Category: Arts

REVIEW: 96th All Media Exhibition

JM Leave a comment

This week, I visited the 96th All-Media Exhibition at the Ann Arbor Art Center, which is located on East Liberty Street. The Exhibition is free and will continue through December 1, 2018. It showcases an intriguing mixture of art types, ranging from sculpture, to collage, to painting, photography, and mixed-media. The subjects of the pieces were also diverse, including works that challenged social norms and gender stereotypes. The narrative of the exhibition, created by juror Sarah Rose Sharp, is Personal Mythology: Everyday Altars. I thought that the exhibit in its entirety was interesting, especially since it included so many types of art, although I appreciated some pieces more than others. Below is a selection of some of my favorites:

 

Double Exposure by Erin Zerbe of Adrian, Michigan is a piece consisting of old Polaroid and Kodak cameras encrusted with pieces of what looked like glass and other materials, to appear as if crystals were growing over it. It is an interesting commentary on technology, and I spent several minutes looking at it and thinking about it. The artist’s choice to cover the cameras in crystals, which are beautiful and take time to form, is contrary to the familiar images of old, broken technology being forgotten and covered in layers of dust.

 

Meiosis (top) and Mitosis (b0tt0m) by Eana Agopian of Kalamazoo, Michigan are two separate mixed-media collages. Especially for those interested in biology and science, these pieces are fascinating because of their obvious inspiration from the cell reproduction processes of the same names. In the center of each are two women mirroring each other and enclosed in a circle, which, to me, seemed to clearly reference a cell’s nucleus as it splits. The surrounding elements, including pomegranates, leaves, geometric shapes, coins, and mushrooms, can be interpreted as the other organelles of the cell (an organelle is to a cell what organs are to the human body).

 

 

Scream (1996) by Rebecca Griffith of Villa Park, Illinois is a piece composed entirely of VHS magnetic tape and clear tape. It is hanging on the wall in the gallery in such a way that it looks similar to a tapestry, and I did not even realize what it was made of until I read the placard by it! I think that this was my favorite material used in any of the pieces in the Exhibition, because VHS tape and clear tape are so mundane on face-value, and yet the artist created a bold and challenging piece of art from them. The tape is arranged in rectangles of crisscross or stripe patterns and connected so they look like a partial quilt together. Against the backdrop of the white gallery wall with the lights on it, Scream (1996) is especially interesting to look at from different angles, because there is a geometric silhouette on the wall that shifts depending on the position of the viewer, and the dark color of the VHS tape is a stark contrast with the wall.

 

 

A Peaceful Coexistence Part 1 by Laurie Borggreve of Minneapolis, Minnesota was quite possibly my favorite piece of the entire Exhibition. Consisting of colorful glass elements pinned to a board, it reminded me of many different things all at once, including buttons, jellyfish seashells, insects, and sea glass. In addition to being beautiful to look at, A Peaceful Coexistence Part 1 is one of those works that I spent a long time looking at, and that I think could take on many different meanings to those who view it.

 

 

 

REVIEW: Yi-Chun Wu: East in Motion

JM 1 Comment

Currently hanging throughout the lobby and first floor corridor of the Michigan League for all to enjoy are works by dance photographer Yi-Chun Wu. This week, I had the privilege of seeing these photographs, which are collectively entitled East in Motion.

The photographs are of a wide range of dance groups and companies in action, and each is captioned with its title, the year, and the subject. To me, the artistry and skill, both of the dancers in the photograph and of the photographer behind the camera, was very evident. Some of the photographs are crystal clear, as if the precise instant in time was frozen, while others are blurred in a way that captures the dynamic of the dancers’ motion. Some are brightly and clearly lit, while others play with the shadows of the stage lighting.

The picture to right, which is one of my favorites from the exhibition, captured my attention because of the sheer fabric piece in the center of the image. Perfectly, Yi-Chun Wu managed to capture the way that the light dances on the its surface, and it leads the eye to the dancer in the lower right foreground. The grace of the dancer is also communicated, and those looking at the photograph can see the rippling movement of the material spanning the image, and sense the flow and beauty captured by the camera’s shutter.

This image to the left, on the other hand, contrasts the one above in many ways. The light is brighter, and there is a clear sense of action. It is fascinating to see the dancer who is the subject of the image frozen in midair. This is an example of photography capturing something that can’t be experienced with the human eye – while it is possible to see the dancer’s jump, the moment captured in Yi-Chun Wu’s photograph would go by too quickly to be noticed by an observer. The minute details, such as the shadows on the floor, or exact location and position of the dancer’s feet, the orientation of his wrists, or the turn of his head would be lost to the onward march of time, but Yi-Chun Wu selected the moment to preserve in her art.

The exhibition East in Motion will be in the League through November 30, 2018, and I strongly recommend stopping in to see Yi-Chun Wu’s art for yourself! The photographs above are only a small sample of those on display, and each one will challenge you and bring you into the moment that it was captured.

PREVIEW: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Minna W Leave a comment

 

Six years after Wreck It Ralph, the sequel is finally out now. For those intellectuals out there, the movie grapples with themes like sibling-hood, family, nurturance, loyalty, and gender norms. Vanellope and Ralph meet Shank (voiced and based off of Gal Gadot, the actress who played the most recent version of Wonder Woman), who becomes an older sister figure for Vanellope. Ralph becomes jealous because he can’t always look out for Vanellope or give her needed advice as a clumsy older brother.

But don’t worry, that’s not the main plot. This is: “The Sugar Rush arcade cabinet has broken, forcing Ralph and Vanellope to travel to the Internet via the newly-installed Wi-Fi router in Litwak’s Arcade to retrieve the piece capable of saving the game.”

