, like I’m jumping out from the inside,” Meyer said.After Crooked Still left the stage, a sea of bodies united in musical rhythm greeted the members of the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars.The band, composed of men who were forced to flee from their homes in Freetown, Sierra Leone during the country’s decade-long civil war, played passionately to a crowd whose dancing flowed out from the tent and into the surrounding streets.Alhadji Jeffrey Kamara, known as Black Nature, is the youngest member of the All Stars. He said that music has been a part of their lives for as long as they can remember.“Music is a spiritual thing,” Kamara said. “It is an exchange of energy that we give out to the crowd, who takes it and then gives it back to us. It makes a beautiful connection.”As the group exited the stage, the crowd chanted in unison for one more song until the group caved in.They were dancing and singing to raise awareness about the plight of the refugees and the human rights atrocities occurring within their country. The group said they feel strongly about music as an effective medium for raising awareness.“Whether you’re old or young, music is the easiest way to pass along a message,” Kamara said.
(09/15/10 2:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This weekend, Ghanaian musician Bernard Woma will be doing what he said is expected of him: sharing the gift God gave him.From Sept. 16 to 19, artists from across the globe will be performing at Bloomington’s 17th annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. With more than 20 performances happening each night at various venues across town, this year’s festival is another opportunity to learn and experience cultures from around the world — all in a Midwest college town.The festival, which started in 1995 as a one-night event with three small venues, now spans four days and attracts people from all around the world. LuAnne Holladay, assistant director of the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, said 10,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s festival, which has a mix of free and ticketed events.The inspiration for the festival’s name comes from Lotus Dickey, a folk singer, songwriter and musician from Orange County, Ind. who passed away in 1989.Remembered for his love of connecting and honoring his community through folk music, Dickey had a passion and appreciation for musical traditions around the world.“He loved all kinds of different music,” Holladay said. “He was a very open person and curious — a real part of the world even though he was from just down the road.”Starting off the festival will be the Women of Lotus concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.Friday through Sunday the streets of downtown Bloomington will be the stage for a multitude of musical performances and the Arts Village. “You’ll have the most fun if you don’t have solid plans on who you want to see,” Holladay said. “If you don’t open yourself up to all of these unexpected things you weren’t planning to see, you close yourself off.”The Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was created in 1994 to instill the importance of exploring the world’s diversity through artistic expression. “The educational outreach program reaches 10,000 students,” Holladay said. “Art is part of being a creative person. You’re not as complete a person if you don’t have access to those things.” Holladay is particularly excited for the performances by Saakumu Dance Troupe, led by graduate student Bernard Woma, who is currently pursuing his masters degree in African Studies.“He is one of the best in the world on the instrument that he plays,” Holladay said.Born in a village in Northwest Ghana, Woma said he cannot recall his first memory of music. “That’s like asking someone what is their first memory of speaking,” Woma laughed.What Woma does remember is he was destined to be a musician from the day he was born.During his first moments on earth, Woma’s father noticed his newborn was clinching his fists as if he were holding xylophone mallets. This was a sign Woma was meant to become a xylophone player, according to traditional beliefs. “My father was told to get me the instrument so I could play so that I could have my talent with me,” Woma said.As he learned to walk around the age of 2, Woma said he simultaneously learned to play the xylophone, which in Ghana is called a gyil.Bernard practiced his musical talents day and night. While his musical abilities gained him recognition throughout Ghana, Woma continued his craft while working on farms and eventually going to school. Woma said in most African communities, music is not made to be packaged for economic gain. It is a creative extension of the community, and the musician must view their profession as an honor.“As a musician in a community, you have to have it in the back of your mind that you are holding the history of your people — the repository of your culture,” he said.In 1982, Woma moved to Accra, Ghana’s capital, in order to earn money working 20-hour days for a wealthy Ghanaian family. Despite the overwhelming work schedule, Sunday evenings remained a special time: playing the gyil for traditional Dagara dancing. Through these performances he drew praise for his talent and went on to receive numerous honors and the chance to play his music all around the world.While traveling the globe, Woma said he appreciates sharing his culture through music and is also grateful for the chance to be immersed in a diverse world of traditions.“Music does connect with community because music is part of the rational therapy with people’s minds,” Woma said. “It can bring joy, peace and love and a recognition of the community to the outside world.”With a desire to share his love and connection to music, Woma opened the Dagara Music and Arts Center in a suburb of Accra in 1999. Students reside and work at the center as they study Ghanaian art, dance, drumming and xylophone music.“There is value in appreciating each others diversity,” Woma said.Of the values and tenants that Woma sees in society, he said that music and dance are some of the primary ways to share your culture. “Music is beautiful, dance is inviting,” he said. “It’s not a secret to be kept from the audience.” During their performances at this year’s festival, Woma said audience members can expect for his dance troupe to ask them to show their appreciation by dancing along with them.Woma and the Saakumu Dance Troupe will perform Friday and Saturday. A complete schedule of performances can be found online at lotusfest.orgAside from the chance to see other musicians display their talents and traditions, Woma said what he’s most looking forward to this weekend will be “knocking people’s socks off.”
