A&E

Bloomington Playwrights Project named 'hot spot' by travel agency

Sonja Johnson, developmental director of the Bloomington Playwrights Project, beamed as she proudly displayed a certificate and letter of congratulations that the theater company received in early March.

Modern Art museum rebuilds with $100 million pledge

NEW YORK -- The rebuilt MoMA is packing 'em in. Four months after unveiling its spectacular new quarters in midtown and taking heat for sharply higher entry fees, the Museum of Modern Art has already registered more than 1 million visitors.

Around The Arts

IU professor of music composer Don Freund received a 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship, which is a prestigious award affirming commitment to research among artists, humanists and scientists.

The art of champagne brunch

Secret Service looks into art exhibit with political views

CHICAGO -- The Secret Service sent agents to investigate a college art gallery exhibit of mock postage stamps, one depicting President Bush with a gun pointed at his head, to guarantee "this is nothing more than artwork with a political statement," a spokesman said Tuesday. The exhibit, called "Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin," opened last week at Columbia College's Glass Curtain Gallery in Chicago. The 47 artists designed fake postage stamps addressing issues such as the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, racism, and the war in Iraq.

North Carolina native crowned Miss USA

BALTIMORE -- Fashion marketing student Chelsea Cooley, 21, from Charlotte, N.C., got into pageants for the scholarships. "I fell in love with them, and it snowballed," she said. "And here I am, Miss USA." Cooley, the reigning Miss North Carolina, was crowned Miss USA in the 54th annual pageant Monday night. The new titleholder will compete May 30 in the Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

Late night shots test directors' ingenuity

God stands outside Dagwood's at 1799 E. 10th St. on a late snowy night, smoking a cigarette. God, played by senior Christian Schmitt, then enters the restaurant to join the Son and Holy Ghost in front of the camera.

Spitalfields Market gives visitors ethnic taste of cuisine in London

LONDON -- In a historic market filled with diverse cuisine and a bustling maze of booths, Bubba Helberg stands out.

Observing cultural differences in Australia

When you travel to a foreign country and everyone speaks English, it is easy to be deceived about cultural differences. But after hearing the Australian perspective on anything from politics to daily life, it has become more obvious that Australia is really a world away.

Sculpture puts Indianapolis in spotlight

INDIANAPOLIS -- Move over, Lilliput. Gulliver is in the heartland, and he has a message: Art is for everyone. This message is courtesy of artist Tom Otterness, who has brought his 37-foot-long rendition of the literary giant to Indianapolis for an exhibit arts leaders hope transforms a city better known for its speedway than its sculptures.

New Abraham Lincoln museum stirs debate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- In most museums, Abraham Lincoln is discussed in hushed voices and illustrated with sepia-toned photos and marble statues that give him a saintly air. The new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum doesn't buy into that reverence. It brings Lincoln to life with booming cannons, holographic ghosts and latex statues so lifelike the arms have freckles. It shakes visitors up and shows them all sides of the former president.

'Coquette' a venue for creative flair

The Ralph Laurens and Donatella Versaces of tomorrow aren't in New York -- they're in Bloomington. Aspiring fashion designers showcased their work at the Coquette Fashion Show, which took place on Friday at Alumni Hall in the Memorial Union. Eight students participated in three categories -- runway, portfolio and accessories.

Bloomington literary magazine relocates to Pennslyvania

Town staples earn their notoriety by staying in town. That's how Bathtub Gin became synonymous with Bloomington for many local poets. The nationally distributed biannual literary and art magazine will continue to be synonymous with Bloomington until it moves printing locations to Erie, Penn., in August.

Graffiti artist shows work at Boxcar Books

It's a legal venue showing an illegal art. From 7 to 9 p.m. tonight, local bookstore Boxcar Books located at 310A S. Washington will showcase an opening of graffiti art by local artist Levi Jamison.

Graham Colton Band hits Indianapolis

While their last visit to Bloomington was as a headliner at the Bluebird Nightclub, this time around, the Graham Colton Band will have a change of scenery. The five-person pop/rock band out of Dallas is headed to Indianapolis for their show at 8 p.m. today at the Murat Theater, 502 N. New Jersey St. in Indianapolis, and are opening for "American Idol's" Kelly Clarkson.

'Women's Wear Daily' visits IU

Mysticism, secret ritual meet in 'Magic Flute' opera

In Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," esoteric doctrine and enlightenment philosophy meet on the operatic stage to create an opera unlike any other.

A conversation about men

In an age when women are equal to men and men are embracing their femininity, stereotypes about dressing well still persist. Though both men and women were glued to the television to watch the final episodes of "Project Runway," men still battle stereotypes when people learn they are closet shopaholics. My ex-neighbor Johnny is one such man -- fully equipped with more clothes than me and proud of it.

Around The Arts

This weekend students will get a chance to entertain audiences with their talent at the Union Board Student Film Festival. The event is free and geared to provide a forum for student filmmakers to show their work.

Visionaries represented through dance

The Windfall Dancers' performance of "Visions" Saturday evening brought audiences a view of the contributions of the great artistic visionaries of the past and present at the John Waldron Arts Center.