New Student Edition 2006 - The Michigan Daily -11D

Art on tap at Mitch's

"I knew we shouldn't have asked for directions at that Amoco."

For all of us with distant On the other hand, and on the other
memories of Mitch's before side of campus, the museum's
it closed down two years temporary space is best described as
ago, we also mourn the eyesore snug - cozy enough that UMMA
that still looms on the corner of will only display one special
South University and exhibit at a time and
South Forest avenues. none of its permanent
While the oft-missed works. In contrast, the
bar is moving across museum currently has
the street its previous four special exhibits
boarded-up second- on display, in addition
story space remained to a portion of its own
seemingly unoccupied collection.
and abandoned. The smaller space
That is until this also requires a different
past June. That's when approach to the art of
the University of art display. UMMA
Michigan Museum of ALISON officials have decided
Art moved in, at least Go not to fight the "urban"
temporarily. atmosphere of the former
The museum's permanent space, bar - brick walls, air ducts and
Alumni Memorial Hall, which rests metal ceiling supports will be left
prominently next to Angell Hall and exposed. The look, according to
Tappan Hall, underwent a massive UMMA director James Steward,
two-year expansion - so massive is reminiscent of an "industrial
that the museum has closed its doors warehouse."
to the public during construction. But not any ol' painting, mural or
Meanwhile, UMMA and its sculpture will work in this temporary
constituents are scattered all over space. To match its modern settings,
campus. Its administration in UMMA has planned a series of
the Rackham Building on East exhibitions all linked to perhaps the
Washington Street, its permanent most contemporary of all media:
collection in storage in various secret photography.
(yes, secret) locations and finally, its The effort can be described as
featured exhibitions is on display anything from obvious to genius,
across the street from Village Corner but I also can't shake how perfect it
and New York Pizza Depot. all is. The space itself, on a practical
The space might seem like an odd level, is almost too good to be true
fit for a museum, and it's certainly a - above-ground, only slightly off-
departure from Alumni Hall. The campus, near parking and equipped
oldbuilding's 15-foot ceilings,Beaux with a loading dock.
Arts-style architecture and open-air And by exploiting the limitations
feel make an adequate backdrop for of its new home, the museum can
larger traditional pieces - such as now experiment with innovative
the University's Monet acquisition ways of displaying progressive art.
- and is as versatile as it is grand. Smaller in scale and less susceptible

to unreliable climate control,
photographs and moving images
will complement the relatively
claustrophobic site. It will also help
usher in the next era for UMMA -
one that will officiallybegin when its
shiny new extension opens in 2008.
In the meantime, standing in the
clearlyunder-constructiontemporary
space, I couldn't help but feela tinge
of excitement. Steward talked about
the newfound ability "to test out the
modern aspects of the new building"
and create a more inviting art scene.
Although its huge windows are
boarded up and the drywall was
still stacked in piles on the floor, I
could see exactly what he meant.
The room clearly has the potential
to attract average students walking
to and from class - something the
intimidating Alumni Hall has never
been especially effective at doing.
The museum will even extend its
hours way past dusk - following the
example of New York's Metropolitan
Museum of Art, which has
established itself as a viable and hip
option for couples on dates. A little
Pizza House, bubble tea, then a peek
at the Iranian photography exhibit?
The possibilities are endless.
Although the space is only
contracted to UMMA for two years
(with the option for extension),
Steward didn't write off the prospect
that - if the timing, support and
money all fall into place - this
temporary location could be a
permanent satellite gallery. Maybe
couples in the class of 2015 will
be taking their sweethearts to
the museum instead of Palio for
Valentine's Day. Not that I would
know anything about that.
See MITCH'S, Page 10D

Savvy Depp redeems wild
'Pirates of Caribbean' sequel

By Imran Syed
Daily Arts Writer
In the world of film, there are characters and then
there are characters. The for-
mer are many; they're the fellers
who walk on and off the screen, Pirates of
hardly noticed, forcing the audi- Caribbean:
ence to squint during the credits Dead Man's
just to find out their names. But Chest
the latter - they're something
special. They're the Indiana Disney
Jones, Forrest Gump, Hannibal
Lector types of guys that stick with you. They've got
quirks that feel familiar, affecting personalities and
inescapable grace and charm.
You don't find too many of them these days, not in
a time where blockbusters at multiplexes just make
money and artful filmmaking is only minimally
showcased on the side.
But we stumbled upon one such character three
years ago - and in a Disney movie based on a theme
park ride at that.
And now Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)
is back in the first of the "Pirates of the Caribbean"
sequels, "Dead Man's Chest" While he remains a
singular eccentric worthy of our admiration (if only
for that lovably absurd sense of self-importance and
pity), the sequel itself is simply more of the same - a

good idea now stretched to its limits by too many
characters, plot twists, wisecracks and cinematics,
not to mention an exhausting 150-minute runtime.
The sequel begins (proceeds, ends) in an odd,
unpredictable manner. Just as they're about to be
married, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly, "Pride &
Prejudice") and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom, "King-
dom of Heaven") are arrested, charged with helping
the fugitive Sparrow escape (see the original film for
those excellent exploits). Will cuts a deal with villain-
in-wig Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander, "Pride & Preju-
dice") to retrieve a treasure Jack carries with him in
exchange for their release.
What he doesn't know is that Jack has a deal to
pay down himself, one that will lead to a showdown
with the undead demon of the seas, Davy Jones (Bill
Nighy, "Love Actually") and his crew of slimy, slea-
zy fish-men. The epic struggle that results - for life,
death and otherwise - tests the loyalties of our three
heroes, pushes them to the brink and leaves them
there, to be rescued next year by another sequel.
Much of what made the original film an unex-
pected success is present in the sequel, like har-
rowing, mythic plotlines, high jinks and, of course,
Jack Sparrow. But the greatest quality of the first
film was its infectious fun - unexpected but genu-
ine. But as is the nature of infections, they're only
infectious for so long.
See PIRATES, Page 10D

128th UMS SEASON
UMS Student
Ticket Programs
Yorchance to get CHEAP TICKETS to see
thworld's best music, dance and theater!
4 Easy Ways to Save!
Half-Price Sales
At the beginning of each semester, UMS offers half-price tickets to college
students. A limited number of tickets are available for each event in select
seating areas, and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Back by popular
demand, this years' Half-Price Sales will be held online rather than in person.
Watch this space for more details!
Rush Tickets
Rush Tickets, when available, are sold to college students at the Michigan
League Ticket Office for $10 the day of the performance and for 50% off the
regular ticket price at the door beginning 90 minutes before the show.
UMS Student Cards
The UMS Student Card is a pre-paid card for Rush Tickets,and can be used
up to two weeks prior to the performance. UMS Student Cards are available
at www.ums.org or at the Michigan League Ticket Office for $50/5 perfor
mances or $100/10 performances.
Arts & Eats
UMS and Arts at Michigan have teamed up to combine all the things you
love about college -- pizza, friends, educational guest speakers,and great
entertainment --in one evening. Arts & Eats tickets are available for just $12
beginning ten days before the performance for select events throughout
the season.
Want more info? Check out our website at www.ums.org
or stop by the Michigan League Ticket Office.
U s 734.764.2538 www.ums.org
' ~Ticket Office Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, S 10am-1 pm. Closed Sundays.
s()Ctv

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