1 0 - T h e M i c h i g a n D a i l y - W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 1 9 98,_ _n_ _o_ _ _ _ _ _ __rno
Student group fills Diag wit celebration of art.
By Kate Kovalszi
For the Daily
"Art is not a luxury but essential to the refueling of the
human imagination," First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton once
said.
Nowhere, it seems, is the heart of this statement being prac-
ticed more than here at the University. Though always an inte-
gral part of the University's life, the arts have received special
attention in these
Art Matters
The Diag
Friday at Noon
past two years. With the founding of the
new student group Art Matters, as well
as the instatement of the annual
Artscapade, the arts have become even
more accessible to students.
The First Annual Art Matters
Festival, scheduled for noon- 2 p.m. on
the Diag this Friday, is designed to
encourage the exhibition of any and all
forms of art. Everyone is welcome to
attend and showcase their own unique
talents, including dancing, singing,
playing the harmonica, reciting a poem,
and face painting.
The festival is the brainchild of Art
Matters, which was founded last year.
The group seeks to both heighten stu-
dent interest in the arts and to lobby
about 2,100 students this year, offered a night of perfo
mances, games and tongue-in-cheek museum tours led l
comedian O.J. Anderson.
There were scavenger hunts to familiarize students wi
the museum's works of art, with prizes that included ticke
to various UMS, the Ark, and School of Music events. F
those who wanted to become one with the arts, there wei
the events such as "MAake a Work of Art" and "Be a Wo
Art."
In addition, there were performances by the a capell
group "58 Greene,' the rhythmic ensemble of th
"Repercussions and Friends," swing dancers from U Mo%
and a group of students from the musical theatre departmCn
There also were showings of short films made by studen
in the film and video program, and vanous games whic
included Arts Jeopardy and Art Memory.
As Mary Craig states, this event sought to ensure that "th
arts reach all of the population at the University, not ju.
those who already have an interest in the arts."
You may ask, "What about us less fortunate upperc
men? How could we get involved in the fun?" Along VI
volunteering at Artscapade, you can also sign up to usher a
performances (a great way to see shows for free), or help ii
developing an Events Calendar. In addition, Mary Craig i
now seeking students with interest in areas such as theater o
film for positions on the Student Board. This team of studen
critics would give insight into different artistic venues.
If you're curious and would like more information abou
Artscapade, you can visit http://www.umich.edu/~-arts or e
mail questions to arts(4%umich.edu.
To learn more about Art Matters, visit their Websi
http:l/www umich.edu/-artnrattcrs or send e-mail to art.mat
ters@umich.edu.
local, state and federal governments for funding of the arts. In
addition to the Art Matters Festival, the group organizes an
Art Matters week, during which different pieces of art around
campus are brought to the attention of the student body.
Students can design their own site for Art Matters week,
write to their senators about the arts, or share a poem with fel-
low students.
Courty - - A r tae
Art Matters, a new student group, recently painted The Rock on Washtenaw Ave. to publicize its efforts.
If you are a first- or second-year student, you may already ities and socializing.
know of the splendors of Artscapade. Begun last year during Founded by Mary Craig, Arts Coordinator (Office of the
Welcome Week and continued again this year, Artscapade is Vice Provost for the Arts), and Michelle Burkhead,
a large scale, highly entertaining event designed to tweak Artscapade was designed to spread knowledge of the arts to
incoming students' interest in the arts. Set in the Museum of new students, who may otherwise be unaware of the arts
Art, Artscapade offered another exciting outlet for fun activ- resources available in Ann Arbor. The event, which drew in
Swing! Swing! Swing!
Swing Dance at the University Club
AACT stays afloat on golden pond
(first floor of the Michigan Union)
All levels, allnight
I At0
By Garth Heutel
For the Daily
Those of us lumped, unwillingly,
into the statistical category of
"Generation X-ers" often find it dif-
ficult to get out. Magazines, televi-
sion, film and popular culture in
general are all
ruled by people
OnGholden our age, and we
have to look
Pond pretty hard to
Ann Arbor Civic find someone
Theater outside of this
Instructor Dante Mastri will take you through the steps,
then practice what you've learned 'tilMidnight
Tonight!
