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(04/20/10 4:45am)
When everyday objects are thrown away, they just might end up in the hands of an artist.Jessica Dupuis, whose work is on display as part of a series by the master’s of fine arts students, created her artwork with discarded materials. The exhibition, titled “New Currents in Contemporary Art,” will be on display until May 23. “I see my sculptures as journals,” Dupuis said.Raised in Chapel Hill, Dupuis enjoyed the experience of working with materials with her hands at a young age.“I used to draw on the wall in my house,” Dupuis said. “I relish the idea that I’m covered with what I’m making.”Dupuis received her undergraduate degree at Alfred University in New York before returning to her hometown for graduate school. In her graduate experience, she has discovered the use of everyday objects to convey her ideas.Her current piece on display is a combination of clay slip, a mixture of clay and water, and newspaper using cardboard boxes as a mold. “I think there’s a lot said with such minimal form,” assistant studio art professor Mario Marzan said. “The whole exhibition is very meditative to me.”Marzan also said the work invoked certain simple structures such as the home.“We live in boxes, we show art in boxes,” Marzan said.Dupuis said she tries to use empty space to make her point.“The space invokes a certain memory,” she said.Dupuis said her inspiration comes from a variety of sources, ranging from poetry, books and images of where she has traveled. She has also said that her family and adviser, ceramics professor Yun-Dong Nam, have also been her inspirations. “My advisor pushes me and helps me focus on a direction,” Dupuis said. Nam was also enthusiastic about the piece, believing everyone can gain something from viewing it.“The quality of work has something we all can share,” Nam said. “She doesn’t explain what the box is about, but it is great to explore in your own way.”Dupuis described her process, explaining a transcendental method of creating artwork.“I just have to go and work,” Dupuis said. “I just have to let my body kind of take over in mental and physical interaction. If I keep working, my ideas come.”The piece is “a focus on the cardboard box as an object” that Dupuis believes will invoke a loose interpretation among those viewing. The differing interpretations would be a result of the use of the dainty materials, newspaper and clay slip, in the shape of the cardboard mold. “Some might view them as delicate and fragile, while others might think that it is sturdy and strong,” Dupuis said. She also said that architectural structures within her work are open for people to explore and attach their own meaning to.Dupuis wants visitors to leave linking her work to everyday life, as she put everyday life into her piece.“Art and life are connected, they are not separate,” she said.Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/26/10 5:05am)
UNC alums Lewis Black and Wyatt Cenac will return to campus this weekend, planning to leave their alma mater in stitches from their razor-sharp wit and comedy.The two, along with The Daily Show’s John Oliver and Rory Albanese, will perform on campus today and Saturday for the Carolina Comedy Jam.The comedians will also participate in several panels this weekend that are open to the public.
(02/04/10 6:11am)
Art Verdict: 4 of 5 Stars
(01/15/10 4:54am)
For the members of
(11/18/09 4:21am)
UNC will play host today to an event that combines classical music with modern images to create a richly visual and audible story.The event, titled “Pictures Reframed,” will feature celebrated Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and South African-born visual artist Robin Rhode in a meeting of visual and performing art that made its world premiere in New York.Andsnes and Rhode will be showcasing a collaborative performance of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s famous piano suite, “Pictures at an Exhibition,” as well as other pieces. Rhode’s artwork will be on display during the show, providing a visual representation of the music.Emil Kang, the executive director for the arts and director of Carolina Performing Arts, said he is excited to see the show because Chapel Hill will be only the second U.S. location for the performance.“I’m thrilled that Lincoln Center was a warm-up for us,” Kang said jokingly of the first performance of the show.The two artists will also visit Washington, D.C., and Houston with this performance.Mayron Tsong, professor of piano in the music department, said the event will challenge the audience to think about the music in a different way.She said Andsnes has an engaging devotion to his craft.“I think he’s all there for his music,” Tsong said.Tsong had nothing but praise for the Grammy Award-winning Andsnes, who is known for constantly attempting to discover new aspects of music.“He has wonderful lyrical sense,” she said, adding that you can hear depth in his playing.The event will consist of Andsnes surrounded by large screens showcasing Rhode’s artwork that was inspired by Mussorgsky’s music.Pairing the music and visuals will help the audience open its minds and ears and will be similar to seeing a movie in IMAX, Tsong said.Rhode specializes in street art, such as graffiti, and is now centered in Germany. His pieces often involve simple or accessible materials, such as charcoal drawings on the wall of a building.Harry Kaplowitz, marketing manager of Carolina Performing Arts, said Mussorgsky’s music will be familiar to music students who have likely encountered him in their studies. And for the classical music fan, this is a very special collaboration.Kaplowitz said he thought the performance also has value for students who aren’t as knowledgeable about music.“I think that for students looking for an entry point into classical music, this is a good way into it,” Kaplowitz said. “It’s a recital redefined.”Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(10/16/09 4:02am)
This article was modified on Monday, Oct. 19 to correct the title of Kara Larson.
