14A - TheMichigan Daily-- Thursday, April 9, 1998 _

'U'

group to sponsor 'spoken word extravaganza'

6

By Chris Cousino
Daily Arts \\'riter
WVIth the spark of a pen, words ebb onto a
withcred spiral notebook with the fluidity of a
river. A voice, fused with the spiritual essence of
life and a cup of coffee, cries out to pour itself
nakedly in the open for anyone to hear its brief
Moment of epiphany.
Welcome to the Undergraduate Spoken
Word Extravaganza, a gathering of creative
eclecticism and curiosity, which joins stu-
dents and teachers for one night of literary
exploration and prowess.
Sponsored by the Undergraduate English
Association, the first-ever Extravaganza takes
place tonight at 8 at the Michigan League
Underground. The evening offers many interest-
ing and diverse performances in the realms of
poetry, fiction and music.
Lee Ann Benkert, organizer of the
Extravaganza, said the focus of the
Extravaganza celebrates the individuality and
unique blend of a writer's work
"Very rarely do students get to reveal their artis-
tic talents on a large-scale basis," Beckett said.
"This program gives them that opportunity, allow-
ing them to share their words, music and emotions
with the U of M community. The transition from
mind to paper to mouth is an fantastic feat, and I

feel that the Extravaganza provides the perfect
avenue for students to showcase this talent."
Along with the eccentric readers, the
Bottle Rockets, also student artists, will dis-
play their musical flair to the crowd with
their second live performance. The Bottle
Rockets mix blues, pop, classic rock, ska
and death metal to convey an overall pop hip
sound. While writ-__
ing all its own
material, the band
brings much diver-
sity that musician Undergraduate
and LSA sopho- Spoken Word
more Dave Berzin Extravaganza
said "makes for anM
interesting mix." Michigan League
With the lights Tonight at 8
dimmed down and
drinks in hand, the
local band, formerly
known as Henry, will
rock the night away
as eight featured
artists and writers
reveal their work as well as a part of themselves.
In the tradition of those famous Beat jam ses-
sions in 1959 San Francisco or Greenwich Village
coffee houses, the various writers will take the

stage and read their pieces individually to empha-
size the writer's own interpretation of their piece.
Included in the overall mix of music and
spoken word is LSA first-year student and
wordsmith Jon Bakos who believes "all of
'The Arts' are expressing the same feelings,
desires and dreams, simply through differ-
ent mediums."
"I think that oftentimes these disciplines are
viewed as mutually exclusive," he said, "but I
believe that they interlock and interweave, it is my
hope that the fostering of one discipline can in fact
be applied to all the others."
"People getting together to share in the wonders
of the Arts is a marvelous thing;"he said.
Bakos is enthusiastic about sharing his
visions with fellow students. "I will be read-
ing two short poems," he said, "and also a
short story entitled 'Stoneman,'which tells
the tale of a trio of archeologists discovering
a cave drawing that walks."
The extravaganza is designed to be a
social event as well as a showcase for artis-
tic talent, bringing together many artistically
ambitious students on campus for a celebra-
tion of art.
There will also be some open mic time for
any audience members who wish to bask in
the creative funk and share a work of their

"It's designed to enlighten, enrich and expand
people's horizons through hearing stories,
poetry and music"'
- Jon Bakos
LSA first-year student

own.
After a long lull in activity, the UEA was res-
urrected in the Fall of 1996 by a few ambitious
students.During the past two years, it has
grown quickly through word of mouth as well
as via a weekly electronic newsletter, which
highlights cultural events of interest to artisti-
cally adventurous students.
"The concept of the UEA is simply to pro-
vide direction and support for English
majors. English majors often have this
instinctual creativity that craves an outlet.
From poetry and fiction workshops, a
newsletter celebrating Ann Arbor's cultural
events and much more, the UEA provides an
arena for English inajors to channel their
creative energy," said LSA senior and UEA
president Jen Hruby.
Although the organization focuses much
attention toward English majors, the

Extravaganza is open to anyone interested in
creative expression.
"It's designed to enlighten, enrich and
expand people's horizons through the hearing
of stories, poetry, and music. Most important in
my opinion, however, is that those who attend
enjoy themselves: Bakos said.
Benkert expects a large turnout for the
two-hour Extravaganza. "Conic with open
ears to match a mind and be prepared to hear
fantastic, original works read by the artists
themselves," Benkert said,
"This is not poetry on the page, printed to
have every detail scrutinized," Benkert said.
"This is a night of live, interactive, stimu-
lating entertainment with strong, powerful
readings that are guaranteed to leap into
your body and infect your mind and soul
before you can bat an eye," she added.
Admission to the Undergraduate Spoken

