The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Friday, February 14, 2014 - 5
PCAP focuses on
art of atonement
Exhibit to showcase
creative work from
the incarcerated
By COSMO PAPPAS
For the Daily
On Valentine's Day, the art
gallery at East Quad will open
an exhibition put on by the
Prison Cre-
ative Arts Hison
Project, or
PCAP as most Creative
call it, to the Arts Project
public. PCAP
was founded Lk
almost 25 Exhibition
years ago by Feb. 14-
English pro- March 14
fessor Buzz
Alexander. MondaytoFuiday,
PCAP "has loam-5pm
a lot of parts," EastQuad
said Vanessa
Mayesky, the Art Gallery
program's
Linkage and Portfolio Coordi-
nator. "But underneath all of
it is our belief in the power of
creativity."
While PCAP works primarily
with people who are currently
incarcerated through weekly
2-hour workshops with stu-
dent facilitators, the East Quad
exhibit will present art by par-
ticipants in PCAP's Linkage
Project.
Through this program, peo-
ple who have served time previ-
ously and participated in PCAP
during their incarceration have
the opportunity to advance and
exhibit their artistic endeavors
once they have been released or
are out on parole.
The theme of this year's
Linkage Exhibition is "Atone-
ment."
Shaka Senghor, the theme's
creator, is an associate of the
PCAP and a former participant
whose work as a writer and
speaker centers on redemption
and guilt with regard to crime
and, according to the biography
on his website, on the "hood
and not-so-glamorous side of
the streets."
Although not every piece
featured at this exhibit will
address the theme, the Atone-
ment Project is, at its root, an
attempt to rethink the process
of restorative justice and work
through Senghor's three-stage
model of atonement.
In Mayesky's words,
this process involves, first,
"acknowledgment that a wrong
was done," then "an apology
for one's actions" and, finally,
atonement.
This last stage centers on
the process of moving forward,
beyond the (self-)perception of
being a "potential threat" as an
ex-convict, and on proving to
oneself that convicted felons
are not excluded from being
"creative people ... artists,
musicians, actors or painters."
When volunteers actually
go to the facilities, they aim at
forging a creative, nonhierar-
chical "space that's welcoming
for everyone in it," Mayesky
said.
Mayesky, who encourages
students and faculty to vol-
unteer for PCAP, said that
"there are different ways to get
involved. If you're a student,
take one of our courses. It'll
change your life,; I'm being hon-
est."
There are courses available
with Alexander, the . English
professor, Janie Paul in the
Penny Stamps School of Art &
Design or Ashley Lucas and
Shaka Senghor in the School
of Music, Theater & Dance and
the Residential College.
Later in the semester, start-
ing March 19 and running
through Apr. 9, the 19th annual
Exhibition of Art by Michigan
Prisoners will open at the Dud-
erstadt Library on North Cam-
pus. Over 400 pieces by more
than 200 artists will be on dis-
play at the event.
"The idea, is that we're not
going in as teachers, not even
necessarily as experts," Mayes-
ky said. The essential part of
the program, for her, is that
"it (doesn't) matter where you
started as long as you just got
started."
The participants of PCAP,
along with their PCAP student
facilitators, come together as
artists in order to move beyond
one-dimensional caricatures
of prisoners as essentially
bad people who are incapa-
ble of creation and humanity.
Empowerment through artistic
creation is the rallying call of
PCAP.
"Are you peeing in the water right now??"
Alex Pettyfer talks Valentine's
Day, stardom and Endless Love'
Valentine's Day with R. Kelly
fans as 'wan. that person who would stick,
R. KELLY "It's totally different. It's up for you and stand by you no
From Page 1 nothing that's been done matter what, and Twan's one of
before," Lane said, discuss- those guys. He's just the best,"
alike in the name of hav- ing the show's place in pop said Lane. "Twan is definitely
ing fun and celebrating a cul- culture lore. "Over i the years, gangsta, but he has that softer
tural landmark. The theater we've adapted ourselves to a side, he doesn't want to see peo-
first hosted certain way that music is and ple being used, he always wants
the event this Trapped in what we're accustomed to. to take up for his brother-in-law
past August, With 'Trapped in the Closet,' it and that's how a brother-in-law
and Emily the closet changed. People see it and they should be."
