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 iisi iY I I r sue... Before you decide on your next career step, consider the Montgomery division of NationsBanc Montgomery Securities. We are at the forefront of the evolution on Wall Street. 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