(09/09/10 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington’s local color can be found in a chef’s featured special, a grocery store’s selection of fresh dairy products or a nonprofit community bookstore. The Local Growers Guild, which promotes and supports local food systems in the community, has collaborated with several organizations, including Local First Indiana, to sponsor this year’s Going Local Week from Sept. 3 to Sept. 11. The campaign has scheduled events for people to sample and explore the town.This semester, the College of Arts and Sciences Themester is focused on sustainability. Emphasizing the importance of investing in sustainable practices, this year’s topic puts particular importance on the local scale.Bill Brown, director of the IU Office of Sustainability, said the themester programs will provide many opportunities for students to interact with Bloomington residents regarding local, sustainable solutions. “Sustainability crosses the border between campus and community,” Brown said. “The issues faced by the school and community are all connected.”In light of Bloomington’s Going Local Week, Brown said the Sustain IU Day from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Dunn Meadow is a chance for students to become engaged in community commerce.“It’s a great time for students to explore their neighborhoods and where they live, including the Farmers’ Market and Kirkwood,” Brown said.Jessie Skaggs, assistant director of the guild, said Going Local Week has grown since its original event, which focused only on dining at local restaurants. Skaggs said the turnout at previous events has been good, with close to 200 attendees at the opening reception Sept. 3.From 7 to 9 p.m. today, Rachael’s Café will be having a free screening of “King Corn,” a documentary centered on genetically modified foods, modern farming and the current fast-food culture. The guild is also promoting the Going Local Week Challenge card, which can be found at Bloomingfoods. When participants do five activities involved with the local community, including shopping at any guild retailer or going to a local restaurant, they fill out the card for a chance to win one of four prizes. Completed cards can be dropped off at Bloomingfoods, the farmers’ market or mailed to the guild or Local First Indiana.When thinking about the value of IU students becoming involved in Bloomington, Skaggs said supporting local businesses is a great way to invest in the community.To serve as the grand finale of Going Local Week, a concert fundraiser for Local First Indiana will take place Saturday at the Bishop Bar. General admission is $5 for those 18 and older, and performances, featuring a variety of local artists, will start at 6 p.m. Andy Goheen, who works at the Bishop Bar, said that the venue features a local band nearly every night. “It’s obviously important to support local bands because they are also part of the local economy,” Goheen said. John Bailey, the managing partner of the locally owned restaurant Malibu Grill, has worked at the location since he was a student at IU in 1986 when it was called the J Arthur Café and Bar.The restaurant became the Malibu Grill in 1994, and Bailey said the establishment has seen increasing support over the years.“I feel like we’re very strongly rooted in the community,” Bailey said. “We see lots and lots of regulars.”One of the local products used at the restaurant is Localfolks ketchup and mustard, which uses mostly Indiana grown organic tomatoes. While using local products might not be as cost effective, Bailey said it’s worth it.Community roots run deep at the Malibu Grill. The staff is made up of several veteran employees: a chef who has worked there for 80 percent of the restaurant’s existence, a bar manager who has been there over a dozen years and Bailey himself who is in his 16th year at the Bloomington location. “I love Bloomington and have always loved Bloomington,” Bailey said. “It’s a nicely situated town with good people who are passionate and care about their community.”