Mathews, the siga-along are just amazed." Though he's worked exten-
theater's mar- Lane started working on the sively in film and television in
keting direc- Friday at show as R. Kelly's stand-in. But productions like "Barbershop,"
tor, was more 10:30 p.m. a casting director told Kelly "Prison Break" and "Chicago
than surprised State Thearer about Lane's experience and tal- Fire," Lane's experience work-
by the turnout. ent, and after an audition, Lane ing on "Trapped in the Closet"
In addition to $12 assumed the role of Twan - was undoubtedly special and
the 250 people Kelly's character's brother-in- ultimately career changing.
who showed law - whose debut in Chapter "Over the years, 'Trapped in
up - more impressive consider- 7 begins with him getting shot. the Closet' has become a cult
ing that students were not even classic," Lane said, echoing
back for classes yet - Mathews Mathews' comparing of the
was blown away by their enthu- , show to the cult hit "The Rocky
siasm. This is just our Horror Picture Show."
"It was much more animated a "The show has changed my
than anything we've ever had - generation's life a lot. Now when I go places,
concerts even. I've been to tons I've had people come up to me
of shows here, and I've never Star W ars, crying. Not Michael Jackson
seen anything like it," Mathews status," he said, laughing, "but
said. "People were so into it. It right? everywhere I go people recog-
was incredible." nize me, pictures, autographs,
The theater's programming everything."
director, Brian Hunter, initially Whatever the reason,
pitched the idea to the execu- Being that Kelly voices every "Trapped in the Closet" has
tive director, who was skepti- character in the show, learning become one of the most cel-
cal. But after Mathews got on to lip-sync to perfection takes ebrated cultural occurrences in
board, the two of them were a lot of effort for the actors. recent memory.
able to convince their higher- "(Doing 'Trapped in the Clos- Just as impressive, however,
ups and put the show in place. et') is totally different. Being is the fact that the show isn't
Alamo Draft House, a chain of an actor, you usually word your loved only by the expected R&B
theaters in close contact with words the way you want to. But fanbase, but rather an extensive
the State, had received the when it comes to saying the and eclectic mix of people from
licensing rights from R. Kelly lines with this, we have to be every type of background who
himself to publish the subtitled saying exactly what (R. Kelly) will be at the State on Friday
version of the show that the is saying," Lane explained. "We and have nothing in common
theater will use Friday night. have to study the songs every- with one another besides their
in addition to the pre-show day constantly. I'm in the studio obsession with "Trapped in the
R. Kelly music video dance for hours with him, just learn- Closet."
party, full subtitled versions ing these songs." "'Trapped in the Closet' is
of the original 22 chapters and in a cast of memorable char- the modern day'Star Wars.' You
complimentary goodie bags, acters, Twan has become espe- know, everybody loves it," Lane
which last time included con- cially beloved by fans for his said.
doms and fake money "so you tough-guy persona, humor and Added Mathews, "('Trapped
could make it rain," Mathews loyalty. For Lane, Twan's popu- in the Closet') is the best soap
explains, this edition of the larity rests in the viewer's abil- opera ever. It's just kitschy
sing-a-long features a special ity to understand the character. fun. Who would've thought? R.
guest appearance from Eric "Twan is someone you can relate Kelly, bringing people togeth-
Lane, better known to "Closet" to everyday. You always want er."
By NATALIE GADBOIS
Senior Arts Editor
on the record, Alex Petty-
fer is spending Valentine's Day
with his mother. The British
actor, who has starred in "Magic
Mike," "Beastly" and "I Am
Number 4" with a mix of lovely
leading ladies, has often been
featured in tabloids on the arm
of one or another. However, in
an interview with The Michigan
Daily about his new movie "End-
less Love," which comes out Feb.
14, Pettyfer admits that he has
always been a "hopeless roman-
tic."
