ARTS The Michigan Daily Wednesday, March 16, 1988 Page 7 'Inuit Drawings' makes only U.S 0 By Lauren Shapiro Refreshingly innovative and not to be missed - this is all you need to know about Contemporary Inuit Drawings now showing for the first and only time in the United States at the University's Museum of Art. Mame Jackson, associate dean and assistant professor at the School of Art, researched and helped to organize the exhibit which she claims is "a unique opportunity to see one-of-a-kind work that has not been as accessible" as sculptures and prints. All 83 pieces reflect a culture untarnished by outside influences. These works are direct and expressive in content, revealing the celebratory nature of the Inuits themselves. Subjects include Arctic game animals, people in traditional dress engaged in everyday activities, mythical heroes, and folklore tales. Although the Inuits live in the Canadian Arctic, they prefer not to be referred to as Eskimos. As Jackson explains, "They grew to maturity depending for their survival on the flesh of fish and birds and of the animals of the sea and land. During the short summers they lived in skin tents and through the long winters, in snow houses." Until the last 30 years, they lived in huts, and while their culture has progressed in many ways, they still remain a hunting people. At the same time, they have expanded their economy to include mineral development and some tourism, creating a market for their distinctive artistic creations. These expansions in art are very recent because the Inuit were not introduced to paper and pencils until the early 1960s. Judith M. Nasby of the University of Guelph's Macdonald Stewart Art Centre in Ontario explains, "Drawing within Inuit cultures as a whole has progressed from the incised decoration and markings on tools and sacred objects in prehistoric times, to a means of communication between Inuk and explorer, whaler and anthropologist, from the 18th and 20th centuries. In the contemporary period, drawing for purely personal pleasure, pride of workmanship, as well as economic necessity, has motivated the artists." Because of these recent cultural developments, many of the artists are second generation Inuits ranging in age from 20 to 30. All of the works presented in the exhibit relish the energetic, intimate, and almost spiritual qualities which inhabit the Inuit culture. Jackson says the works come "untrained, out of the richness of their imagination ... it is the least commercialized of art forms - unaffected by market tastes." In Ruth Annaqtuusi Tulurialik's "Hunting on the Land in Summertime," the traditional roles of the Inuit come to life in vibrant colors and shapes. Both men and women are seen as hunters, workers, and caretakers. The equality and unity within the Inuit community is clearly represented. ippearance In "Sun and Three Birds," Kenojuaak Ashevak creates a flowing vision of the sun, connecting it to the wings of the birds as they expand their flight almost to the exterior of his page. Ashevak has experimented many times with these forms, often using skin bags and clothing as his canvas. A great deal of the art in this exhibit develops a circular theme of life, love, work, play and personal introspection. For an uplifting and once-in-a-lifetine experience, st by the museum and experience Contemporary I at Drawings. You may never have another chance. CONTEMPORARY INTUIT DRAWINGS will be at the University's Museum of Art until March 20. The museum's hours are Tuesday- Friday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Saturday- Sunday 1-5 pm. For information about the exhibit and special movies and tours, call the museum at 764-0395. Books Were We Our Broth- ers' Keepers? The Public Response of American Jews to the Holocaust, 1938-1944 By Haskel Lookstein Vintage Books Paperback/ $8.95 The answer to the question Rabbi Lookstein poses in the book's title is a definite "no." No, American Jewry did not organize public rallies commensurate with' the enormity of the tragedy in Eu- rope. No, American Jewry did not' petition President Roosevelt with enough requests to suspend immi- gration quotas, allowing more refugees to enter the country. No,' American Jewry did not give unified+ support to missions that were to rescue the victims of the Holocaust. Records The Nighthawks Live in Europe Varrick This is solid, hard-driving, good time, beer-drinking, shake-your- booty rock 'n' blues. T h e Nighthawks have been doing it longer than most - some 15 years- and it shows. They are a very, very tight, if not spectacular band. Frontman Mark Wenner's har- Lookstein cites a November 1977 letter to the editor of The New York Times, written by Hadassah Presi- dent Bernice Tannenbaum, "The chief lesson of the Holocaust is that we were silent when we should have shouted." Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, chair- man of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal and President of the New York Board of Rabbis, strives to go beyond mere infliction of "Jewish guilt" when he attempts to identify the reasons for American Jewry's unsatisfactory performance. It is his goal to evaluate these rea- sons on the allegedly disloyal community's own terms. He cites the Talmud's (the ancient book of commentary and Jewish law) apho- rism, "Do not judge another until you stand in his place," as a basis of evaluation. To stand in the place of a community that existed a half a century ago, Lookstein relies on more than 20 Jewish and secular periodicals from across the United States. From these sources, he comes up with a number of conditions that might have tempered the American Jewish response to the Holocaust: the anti-Semitic mood, evident from the popularity of Father Charles Coughlin's frighteningly popular, bigoted radio program; an unquestioning faith in the wisdom of the President - an emotion dif- ficult to comprehend nowadays; and the refusal to acknowledge, despite all the reports, "something that was inherently unbelievable." All lead to a greater understanding of what paralyzed a traditionally active community. "But to understand is not necessarily to excuse," states the author. While this sentiment might seem too judgmental for a historical analysis, Elie Wiesel, the unofficial Jewish voice on the Holocaust, an- swers that complaint in the preface of the book, "Lookstein judges no one. No one has the right to judge. Lookstein can only relate his own pain." The pain, of course, is con- siderable, and the writer uses suit- ably grand terms when he expresses his conclusions. Ultimately, the purpose of this book is neither to pardon nor con- demn American Jewry of the '30s and '40s. The lessons of the book are meant to be taken to heart by Jews and Gentiles alike. Lookstein offers the plight of the Refuseniks in the Soviet Union, not to men- tion other human rights violations worldwide, as an opportunity to demonstrate compassion as an en- tire community. Understanding that the sin of omission - failure to act on behalf of a victim - is just as deadly as the sin of commission; is important in understanding the re- sponse of American Jews to the Holocaust, as well as coming to terms with, in Lookstein's closing words, "our sense of responsibility in the future." -Mark Swartz I go 9th An Hill Str THE By Eu with gi Barry nnual Conference on the Holocaust eet Players presents E LESSON gene lonesco TrL uest artist Tick Boys HiM Foundation B'nai B'rith HillelI Thur., March 17, 8pm Saturday, March 19, 8pm and 12 midnight Sunday, March 20, 2pm ueblood Theatre, Frieze Bldg. ets Available at Hillel 663-3336 I I I I TALK TO US (an interactive theatre troupe) I U monica playing is the m o s t outstanding musical aspect of the group. He can wail with the best of them. Vocals are the band's weak point. The Nighthawks feature three lead singers but all of them sound like they've sucked down a few too many Marlboro reds. The Nighthawks have no trouble covering a fairly wide range of musi- cal territories from the rock 'n' roll of "If You Love Me" to the rocka- billy "Back to the City," the straight blues of "Mighty Long Time," and the loping country rock of "Nothin' But You. -Alan Paul o M e- --, CLASSIFIED ADSI Call 764-0557 FRESH OVEN BAKED PIZZA IN SECONDS! ANN ARBOR T 4- No Jacket Required 1220 SOUTH UNIVERSITY (CORNER S. UNIVERSITY & FOREST> 665-2034 Hours Monday-Thursday 10:30 AM-Midnight Friday-Saturday 10:30 AM-2:00 AM to work at Michigan Telefund Earn $4.50-$6.50/hr. plus bonuses Flexible evening hours ,NN Sunday 10:30 AM-Midnight 0 0 0 - p .I.. - PIZZA BY THE SLICE - SALADS - SPAGHETTI - LASAGNA - VEAL PARMESAN * CAESARS SANDWICHES® - CRAZY CRUSTS® & SAUCE DINE-IN or CARRY-OUT VALUABLE COUPON - M = VALUABLE COUPON B - - VALUABLE COUPON -l - -- Buy any ,SMALL 3 Caesars "*E..w,#SML . Doubleo andwich I pi l wGourmet Slice,