(09/06/10 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As a woman walked by Nancy Clark’s booth at the 4th Street Festival, she could not resist commenting on how much she loved the technique used to make the woman’s black knit sweater.At the 4th Street Festival, the interaction between the attendees and the artists was proof of the community’s support of this year’s event.“Look at these crowds,” Clark said. “You don’t see this typically. With all the enthusiasm and happiness, it’s great to talk to everyone here.”This weekend, 121 artists brought their work to Bloomington. Artists from every part of the country — from as far as Kissimmee, Fla., and Paso Robles, Calif., — traveled to Fourth Street to display their photography, jewelry and large mosaic farm animals, to name a few.Clark, a weaver from Kansas City, Mo., entered the festival upon a friend’s suggestion.Wearing a purple tie-dye dress, rainbow speckled glasses and a multicolor threaded necklace, Clark showed off her artistic expression.Clark, who started weaving in 1971, was forced to make a sudden career shift nine years later when her husband died at age 37. As a single parent, she said her lifestyle dramatically changed.Securing an administrative position at a law firm, she was able to provide a steady income to support herself and her daughter. But when her daughter graduated from high school, the opportunity for another change became apparent, and she decided to quit her job.“I got out of the corporate world and put myself on the street,” she said.While her family was appalled by her choice, she said returning to artistry was what she needed to do with her life.“We don’t know what will happen next,” Clark said. “I’m going to do what I love now and make it work for me.”Further down Fourth Street was 7-year-old Aaron Shafer, who displayed his artwork on an overturned cooler next to his parents’ booth.The youngest of four children, Aaron traveled from Chicago with his parents, who decided to make their first appearance at the festival this year.Aaron said his favorite way to express himself is through “crazy art,” which he explained means doing whatever he wants.Not only did Aaron manage to sell his own artwork at the festival, but he also brought his violin and was offered the chance to perform at Anatolia’s Turkish Restaurant and Kebab House in exchange for a free meal.At the festival’s main intersection on Fourth and Grant streets, Juliet Roberts, whose name tag read “Queen of the Volunteers,” answered questions at the information booth.Roberts has volunteered at the festival for four years and said 40 percent of the artists were newcomers this year.“We like to mix it up and keep things fresh,” she said.Roberts said the festival’s tremendous community support and enthusiasm is a great way to introduce new artists to Bloomington.IU Alumna Terry Taylor-Norbu, who makes vividly colored fused glass jewelry, served as secretary on the festival’s board and had a booth as well. A Bloomington native, Taylor-Norbu is the assistant to the Dean at the School of Informatics and Computing. She said art is an outlet to fulfill her need for self expression.About 16 years ago, she took two six-week jewelry making classes at the John Waldron Arts Center and has been perfecting the craft ever since. While she has a desire to create, she said what is fun about being an artist is inspiring others. “Everyone is an artist,” Taylor-Norbu said. “Whether it’s painting, cooking or mowing the lawn, everyone needs to find what that is for them.”Shafer captured the spirit of this 37th annual festival as he smiled and said, “Art makes me happy.”
(09/03/10 4:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dawn Adams, a School of Fine Arts alumna, said after her son died, she found solitude in painting water images.Adams, who will be showcased at the 4th Street Festival this weekend, gathers inspiration from various waterways that surround Bloomington, including; Stillwater Marsh, Griffy Creek and Lake Monroe. Adams found that water provided her with an abstract surface that is constantly changing. “People can look at the work and feel healing and calm. I really feel like that’s a good function for artwork to have,” Adams said. The volunteers of this year’s festival, which is free and open to the public, aim to create an environment where the community and artists can connect and appreciate the value of artistic expression.The festival, in its 37th year, will showcase local and national artists who have traveled across the country to participate in what has been voted one of the nation’s top 50 art festivals by Art Fair SourceBook.Susie Seligman, a local textile artist who has served on the board of the 4th Street Festival for several years, attributes the festival’s success to Bloomington’s community participation and support. “The community has always been fabulous about the 4th Street Festival,” Seligman said.With 40,000 people expected to attend this weekend’s festivities, the variety of visitors extends beyond the boundaries of IU students.“It’s an amazing cross section of people,” Seligman said. “It’s not all about students — old people, young people, families, anybody — it’s an event in town for more than just one particular group.”With 121 booths displaying fine art and crafts by artists from around the country, Seligman said that 4th Street will be transformed into a “visual smorgasbord.” In addition to artwork that will be displayed, there will be local bands, a children’s craft center, ethnic food stands and community organization booths.Junior Amy Gartenberg visited the festival her freshman year and plans to attend this weekend. As a college student, Gartenberg sees the festival as a way to explore the different shops in the area and possibly get a good sale on fun costume jewelry.For those looking for an event off campus, Gartenberg said going to the 4th Street Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, is an easy way to get involved in activities happening in Bloomington. “Anyone can enjoy the festival,” Gartenberg said. “Whether you just like to shop, try different foods, see art — you can walk up and explore anything you’re interested in.”Many of the artists at the festival have made a career out of their creative talents. Adams said being an artist is central to her lifestyle.“I need to make stuff,” Adams said between laughs. “It’s really important for me to exercise my creativity and look at things in a different way. We need to look at things differently and not take stuff for granted.”