"Endless Love" is a remake of
the 1981 classic starring Brooke
Shields, and follows a privileged
teenage girl (Gabriella Wilde,
"tarrie") as she falls recklessly in
lose s ith a "bad boy," to the con
steration ofher over-protective
father (Bruce Greenwood, "Star
Trek Into Darkness"). Petty-
fer believes that the remake is a
more modern take on the themes
of the original.
"I think because of the time
period that Brooke Shields made
that movie," Pettyfer said, "It
was very controversial, espe-
cially this subject matter on sex
and lust ... Whereas this is more
about two people in love that are
finding themselves."
Though he has had some
experience playing a romantic
lead, Pettyfer says finding chem-
istry with his partner always has
its challenges.
"It's very hit or miss with
doing a movie like this, because
sometimes when an actor hates
another actor, there can be
chemistry," Pettyfer said. "You
never know how it's gonna turn
out."
Luckily, lie said that wasn't
the case with this movie, hop-
ing that the (positive) chemis-
try between him and Gabriella
WANT TO
GET
PUBLISHED?
WANT TO
WRITE ABOUT
ARTS?
THEN DAILY
ARTS IS THE
PLACE FOR YOU
Email jplyn@
umich.edu
to request an
application.
comes
"Lu
on ver
easy t
Wh
himse
a tale
Pettyf
he is
He sp
but he
prefer
where
"I
Amer
great,
Engla
His
uted ti
ters h
exper
actor,
Spielb
Numb
'I
"It'
As a
to be
Spielb
Des
Pettyl
a lab
he be
pragr
4W
had a
said.
huma
are n+
never
what
trying
Des
across on screen. to stop himself with a self-depre-
tckily, me and Gabriella get cating laugh.
y, very well, and she was so "I mean, not in a deluded way
o work with." - I'm not going to ever win an
ile he has made a name for Oscar. I don't think I'm an Oscar
If in the United States as winning actor. But I love making
nted heartthrob, many of films."
fer's fans are unaware that This inherent love of film-
originally from England. making is why Pettyfer pursues
ends half of his time there, such a variety of roles, from
says that for right now he sci-fi to romance to whatever
-s working in L.A. to any- genre the male stripper-focused
else. "Magic Mike" could be called.
genuinely, genuinely love He doesn't pretend that "End-
ica. It has given me such a less Love" is going to change the
great lifestyle. But I love world, but he hopes that audi-
nd, as well," Pettyfer said. ences recognize the simplicity in
enthusiasm can be attrib- the story.
o some impressive encoun- "It's a Valentine's movie. It's
te has been privileged to lovely, it's charming - it's not a
ience while working as an serious movie. It's just there to
including meeting Steven have fun, and to remind us of
erg, who produced "I Am love."
ter 4." Though still in the throes
of promoting "Endless Love"
(including a stop in Michigan),
ViNAgic]M ike' Pettyfer says he will be spend-
M i k ing Valentine's with his mother,
star admits perhaps a slightly tongue-in-
cheek response to all those who
e's a hopeless speculate about his love life.
"It's hard now in society for
romantic, an actor to be private because
we live in a social media world
where everything is accessi-
ble," Pettyfer said. "You get one
ve been star struck once ... photo taken with someone who
man, and as a lover of film, may not even be your girlfriend,
in the presence of Steven may be just a friend, and it's like
erg, you're like 'Wow.'" 'Who is Alex dating?"'
spite his recent success, Regardless of his private
fer's path to stardom was social life, it's undeniable that
orious process; one that this film is tailor-made for the
lieves has made him more very fans that squeal over pic-
natic about the future. tures of him in Tiger Beat. The
hen I first started out, I film's suggestive tagline "Say
lot of rejection," Pettyfer goodbye to innocence," can be
"And it's very hard, as any interpreted in many ways, but
n being, to hear that you Pettyfer looks at it very simply.
ot good enough, or you'll "I'm most excited for the fans
make it. But believe in to (see) love at its most purest
you believe in, and keep - that first ever falling in love
." naivet6 and that feeling that you
spite that advice, he's quick can conquer the world."
HIY L LVILI
I-
R COMEDY BY NOEL COWARD
k
a
6 1, S
f 2,
, .
r ;
'cam. _
, '
Y i,
d ..1 i.
i
a
i{
F
A