[art]seen – Page 439 – Reviews by University of Michigan student writers about arts and culture on campus & around Ann Arbor.

REVIEW: Mary Sibande

October 17, 2013October 17, 2013 nina.j

Mary Sibande

This semester, a number of venues across the entire campus, from The Slusser Gallery in the A&D Building on North Campus, to the UMMA Commons, to the Institute for Humanities, to the DAAS Gallery in Angell Hall, to the Penny Stamps lecture series, are featuring the work of Mary Sibande. The South African artist is young, bright, and inventive. For a woman her age, she has already seen enormous success, exhibiting her work in Paris, at The Smithsonian, and more. I know how both young and bold she is because I had the pleasant opportunity of having coffee with her the other week (she is in the middle in the photo above).

The professor to whom I am a research assistant, Frieda Ekotto, is writing an article about Mary Sibande’s work and invited me to join her for the interview. We met at Amer’s on State Street and sat near the window, talking about the processes of the artist’s creations from start to finish. To illustrate some of her main points, Mary popped open her computer and started showing us photos she had snapped in her studio. I felt like I was accessing an inside look at the personal snapshots of Mary Sibande’s work. Her images sell for thousands in museums, yet there they were- simple jpegs on her PC.

We discussed the sculpture work that is currently on exhibit at U of M. Sibande has created an almost infamous character called “Sophie.” This larger-than-life mannequin is made of wax and acrylic. The fluorescent dresses she dons are also creations of Sibande’s. Not only is this artist a sculptor and a photographer, she is also a seamstress, fashion designer, story teller, and painter. When I asked how she identifies as an artist, she responded that she gives no title to her trade lest she limit her capacities to the practice of one particular medium.

In the photo above, which I took in the gallery on North Campus, “Sophie” is weaving tangled black thread into an image of a woman’s face. Who is this woman, you might ask? It is Madame CJ Walker, the woman behind the invention of hair straightening products used in the 1950’s by many women of African decent. This product revolutionized an American culture and she is both a heralded and controversial figure. The relationship between the figure of the weaver Sophie and that of Madame CJ Walker leads the viewer to ponder implications of race, gender, class, culture, self presentation, and more themes provoked by this piece.

Besides this one, Sibande’s exhibit features another of fascinating pieces. Be sure to take a look at Mary Sibande’s exquisitely original work. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have coffee with her, you have numerous opportunities to become absorbed in her art this semester on campus. Enjoy!

Review: FlatbushZOMBies @ The Blind Pig

October 17, 2013October 17, 2013 keshav

This Tuesday I listened to Flatbush Zombies perform at The Blind Pig. I believe attending a concert at The Blind Pig is a bucket-list item for students here—gotta once before you graduate or you’re missing out. It’s not the biggest or most glamorous venue. Neither of those words should ever be used to describe The Pig—sweaty and crowded are more appropriate adjectives. Nevertheless, this venue is a great spot to see talented groups on the cusp of stardom for reasonable prices (tickets usually $15 before fees).
Flatbush Zombies are a Brooklyn based group formed in 2010, consisting of MC’s Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, and Erick Arc Elliott. New to the rap scene, Flatbush Zombies follow in the tradition of legendary New York rap group Wu-Tang Clan— minimalistic yet expressive production style, dissonant harmonies, and each MC embodies a unique persona on every track. Listeners can also appreciate the many references to hip-hop culture: frequent references to famous MC’s, particularly 2pac and Wu-Tang Clan, as well as plays on iconic lines from classic songs.
Flatbush Zombies, like many other hip-hop groups, fixate on drug use in their lyrics. It would be a mistake, however, to consider this group another run-of-the-mill group drawing on controversial subjects to gain popularity. Their lyrical content is distinctly existential, openly questioning the value of conventional morality and religion, opting instead for a morality derived from real life experience. Unlike mainstream hip-hop artists who advocate decadent, illicit drug use according to a purely hedonistic worldview, Flatbush Zombies depict drug use as an inevitable consequence of socioeconomic exclusion. Rather than glamorize drug use, they problematize the activity, prompting listeners to consider why drug use is prevalent, and how the activity is a conscious act of self-destructive escapism.
So how are the Flatbush Zombies live? They kill it. The venue was perfect for their musical style—informal setting mixed with ear-splitting acoustics complemented the minimalistic production style and the raw energy of the group. In my experience, hip-hop concerts rarely recreate the sound quality of studio recordings live, but this loss of sound quality is more than made up for when a performer brings enthusiasm and panache to the stage. Panache, pizzazz, x-factor, swag, whatever you want to call it—The Flatbush Zombies came packing heat, they lit up the stage with energy, adding a personal depth to their music which cannot be captured in the studio.
Fans of Wu-Tang Clan, Joey Bada$$, and Odd Future should definitely check out Flatbush Zombies—I think this group has a lot of potential to produce quality hip-hop music over the coming years. Fan or rap or not, definitely check out The Blind Pig, a venue that is integral to the Ann Arbor experience. The Blind Pig setting is ideal for discovering new music on an intimate level.

