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April 12, 2013

Artist talk: Art’s treatment of the American Indian

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White America has historically nursed a love-hate relationship with the continent’s native residents. American Indians have been viewed as the “noble red man,” possessing the highest ideals of individualism, or “savages” to be exterminated—sometimes at the same time. More recently, they’ve gained an standing as New Agey spiritualists, which possibly adds insult to injury.

Crow

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts explores these stereotypes and even attempts at realistic representations in its exhibit “Bierstadt to Warhol: American Indians in the West” that will be on view through Aug. 11. It’s an exhibit worth seeing.

One of the few Native Americans to be represented in the show is Kevin Red Star, whose work adorns this blog. Raised on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, Red Star will discuss the themes of his work and his growth as an artist—including having his work shown along with art giants Andy Warhol and Albert Bierstadt.

Thursday, April 18, 4:30 p.m. and it’s free.

Kevin Red Star (Crow/Absaroke, b. 1943), Crow Indian, 1975, oil on canvas, collection of Diane and Sam Stewart

Kevin Red Star (Crow/Absaroke, b. 1943), Tea Party, 1986, oil on canvas, collection of Diane and Sam Stewart

April 12, 2013

Free films: Three wild and crazy dudes

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spiral

Filmmaker James Benning will present two of his envelope-pushing films Monday at the University of Utah.

Of particular interest to Utahns, “Casting a Glance” is a documentary about the aesthetic changes to the iconic land art sculpture “Spiral Jetty,” created by the late Robert Smithson. It will be screened at 7 p.m. in the University of Utah Fine Arts Auditorium, in the Film and Media Arts Building.

The Utah Museum of Fine Art last year joined with the Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster College and the Dia Foundation in New York to protect and promote the Spiral Jetty, which is located on the northern arm of the Great Salt Lake.

twocabins

Benning will also screen “Two Cabins” at the UMFA’s auditorium on Monday at 2:15 p.m. For “Two Cabins,” Benning reconstructed Henry David Thoreau‘s and unibomber Ted Kaczynski‘s iconic cabins to explore utopian and dystopian versions of social isolation.

You gotta ask yourself, which of these guys looks squirrelier?

robert

(Photo of Spiral Jetty sign by Andi Olsen.)

April 12, 2013

Brave new neighborhood

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If you care about small, sustainable neighborhoods and hate sterile, large-scale developments, you can be part of the solution taking form in Salt Lake’s Granary District.

Around the middle of May, Granary Row,  a “pop-up” New Urbanism demonstration project that will include retail and neighborhood gathering places (constructed of shipping containers and other reusable materials), a performance space and a beer garden based on recycled pallets, will sprout in the middle of 700 South (from 300 to 400 West) for six months. Above is an example from London of what they have in mind.

Ever wanted to run your own boutique or gallery or be a part of a new direction to urban living? Small businesses and galleries will be a vital part of the Granary Row experiment. The project offers spaces for micro-shops — 8×20 foot enclosed spaces ($250/mo lease) and 8×8 foot tents ($50 a weekend). Sort of an anti-Gateway.

Granary Row will last only for six months, but as New Urbanist Christian Harrison says: “Small space + small rent + small risk = big opportunity!” In short, you can chase your bliss without losing your shirt.

If Granary Row is successful, it could could be the basis of the transformation of the larger Granary District itself.

“G-Row” will be in an international spotlight at the end of May when the Congress of the New Urbanism holds its national conference. CNU promotes urban development that includes compact streets, housing for all ages and incomes at a scale that encourages the use of bicycles and public transit.

For more info on Granary Row: 801-550-9672 or on Facebook :www.facebook.com/granaryrow

April 11, 2013

Theater review: Salt Lake Acting Company’s “The Exit Interview”

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Exit Interview

It’s safe to say you won’t see a more funny or satisfying play about (well, loosely about) existential angst and a school shooting than Salt Lake Acting Company’s latest production, The Exit Interview.

Penned by William Missouri Downs and a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, The Exit Interview lets the audience know right away that this is no straightforward play, thanks to the two cheerleaders who take the stage and deliver a jolt of energy and a laundry list of topics tackled in the following 100-or-so minutes that might offend audience members–everything from theological arguments to the biases of Fox News.

