Community Arts

NBA star's art on display

DURHAM, N.C. - Four-time NFL Pro Bowler Calvin Hill never had any trouble interesting his young son in sports. It took a little longer for basketball star Grant Hill to develop his father's passion for art. "I did grow up in a household with a lot of art," the Orlando Magic's forward says. "I guess at the time, I didn't really appreciate it or realize it did have an effect on me." It was obvious to all who watched Hill lead Duke University to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1991 and 1992 that, like his father, a career as a professional athlete awaited once his college days were over. Calvin Hill, who played for three NFL teams, and wife Janet took young Grant to museums and galleries, but Calvin Hill wasn't sure if his son would buy art that wasn't merely decorative.

CHILLIN'

The Greeks have lost their marbles

Greece had them first, but Britain is screaming, "finders, keepers!" It's like two children bickering over their favorite toys. There are a lot of tears and hurt feelings, but the solution is really quite simple. The ownership of the Elgin Marbles has been debated for almost 200 years. The Elgin Marbles is a collection of statues and pieces of the frieze, the panel that once surrounded the top of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Most of the surviving pieces are divided between the museums in Athens and Britain, with others spread throughout eight of Europe's greatest art museums. Athens wants them all for its own museum, which is being constructed with the hope that it will be completed in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Stay aglow in the snow

SIDEWALK RUNWAY

On their toes

Despite the chill that has pervaded Bloomington throughout the past week, with the advent of spring, the anticipation of warmer days ahead promise the excitement of new beginnings to both students and faculty. The IU Ballet Theatre is no exception. This weekend, the company will present "From Bournonville to Balanchine: An Evening of Legendary Ballets," a selection of three well-known pieces: the classical "Paquita," the modern American "Who Cares?" and the festive and vivacious "Napoli." This production represents an interdepartmental collaboration, as each segment will be danced by the students of the Ballet Department of the Jacobs School of Music and accompanied by guest conductor Ronald Zollman and the IU Symphony Orchestra. The world-renowned ballets featured in this performance have been performed internationally, but have been given a new energy and enthusiasm by the dancers and production staff of this year's Spring Ballet.

COACHING CONFUSION

Despite recent speculation by some media, it is likely only two people know who will become the next IU men's basketball coach: Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan and President Adam Herbert. Those charged with shaping the future of much of the University, including trustees, members of the Bloomington Faculty Council and influential, wealthy alumni, said Wednesday they are out of the loop. Directors of the IU Foundation, whose efforts brought in more than $100 million last year for the Bloomington campus (approximately equivalent to one tenth of the operating budget), said they are concerned about who will fill the vacancy, but have no knowledge of the candidates being considered. Many at the foundation said they worry about the next coach's ability to rally alumni and increase donations, but cited a confidence in Greenspan's abilities to choose coaches.

Child care harsh on budgets

Some work, some study and some teach -- but all raise a child. But high prices for some programs and long waits are creating challenges for those people who rely on child care on campus, according to some University officials and students close to the subject. "It's an issue that needs to addressed and it hasn't been in years past," said Paul Rohwer, moderator of the Graduate and Professional Student Organization, which represents graduate students on campus. "It's an extra burden on graduate students that they can't find affordable child care on campus." The topic of child care has seemingly spread across the campus recently, with multiple student groups, administrators and departments contributing to the discussion.

Teens fast to raise awareness, money

Friday and Saturday, the Southside Christian Church youth group will go hungry for 30 hours. In an act to raise awareness as well as financial support for the thousands of children who die from starvation and malnutrition each day, the youth members of the Southside Christian Church will participate in World Vision's national 30 Hour Famine. World Vision, is committed to aiding children suffering from poverty and their communities across the globe. According to World Vision's Web site, last year's 30 Hour Famine raised more than $11.6 million nationally and had more than 500,000 teen participants. Aaron Miller, youth minister at Southside Christian, has led teens in the 30 Hour Famine for the past two years at a different church and is bringing his experience to Southside. Miller became involved with World Vision's 30 Hour Famine after researching various volunteer organizations.

It's Da Bomb

I recently went through an airport security checkpoint and they wanted to make sure I wasn't a terrorist. I walked through a machine that blew air on me as some security dude rifled through my unmentionables. It was OK because none of my unmentionables were explosive. Unfortunately, if I did pack exploding underwear or, at the very least, bomb-making materials, my bag could've gone unsearched. NBC news reported that federal investigators were able to carry materials needed to make a homemade bomb through security at 21 U.S. airports. Even when investigators deliberately triggered extra screening of their bags, the materials were not found.

