0 The Michigdn Daily-Thursday, January 25, 1979-Page 5 New Loft stresses art and soul By KAROLYN WALLACE In the thriving cultural community of Ann Arbor, the arts flourish. Of its many artistic organizations and in- stitutions, though, the new Canterbury Loft stands out, chiefly due to what its organizers see as its guiding purpose. "The focus here is not on entertainment itself, but on entertainment as a means of social change," explains Andrew Foster, chaplain at the loft, which also K serves as the campus Episcopal ministry. The loft has been open since . September of this year. Canterbury Loft sponsors and sup- ports various artistic events that have in common, spokespersons say, some sort of ethical or spiritual theme. The staff's commitment to this idea, they hope, brings people to focus on the various elements of their lives and to arrange their priorities. The loft's of- ferings include plays, dramatic readings, musical performances of all kinds, art exhibitions, poetry readings, dance performances, film showings, and special programs for ,artists, as well as opportunities for new people to become involved in the numerous modes of expression. Located at 332 South State Street, Canterbury Loft possesses just the warmth and intimacy suggested by its name. The atmosphere is cozy, and yet very open, with plenty of versatile space. There , is a small lobby' with couches and chairs, numerous plants, and a big skylight which add character to the room. The walls display the ar- twork of Bob Bennett, also the designer of the Canterbury Loft's new publicity posters, ,soon to be seen around cam- pus. The lobby leads into the performing area which can be arranged according to the type of performance. Designed by Sarah Campbell, one of the walls of the room is covered with a montage of different colored pillows which serve both as artwork and as cushions for the audience members. Canterbury Loft is the Episcopal campus ministry for the University of Michigan. Though the loft is recognized by MSA, it receives no University fun- ds. A sign appears at the main entrance which reads: "Events at Canterbury Loft are presented for people in the University of Michigan community. So that financial considerations will not prevent people from attending events at the Loft, admission prices are kept low." Most performers receive 75 per cent of the proceeds, and the remaining 25 per cent goes toward overhead. Andrew Foster and John Ellis, producer for Canterbury Loft, express hopes that eventually the Loft will be used by the community as a place to drop by as well as a gathering place for artists. Performances thus far have been well received. Foster says, "Succcess does not lie in huge audiences or in elaborate productions, but is measured in the intensity of performance. Inten- sity breaks down the distance between performer and observer." He. em- phasizes, "The closeness created here is really something different." Producer John Ellis encourages people to .come and explore the possibility of performing at the Loft. "There are no religious constraints on what we do. We're looking for provocative ways to raise issues." Why does the combination of theater and religion work for Canterbury Loft? "For me," says Andrew Foster, "(theater) has always been a powerful avenue of discovery. Theater and religion are born of the same stream." h.. word's out on ampus If you want to be in the know, you should be reading The Daily . the latest in news, sports, les affaires academiques, and entertainment .. CALL 764-0558 to order your subscription today B I r i! I' +'11 r , i Il Poet ryRead ing with Genghies, Ron Taylor, Jim Grondin Reading from their works Thurs. Jan. 25-7:30 at GUILD HOUSE Admission FREE 802 Monroe Betty Carter (at right) shows some of the emotion she handed out generously to two full- house audiences at the Earle Tuesday evening. The Detroit-born Carter sang a pair of well mixed sets, exhibiting marvelously the best possible musical instrument: the human voice. Carter handled racing be-bop tunes, scat songs, and - Best and most abun- dantly of all - slow ballads. the Collaborative winter art & Craft clas ses Classes and workshops including: JEWELRY & PRINTMAKING REGISTER NOW-CLASSES BEGIN JAN. 29 U-M Artists & Craftsmen Guild 763-4430 2nd Floor, Michigan Union .' , ',f y. t Composer Owens here tonight Robert Owens - composer, coach, pianist, and actor now residing in West Germany - will ac'ompany faculty and students of the University School of Music in a program of his songs Thur- sday night at 8 p.m. in the school's Recital Hall on North Campus. Willis Patterson, Leonard Johnson, Jacqueline Paige-Green, Uzee Brown and Kathleen Segar will sing Seven Sets of Songs to texts by Langston Hughs, Emily Dickinson, Claude Mckay and Lord Byron. The songs to texts by Hughs came about because of a per- sonal acquaintanceship of the com- poser with Mr. Hughs. He gave the set of poems "Fields of Wonder" to Mr. Owens and asked him to set $hem to music. The collection of poems has resulted in over fifty songs to date. A NATIVE of Berkley, California, Robert Owens has resided in Munich for the past twelve years. At that age, while still a student at Berkley High School, Owens performed as soloist in his first concerto for piano and or- chestra with the Berkeley Young People's Symphony. Scholarships enabled him to continue his piano studies under Alexander Raab in Vien- na, Austria. After a stint in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, Owens studied with Alfred Cortot at the Paris Ecole Normale de Musique. After a debut as concert pianist in Copenhagen, he became a student of Grete Hin- terhofer at the Vienna Academy of Music, performing concerts in Den- mark and Austria. His opera Kultur! Kultur! was first produced in Ulm in 1970, and he has completed the piano score of a second, "Die Brille". During the past two years, in addition to acting, and com- posing, he has directed The Fantastiks, Ionesco's The Lesson, and James Saunders The Neighbors. Owens wrote music to an early "Singspiel" from Goethe. He directed this play and acted in it as well. Owens had the distinction of being the first black actor to act and sing Goethe, in German. Mr. Owens will appear on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at gFiver- falls to do a series of lectures on his music, Langston Hughs, and aspects of his career in Germany as an ac- tor/musician. During Mr. Owens visit to Ann Arbor, he will be a guest lecturer_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in several classes, and will meet with individual students. The concert is part of a series of music by black com- posers, theEva Jessye Afro-American Music Series. There is no charge for the performance. BIG GE TAPE C IRGE'S ALSOCSALE SONY CASSETTES Owens Mediatrics presents MY FAIR LADY (George Cukor) The internationally known beauty AUDREY HEPBURN plays an uncouth flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who is tutored into gentility by Professor Henry Higgins played by REX HAR- RISON. Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture of the year. Adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play, PYGMALLION. Thurs., Jan. 25 Assembly Hall, Mich Union 6:45, 9:30 The New Erotic Film Festival From avant garde to outright raunchy, including the scene that made DEEP THROAT the famous film it is today, from animation to 'porn' from the past. THE NEW EROTIC FILM FESTIVAL is a masterpiece of x-rated fun. C-90 . .. .. .... C-120 . ... .... $1.44 each $1.98 each $2.79 each A LL SCOTCH RECORDING TAPE 50% OFF MEMOREX 90-MINUTE 8-TRACKS Regularly $5:98. NOW BASF 2-HOUR PERFORMANCE SERIES CASSETTES 120 ,.. Regularly $3.60 NOW$288 .' MEMOREN' .. 60-MtNUTE we x .5 -TRACKS Regularly $4.98 NOW' U $288: L, i MEMOREX 90-MINUTE CASSETTES NOW ONLY $5 $388 Fri., Jan. 26 Nat. Sci. Aud. 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 SALE PRICES GOOD THROUGH JAN. 31st -and- D:~. _ v4L4~.aj.huj0qL~d21 a,, ~ - I.