Sounds like a sequel I want to see. Also, all the Disney princesses are in it (!?)

 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T73h5bmD8Dc

 

PREVIEW: The Grinch

Minna W 2 Comments

Ready or not, the 2018 adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is out now. The original storybook was published by Dr. Seuss in 1957. The book has since been adapted into various forms including theater and film. The first animated version came out in 1966, a musical version was produced in 1998, then in 2000, it was made into a live action film starring Jim Carrey. Now, the film company, Illumination, has made their own animated version called The Grinch.

From the trailer, the animation looks great. I like the cute, friendly depiction of Whoville. The music is composed by Danny Elfman, featuring Pentatonix, Run-DMC, Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, the Supremes, and Tyler, The Creator. I look forward to analyzing the differences between the new version with the old versions.

     

 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf6D-i8YpHg   

Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-eRRTqnj4A

REVIEW: UM Slam Poetry

Ronald McTrump Leave a comment

The poetry slam started out with a couple of open mic slams, then an experienced sacrificial slam to help the judges, then six or seven actual slam poems for the competition, before ending with a poem read by the President of UM Slam Poetry.  My favorite part of the night was the opening mic slam poems, I think these students should have competed. Two of these poems talked about separating from old high school friends as they left for college, and how they know their relationship will never be as strong. Something I was able to relate too. These poems were told with strong imagery, one using Mario Kart and the other using the idea of a house falling apart. The other open mic was a very long but courageous poem about suicide and strength using strong imagery of fog and sinking ships.

Because this is a UofM sponsored organization the event was held in the Kalamazoo room of the Michigan League. I understand that space is hard to get and compared to most rooms at Michigan the Kalamazoo room is quite pretty with an older more traditional feel that can be quite nice.  Still, I am not a fan of the space for slam poems because it doesn’t feel intimate or have any way of highlighting the speaker reading the poem. There is no feeling of a stage present and no way of altering the lighting which has the room dimly lit throughout. I feel that the space makes a big difference to students reading slam poems, space can make them feel more important and emotional, and space can allow the audience to focus on the reader and get more enjoyment from what is being performed.

The President’s poem at the end was about growing up biracial and the disconnect she feels with Japanese people even though she speaks Japanese fluently. It was extremely well written (my favorite poem of the night), and it sounded like it has been performed many times. Being biracial myself I was able to connect strongly with what she said. However, the poem was also touching upon isolation we feel from our heritage and the cultures of our parents. Which I know many second generation Americans feel, multi-racial or not.

There were very few students attending the slam outside of people actually performing, their close friends, and club members. Because there were so few performers this meant that there were like 20 people in the room. Maybe Monday night isn’t very good, or everyone was busy getting ready for break. Regardless, I plan on attending the next slam December 6th, and I hope to see a full audience.

 

REVIEW: Passing Strange

Minna W Leave a comment

Passing Strange was a skillfully and cleverly produced musical. Not just because of its storyline, but also because of its creative choices in blocking, delegation of roles among the actors, and overall setup.

At first I was somewhat puzzled by the venue. The Arthur Miller Theater is pretty small. Once the show began, I understood. And I loved it. I was particularly intrigued by the utilization of the entire theater as the stage. The audience was seated so close to the actors, it was an intimate experience. Throughout the show, actors ran up and down the aisles, and flyers rained down from the ceiling into the audience during different scenes when the storyline called for it.

The production called for the use of the audience’s imagination which I really liked, especially as a writer who frequently uses metaphor and allegory. But the musical may not have been as accessible or enjoyable for audience members who enjoy more realistic blocking and representations. For example, snow looking like it’s falling from the sky/ceiling rather than supporting actors throwing snow over the main character to suggest that it’s winter. But this is a matter of personal preference.    

Another aspect I enjoyed of the musical was that each actor played several roles: usually a starring role and a supporting role(s) in the ensemble. I thought that was incredibly creative because I have never seen that before. The band was also integrated into the musical. It was physically set up and integrated into part of the set. And surprise, the pianist was also part of the ensemble. The cast was incredibly talented. All the actors had strong vocals, and the dance routines were incredibly energetic and entertaining.

The cast was mostly people of color which I think is relatively uncommon for the entertainment industry. I appreciated that the musical did not shy away from talking about race, the act of “passing,” religion, and privilege. There were also a lot of other relatable themes applicable to the audience member’s life regardless of their age or experiences: oppression, restlessness, (an artist’s) identity, belonging, and fulfillment.

What I especially liked, however, was how the musical explored the nuances of oppression and privilege. The musical recognized that yes, African-Americans face abominable oppression in America. At the same time, there are nuances worthy of exploration. As the main character ‘searched’ for his identity and belonging, he ‘passed’ as ghetto in order to gain social esteem among his peers and develop a (somewhat false) identity as an artist. When in fact, he grew up in a middle-class community.

I appreciated the musical’s exploration of intersectionality of race and social class and the nuances that result from it. It reminded me of the movie Love, Simon, which was also very well done. The movie explored a situation in which the main character had a family and group of friends who were loving and accepting of the fact he was gay. But he was so anxious and paralyzed about coming out, he lied and hurt a lot of his friends to stay in the closet. Both of these works, Passing Strange and Love, Simon, examined the ‘victim identity,’ which is of course a controversial topic. But nothing, unfortunately, is simple.

Overall, I really enjoyed the musical. It was thoughtfully produced, heartfelt, and it left me with a lot of ideas and themes to ponder.

 

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