6A - Monday, January 23, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
fiA - Monday, January 23, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
Context adds to experiencing art
While I was home in
Cincinnati during
our all-too-short
winter break, I had the opportu-
nity to see Tchaikovsky's "The
Nutcracker."
Of course,
being in
Cincinnati
means you
don't go just
anywhere to
see a perfor-
mance - you LAUREN
take atrip to CASERTA
the sleek and
luxurious
Aronoff Center.
Going to a show at this mas-
sive space is an evening-long
affair. You must first drive to the
heart of downtown Cincinnati,
park a few blocks away and take
a vibrant nighttime walk past
the lights, sights and sounds that
make up the soul of the Queen
City. After passing through the
venue's glass doors, up its marble
staircase and around its wind-
ing hallways, you finally emerge
in the magnificent performance
gallery known as Proctor &
Gamble Hall.
As I snuggled deeper into my
plush red seat while watching
my fellow patrons awkwardly
shuffle into theirs, I anticipated
what would come next: Soon,
all 2,719 spaces would be filled.
Next would come the magical,
collective hush that accompanies
the dimming of the lights. The
pause between darkness falling
and the beginning of the show
would hang over all of us, unit-
ing a roomful of strangers into
an audi(
I cam
art - bu
same wi
made ui
Artis
been a t
for me,
and moi
commul
years. F
unaddri
academ
journali
to put it
In af
ment, V
Gene W
renown
to perfo
street cl
D.C. sub
of notor
played o
instrum
by - an
ple even
Art
fo
Woul
watch?A
him - a
high-cla
ple wou
lifetime
guess w
But onel
context
in appre
than I'd
ence - the audience. before.
ae to see the show - to see The atmosphere, the archi-
t would it have been the tecture, the social prompts (how
ithout the elements that close should you stand to that
p the whole experience? Monet?) - all of these aspects
tic context has always craft an artistic display, provid-
hought-provoking topic ing the cues that tell you you're
and it's come up more looking at something that's
re frequently in the art meant to be meaningful. The
nity over the past few solemn design of a museum, the
or a long time, it lurked velvet ropes and Plexiglas sepa-
essed in the shadows of rating you from its treasures,
ic conversation - until a even the day-long museum pass
ist (of all people!) decided you paid for make you feel as
to the test. though you're looking at some-
amous 2007 experi- thingspecial.
Vashington Post writer It's the absence of this deli-
eingarten asked world- cately constructed atmosphere
ed violinist Joshua Bell that would probably prevent you
trm anonymously in from giving an unframed Van
lothes in a Washington Goyen landscape a second glance
fway. After 43 minutes if you saw it hanging in your
iously difficult pieces dentist's office next to a sleepy
an a $3.5 million dollar receptionist.
tent, 1,097 people passed of course, context is more
d barely a handful of peo- crucial to some pieces than oth-
slowed down to listen. ers. Even seasoned art critics
would probably not recognize
the importance of Kazimir Mal-
is not made evich's "Black Square" if it was
hanging ina Starbucks or lurk-
r a vaCUUni. ing in the bargain bin of a Pier
r c1 Imports. Physically, it's - you
guessed it - a square piece of
canvas covered with black paint.
d I have stopped to But it is physical and historical
Would you have thrown context that brings it to life: A
guy who's played in more look at its juxtaposition against
:ss venues than most peo- the white museum walls tells you
ld expect to visit in their that the bold but isolating vibes
- your pocket change? I you're getting are intentional. A
e'll never know for sure. glance at his other pieces hang-
thing I do know is that ing nearby tells you it was part of
plays a much bigger role an intentionally geometric series
ciating a piece of art of works. A quick look at the
ever consciously realized plaque tells you it was painted by
a Russian on the eve of the Octo-
ber Revolution.
It's the presence of these ele-
ments that transforms Malev-
ich's "Black Square" into more
than the sum of its intention-
ally simplistic parts. It can now
be envisioned in context as an
expression of despair, a visionary
leap into Suprematism, a pre-
revolutionary break with Rus-
sia's ornate and imperial past.
It's the surrounding context that
brings the canvas to life.
Art isn't a singular visual or
auditory piece; it's a carefully
crafted experience in which the
construction of an environment
to support that art is often just
as important as the art atits cen-
ter. The hustle and bustle of our
daily lives can sometimes drown
the extraordinary in the ordi-
nary, allowing us to gloss over
beauty or talent without a frame
in which to see them.
So enjoy the show - the entire
show - from the time you pick
out your dress shirt and put on
your heels, to the time you spend
goggling ata theater's intricately
painted ceiling, to the time you
spend raving to your fellows
about your favorite actress on
the car ride back home.
Because there's no denying
that art should be insightful,
inspirational and thought-
provoking atits core. But some-
times, picking the right pedestal
is just as important as the statue
you place on top.
Caserta is recreating 'The
Nutcracker' in her room. To help,
e-mail caserta@umich.edu.
Wandering
Nye in A2
Zell program brings
lauded poet to
present at the 'U'
By DHRUV MADEKA
Daily Arts Writer
"Poetry (is) more necessary
than ever as a fire to light our
tongues," writes Naomi Shi-
hab Nye in
her book
of select-
ed poems,
"Salting the
Ocean -
100 Poems
by Young
Poets."
