Jayplay

life. and how to have one.

March 25th, 2010

THE NEW FACE OF ART

growing pains
DISTANCE bETWEEN ONE WRITER AND HER mOTHER bRINGS THEm CLOSER

mixed-media installations alter the visual experience

a decent proposal
HOW WRITING A GRANT COULD SCORE YOU CASH

120 WAYS TO RELAX

Largest Selection of Loose-Leaf Teas Largest Selection of Loose-Leaf Teas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

March 25th, 2010 // volume 7, issue 26

* Cover photo illustration contributed by Nick Cave

MIXING GENRES Installation art changes the way we experience art WESCOE WIT Ready for me to whip it out and give it to you? STAGE PRESENCE Lanky lyricist Stik Figa and his real-life rhymes

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Royals Games. Cannonballs. Bio 600.

Take a summer class at KU in KC.

Its your summer. Make the most of it.

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CALENDAR
thursday, march 25th
Theology on Tap Henrys on Eighth, 5:30 p.m., free, all ages World War I Book dIscussIon and FIlm serIes: all QuIeT on The WesTern FronT The Lawrence Public Library, 6 p.m., free, 16+ BaTTleFIelds The Jackpot Music Hall, 6 p.m., $5-$7, all ages The Junkyard Jazz Band The American Legion, 7 p.m., free, all ages TurkIsh FIlm: pandoranIn kuTusu Bailey Hall 318, 7 p.m., free, 18+ BedsIde and 4.48 psychosIs The Inge Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15, all ages ryne Jackson The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., $3, 21+

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friday, march 26th

BIngo The Eagles Lodge, 7 p.m., free, all ages open mIc and Jam The Cross Town Tavern, 7 p.m., free, 21+ Tuvan ThroaT sIngIng WITh alash ensemBle Spooner Hall, The Commons, 7 p.m., free, all ages olIver! The Lawrence Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15, all ages BedsIde and 4.48 psychosIs The Inge Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15, all ages dJ nIck reddell Abe & Jakes Landing, 9 p.m., 18+ dIsco dIsco WITh dJ parle and The revolver creW dJs Fatsos, 9 p.m., free-$3, 21+ open Jam The Gaslight Tavern, 9 p.m., 21+

saturday, march 27th

TIm Barry/ danny pound and dave sWenson The Replay Lounge, 6 p.m., $5, all ages paTTy grIFFIn WITh Buddy mIller Liberty Hall, 7 p.m., $24.50$28.50, all ages olIver! The Lawrence Arts Center, 7:30 p.m., $12-$15, all ages redleFTy/ grand marQuIs The Jackpot Music Hall, 9 p.m., $6, 18+ marTy Is 47? parT III WITh slumBer marTy/ ghosTy/ sTIk FIga/ JaBee/ sam BIllen/ morrIs mars The Bottleneck, 9 p.m., all ages Jason Boland and The sTragglers The Granada, 9 p.m., $15, all ages sIlenT haBIT/ radIo ToWer BroadcasT/ sepTInomIcon/ TerrIBle aIrplane Duffys, 9:30 p.m., $2, 21+

sunday, march 28th

smackdoWn! The Bottleneck, 7:30 p.m., free-$5, 18+

monday, march 29th

BIlly eBelIng and hIs one man Band The Jackpot Music Hall, 6 p.m., free, all ages easy sTar gazIng The Lawrence Public Library, 7 p.m., free, all ages green rIver ordInance/ vedera/ angel Taylor The Bottleneck, 7 p.m., 18+

tuesday, march 30th

Blues Tuesday WITh Bryan neuBerry The Gaslight Tavern, 7 p.m., free, 18+ peace corps applIcaTIon Workshop The Kansas Union, 7 p.m., free, all ages The BeTTer angels oF our naTure: Freemasonry In The cIvIl War The Lawrence Public Library, 7 p.m., free, 16+ Joy oF sIngIng The Lied Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages

wednesday, mar. 31st

BIlly spears & Beer BellIes Johnnys Tavern, 6 p.m., free, 21+ lIve acTIon puB TrIvIa shoW aT conroy Conroys Pub, 7 p.m., $5, 21+ The amerIcana musIc academy Jam Signs of Life, 7:30 p.m., free, all ages BedsIde and 4.48 psychosIs The Inge Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15, all ages cher uk/ scrIveners/ Brannock devIce/ neW FranklIn panThers/ BITTer spIlls The Bottleneck, 8 p.m., all ages dollar BoWlIng The Royal Crest Bowling Lanes, 9 p.m., $1, all ages prIde nIghT Wildes Chateau 24, 9 p.m., $5, 18+

venues //
The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire St. The Jackpot Music Hall 943 Massachusetts St. The Jazzhaus 926 1/2 Massachusetts St. The Replay Lounge 946 Massachusetts St. The Eighth St. Taproom 801 New Hampshire St. Lawrence Arts Center 940 New Hampshire St. The Granada 1020 Massachusetts St. The Pool Room 925 Iowa St. Wildes Chateau 24 2412 Iowa St. Duffys 2222 W. 6th St. Conroys Pub 3115 W. 6th St., Ste. D The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire St.