(10/05/09 3:26am)
Three local musicians shared their stories and songs Friday, giving aspiring musicians a rare opportunity to gain insight into what it takes to be a songwriter.In the small 72-seat Deep Dish Theater, the songwriters played acoustic songs and talked about life as a songwriter, for the third installment of “Words to Music: Songwriters Up Close.” Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony, as well as Stuart McLamb and Missy Thangs of The Love Language, performed.Doug Edmunds, drummer of the band The Stars Explode, was the host and master of ceremonies of the event. He also offered his own surprise performance of “Feet of Clay.”“We wanted to bring in the younger crowd who are used to seeing bands in the Local 506,” Edmunds said.Although the crowd wasn’t large, it contributed to the laid-back atmosphere of the event and the intimate nature of the Deep Dish Theater, which is located in University Mall.The musicians would play songs off the tops of their heads, some of which they had written when they were much younger.“What’s great is you don’t know where they’re going to go,” said Paul Frellick, artistic director of Deep Dish Theater. “None of it is scripted or rehearsed.”Django HaskinsHaskins was the “veteran” of the group. After moving to the Triangle in 2002, Haskins has been part of the local music scene as front man of his band, The Old Ceremony.The band has toured the United States and Canada and are working on their fourth album.“In the sixth grade I was in middle school chorus, and I had to sing this Michael Jackson part while this 6-foot guy sang the Paul McCartney part. So whenever it was my line I would spaz out, and people all of a sudden knew who I was,” Haskins said regarding the first moment he realized he wanted to be a performer.Haskins dipped into his large repertoire of songs, some of which he had written for his band. The songs that he performed included “Wither on the Vine” as well as other songs from his career as a solo artist.“I made a list of people I’d miss in my next life as the plane went down,” Haskins sang from his darker piece, “Planesong.”Stuart McLambMcLamb is the lead singer and guitarist for The Love Language, a newer band that has been generating local appeal and has just signed a record deal with Merge Records. McLamb recorded the band’s debut album himself and has received praise from media outlets, such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork Media.“Songs live in your head for so long before they manifest,” McLamb said about the songwriting process.McLamb played a wide variety of songs, including some written at the beginning of his career. His repertoire included a lullaby-style song that he wrote at 2 a.m., which his parents did not appreciate.“My parents were like ‘You’ve got problems’,” McLamb said.Missy ThangsThangs, the keyboardist of The Love Language, also has written songs for her side project, Soft Company.Although she admitted to being out of her element by playing acoustic guitar, she showcased her musical talent nonetheless and discussed what drove her to want to write music.“I think it’s a desire to write music and share yourself with people,” Thangs said.She sang a soulful piece called “One Story Diamond,” which she sang after being asked about the influence of tragedy in writing music.All of the artists answered questions on what it was like to be a musician and a songwriter, including the sacrifices that one has to make to pursue music.Haskins even admitted there is a stage of songwriting when you choose not to do anything else.“It’s all about writing the music I want to play,” Haskins said.Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/18/09 3:54am)
The Last Cargo CultMike Daisey
(04/17/08 4:00am)
Those who enjoyed the dark atmosphere of Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" might be in for a surprise if they expect the playwright's comedic musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," to be of the same breed.
The performance, presented by UNC's Pauper Players, starts today and runs through April 24.
Although Sondheim wrote both musicals, the cast and crew of "Forum" said their performance will stand in stark contrast to "Sweeney Todd."
"I think 'Forum' stands on its own from 'Sweeney Todd,'" said senior Katie Curtis, the show's producer. "It's a very different show."
The play is set in ancient Rome and centers around a freedom-loving slave named Pseudolus, who attempts to win his freedom by helping his master win the affection of a woman.
The catch is that the woman has been promised to another man.
The ensuing events in the play are full of witty antics and songs with titles such as "Comedy Tonight" and "That Dirty Old Man."
"I think that a lot of the dances are hysterical," director Chris Dorman said. "It's always been one of my favorite musicals. I wanted to see how I could fit everything together."
Curtis noted that the play contains a lot of slapstick humor, including a chase scene in which characters appear and run off the stage in quick succession.
"It's been coming together really well," said freshman Adam Slater Lawrence, who plays Pseudolus. "All the actors are doing everything they can to make it hilarious."
And that ability of the play to entertain and make people laugh is one of the main reasons Lawrence said he auditioned.
"I wanted to have a good time, and the cast are a really open and warm group of people," he said.
Dorman said efforts to keep things fresh on stage, and the nature of the play itself, often cause the cast to roll with laughter during rehearsals.
The role of director has been a "big learning experience" for Dorman, who said he now appreciates the work that is required to go into a production.
"I've only really been on the acting standpoint," Dorman said. "I'm trying to play with new things but it's easy to let (the cast) go at it. It produces a really natural result."
And Curtis had nothing but praise for Dorman and the rest of the cast.
"Chris brings so much that's different and unique," Curtis said. "The process is very collaborative and dynamic and we have a very talented cast. The actors really get it."
As a result, the play is geared to capture the audience's attention through comical dances and music Curtis said has "a lot of substance and depth."
Promoting Pauper Players and its accomplishments this school year, specifically with "Forum," is a particular goal of Dorman's.