Often
regarded as
a voice of
Arab-Amer-
ican culture,
Naomi Nye
Zell
Distinguished
Poet in
Residence
Naomi Shihab
Nye: Poetry
Reading
Tonight at 7 p.m.
UMMA, The Apse
Free
said Megan Levad, assistant
director of the MFA program
at the 'U.' "Her work has such
reach, because she writes so
broadly, and also reaches to a
wide audience."
She added, "It's exciting to
bring in somebody who will
bring together a lot of different
audiences ... not just university
students and faculty, (but also)
community members and peo-
ple driving in from around the
area."
Nye has often spoken up
for Arab-American culture,
expressing indignation at preju-
dice through her work.
"I think (Nye's writing is)
ideal for the University of Mich-
igan," said Levad, who runs
the Zell Visiting Writer Series.
"I think it ... perfectly reflects
the sort of bridging of cultural
backgrounds that happens when
people come together for edifi-
cation and inspiration."
Nye's poetry has often been
lauded: She has received numer-
ous awards, including the Acad-
emy of American Poets' Lavan
Award, the Carity Randall Prize,
as well as four Pushcart Prizes.
She has been recognized as a
Lannan Fellow, a Witter Bynner
Fellow and a Guggenheim Fel-
low, and served as chancellor at
the Academy of American Poets.
"Formally (her writing)
is fairly simple," Levad said.
"People don't feel like they need
to have some long experience
in poetry to understand and
enjoy her work. If you read it
more closely ... it will continue
to reveal to you the depth of its
intelligence."
Nye will take part in three
main events this week. Tonight,
she will lead a poetry reading in
the Museum Apse at the Univer-
sityof Michigan Museum of Art.
See NAOMI NYE, Page 7A
is the new-
est participant in the historical
Zell Visiting Writers traditionat
the 'U.'
Born in St. Louis, Mo., Nye
grew up in a variety of locations
around the world, which may be
part of the reason she chooses to
refer to herself as a "wandering
poet." She has traveled around
the world three times for the
United States Information
Agency, promoting goodwill
through the use of art.
She is the author or co-editor
of 25 books including "19 Vari-
eties of Gazelle: Poems of the
Middle East," "Words Under
the Words," "Fuel," and "You
& Yours" - a 2006 best-seller.
Additionally, she is awaiting
the release of two new books:
"There Is No Long Distance
Now" and "Transfer."
"She's someone who has had a
pretty long and vibrant career,"
WANT TO INTERVIEW FAMOUS PEOPLE?
THEN JOIN DAILY ARTS!
E-mail arts@michigandaily.com for an application.
2011 NISSAN VERSA. In very good ! NORTH CAMPUS 1-2 Bdrm. !
condition, black. 4,140 miles, Asking ! Riverfront/Heat/Water/Parking.!
$14,000. Call 734-478-5403 ! www.HRPAA.com 996-4992!
RELEASE DATE- Monday, January 23, 2012
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 4 USNA grad 40Tough spot 53 Moby Dick
1 Thumbs-way-up 5 Slighttrace 42 Newton or Stem chaser
reviews 6 Symbol of 43 Inundated with 54 Fiddling
6 Knocks with financial losses 45 Needle's partner emperor
one's knuckles 7 Statetfirmly 46 Sadat's 55 " Brockovich"
10 Not feral 8 For each predecessor 56 Flying prefix
14 Low-budget, in 9 Malaga Mrs. 47 Leave out 59 Gold, in
company names 10 Best-seller list 50 '50s Ford flop Granada
15 Happily _ after 11 Mimic 51 Typical 60 Insane
16 October 12 West African 52 Hot-headed 61 Record label
birthstone counry Corleone brother initials across the
17 Hexes 13 Jazzy Fitgerald in "The Godfather" pond
20 lined 1a Indian bread
21 Twosome 19 "To your health," ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
22 Heart chambers to Jos EA
23 Positivethinker's 24 Big-screen
assertion format ARMSEMBARGO R O O
25 Cleopatra's river 25 Russian rejection B R U C E B A N N E R C P L
27Surprsedpary, 26"That'sclear 0 A U R E L A S T E
metaphorically now" RE A MS M OS A I C S
32 Beelzebub 28 Angelsshortstop M O H E G OA N o C H S
35 Oboe or bassoon Aybar D O S E D V I R G O F E W
36 Baled grass 29 Sear I N A N E I A N L L O S A
37 "Jurassic Park" 30 Operate with a S A V M A G N I S I X T Y
terror, for short beam A V I D L A T E F E E
38 Meanspireedness 31 Keptin view P E L IICIA N A N S O N
40 Home plate, e.g. 32 Hat
41 Above, in verse 33 Zone P R E F A B PAL EG
42 Applecomputer 34Alaska, once: E A N P A N A M A C A N A L
43lbowedon Abb. A GO E ME RA LODC I TVY
television 300Obsceneaterial N E W K A T E J A C K 5 0 N
44 Dtestination not 39 Glazier'sfttng xordeditsr~ael.ome 01/21/12
yet determined 1 2 3 a s 5 78 s 10 11 12 13
48 Detest
49 Oscar-winning 14 15 15
film about Mozart
53 End of 17 18 1s
56 Yard sale 2
warning
57 Britishmil. award 23 2a 25 28
58 Beatles song,
and a hint to the 27 229 3031
hidden word in3
17-, 27- and 44-
Across 378 as as940
62 Opera solo
63 Like a steak with 41 42 a
a red center 44 4s as a7
64 "That is to say..."