Tuesday nITe sWIng The Kansas Union, 8 p.m., free, all ages elecTrIc sIx The Bottleneck, 8 p.m., $9-$11, all ages BrassTronauT The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m., $2, 21+

editors note //

In the spirit of outside-the-box thinking of Leslies story on page 8 about installation art, an emerging form of contemporary art designed to create an alternative, more interactive experience for its viewers, I thought Id shake things up and write this editors note in three haiku poems. A note in homage To outside-the-box thinking Like mixed-media Bright suits made of sound, Painting flowers on the snow Are installation Creativity Seen in new technology Unites us viewers Be sure to check out Kansan.com/Jayplay for more photos and multimedia slideshows to further your creative experience.

EDITOR // Alex Garrison ASSOCIATE EDITOR // Kelci Shipley DESIGNERS // Laura Fisk, Liz Schulte CONTACT // Lindsay Cleek, Leslie Kinsman, Katy Saunders HEALTH // Adam Vossen MANUAL // Emily Johnson, Ben Sullivan NOTICE // Mary Henderson, Abby Olcese, Anna Sobering PLAY // Beth Beavers, Taylor Brown, Anna Kathagnarath CONTRIBUTORS // Mike Anderson, Jason Charney, Molly Martin, Landon McDonald CREATIVE CONSULTANT // Carol Holstead CONTACT US // jayplay10@gmail.com

IN CONCERT APRIL 12, 2010

Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
All ages, 7:00 pm Tickets available now though Ticketmaster New album HUMBUG Out Now Rolling Stone, Mojo, Uncut www.arcticmonkeys.com www.dominorecordco.us

JAYPLAY

The University Daily Kansan (785) 864-4810 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045

FolloW Jayplay on TWITTer aT twitter.com/Jayplaymagazine

// ALEX GARRISON, EDITOR

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CONTACT

Party On Taste Buds!

catch of the week // Jaclyn Mcanarney

our weekly peek at a fish in the KU sea.
Favorite quote: Well, that went over like a fart in church! Favorite food: I love anything Italian. Major turn offs: Guys who think that chivalry is dead. Major turn ons: I have a soft spot for tall, dark and handsome guys but my real weakness is accents. I dont care if its an accent from another state or another country I think theyre all sexy. I also tend to go for quieter, shy guys since Im really outgoing, but occasionally Ill go for a loud, funny guy that can always get my attention. Notices first in a potential partner: Three very sexy components that work every time: smile, Contributed photo confidence and a sense of humor. HOMETOWN: Wichita Ideal getaway location: Id say anywhere warm YEAR: Senior with an ocean, a beach and a bar. Preferably MAJOR: Communication studies outside of the U.S. INTERESTED IN: Men Dream job: Id love to have my own TV show on the Travel Channel or Food Network. Itd totally Ideal date: Id love something informal like be the life to get paid to travel around the world going to a KU or Royals game, or get all dressed and test out the food and different hotels and up for a night out on the Plaza. resorts. // LINDSAY CLEEK Hobbies/interests: I really like peoplewatching (especially in front of Wescoe), road trips, Franzia and tequila (but not in the Are you a catch of the week? Know any good same night), trashy reality TV and anything catches? E-mail us at jayplay10@gmail.com. involving the beach or a pool.

