A&E

Sex, booze and Ito

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 12:02 a.m.

My first thought after finishing "Crawling at Night," a novel penned by Nani Power, is one of confusion. This book literally drips of sex and booze, but remains resolutely devoid of passion and life. No character in the book calls for sympathy from the reader ... everyone is a member of society living on the fringes. A novel exploring the loneliness that envelops the lives of its characters, "Crawling at Night" passes on the opportunity to draw any form of a conclusion and ends in an unsatisfying, tangled knot.

Interior design students create art

By Jenica Schultz · Monday, Feb. 2,2004 11:30 p.m.

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere. Students in the interior design program learned their personalities greatly affected their designs when recently completing projects for a statewide competition. The contest was put on by the International Interior Design Association. Seniors participating in the interior design project created 26 chairs as part of a class required for their major. It is mandatory for seniors in Cynthia Landis' senior studio H476 Interior Design VI to enter the annual competition.

SwissAir, here I come!

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Monday, Feb. 2,2004 11:21 p.m.

Two checked bags. Wow, SwissAir has got to be kidding on this one. I am packing up to live in Europe for six months, and SwissAir thinks I can do it with only two checked bags? Funny.

Audiences pack theater for film fest

By Lynndi Lockenour · Monday, Feb. 2,2004 12:48 a.m.

Folk music played softly in the background as the audience stared at a blank screen awaiting the beginning of the show. "PRIDE: In Several Short Cinematic Acts," took the screen at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Saturday afternoon and evening with 600 people in attendance. PRIDE is an organization which works to improve awareness and create a community for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons and those who support them.

Southwestern snacks for the Grammys

By Suzanna Lindemann · Sunday, Feb. 1,2004 11:20 p.m.

The most anticipated star-studded event is a week away, and although many were disappointed with the results of the Golden Globes, the Grammys are sure to be a night full of excitement. Though many will be too busy watching Beyonce shake it and the White Stripes rock it, it's time to start thinking about what you are going to snack on during the commercials.

Dance company explores art through dance workshops

By Stacey Laskin · Sunday, Feb. 1,2004 11:16 p.m.

The African American Dance Company offered students a chance to explore a wide array of dance techniques and styles at its seventh annual workshop Jan. 30 and 31 at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Students were able to learn instruction in Horton and Dunham modern technique, jazz, Afro Cuban, Salsa and African dance.

War discussed through images

By Rami Chami · Sunday, Feb. 1,2004 11:15 p.m.

A full house gathered Friday evening to listen to a panel discussion examining the "Killer Shots: A Photographic Response to War" exhibit currently on display at the SoFA Gallery. The gallery is a collection of 36 original photographs of the most famous and stunning pictures taken by professional photojournalist during times of modern conflict.

PRIDE coming to the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre

By Lynndi Lockenour · Friday, Jan. 30,2004 1:04 a.m.

PRIDE, an organization representing equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities will host films that confront issues within the GLBT community. This is the first film festival in Bloomington to focus primarily on GLBT issues. Organizers said they wanted to bring the series to Bloomington as a way to contribute to diversity.

Portrait of a painter

By Chris Sommerfeld · Friday, Jan. 30,2004 1:04 a.m.

Six days a week, Peter Lawrence balances a hectic work schedule as a waiter at two Bloomington restaurants. And on his day off each week -- a day when most would rest and relax -- Lawrence tries to supplement his income as an artist. Working the cliche starving artist job as a waiter at the IMU Tudor Room and Casablanca has not impeded Lawrence's artistic progress.

Ready for 'Rent'?

By Eric Anderson · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 11:53 p.m.

Calling it one of its "most highly-requested shows," the IU Auditorium will host the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT for the second time in only two-and-a-half years. RENT, written by the late Jonathan Larson, opened in 1996 and soon became a mega hit both on Broadway and across the country. Utilizing a pop-rock idiom and addressing contemporary issues such as AIDS, heroin and homosexuality, the show was as groundbreaking as it was entertaining.

ART at risk

By Kathleen Quilligan and Kathleen Quilligen · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:13 a.m.

