A&E

women discover inner author

Award-winning songwriter Beth Lodge-Rigal leans forward and with an excited voice, describes the "ripple effect" she hopes to initiate by teaching the Bloomington branch of classes called Women Writing for (a) Change.

Puppeteers of America president pulls strings in major Broadway productions

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Paul Mesner romps around his studio in shorts and tennis shoes, pointing out the special mouth hinges and weighted eye balls that go into making the perfect puppet.

Hemingway house sparks feud

KETCHUM, Idaho -- Ernest Hemingway's house near Sun Valley isn't exactly as he left it on the morning 44 years ago when he put a shotgun to his head and killed himself. But many artifacts remain from when the Pulitzer Prize-winning author called Idaho home.

Diversity festival celebrates MLK Day

Golden Globe selects this year's winning films

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The Golden Globes set up an Academy Awards rematch between Hilary Swank and Annette Bening, while Jamie Foxx firmed up his Oscar front-runner status.

From New York to Australia: studying in Sydney

Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in which students have the opportunity to live and adapt to the lifestyle of another culture.

Theatre, dance hold hands

For the first time, two performance giants of this campus have "joined forces."

Emerging artists find voice in TV dramas

NEW YORK -- When Casey Stratton was a struggling singer-songwriter a few years ago, he had idealistic notions about artistic integrity.

Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt opens up about his songwriting

NEW YORK -- Stephin Merritt usually has a song cycling through his head

supplying creativity

Illustrator finds true calling in drawing animals

Lexington, Ill. -- If he never sold another one of his pieces, Ben Mehl would live life happy. That's how much the 29-year-old Lexington native loves his true calling.

Jackie O's paper wedding dress on exhibit

Chicago -- When John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier married in September 1953, the nation was enchanted by the wedding, the couple and the young bride's off-the-shoulder gown. Now two artists have used paper to replicate the wedding dress in connection with an exhibit of her clothing, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years," currently at Chicago's Field Museum.

Book examines how simplicity can lead to momentous change

NEW YORK -- Malcolm Gladwell, whose best seller "The Tipping Point" explored how minor events can lead to momentous changes, got the idea for his next project simply by letting his hair grow long.

Around The Arts

Painter, musician and sculptor Graham Wood will be showing his work from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley Textillery Gallery. Wood is a visiting artist from Richmond, Ind. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Video game trend becomes family-oriented

As president of Activision Publishing, Kathy Vrabeck helps promote and develop games like "Doom 3," "Tony Hawk's Underground 2" and "Call of Duty."

Art organizations apply for funding

Artists in need of resources need to look no further than the Bloomington Area Arts Council. This week the BAAC will hold a workshop focused on applying for Indiana Arts Commission grants.

Alaska builds new museum

FAIRBANKS, Alaska ­— The walls of the Museum of the North stand out against the interior Alaska sky like bold, white brush strokes on blue canvas.

International Auto Show reveals innovative designs

DETROIT -- The Chrysler 300, America's "in" sedan, and Ford's new Escape hybrid SUV were named North America's top vehicles at the North American International Auto Show. The 300, which becomes the 300C when it's equipped with Chrysler's powerful Hemi V-8 engine, won 2004 North American Car of the Year. Ford Motor Co.'s Escape won for 2004 North American Truck of the Year.

Owner restores Frank Lloyd Wright house for public

WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio -- If Fallingwater is Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest work, then a house he designed in this Cleveland suburb is one of his most livable. Owner Paul Penfield has opened up the Louis Penfield House to guests after spending four years restoring it to the architect's original vision. The 60-year-old Penfield lived in the house during his teenage years.

China pressured to crack down on piracy

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration wants China to crack down on the rampant piracy of U.S. movies, music and computer programs and will not be satisfied until copyright violators get stiff prison sentences, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans said. Evans, who on Monday was leaving on his fourth and final trip to China as a member of President Bush's Cabinet, said in an Associated Press interview that he wanted to learn firsthand what China was doing to fulfill promises to better enforce its intellectual property laws.