V is for vomit

Friday, I managed to be duped into seeing a Hollywood film (my third in more than a year), the Wachowski brothers' "V for Vendetta." The film, aside from having an absurd plot, was nothing more than a thinly veiled assault at the conservative movement. Yet I am glad I saw it, because the film captured the essence of the liberal world view, and let me tell all you conservatives out there: you have nothing to worry -- the other side is not dealing with a full deck, as they say.

Gender trouble

Bloomington has the opportunity to become the first city in Indiana to add "gender identity" to its list of protected categories. The city council announced that it will probably consider adding "gender identity" to the city's human rights ordinance next month. The BCC first considered it in 1993, when "sexual orientation" was added, but the discussion never went anywhere. Mayor Mark Kruzan believes that instead of changing the ordinance, the Bloomington Human Rights Commission should simply make an "administrative interpretation" that would declare gender identity an extension of the category "sex," a move that has been upheld by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The tide of liberty

In the last letter he ever wrote, Thomas Jefferson spoke of the abiding force carried by America's Declaration of Independence. "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to some later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government." His vision of America as a nation charged with the defense of liberty had not diminished in the half century since he authored that fine revolutionary document.

Smite no-Sunday

According to a recent poll conducted by The Indianapolis Star and published Monday, 50 percent of Hoosiers favor maintaining Indiana's "blue laws." How absurd. Why the people of Indiana continue to uphold this ban, we'll never understand -- especially since the rest of the world has absolutely no problem with the color blue. Just kidding. "Blue laws" are laws restricting what people can do or buy on Sundays -- in Indiana's case, the state bans most Sunday sales of alcoholic beverages (the exception being by-the-drink sales in restaurants and bars). By state law, grocery and liquor stores have to stop selling at 3 a.m. Sunday, and can't resume until 7 a.m. Monday.

Oscars 'crash' and burn

Does anyone remember "Crash?" It won the Best Picture Oscar three weeks ago. No? Don't worry. You'll soon see it overflowing bargain bins next to "Shakespeare in Love," "The English Patient" and "Million Dollar Baby." But what doomed it to end up there? How did this self-described "little film about race in America" end up winning the Best Picture Oscar over such substantial cinematic offerings as "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Munich?"

Acclaimed film not worthy of praise or a rent

Never have I struggled the way I did with "A History of Violence" to figure out what the big damn deal is. David Cronenberg's film is the definition of a "critical darling," passionately landing on more than 150 top ten lists. But even after a second viewing I can't seem to piece together much of a logical explanation as to why anyone should see this movie. For starters, when I first saw this movie in the theater, the audience was laughing hysterically. And this isn't a comedy. Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) owns a quaint diner in a small Midwest town, has a beautiful wife (Maria Bello) and some cute kids and is generally a well-respected man in his community.

Sex, smut and Johnny Depp

It took more than a year for "The Libertine" to make it to American screens, and the buzz that built during that time was dead-on. It's a darkly satisfying character sketch, but it's not for the faint of heart. The film tells the story of John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, who famously embraced every temptation life could throw his way. As he descends to an early death of syphilis, he manages to romance a whore, write some fabulously filthy poetry and piss off the king by portraying him as a giant dildo. Wilmot may not have been a nice guy, obviously, but he was an infinitely interesting one.

Gilmour's great gig 'On an Island'

Even with David Gilmour and Roger Waters setting aside their differences for last summer's Pink Floyd reunion, the Floyd stigma unfairly haunts Gilmour on his latest solo effort, On An Island. Graceful, contemplative and spiritually rewarding, On An Island finds Gilmour in top form. For Floyd enthusiasts, the album will leave the listener salivating -- undoubtedly coping with the notion of what could be. Baggage aside, On An Island is a testament to the longevity of one of rock's true shaman, still guiding his audience through some of the deepest, most blissful moments of the rock idiom.

This 'Block' is hot

Michel Gondry's documentary of the Brooklyn block party may have been disappointing for those of you hoping to hear two hours of that Rick James impression you do so well. Thankfully, the music-focused film is available in a portable audio format for the rest of us. The Block Party Soundtrack is a relatively comprehensive account of the September 2004 event. The performances of hip-hop saviors like The Roots, Common, Blackstar and Erykah Badu on the same stage make a formidable reunion. It seems as though Dave Chappelle is about the only personality with the power to bring together this collection of superstars who used to play with one another in New York-area hip-hop clubs.

Horror remake gets lost in the 'hills'

Let me tell you why "The Hills Have Eyes" sucked. You start off with an idea. In this case, that idea is "remakes are produced because those involved -- producers, directors, screenwriters, actors -- loved the original film." They want to pay homage to it and add their unique interpretation to a cool story. What they reproduce could be anything: a love story, comedy, drama, or yes, a horror film. Ah, the horror film. Nothing seems to be more often "reinterpreted" than the horror film. Every year, some new jackass director fresh off of filming a Sprite commercial gets the rights to remake a classic. Happens all the time.