Art seems to be the first thing cut from a budget, destroyed in a riot or banned for being misunderstood. It's a scene from a popular movie, but it could happen in any school across the country. "If I'm forced to choose between Mozart, reading and long division; I choose long division," said the principal in a line from the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus". Arts and its funding is a controversial and touchy issue -- now as much as in 1995 when "Mr. Holland's Opus" opened in theaters. It appears that due to legislation, the tide is turning in favor of arts education.

'Return of the King' leads Oscar race

By Alyson Brodsy and David Germain · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:02 a.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Middle-earth crowned its monarch. Now, Academy Awards voters seem ready to crown "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" as the first fantasy to win best picture.

Interior design major one of most selective

By Cassidy Flanagan · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1:01 a.m.

In a time when home decorating shows seem to be taking over television, suddenly interior design majors at IU find themselves having to reiterate the meaning of interior design and what it actually means to be an interior designer.

Why are so many films overlooked?

By Adam Aasen · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 1 a.m.

In the last few days, nominations for both the Oscars and the Razzies were announced, but depending on your point of view, some people may not see much of a difference.

Around The Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Jan. 29,2004 12:59 a.m.

The Bloomington Playwright's Project presents an evening of 30 ultra-short plays by the BPP Writers' Group and other local writers at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at the Bloomington Playwright's Project on 312. S. Washington St. Admission is $8 for the second annual Winter Ballot Box Blizzard, a fund-raising event showcasing the talent of Bloomington actors, directors and writers. Audience members will play an active role and vote for their favorites plays.

Children experience Asian culture at celebration

By Jessica Lobel · Wednesday, Jan. 28,2004 12:58 a.m.

Happy New Year. If you were born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 or 2004, it's time to put your party hats on. Thursday marked the beginning of a New Year on the lunar calendar, the Year of the Monkey. According to tradition, the Lunar New Year celebration begins with the first full moon of the new year, and lasts for 15 days. Aside from Asian-Americans in the United States, the Asian New Year is celebrated in many countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Tibet, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Professional costumers educate design students

By Mallory Zalkin · Tuesday, Jan. 27,2004 11:38 p.m.

Costumes are an important element helping define the aura of many successful performances. Each costume provides the audience with insight into the character's personality. Wardrobes might often provoke an audience to subconsciously create a predetermined opinion about the show through the fact that appearances are the first noticed aspect of most commodities. IU has costume design studios in the Theatre and Drama department and in the Musical Arts Center, where students can observe this intense process.

Afro Punk: the black experience

By Olivia Morales · Tuesday, Jan. 27,2004 11:37 p.m.

With its grainy images, "AfroPunk: The Rock n' Roll Nigger Experience," which debuted at Boxcar Books Friday, is a documentary in every sense of the word. The film centers around the black experience in the punk scene, placing emphasis on the people in the film and allowing the featured cast to testify to their lifestyle by following them through their everyday lives and observing their worlds. Director James Spooner set out to make a movie emphasizing the black experience in the punk world, and he has succeeded.

Ah, the afternoon siesta

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Monday, Jan. 26,2004 11:03 p.m.

Upon first glance, the city of Toledo, Spain conjures up images of medieval times and Spain's legendary character, Don Quixote. Turrets on the famous Alcázar palace and high brick walls designed to ward off intruders complete the historic landscape. Walking down the city's cobblestone streets feels like a trip back in time, destroyed only by the Fiats and Seats speeding down small alleyways and narrowly missing the numerous pedestrians wandering the city.

'Return of the King' grabs 4 Golden Globes

By Alyson Brodsy and David Germain · Monday, Jan. 26,2004 10:55 p.m.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and its mythical creatures are poised to go where no fantasy film has gone before -- the winner's circle at the Academy Awards. With a leading four Golden Globe trophies, the final chapter of Peter Jackson's adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy appears ready to steamroll its way to the best-picture Oscar. Nominations come out Tuesday. A box-office juggernaut heading toward $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide, "Return of the King" took the dramatic-picture prize at Sunday's Globes, along with the best-director award for Jackson and the song and musical score honors.