"I want the audience to become avid fans of this organization," Dorman said. "It is a great night's entertainment."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/22/08 5:00am)
Performers in the next installment of the Music on the Hill series said students will be able to appreciate and recognize many pieces in Saturday's "When Composers Speak Our Language."
The event, which takes place 8 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Hall aims to showcase composers who utilize popular genres and styles in order to capture the audience.
Terry Rhodes, a professor of music at UNC who is performing in the concert, said she expects the variety of music to appeal to a wide range of listeners.
"It's a real interesting mix of music," Rhodes said. "Each song is like a little short story, and the way that they're set is a real twist."
Some of the composers featured in the program include William Bolcom, Kurt Weill, Paul Schoenfield and Darius Milhaud, who are known for their jazz, cabaret and folk idioms. Rhodes will perform pieces from "Cabaret Songs" by Bolcom, as well as various songs by Weill.
"They're such witty songs," Rhodes said. "They're just fantastic."
Bolcom is known for his juxtaposition of sections of astringent, dissonant music with accessible, almost pop-song melody derived from his lifelong love of rag and the American popular song, according to Richard Luby, a professor and performer from UNC. Weill was a German composer who was more recognized for his tendency toward vocal music and musical theater.
Rhodes, who is also director of the UNC Opera theatre, has performed in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Central America and South America, as well as across the U.S.
She will sing soprano alongside Jane Hawkins, a pianist and music professor at Duke University, who Rhodes has collaborated with for many years.
"I'm sort of an outsider," Hawkins joked about her status as a "Dookie."
But Rhodes said she had nothing but praise for Hawkins, referencing her "wonderful musical ideas" and how her piano "lifts" Rhodes' musical abilities.
"Jane is the kind of musician that helps me sing better," Rhodes said. "We just don't talk basketball."
Hawkins graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London and has been involved in an array of musical achievements, including several recordings such as "Melancholie," a record produced by Albany Records.
The performance will also feature members of the Carolina Wind Quintet and the UNC faculty strings.
As advertised, the program will address questions of what it means for composers to speak our language.
Tim Carter, chairman of UNC's music department, said that occurs when "art" and "popular" intersect, "forcing the artist - and even us - to think and feel outside the box."
And Rhodes agreed, saying she feels confident audiences will enjoy the performance.
"I think that it's a program the students will like," Rhodes said. "The text of the songs will speak to them."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(02/11/08 5:00am)
When the lights dimmed to a single spotlight on a piano on stage Saturday at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, audiences might have suspected "The Love Show" would be a quiet, romantic performance.
But during the show, audience members saw performers depict wild teenagers and overly affectionate in-laws.
Hosted by the Transactors, an ArtsCenter-based improv group, the Valentine's Day-themed "Love Show" featured a cast of seven performers - all of whom got up close and personal with one another.
The show traditionally involves every cast member kissing one another at some point.
During the show, Transactors members asked the audience for various Valentine's Day-related scenarios and improvised a play based on the suggestions given.
Company member Mike Beard improvised lights and sound, while fellow member Mike Lewis added piano accompaniment throughout the show.
"It's fun to do scenes about sex," said Greg Hohn, who directed and acted in the performance. "It's surprising how little others focus on it. It's such a rich area."
Some of the topics the audience picked Saturday were chocolate, champagne and sex, depression and divorce. After audience members called out proposed topics, actors took the stage and created multiple characters and scenarios almost immediately.
"You have to be willing to accept what other people are doing," said Rachel Klem, one of the performers. "One thing about improv is going onto the stage with a piece of the story and going with it."
All of the scenes took place in a restaurant on Valentine's Day. The cast of characters included an inappropriately passionate elderly couple, high school students, a homosexual couple, a psychotic chef and two bar prowlers who made advances toward every female on stage.
The Transactors were able to create more than 10 humorous storylines that all resolved themselves in the nearly two-hour production.
There were even a few musical numbers involved, including a song with the refrain "sometimes a fellow is more than a fellow."
Lynden Harris, director of the ArtsCenter stage, said the Transactors have been a part of the ArtsCenter since the 1980s and continue to be included in the venue's program.
"They are incredible, extremely funny and overwhelming because they do music," Harris said. "You also can't wait to see how the kiss will work into the story. It's a great date night."
Hohn said the idea for kissing came 10 years ago when Dan Sipp, another Transactor, commented that "improv lacked intimacy." After the group made sure that everyone was comfortable with locking lips, it became a tradition.
"Sometimes it's awkward, but we have all been working together for around three years, so there's a lot of trust," Klem said. "Really, the hardest part is trying to fit everyone in and having it make sense."
And when the tradition played itself out, the audience responded with laughter, which continued throughout the entire performance.
"It was definitely enjoyable," said Andy Ives, a junior journalism major who has attended the show since he was a freshman in high school. "It's something different to do off campus."
And although the topics explored in the improv ranged from divorce to awkward sexual tension, the Transactors weaved enthusiasm and plenty of love-related humor into every scene.
"I want everyone to go home and have sex with someone," said Hohn. "Even if it's with themselves."
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.