(09/02/10 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Similar to the popular television series “Iron Chef”, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater will have the Community Kitchen’s 4th Annual Bloomington Chef’s Challenge.The event at 7 p.m. Sunday will showcase three of Bloomington’s top chefs who must create a meal using a local “mystery ingredient” that will be announced at the start of the competition. The 2009 winner, David Tallent of Restaurant Tallent, will be the chef to beat as Jake Brenchley of Scholar’s Inn and Thomas Dempsey of Scenic View Restaurants challenge him in a culinary showdown.Tallent, an Indiana native, works daily with local ingredients and said he is not stressed about this year’s competition.For Tallent, he said the focus is on the support generated for the Community Kitchen and their mission to curb hunger. “Every year we raise more money and feed more people,” Tallent said. “Hopefully we’re making some sort of mark on clearing up this issue.” Seeing food as a medium to bring people together, Tallent remarked on how food is a universal symbol of communion, helping strengthen relationships and preserve traditions.As Bloomington attracts students and travelers from around the world, Tallent said he hopes that emphasis on local ingredients will help address the need for the community to support its farmers, chefs and those in need of food assistance. For the Community Kitchen, the importance of proper nutrition is the cornerstone of their mission: offering nutritional education and alleviating hunger throughout Monroe County.Tim Clouger, assistant director of the Community Kitchen, said he created the Chef’s Challenge because it models what the staff and volunteers do each day: create meals with food that is available with donations from the food bank, restaurants and local farmers.Money generated from the event will directly support the numerous programs provided by the Community Kitchen, which serves an average of 591 meals daily to anyone in need, 61 percent of whom are children under the age of 18. In an area where countless restaurants line the streets and culinary movements seem to spring forth, it raises the question of why the issue of hunger is so prevalent in Monroe County. “I suspect Bloomington is particularly affected by the issue of hunger because it is surrounded by rural areas. Many of those who receive meals live within walking distance of the Community Kitchen,” Clouger said. While most IU students rarely pass the boundaries of campus, Clouger said he sees how the issue of hunger in Bloomington may be overlooked.However, Clouger said community involvement is key toward making progress on improving the issue of hunger in Monroe County.“Everyone can do something to help — whether it’s through a financial or food donation, volunteering their time at an organization or attending an event like the Chef’s Challenge.”Want to attend chef’s challenge?Bistro seats are available for $100, which includes an up-close look at the competition as well as a taste of the dishes prepared by each chef. General admission is $25. Tickets can be purchased at the Community Kitchen, Bloomingfoods or at the door.
(12/09/09 6:46am)
The IU Auditorium will soon be filled with songs of holiday cheer when
the Jacobs School of Music puts on its annual Chimes of Christmas
performance at 7:30 p.m. today.