how we met // Matt cain and lauren Byers

all great relationships had to start somewhere.
Matt Cain and Lauren Byers grew up two blocks from each other, attended the same middle and high school, but didnt meet until sitting next to each other in the trumpet section of the Blue Valley North High School band. For the next three years, the Overland Park seniors became really good friends. They attended several dances together, but when the senior homecoming dance came along, Byers went with another guy. After the dance, Cain and Byers ended up at the same party, where they finally got some alone time. Byers asked Cain why he didnt take her to the dance. Ive taken you to so many dances that I didnt want to keep taking up your time, he said. A couple months later, Cain finally worked up the courage to ask Byers on a real date. Since they both liked the movie Saw, Cain and Byers decided to go see Saw II together. Ever since that date, the couple has been together and watch another Saw movie on their anniversary. Its a good thing they keep making those movies, Byers says with a laugh. As seniors with chemical engineering jobs waiting in Beaumont, Texas, Cain and Byers contemplated the next step of their relationship. During winter break, Cain got a blessing from Byers dad, stepmother and brother and bought a ring. Before the couple left for a ski trip to Keystone, Colo., Cain told Byers he had a surprise for her, but shed have to wait a little longer. They drove to Keystone and spent a day on the mountains with no surprise. After a couple of runs down the slopes the second day, Cain stopped and said, Look at the view. Cain pulled the ring out, got down one knee and asked, Will you marry me? Byers said yes and wore the ring as a necklace for the rest of the day so she wouldnt lose it skiing. The couple is planning a winter wedding in Kansas City in December 2011.

Three Lawrence Locations Near You!

1408 W 23rd St 1220 W 6th St 4721 Bauer Farm Dr
(6th & Wakarusa)
Hours may vary by location 2010 Taco Bell Corp.

// KATY SAUNDERS

Contributed photo Surprise on the slopes: Matt Cain, Overland Park senior, proposed to Lauren Byers, Overland Park senior, during a ski trip to Colorado over winter break.

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CONTACT

five questions // BRANDEN CAMPBELL AND MICHAEL SCOTT

two people. five questions. see how they stack up. // LINDSAY CLEEK
BRANDEN CAMPBELL
bassist of the band Neon Trees

MICHAEL SCOTT
Lenexa graduate student

Recently it would have to be rainbow sherbet, just because of the tanginess and the variety you get three in one. India. I love Indian food. I love the music and I love the fashion. Id like to go over there and explore and see the origin of the stuff that I like. Metaphorically, if you get knocked off the horse youve got to dust yourself off and get back on dont get discouraged. Youll have to look this up, but Id buy a Nudie suit. Nudie is actually a fashion designer, not a nude-looking suit. Theyre based out of Nashville and theyre these really ornate custom-made suits with different details designed into them, like a phoenix on the back of the jacket made out of rhinestones. Itd be like my bling-suit, ya know? Its classy. I got into music at a really early age so I was obsessed with guitars and records. I remember playing with these battery-operated 4x4 trucks, and I liked playing with those because they could drive over anything.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? if you could travel anyWhere in the World Where Would you go?

Gold Medal Ribbon from Baskin Robbins because its vanilla, chocolate and caramel the best of all worlds. Scotland. It looks beautiful and there are castles. I love Scotch and my favorite movie is Braveheart. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Ben Franklin. Though he obviously didnt give me that advice personally. First, Id take a date out to a really nice dinner, then treat my best friends to a good-sized bar tab. I always like to share and celebrate with my friends and family.

Whats the best piece of advice anyones given you? if you Won the lottery Whats the first thing youd buy?

What Was your favorite toy as a kid?

A basketball. I had basketball courts near my house growing up and could play by myself, with friends or with random people. It always kept me entertained when I wasnt playing baseball. You never grow out of sports like you do with traditional toys.

kansas in heat // ANOTHER HORRIBLE F WORD

relationship researcher Mike Anderson tackles the sticky world of relationship advice, one weekly Jayplay column at a time.
and how compatible you could be. Your friends say youd make a great couple, which makes the problem worse. So whats a friend to do? Studies have developed ways of assessing a friends mutual feelings, so use these tests before you go out on a limb and have the discussion. 1) Joke about being a couple and watch his or her reaction. If he or she smiles and continues on with the joke, the feeling may be mutual. 2) Take a break from each other and see the reaction. Youll be able to tell if the Mike Anderson, Dellwood, Minn., graduate stuperson missed you, or if he or she is hesitant to dent, is the host of Kansas in Heat, a talk show see you leave. 3) Gauge your friends reaction about sex and relationships that airs Thursdays at 7 p.m. on KJHK, 90.7fm and at kjhk.org. when you flirt with someone else. This might even cause your friend to talk to you about your *THE OPINIONS OF THIS COLUMNIST DO NOT NECESSARrelationship. If you show interest in someone ILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF JAYPLAY. KANSAS IN HEAT IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESelse and your friend/romantic interest sees it, SIONAL HELP. you should be able to tell if he or she likes you. Id be willing to bet big money that everyone If you try one of these three secret tests, the reading this column has at one time or another romantic interest your friend may have for you wanted one of their friends to be something more will more than likely come out in one form or than a friend. Most of these people have probably another and youll get the confidence you need never told that friend for fear of being rejected or to finally ask them out on a date. ruining the friendship. The decision to try to initiate a romantic relationship with a friend is a very stressful one, Do you have a question for Kansas in Heat? but it becomes tough not to say something. You E-mail it to kansasinheat@yahoo.com. may see that friend a couple times a week and further realize how much you have in common

