A&E

Stretching the imagination

In a generation when children spoiled by CGI and high resolution gaming get a bad reputation for having short attention spans, a roomful of kids defied societal norms and sat still Friday night as a man with tennis balls tied to his arm acted like a talking frog.

Local bookstores stock up on new book, prepare for crowds

If "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has fans waiting anxiously, it has booksellers salivating hungrily. With more than 1.4 million copies pre-ordered on www.amazon.com alone, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is shaping up to be the most hyped and long--awaited of the best--selling books.

"One day, 12 hours, six minutes ..." In the same way that Indiana anticipates the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the nation anticipates the release of the next installment of Harry Potter, due out Saturday -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." With Bloomington proving to be no exception, residents and visiting students alike are gearing up for the highly anticipated novel. Many questions hang in the air unanswered: What does J.K. Rowling have in store for her readers? Who is the half-blood prince? Who will die? But most importantly, why does everyone care so much?

Words, dulcimers come to Bloomington

Words might seem like quite everyday things, but they have extraordinary potential. This weekend, Bloomington audiences are about to see fantastic things done with those simple, little words.

African Film Series showcases diversity

For many people, when they think about cinema, they tend to neglect films that are not multi-million-dollar Hollywood blockbusters. Included in this negligence are many films from outside the U.S., including the African film community. In collaboration with the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute at IU, the Buskirk-Chumley is helping to shed some light on the thriving and vivacious but little-known African film community.

Casino exhibits French paintings

LAS VEGAS -- The French countryside could not be farther away, in distance or sentiment, from the long stretch of neon lights that line the Las Vegas Strip.

Lotus season opens with peek at annual event

As soon as West African artist Mamadou Diabate took the stage carrying what appeared to be a large onion, the audience immediately realized that they were in for something special. In reality, Diabate's instrument was a kora, and his performance was one of the many events of the night which culturally broadened Bloomington residents' and students' minds.

Baring the truth

Opera features 'Revolutionary' story

"A Twist of Treason," an opera written by Bloomington resident Julian Livingston, is described by the Bloomington Area Arts Council as a two-act historical dramatic musical about the tragic life and love triangle of the notorious American traitor Benedict Arnold, his wife Peggy Shippen and the British spy John Andre.

Famous trio of pianist, violinist cellist, plays at IU

A world-famous musical ensemble now returns to its IU connections to give the Bloomington community classical entertainment. The Beaux Arts Trio, founded in 1955, will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer. IU students have the opportunity to celebrate this anniversary with the group.

Steele works display at IU Art Museum

Famous works of art aren't strictly located in The Louvre or the Guggenheim.

People's Park provides priceless performances

Music lovers can hear jazz, rock, country, blues, and world music every Tuesday at People's Park as part of the Tuesday Lunch Concert Series.

Chilean student confesses stealing Rodin sculpture

SANTIAGO, Chile - A 20-year-old art student admitted Saturday he stole a sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin, but the student was conditionally freed after claiming he was only testing security at the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts.

PBS television program interviews IU professor

Tonight PBS will ask us, "How good is higher education in America today?"

Arts fair hits downtown Bloomington

Arts and crafts as part of a viable arts economy is nothing new to Bloomington.

Museum dedicated exclusively to Paul Klee's work

BERN, Switzerland -- When Paul Klee applied for Swiss nationality after fleeing Nazi Germany, his request was refused because it was feared that if his art should "take root in Switzerland, it would insult real art and cause good taste to deteriorate."

Raunchy drama revives feel of the '80s

Bloomington welcomes the sex, drugs and palm trees of 1980s Hollywood beginning Friday at the John Waldron Arts Center.

Cheeseburger in Paradise opens

When Jimmy Buffett wrote songs about food, he might have written them someplace similar to Cheeseburger in Paradise.

IU professor wins achievement award

When checking the mail a few months ago, IU alum, stage designer and Professor Robert O'Hearn got the surprise of his life.

Limestone sculptures on display at the Waldron

The Rosemary P. Miller Gallery located in Bloomington's John Waldron Arts Center has been home to many fascinating local art exhibits over the years.