Listen to some Flatbush Zombies for free here (I recommend No Religion and Thug Waffle): https://soundcloud.com/flatbushzombies

Watch the Music Video that helped them gain popularity–you may notice inspiration from some of Tyler the Creator’s music videos

Flatbush Zombies–Thug Waffle

Review: Othello

October 16, 2013October 16, 2013 watsonsauce

This was one of the most incredible Shakespeare productions I have ever seen.

Starring Rory Kinnear as Iago and Adrian Lester as Othello, this National Theater Live cast is a fantastic adaptation of this production. I have never been so impressed by Shakespeare.

PREVIEW: G-Fest

October 16, 2013October 16, 2013 Gabriella

Who: Performance groups of Michigan

What: G-Fest

Where: Power Center of the Performing Arts

When: October 18, 8 p.m.

Cost: $10, tickets available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office

Looking for something to take your parents to Parents Weekend besides the Indiana football game? The G-Men have organized their annual fall concert, G-Fest, which will be highlighting many performance groups across campus in a variety show with an impressive bill. Student performers work hard in rehearsals and practices to put on their best show, so come show support for your fellow Wolverines.
RSVP to the Facebook event, like the G-Men on Facebook, or buy tickets online here.

PREVIEW: Krewella at ROMT

October 15, 2013October 15, 2013 Gabriella

Who: Krewella

What: Get Wet Tour

When: October 19 at 8 p.m. and October 20 at 6 p.m.

Where: Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, MI

Cost: $29.50 before the show if bought at box office, more with services fees if bought online, and $35 at the door

Krewella’s coming to Michigan in the middle of their Get Wet Tour to promote their debut album of the same name. Known for their electronic, sultry sound, Jahan, Yasmine and Rain Main will try to make concert goers feel like they’re partying on cloud nine. If you’re an EDM enthusiast, or if you just want to discover what they’re all about, do not miss this opportunity to see the Krew head to metro Detroit in back-to-back shows. Saturday’s show is sold out, but tickets are going for double face value on StubHub and Craigslist. Or, opt for the Sunday show, with tickets still available online here.

Get hype for the show by listening to “Get Wet” in its entirety on Sound Cloud, visit their official website or buy their album on Amazon.

REVIEW: Monty Python a Treat on the Big Screen

October 14, 2013October 14, 2013 Phillip Wachowiak

Monty Python and the Holy Grail was first released in 1975 with a budget of less than half a million dollars. To this day I am baffled that one of Britain’s finest comedy groups was able to craft a movie that long ago, with a budget that small, and still have audiences laughing in the theater to the Knights of Ni and the Holy Hand Grenade. More importantly, Holy Grail is a classic example of a movie that relies more on content than bells and whistles. Instead, audiences can sit back and enjoy the ridiculousness.

Aside from being able to see an older film on the big screen at the Michigan Theater, one of the biggest treats of the film was Terry Gilliam’s commentary on lost animation footage before the film began. With a characteristically dry sense of humor, Gilliam describes the process of animating the film and where the creators found their inspiration. He explains that most of the images were lifted from an old book that contained nothing but the illustrations of bored monks in the medieval ages. Additionally, Gilliam’s emphasis on the amount of time and work required to redraw images for each frame reminded me of the toils of animation before the age of computers. Best of all, the pre-movie showing included an animation sequence that was removed from the film: Sir Robin’s animated introduction.

The film itself never gets old. Although most of the sketches contain underlying sexual undertones and scores of violence, the film never issues profanity or excessive sexuality. Rather than gross-out humor common of modern films, The Holy Grail relies on hilarious sketches such as the Black Knight (‘tis only a flesh wound!), King Arthur’s inability to say the word three, Sir Lancelot’s slaying of half a wedding party, and Sir Galahad’s “capture” at Castle Anthrax. Of course there is also the distinction between an African Swallow and a European Swallow. What is the average air speed anyway?

One thing I never noticed before in the film are the sweeping landscapes and well-crafted sets. Gilliam truly had an eye for what looks good on film and this shows especially in views of castles and dirty villages. Even the camera moves fluidly through swamp and forest as it follows the knights and minstrels along on their quest. Subtle filmmaking techniques like this make Monty Python and the Holy Grail not only a great comedy, but a great film.