The Michioan Daily -- Naw.gtiirlpnt FAtinn -gpntomhor R 100S2 _._ ltl Sculptor finds art in natre AraKoval=Mk Daily Arts Writer In sunshine and rain, a sculptural group forms in front of the audience's eyes, and visiting artist Patrick Dougherty's sculpture making has received support from the Ann Arbor and University community in several ways. The community was able to par- take in the project during its forma- t by stopping by, admiring, asking stions, taking snapshots, touch- ing and even building the sculptural group. At the northwest corner of the Diag, surrounded by walkways and tall trees, the all-together 10 "elements" or shel- ters, stand in a circle. Dougherty uses only sapling wood and a knife to construct his sculptures; he chooses shapes that flow from the mater- i uch as round, curved, cocoon-like fo - the types that occur in nature. Dougherty adds, "it is by no accident that a bird's nest is round." Dougherty found inspiration for his work in his childhood wanderings and tree-houses. "One can reminisce without thinking histrionically, childhood memories are evoked within a different context than learned history," Dougherty said. "All art is not necessarily applauded by art 7ougherty said he wants to remind people of a few ideas. He believes art is a normal activity, that no studio doors need to be closed for its creation. He said he hopes that in conjunction with the past Winter '98 Environmental Theme Semester that his sculptures, by having viewers touch and walk through them, will evoke memories of walks in nature, and perhaps make people, "go astake other ones." He contends that in this bustling, modern world, there is no substitute for nature. The method of creation blends three sfages of Dougherty's thinking, "struc- WRI- W11, I , ***l.IW11601 UOIIY -- I14t:W OLU'.CItL L.UILI U(1 - .JU4JLITWLJr0, l.1~7 --JU Female conductor breaks into predominantly male profession By Jessica Eaton Daily Books Editor The rapt audience waits in suspense as the orchestra prepares to perform. The instruments are tuned; the musi- cians are anxiously reviewing the music in their mind. Then, when the moment is right, the conductor signals and the air fills with the passion of the piece. The conductor's waving arms control the sound and coordinate the various sounds into a perfect harmony. The music seems to appear from thin air. But this seemingly natural sound comes from years of effort. Tania Miller is one of eight students in the University's Orchestral and Opera Conducting Program and one of two students in the doctorate of musical arts program in the School of Music, and she is one of many women now entering the traditionally male field of conducting. "It's a difficult area for women in that there are not very many female role models in the business and it's a fairly new area for women to be in, so the women who are getting involved in conducting are setting precedents for one another," Miller said about the women entering the field. "I don't think that women need to try to be men. I think that they need to believe in them- selves and be leaders themselves." Miller comes from Saskatchewan, Canada, where she attended the University of Saskatchewan as a music education and piano performance major. She worked as a teacher for four years before deciding to return to school and expand her musical exper- tise with training in conducting. , "It's difficult (to learn the art of conducting) because a conductor's instrument is an orchestra or an opera production," Miller said. "It's one thing to just study the music, but the experience of actually physical- ly being there, working with singers, working with musicians, is something you can only do when you have the job. It's an interesting profession because you have to wait until you're in front of a group before you can practice" She received a Master's in wind con- ducting, and upon completing her doctor- ate, she plans to conduct professionally. Currently, Miller is conducting with Michigan Student Opera Works, a cam- pus student opera production aiming to provide an educational opportunity for a large group of singers in Baroque music. "It's wonderful to come together and create something, and that's what has real- ly happened in this group," Miller said. The opera's Baroque style of music is one that not many of the singers had been exposed to prior to the project. The opera, Miller said, has been an edu- "Women who are getting involved ..are ,set'ting precedents for one another," -- Tania Miller School of Music student cational experience in the Baroque style as well as being the typical perfor- mance preparation. "I want to be able to spend my life learning music and communicating music with others. Teaching is a wonder- ful way of doing that, I think. But first, I want to gain the experience and the understanding and the personal involve- ment in music as well," Miller said. She stressed that the characteristics of a good conductor are the ability to connect to the music and the dedication to make the performance of that music a success. "1 think that no matter who you are, whether male or female, you need to be a leader, be committed to what it is that you do, be committed to music, and to be yourself, to respect the orchestra and trust what you do:' STEVE GERTZ/Daily Patrick Dougherty's sculpture of ten shelters is on display in the northwest corner of the Diag. Passersby are welcome to sit, stand or play in the artwork. r ture, aesthetics and then cosmetics" His said his sculptures are site specific, to fit the dimensions and shapes of the building or space within which they will be viewed. Dougherty arrives with materials by the truckload and builds on a particular site. His sculptures' parameters narrow gradually, and that is when he said he knows a piece is finished. Then, "I achieve such a fine polish that additions will not improve the piece," he said. Dougherty'; sculptures have been made throughout the United States at galleries, public parks and college cam- puses. He has also traveled to construct in Denmark, Ireland and Japan. Dougherty relies on word of mouth for his commissions and constructs approximately 89 sculptures yearly. Dougherty said that he chose the Diag rather than other campus areas because it is so busy; he wanted to make the sculptures high, approximate- ly 17 feet each, for visibility. The works needed to be large enough to count, and also safe to touch and walk through. He chose to create a circle of dwellings which create a walkway. Dougherty said he likes the classic bottle shape of amphorae, so important during Grecian times. Each separate "element" is evocative of such associa- tions. Dougherty's works typically stay on site for about a year, until the nature has taken its toll and the commissioners decided to lay them to rest. ;. ...a tuetsin Photo 261. In the School of Art work on their final projects durin the Srng '98 semester. ..s.. ' 'La3t. ti.. N ^ A-. 4LEMN1' TIE 1NVtir R l5T' f e aC C It~~ * s+ jarA ]Lop) *ulf q$ur book, ckothi4 ganid otL-t stuff Through November 1998* 1 7 1 Michigan Union E i