1

l

Mixed Media

News & Reviews

ATTENTION:
SEINFELD FANS

I

t seems that much of the
American public is caught up in
the furor over "Seinfeld's" last
episode, due to air on May 14.
Original co-creator Larry David has
been brought in to pen the last
episode and figure out how we'll bid
farewell to Jerry, George, Elaine and
Kramer. Despite speculation, the
show's producers vow that Jerry
and Elaine won't get married; the
cast won't pick up and move to
L.A.; no one will jump off a cliff,
and George won't end the show
by saying, "What do we do now?"
The JN would like to hear how
you, our readers, think the show
will end. Your type-written plot
summary (no more than 75
words) must be received no later
than noon, May 1. Send to JN
Entertainment, 27676 Franklin
Road, Southfield, MI 48034; fax
to (248) 354-6069; or e-mail to
thedjn?aokcom. Include your
name, place of residence, occupa-
tion and daytime phone number.
We'll publish the best of the
bunch in our May 8 issue.

Rubenstein. "Actually, it's the changes
that seem to happen overnight in my
45-year-old body."
But why mourn those changes, rea-
sons Rubenstein. They're inevitable;
we should celebrate them. It was with
this positive frame of mind that
Rubenstein launched a series of pen-
dants, pins and earrings that depict
women's bodies as art. They may not
quite "fit the norm of beauty," she
says, but they're real.
Typical of her use of materials is a
bathing beauty pin wrought in copper,
silver, brass and gold, and embellished
with gemstones. Some of her silhou-
ettes are fat and droopy; others are
firm and nubile. "They are meant to
celebrate all of our bodies. Most are
headless and feetless, just torsos with
legs — icons, not individuals," says
Rubenstein.
"I think this obsession really began
five years ago when I had my first
child," she laughs. "One day I looked
down at my breasts and said, 'Those
couldn't be mine.'" And so her body-
conscious jewelry was conceived.
"Initially, I thought my market
would be young, hip lesbians." But
Rubenstein's work is finding favor

4/24

1998

77A

NNON:OgN....

0

gr.
10LtkooNA.

t the Westacres Clubhouse;
fiend of Westacres Drive,
Commerce Road between
Jnion Lake and Green Lak e
roads,; West Bloorrifield. 10 a• m

5 p. rri. Satiiiday; , April •25

(248) 360-0675.

• $1•

CIRCLE GAME

GO FIGURE

"OK, I'm obsessed with the
female body," admits Grosse
Pointe Park jewelry artist Janet

with the over-fortysomethings
who are comfortable enough
to poke a little fun at
their aging bods.
Rubenstein's jew-
elry collection,
which includes
more than her
female forms,
will be a high-
light of the
Westacres
Artist Market
in West
Bloomfield on
Saturday, April
25. The juried
show features 65
artists in all
media, including
pottery, painting,
fiber art, glasswork,
4.
'1,0
photography and doll-
making. Begun 30 years ago N,,, v,„
by the Westacres Women's Club, 9 °Jori
the show attracts artists from across
the state and the country.
—Linda Bachrack

"Bathing Beauty," a sterling silver and cop-
per pin by Janet Rubenstein.

Pilobolus dancers move in ways
that are opposite to most other
dancers. Instead of staying upright
during huge blocks of choreography,
they form unusual configurations.
"We have a circle orientation," says
Jonathan Wolken, a company founder
who has replaced his own dancing
with teaching new members of the
troupe. "Our strength is in our chore-
ography."
The 27-year-old company will per-
form April 24-26 at the Music Hall,
presenting numbers that are different
from the ones offered during their last
Detroit appearance in 1994.
Six pieces will represent their vision

The Pilobolus
Dance Theatre per-
forms at Music Hall.

of abstract dance: "The Doubling
Cube," "Solo," "Gnomen," "Duet,"
"Aeros" and "Elysian Fields."
Performers go from a jazz-like emo-
tional piece to a sweet story about an
interstellar mariner.
"What we do has to be of interest
to ourselves, not just an idea for mak-
ing money," explains Wolken, who
says his Jewish background affected
his reverence for knowledge in devel-
oping the unusual approaches to
dance.
The Pilobolus Dance Theatre,
which takes its name from a fungus
(mushroom) that grows in barnyards
and pastures, has six dancers and four
artistic directors. It combines acrobat-
ics, sculpture, drama, dance and ath-
leticism to. capture the symbolism
evoked by the sun-loving mushroom.
The group, which is based in
Connecticut, has toured the world.
The troupe has performed in Israel
and will return there at the beginning
of June.
"Our dancers require very special
training," Wolken explains. "How
they dance is more unusual than what