A&E

Best spot for the show

By Jamie Lusk · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 12:09 a.m.

Seventh Street is packed with cars as people file into the IU Auditorium. Women's shiny heels click on the pavement while the men's best slacks barely drag in melted ice puddles. They have all come to enjoy the same show; however, once inside, they scatter like oil beads on a hotplate. Some head straight to the orchestra seats, while others trudge upstairs to the balcony to view the show from a further distance.

Singer Luther Vandross won't attend Grammys

By Alyson Brodsy and Nekesa Mumbi Moody · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 12:52 a.m.

NEW YORK -- An ailing Luther Vandross will not be able to attend Sunday's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, where he's nominated for five awards, including song of the year for "Dance With My Father." Luther is most famous for his songs " Here and Now," and Dionne Warwick's "A House is Not a Home."

Historical photographer honored

By Alyson Brodsy and Dan Nephin · Wednesday, Feb. 4,2004 12:03 a.m.

PITTSBURGH -- It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Charles "Teenie" Harris didn't meticulously log much information about the people and places in the tens of thousands of photographs he took. He was probably just too busy, capturing four decades of Pittsburgh history at his studio and for one of the nation's most influential black newspapers.

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.