It’s a hilarious and unexpected beginning to a show that evolves into an offbeat exercise in the theatrical “alienation effect” championed by Bertolt Brecht, the German playwright and director who entrances the play’s Dick Fig (Darrin Doman), an academic losing his job and undergoing an exit interview as the show begins. Fig’s skeptical mind and inability to suffer through idle chit-chat has cost him his girlfriend just as his career is collapsing, and the woman doing his exit interview, Eunice (Nell Gwynn), engages Fig in a cat-and-mouse conversation that forces Fig to uncomfortably confront both her faith in God, and her desire to talk about the weather.

Then the shooting starts.

It’s a jarring juxtaposition when gunfire cracks through the entertaining banter, launching The Exit Interview into exciting, surreal tangents that would make Brecht proud. Four actors–Marin Kohler, Cassandra Stokes-Wylie, Bijan Hosseini and Terence Goodman–play multiple parts in scenes that offer comic relief and philosophical musings outside the storage room where Fig and Eunice are hiding from the shooter moving across campus.

Goodman is particularly strong as a Fox News reporter trying to go national with the school-shooting story, even though the only question he seems to want answered from those he interviews is, “What do you think God’s plan is for you?” Goodman is also involved, along with Stokes-Wylie, in an excellent exchange between rival scientists, while Hosseini and Kohler engage in another “play within the play,” acting as the head of the Mormon and Lutheran churches who start a debate on their respective faiths, only to have that debate end in surprising, decisive fashion.

The cast at the final preview I saw was excellent all around, easily bouncing through the disparate scenes that Downs created for his play. Likewise, the behind-the-scenes folks had their hands full with this one compared to many productions, from the high number of costumes needed for the 20 or so characters played by the six actors, to the intricate sound and lighting work required, in addition to an ever-changing video screen overhead, introducing the scenes.

All together, the elements Downs brings together in The Exit  Interview make for one of the more intriguing theater experiences you’re likely to have, and you’ll laugh throughout while you’re left pondering several big issues. Can’t ask for much more than that from SLAC’s season finale.

The Exit Interview runs Wednesdays through Sundays until May 5. Tickets and showtimes are available at the Salt Lake Acting Company Website.

April 10, 2013

SLCene Suggests: Soul Asylum at The Depot

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SOUL ASYLUM, THE DEPOT, Thursday, April 11, 8 p.m., $23

Around about 1990, when Soul Asylum had yet to have any commercial success to speak of, the Minnesota band played one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at what was then the Bar & Grill (now The Woodshed). They were touring in support of their And the Horse They Rode In On album, and the energetic show full of well-chosen covers (I seem to recall “Rhinestone Cowboy” and a Fleetwood Mac tune in the mix) and excellent originals made Soul Asylum one of my favorite bands for a while. Then they had their breakthrough moment courtesy of MTV staples  like “Runaway Train” and “Black Gold,” leading to the band’s inexplicable inclusion as performers at one of Bill Clinton’s inauguration parties in 1993. Things have been pretty quiet for the band since, despite occasionally releasing new music. Original drummer Grant Young was fired, and bassist Karl Mueller later died of throat cancer, leaving singer/guitarists Dave Pirner and Dan Murphy continuing with a rotating rhythm section. Last year, after the band recorded its new Delayed Reaction album, Murphy left the fold as well, leaving Pirner to lead the current incarnation of Soul Asylum. I’ll be checking them out for the first time since that 1990 show, hoping for the same energetic rush from that long-ago gig at Bar & Grill.

SoulAsylum

April 9, 2013

SLCene Suggests: OMD at The Depot

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O.M.D., THE DEPOT, Wednesday, April 10, 8 p.m., $30

Utah’s love of synth-pop is undeniable, and somewhat inexplicable. Perhaps it was the strength of the old KJQ “alternative” station that gave Utah its love of all things Erasure, Depeche Mode, even Howard Jones. And, of course, OMD is part of the mix, thanks to old hits like “Enola Gay” and the Pretty in Pink monster ballad “If You Leave.” Rather than simply touring to rehash their old hits, OMD is celebrating its 35th anniversary (!) with a brand new album called English Electric, being released the day before this show. Last time the band played The Depot, the show was sold out, so if you’re one of the ’80s kids still in love with their synth-heavy sound, you’ll want to get tix early for this one.

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