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10 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 6, 2002 -
ART S
Over 30 pieces decorate Picasso's
masterwork exhibit here at the 'U'
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By Christine Lasek
Daily Fine/Performing Arts Editor
Through Sept. 15, the Michigan Museum of Art is
featuring "Picasso: Masterworks from the Collec-
tion" in the Museum Aspe. This collection is an
overview of Picasso career, and is comprised of 31
works, most of which are from the UMMA's own
extensive collection.
The artistic career of Pablo Picasso lasted over
s75 years, until his death in 1973. He painted his
first picture at the age of 10, under the guidance of
his father, and went on to create an astounding
body of work spanning several genres of visual
art. Although he is perhaps most famous for his
pioneering efforts in cubism, his full body of
works span all facets of art, including sculptures,
printsand ceramics.
In "Masterworks from the Collection," there are
several different artistic forms, including oil paint-
ings, drawings, etchings, engravings, dry point
and lithographs. This collection is split into the-
matic sections, offering an opportu-
nity to examine Picasso's evolving
treatment of a few of his favorite
subjects. These favorite subject mat- PicA
ters include nudes, interiors and MASTEI
seated women, and these reappear- FROli
ances in different artistic forms and COLLE
periods not only illustrate Picasso's At The
personal growth, but also serve as a Museu
survey of significant 20th century
innovations in art. Thru
One of the oils on canvas included Michigan N
in this collection is "Two Girls
Reading, 1934," which is one of sev-
eral works demonstrating a fascination with
women engaged in everyday activities. Several of
Picasso's paintings done in the 1930s are said to
reflect Picasso's pleasure at having a new love
tm
SS
lu"
interest, Marie Therese Walter. The curvilinear
lines present in "Two Girls Reading" almost
express and underlying eroticism,
which could seem to lend support to
this hypothesis.
SSO: I Picasso's pieces illustrate a person-
WORKS al need to discover the true nature of
THE the thing observed. The violent but
'TION still poetic movement of a bullfight
is evident in his oil on canvas "The
lich an Bullfight, 1934," and the purposeful-
o rt ly striped bodice in "Portrait of Fran-
ept. 9 coise, 1949," seemingly enforces the
seum of Art idea of precision as beauty. Picasso's
works of art are never stagnant, but
instead always have an underlying
activity, even in his "still lifes." In this collection,
one can see how this idea of movement evolved
throughout the years of Picasso's career, always evi-
dent even with his ever-changing style.
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Courtesy of UMMA
Picasso's 'The Bullfight, 1934.'
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Author Preston tackles tough green issue
in Adventures in Global Marijuana Culture'
By Neal Pais
Daily Books Editor
Just a mere week into a fresh
new semester at the University,
and already the stress is palpable.
The middle-of-the-week bar nights
and endless hours of "Sopranos"
DVD-watching of our paltry 'wel-
come week' is over. But before you
get yourself sucked into your next
No Doz-fueled highlighting binge,
perhaps you should treat yourself
to a break. Suggestion: Instead of
that pesky Econ
homewvork, crack open a
a book on everyone's
favorite herb. Pre-n 7P
ston's book' is the lat-
est journalistic foray POT P
into illicit botany and ADVENT
worldwide. GL(
"Pot Planet" is a MARI]
sort of contemporary CULL
"Around the World in
80 Days" with a wee By Brian
bit o' reefer to make Grove
globetrotting even
sweeter. Written by
Vancouver native Brian Preston, a
frequent contributor to the likes of
Playboy, Vogue and Rolling Stone,
the book takes its readers on a fun
jaunt through the journalist's
hometown and a host of exotic
locales such as Morocco, Nepal
and of course, stoner friendly
Amsterdam. The tone of the book
is lighthearted yet distinctly pro-
fessional - a unique feature in the
annals of drug-related literature.
Most teetotalers of THC will
probably assume that Preston's
unadorned travel narrative is sim-
ply another cheap druggie's trip
report. But "Pot Planet" is actually
a truly fascinating look at the most
pot friendly cultures
of the world. "High
Times" it most cer-
tainly is not. In fact,
after a few short chap-
ANET: ters, readers will find
URES IN that the book is main-
BAL ly centered on the
JANA serious cultural fea-
URE tures of the countries
that are discussed.
Preston Preston speaks warm-
Press ly of his varied diverse
collection of marijua-
na smokers, most of
whom are greatly educated and
generally respectable members of
society who simply like to enjoy
the gentle benefits of the plant.
Particularly enlightening are
Preston's discussions on rapidly
easing marijuana restrictions. He
focuses mainly on the significant
reforms of his home in British
Columbia, bringing to the surface
developments that are currently
taking place just a. bit to our north.
Equally interesting are his
accounts of quasi-religious
cannabis use in Southeast Asia and
the new "caf6" culture that is
spreading across Australia. You
can even apply the tedious eco-
nomic theories you reluctantly
consume at Lorch to the intricacies
of the pot trade. Written during a
period with decriminalization in
sight for just about every industri-
alized nation on Earth (except our
third of North America), "Pot Plan-
et" helps to dissolve many of the
stigmas that cannabis possesses.
Brian Preston's credentials as a
serious reporter, editorialist and
traveler make the book more palat-
able for staunch conservatives,
reform skeptics and nonbelievers
in the world's most widely con-
sumed recreational natural sub-
stance. Preston deftly avoids the
lowbrow aspects of pot culture,
opting to infuse his commentary
)L
Tt1
leI
with real cultural value rather than
attempting to draw the readership
of the least common denominator.
In addition, readers might also
realize that the "weed" moniker for
marijuana is remarkably appropri-
ate - it really is everywhere.
Except the weed that Preston is
talking about doesn't seem to piss
that many people off.
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I EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT MICHIGAN THEA TER
STARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH! 603 E. LIBERTY 66-8480
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ON YOUR MARK
GET SET, GO BLUE!
The University of Michigan would like to thank the following supports for their generous donations to Welcome to Michigan 2002:
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Circuit City, 3547 Washtenaw Avenue
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Main Street Ventures/La Dolce Vita/The Chop House/Palio/Gratzi/Real Seafood Co.,
Downtown Ann Arbor, Main Street
Michigan Field Hockey
Michigan Women's Basketball
Michigan Soccer
Michigan Swimming
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty
Noggins, 1214 S. University
Office of Student Activities and Leadership
Pinball Pete's, 1214 S. University
Red Hawk Bar & Grill, 316 S. State Street
Rod's Diner, 812 S. State Street
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