I

0

Fashion

Week

displays array of
designer previews
NEW YORK (AP) - Fashion Week is a marathon of designer previews.
And, oh, what a race! This past week, about 44 fall Iashion collections
were presented in temporary tents set up in Bryant Park, the midtown lawn
abutting the main New York Public Library. About 35 shows were held at
other locations.
The week kicked off on March 28, with a celebrity-packed crowd at
Roseland, a midtown Manhattan dance hall. The front row at Versace's
Versus collection was an eclectic mix: Rupert Everett, Sean (Puffy) Combs,
Lenny Kravitz and k.d. lang. Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley, Whitney
Houston and Bobby Brown, and Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn were also
there.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was fashionably late for the official opening cer-
emony on Sunday afternoon at Bryant Park. But with a quick snip of the rib-
bon, Fashion Week was off and running. DKNY and BCBG Max Azria were
among the four shows held in the tents on opening day. For those willing to
go the distance, there was also Darvl K's show for the downtown crowd at
Pier 40.
The pace for Fashion Week was grueling. About a dozen shows were scheduled
each day, with the first show set to start at 9 a.m. and the last show scheduled fc
8 p.m. or later. Only those with the stamina of an elite long-distance runner could
possibly attend every designer preview; choosing tour to six snows daily was a
more realistic goal.
Unseasonably high temperatures created hot and steamy temperatures in the
Fountain Lobby of the tents. City residents could shed winter clothes for summer
apparel, but visitors to the Baked Apple had to either wear wool and sweat, or dash
out on a quick shopping trip.
Seating at the shows was as important as the clothes. The closer to the
runway, the better to see. Although celebrities like Kravitz, Susan Sarandon,
Kathleen Turner and Christina Ricci had no trouble getting front-row seat
there was often a squabble over seat assignments among other invite
guests.
Although none of the shows started on time, latecomers risked having a "seat-
snatcher" slide into their designated spots.
A slow start for one show had a domino effect. Those who attended Donna
Karan's show in the Garment District Friday afternoon were on the courtesy buses
to Webster Hall, dozens of blocks away, when Todd Oldham's show was slated to
begin.
Backstage, the scene was chaotic, as makeup artists like Bobbi Brown and
Kevyn Aucoin worked their magic, and supermodels like Naomi Campbell got
ready to hit the runways. At Betsey Johnson's show on Monday, where rapper
music filled the air, Campbell brought down the house when she strode down t
runway wearing Johnson's sexy designs.
By midweek, even first-time Fashion Week runners had hit their stride.
They knew their way around the tents. They'd rubbed elbows with Vogue
magazine editor Anna Wintour and chatted with 7th on Sixth's president
Stan Herman. They'd spotted Minnie Driver at several shows, including
Randolph Duke's collection for Halston, where Driver was nearly lost in the
crush of reporters and photographers.
As Fashion Week neared the finish line, the weather turned cooler, and design-
er Isaac Mizrahi was in a playful mood. He titled his collection, "Fun and
Expensive."
The backdrop for Mizrahi's runway was made up of brightly colo
blocks interspersed with open squares that allowed the audience to see
frames of the activity backstage.
Models waved and smiled from behind the squares to those seated in the
audience. Donald Trump was there, surrounded by the media.
Fashion Week ended with a trio of well-known designers: Karan, Oldham and
Giorgio Armani, whose show had been abruptly canceled in Paris by French
authorities, who cited safety concerns.
Oldham, who declared "a fresh way was in order," abandoned the usual
approach in favor of a short film, "Chandra's Dream," starring model Chandra
North.
Before and after the film, eight models, including North, appeared onst
wearing clothes representative of Oldham's fall collection. Guests found bags
popcorn waiting for them on their seats.
After Oldham followed Armani, who chose a Wall Street location to show his
Emporio Armani collection. Billy Baldwin, Lauren Hutton and Rosie Perez wer
among the celebrities in the audience.
JOBS!!! AOUD
Spring/Summer Term AR
THIS
Apply now at the Law Library-- SUMMER?
a - ax- * tlh4n tW cLE

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