4 page 12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 2, 1988 Works play with reality Artists 'define the bush' 3Y ILANA WEINSTEIN REALITY is nothing more than what we make of it; it is simply a subjective perception of what we absorb. This is a concept which artists love to play with, for it leaves their work open to infinite interpretations - nothing need be set a certain way or clearly defined. For example, the statue in Alain Resnais' avante garde film, Last Year at Marienbad, represents nothing in itself; it is given its meaning according to how each individual perceives it. Such is the case with the exhibit now on display at Rackham Gal- leries, Defining the Bush By Beating Around It: A Show of Installations. Occasionally bizarre and always unusual, this show throws its audience nto reaction. And the artists - Curt Wallin, Ed McDonald, Richard hapman, Emily Keenan, Luke Mandle, Ellen Lader, and Liz Patek - nt spontaneous and unlimited responses - for that is the beauty of teir work; everything is simply how you happen to see it. The show consists of four rooms, each filled with a unique creation by a particular artist(s). The work "Innerds" by Chapman and Keenan struck me 7 recisely what it sounds like. The floor is strewn with the inner par of .ars, long tangled pink rope, and tire tracks which give way to photos of squashed animals. I took this as a symbolic ode to animals killed by reckless drivers. Though animal lovers may have a difficult time with the'photos as they are quite graphic, the set-up has great impact (pardon the pun) and the rope, or intestines, as I interpreted it - really gets the message across. The "Mental Furniture" of Wallin and McDonald is the most thought- provoking of the four works as every angle of the room gave me a new insight into the overall theme. Arbitrary objects - a tree, door, chair, and gynecologist's examining table - link together linearly through dirt on the floor in the shape of a person and threads attached to the ceiling. A slide show flashes charged words above the table. From the head of the room the bare space surround-ing the exhibit is very apparent. Yet there is fluidity and movement in the space; the threads draw together and centralize everything, just as we register certain things from nnr enviroment (things which could be as irrelative as the objects chosen :or this piece) and form concepts. The dirt in the examining table shows that the final outcome of our thoughts is always shaped by our intrinsic make-up; the dirt is symbolic of the substance of the person. Standing from the perspective of the table, I faced the projector and was blinded by its light intermittantly, showing that there can always be something in our unconscious blocking what we really think. "The Secret Garden", by Lader and Patek, is an oasis away from the city's trash-strewn walls which represent man's decay and accumulation. The rden is a call to life; leaves and trees intimate the productivity of natu We take solace from the tree that springs from a crumbling wall and find hope in its existence. The trees also appear very phallic, again sym?- ;ing rebirth. A Lometric, linear definition of space is the function of Mandle's "A Special Composition." Using light as a medium, arks of elecricity flash between copper rods. Though I was unable to see the arks energize the fluorescent light tubes on the wall, judging from what I have observed, the final effect should be akin to a spectacular light show. These four rooms provide an "atmosphere of art" in which one is forced to interact with the surrounding enviroment. The experience will vary radically for each individual because these works are so provocative and unclearly stated. The images can be quite disturbing - they linger and unsettle the mind as they cannot be patly explained away. DEFINING THE BUSH BY BEATING AROUND IT: A SHOW OF INSTALLATIONS. The show will run until December 3 at the Rackham Galleries. GIFT PACKAGES Alpen Pantry has a selection of over 100 gift packages & gourmet food baskets. Starting at $5.49. Build your own! We'll be happy to mail your gift selections. The perfect holiday gift! I I I 4 4 JESSICA GREENE/Doily If you're curious about just exactly how one defines the bush by beating around it, this photo should give you a hint. It's part of the exhibit, Defining the Bush by Beating Around It, which involved a number of multi-media exhibits like this one. Here, dancers move expressively around an "installation" while live musicians play in the background. Tommy C onwell & the Young Rumblers Rumble CBS Records This album illustrates just what a strong local rock scene can accomplish. After the Philadelphia- based Rumblers sold 100,000 copies of an independantly releas CBS took note. Rumble i fruit of that move. The album leads off Rumbler's excellent brea romp "I'm Not Your M manages to keep up the1 several more tracks strong be hit singles in a better w ,ed record,since Rumble is a debut album, you ed ecodprobably won't be able to find "Half s the tasty a Heart," "Walkin' on the Water," or the most danceable bar-rock song I've with the heard in a while, "Workout," on two- akthrough dollar slabs of vinyl with picture 4an" and sleeves, although they would all be pace with in my dream juke-box. enough to The songs are simple, catchy rock vorld. But and roll with few surprises, except for the somewhat odd (but ultimately successful) simultaneous use of organ and synth fills. Conwell had a hand in the lyrics of most every song. in combination with various Rumblers or outside writers the likes of Jules Shear and members of fellow Phillies the Hooters. "Workout"'best typifies his poppy boy-girl approach: "Between workin and uh schoolin/ I'm always on the run/ Come on little baby/ Let's have a little fun." T I--Brian Jarvinen That's Incredible (at least amazin') What's amazing, blue, and can be found in abundance on Friday night? No, not a Bahama Mama, but something just as appealing. The University's newest vocal group, Amazin' Blue, in their winter concert, will perform a two part jazz piece that showcases Blue's a capella sounds. The men and women of Blue contribute their time and talents to producing the fast and furious style they've claimed as their own. And this style has claimed hem many fans as well, mostly rom people who have caught hem chortling on the steps of the Grad at noon. So lend your support to the ew kid on the block. For $2 hey're cheaper than spiked ropical punch and much tastier. AMAZIN' BLUE performs their irst winter concert tonight at 8 .m. at the Michigan Union allroom. Tickets are $2. 4 4 CLASSIFIED ADSI IBOOK SHOP SALE q V/l t1 Sat., Dec. 3 -- 10-4 50% OFF ALL BOOKS FBAn., Dec. 4-1-4:30 & on., Dec. 5-10-8 BG SALE -$3/bag SHARE IN THE JOY Become a the cheese girt headquarters BRIARWOOD MALL ANN ARBOR 665-2539 C' 4 r BOOK SHOP RE-OPENS JAN. 14 Ann Arbor Public Library-Fifth at William Friends of the Ann Arbor Public Library University of Michigan I Hospitals lImpact VOLUNTEER! To learn more about the winter schedule, attend an Information Meeting on December 5, from 4-5 pm, University Hospital Amphitheater. Call 936-4327 for further details. 4 Dance p' i M M Theatre N Are you interested in what goes on behind the scenes in a big show? : You're in luck! We're looking for r backstage support staff, costume and props handlers. If you think you're in the least bit 'LIVE IN CONCERT Decentbler 2, 1988 8:00)pm. Michigan Union BallrooM Genieral Amision8 200 Tickets a -ila lle al 1 h M ei igan Ulti~a- i Hon )ffei. and all Ticket Ma'lcr oi dt-. Call 763-TKIS. 4 -11- IV 4 sftr. in it a.. _