(11/17/09 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Young women will be big media corporations’ newest target audience at the box office with the release of “New Moon” on Friday.Based on the second book in the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer, it is the continuation of the low-budget film production that turned into a multi-million dollar success.IU associate instructor Spring-Serenity Duvall credits the “Twilight” craze to the outpouring of support from teenage girls and young women around the globe.This spring, Duvall is set to teach a gender studies course called “Titanic to Twilight,” which will examine the culture of girls and young women as consumers and producers within pop culture.“My hope is that the popularity of ‘Twilight’ will prompt curiosity among students to explore and take seriously the role that girls play in influencing, creating and consuming media,” Duvall said.The success of “Twilight” draws attention to other series that have become popular with teenage girls and young women.Sophomore Attie Kempf became hooked on the “Gossip Girl” series when she started reading the books in seventh grade.Since the “Gossip Girl” TV premiere in 2007, the series has gathered a devoted following of young women, similar to “Twilight.”“People desire what they can’t have,” Kempf said. “By reading books and watching shows or movies, the audience can live vicariously through the characters.”Reflecting on the “Twilight” saga, Kempf sees how readers might long for the sense of adventure the main character, Edward, experiences as a vampire.Duvall acknowledges the power of suspense that initially hooks readers on the “Twilight” series and other similar trends.While the media industry might be monetarily benefiting from the “Twilight” films’ success, Duvall points to the efforts of the “fangirls” as having the greatest impact, as their demands helped bring “Twilight” into mainstream pop culture.When theater-goers rush off to see the premiere of “New Moon” this week, Duvall hopes girls will recognize their influence on the media industry.“I hope that the series continues to bring girls together in fan communities, where they will fully realize the power that they can wield as consumers,” she said.
(11/16/09 4:08pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Young women will be big media corporations’ newest target audience at the box office this month with the release of “New Moon” on Friday.Based off the second book in the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer, these novels are the inspiration for the low-budget film production that turned into a multi-million dollar success.Intrigued by this achievement is IU associate instructor Spring-Serenity Duvall, who credits the Twilight craze to the outpouring of support by teenage girls and young women around the globe.This spring, Duvall is set to teach a gender study course called Titanic to Twilight, which will examine the culture of girls and young women as consumers and producers within pop culture. “My hope is that the popularity of ‘Twilight’ will prompt curiosity among students to explore and take seriously the role that girls play in influencing, creating and consuming media,” Duvall said.Check Tuesday's edition of the Indiana Daily Student for the full story.
(11/04/09 3:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Clare Crosh spoke to her teammates last Thursday with tears in her eyes. Oct. 29 marked the end of her athletic career on the IU Women’s Club Soccer Team – four years of chilly Saturday morning games, two-hour practices every Monday through Thursday and long hours fundraising for new equipment. These past four seasons on the club team have meant a lot for Crosh, who started playing on the club team her freshman year. The team provided her with an extra family. “In a university of more than 40,000, being on the team makes school feel a little bit smaller,” Crosh said.When it comes to soccer, IU carries a tradition of excellence: the men’s varsity team with seven NCAA titles, a rising women’s varsity program and the men’s club program as the reigning 2008 national champions.Crosh said she was honored to play at IU where there is such an established soccer culture and was proud of how the women’s club team has stepped up to the plate this year.Looking back at this season, head coach Matt Wilhoit was confident with the team’s solid roster of returning players and 10 newcomers. “They put in a lot of time and effort, even in the off season,” he said. “You can tell the players wanted to succeed.”Crosh said their will to succeed can be attributed to the balance that club soccer allows within the rest of one’s college experience. During her time at IU, Crosh has also been a member of a sorority and supports a variety of other on campus events and activities.Wilhoit sees great benefits to participating in the club program as an alternative to varsity athletics. “With club, you are more able to enjoy the college experience,” he said. “It’s a good balance – playing in a competitive environment while not overtaking the whole college experience.”Balance proved to be the right mindset for the team as it finished second in its division and seventh out of 28 in the regional power rankings, an improvement from their 12th place finish for the 2008 season. Junior Becca Davis, next year’s co-captain, found the difference between this season and previous years to be the commitment the girls held to each other. “We get along great, and we have a deep roster full of talented girls,” she said. “Everyone was really committed and focused this year, and it really paid off.”Their focus will continue to motivate them into next year’s season as their regional competition, scheduled for last weekend, was canceled due to potential weather problems.While the team members were disappointed with the cancellation, they take the decision in stride and celebrate their success. “They are building and their record is improving,” Wilhoit said. “The program is on the rise, and there are good things to come in the future.”The team aims to keep the momentum going forward. “Our ultimate goal is to get to nationals for the first time, and we are definitely capable,” Davis said.