65 Double O Seven a as so 51 52
H6 P.U.!"inducer
07 Willy-_: sloppily 55 5558 0
DOWN5
1 Satisfy, as a loan asz83 e4
Think outside the Box
(dorms)
Think U. Towers
Affordable Apartments
WHY PAY OVER $1500
FOR A BED!!!"
OUR ONE BEDROOMS
START AT $589
For a limited time only,
FREE processing fee.
$150 VALUE
Hurry in for Best Selections
We are renting for
Spring/Fall 2012
FREE BUBBLE ISLAND
DRINK COUPON WITH
EVERY NEW TOUR
Visit us at
universitytowers-mi.com
Your home away from home
536 S. Forest Ave.
4 BDRM/2 BATH House
Central Campus. Parking and Laundry.
Avail. Sept. 2012. 734-395-6823
4 BEDROOM HOUSE Available fall.
827 Brookwood. Washer Dryer. 4 prkg
spaces $2300 + utils. 734-996-1991
411 HIGH ST. APARTMENTS
2 Bedrooms
Kerry Town-North Campus!
Quiet Neighborhood!
Heat & Water Included
Cover Parking Available
$895-$925
734-761-8000
primesh.com
515 LAWRENCE
1 Bedrooms~2 Remaining
Fully Furmished
Heat & Water Included
Covered Parking Available
Free Internet
734-761-8000
primesh.com
OFFICE OR STUDIO space on U-M
Campus 2nd flr across from Ed School-
economical, pleasant atmosphere, win-
dows that open. 734-995-5454.
WWW.CAMPUSREALTY.COM
734-665-8825
**BARTENDING** $300/DAY PO-
p /TENTIAL. No exp. net., training
w Leasing for Fall! avail. AGE 18+ 800-965-6520x125
TODAY
Great North Campus location,
fospaCious 1 and 2
FALL 2012 bedroomapts
, LL . . ...' PROA
|
close to U of M North Campus
affordable rates
great location to everything
MICHSTUDENTHOUSING.COM
01ANAWERCANCAMPus COMMVNTY 9Lh
AVAILABLE FALL. FURNISHED
modern two bedroom apartments lo-
cated on Central Campus near the Busi-
ness and Law School. Call Michigan
Commercial Realty. 734-662-5500.
www.michcomrealty.com
AVAILABLE FALL. STUDIOS, One
& Two bedroom apartments loctaed on
UM Campus. Call Michigan
Commercial Realty. 734-662-5500.
www.michcomrealty.com
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY
1 Bedroom for 1 Person
at 720 State Street
Short term Feb lst-Aug. 17, 2012
Furnished, Water Included,
1 Parking Pass & Free Internet
$730
734-761-8000
primesh.com
LEASE CANCELLATION...
On Sold Out Building!
2 Bedroom 2012-13
1021 Vaughn~The Dean
Fully Furnished
Heat & Water Included
Parking & Free Internet
734-761-8000
primesh.com
WWW.800FULLER.COM
(734) 769-7520
1 & 2 bdrm., modern, clean, quiet
5 min. walk. Free Wi-Fl.
AVAILABLE FALL. FOUR and five
bedroom duplex in a quiet neighbor-
hood. Walk to football games and
Kroger. Call Michigan Commercial
Realty. 734-662-5500.
www.michcomrealty.com
AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS:
WHY PAY $1500 FOR A BED???
Our 1 bedrooms start at $589.
We are now Renting for Spring/Fall
2012
**FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY,
FREE PROCESSING FEE, $150.00
VALUE**
Visit us at universitytowers-mi.com
ARBOR PROPERTIES. DISTINC-
TIVE Award-Winning rentals in Kerry-
town, Central Campus, Old West Side,
Burns Park. Now Renting for 2012.
734-994-3157. www.arborprops.com
THESIS EDITING. LANGUAGE
organization, format. All disciplines.
25 years' U-M experience.
734-996-0566 or www.writeona2.com
AD
VER
TISE
WITH
THE
CLASS
IFIEDS
(734)
418-
4115
MICHIGAN
DAILY
.COM
0i
BE A GOOGLE Guide! Student temp
jobs to support U-M's move to Google.
Go to google.umich.edu to apply.
NOW HIRING
Spring 2012 Campus Reps
Contact jobs@GoEnnounce.com
STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM
Paid survey takers need in A2.
100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.
SCOREKEEPERS IS NOW HIRING
Floormen and part-time office staff.
Punctual and dependable applicants ap-
ply at 310 Maynard. Contact John 734-
368-8678
angles
3 Chooses at the
polls
By Joana Fismore ,iuis.01/23/12
J
i