Wednesday, September 30
7:30-Midnight
Admission $2
Sept. 26, 19981
.V4
age group.
In case anyone
is interested, the
Ann Arbor Civic
Theatre has just
the geriatric
serving for you.
"On Golden
Ernest Thompson
Jeff Zupan, it's a light, refreshing
look into another generation of
which we usually don't see too
much.
While Dorothy, Rose, Sophia and
Blanche will always be there for us,
thanks to Lifetime, anyone else over
the age of 30 is reduced to an exis-
tence in obscurity, making way for
the young and the attractive.
Wherever can we go to find anything
of consequence dealing with the
lives of this generation?
Old people can in fact be enter-
taining (see Grandpa Simpson), and
they are most interesting when it is
taken into account that they're peo-
ple, not just punchlines or props,
mementos of a bygone era.
We're aided in this endeavor by the
engaging performances of David
Keren and Phyllis Wright as Norman
and Ethel Thayer. They bring to their
roles a bubbling vivacity and, though
at times a bit hammy (Keren occa-
sionally reminds one of Bull the
bailiff from TV's "Night Court"),
captivate the audience and thankfully
refrain from becoming mere carica-
ture.
Keren works quite nicely as
Norman, the retired professor who
uses his quick wit and winning smile
to avoid facing the realities that
come with old age: loss of memory
and loss of family. The internal ten-
sion between a man morbidly
obsessed with death while making
wisecracks around the cottage is fas-
cinating.
He gets his kicks from making
other people feel uncomfortable,
most acutely in a scene where he
meets his daughter's new boyfriend.
While we squirm along with the poor
guy (meeting your girlfriend's father
and having him turn out to be like
Norman is every man's greatest
fear), we can't help but enjoy
Norman enjoying himself.
As Norman's wife of 48 years,
Wright gives an equally winning per-
formance. Without any hint of arro-
gance, she buzzes about the cottage
as the mistress of her domain, fully
equipped with a satisfying retort for
every one of Norman's jabs. She has
a similarly enjoyable relationship,
with the other characters.
The only disappointing perfor-
mance comes from Karen M. Foran
as the couple's daughter, Chelsea.
From the moment of her awkward
entrance, she neither establishes any
sort of relationship with either of her
parents, nor does she convincingly
portray a middle-aged woman living
a frustrated life thanks, in part, to the
whims of her unsatisfied fathe
When she finally does explode a
lash out, it seems to come str '.
out of nowhere, lacking any buii
and consequently doesn't satisfy.
"On Golden Pond" offers so
good laughs, but that's as deep as
gets.
Zupan has a far better appreciatio
for the humor in the play than th
drama, which ought to come out jur
as strong.
Instead of letting serj u
exchanges come about througl
characters, he uses them mainly a
vehicles for jokes and relies more 01
his lighting designer than his actor
to achieve dramatic effect.
If you find yourself a bit homesicl
and longing for your grandparents
Bob Dole or Matlock, you migh
want to stop by the Civic and giv
"On Golden Pond" a shot. Th e lder
ly are alive and well, and just a
kicking as ever
"On Golden Pond" runs tomoo
through Saturday at 8p.m. with
Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Studen
tickets are available for $9, with adul
seats at $12. The Ann Arbor Civii
Theater is located at 2275 Platt Road
just offof Washtenaw Ave., east of 1
23. Tickets can be ordered by callin
971-AACT or purchased at the doo
I;vo
beginners 7:30pm
intermediate 8:30pm
open dance9:30pm
Pond," the play by1
-- -v -
program board
which inspired the Oscar-winning
film featuring Katharine Hepburn,
opened this past weekend and con-
tinues through Sunday. Directed by
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