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MANUAL

essential life skills // NutritioN oN the go

in case of emergency, read quickly.
A burger and fries is a fast and portable meal option on the road, but you cant use that spare tire around your stomach to replace a flat one. Ann Chapman, dietician at Watkins Memorial Health Center, says many fast food restaurants now have low-fat items on their menus, and there are plenty of healthy snacks you can pack before you hit the road. The key is choosing options that are low in fat and high in whole grains and protein. If you need to hit the drive-thru, Chapman suggests Taco Bells Fresco Menu, which leaves out fatty ingredients such as cheese and sour cream, Wendys low fat chili over a baked potato, or grilled chicken as opposed to fried at restaurants such as KFC and McDonalds. Instead of fries on the side, try a small salad or a cup of yogurt. You can avoid meal stops and deep-fried temptation altogether with a pre-parting trip to the grocery store. Make some homemade granola by mixing together a whole-grain cereal, dried fruit and nuts or seeds. Chapman suggests a mix of cereal, dried fruit and peanuts, which makes a great snack or yogurt topping and contains three of the major food groups. If youre bringing a cooler with you, throw in some low-fat string cheese, yogurt and fresh fruit. At mealtime, a whole-wheat bagel with peanut butter is healthy and easy to eat on the go, and the protein from the peanut butter will keep you full and give you lasting energy. If you cant resist a caffeinated energy boost, have a cup of coffee or a can of diet soda, but stay away from sugary pop and energy drinks and stay hydrated with plenty of water. With a little planning, you can make it there and back without wrecking your diet.

// EMILY JOHNSON

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MANUAL

Even in these tough economic times, students can access grant money from the University to complete research or independent projects

ACCESS GRANTED
// BEN SULLIVAN
the project will have to the field. After being ranked, the proposals are sent back to the Honors Program, where awards are granted based on number of proposals, availability of funding and the quality of the projects. We strive to help projects that deserve funding. We also try to prevent all the funding from going to one discipline, Daly says. Daly says having a research project under your belt and developing a close relationship with a professor in your field of interest is great for future opportunities such as getting a job or seeking additional education. Rebecca Hughey, a December graduate with a degree in linguistics, received a UGRA and is using it this semester to finish her honors project by paying for forms and questionnaires. She also pays time compensation for subject participation in her study. She says she had a lot of consultation with her academic and research advisers to develop the project. She says she already knew her project well, but writing the proposal helped to compact roughly 60 documents and spreadsheets into a four-page paper. When graduate schools wanted writing samples, she used her UGRA proposal. There are also several travel scholarships available for students who want to attend academic or professional conferences or do research outside of campus. The Honors Programs J. Michael Young scholarship has 20 awards and is open to all students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The School of the Arts also recently announced a program that provides awards to cover travel expenses if a student wants to attend or perform at a conference. In an attempt to bolster student participations, the Honors Program hosts an undergraduate research symposium in April every year to recognize undergraduate research or creative work at the University. Small prizes are given to the best presentations, and Daly says the banquet has some of the best food of any event. The awards are an excellent springboard into greater opportunities. Daly says the University is trying to increase the number of students participating in active education or engaged learning. Information on awards and applications is available at www.honors.ku.edu. Jp

f youre strapped for cash and need to pay for a project youve been dreaming up or want to travel to a conference that pertains to your major, there are several programs across campus that can get you the funds. The Honors Program offers Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRAs) to undergraduate students who are driven to do independent research in their field, but need help paying for living, travel or material expenses. The awards are given across two six-month periods based on when the research will take place. There are two types of awards. The small award grants up to $750 and the regular award grants up to $2,000. A UGRA is a simplified grant, essentially a sum of money given to a researcher to carry out a public or academic project. A grant is unlike a loan in that you dont have to pay it back. A student looking for a grant will have to write up a grant proposal, as well as a document including a statement of purpose, the subject of the research or project, a budget, how the prospective grantee intends to carry out the project and why the project is of value. Mark Daly, an associate director of the Honors Program, advises and runs the UGRA program. Daly says UGRAs were designed to prepare students to apply for future grants while accomplishing academic work. Students dont have to be in the Honors Program to take advantage of the services offered. After coming up with an idea, Daly says the first step for students is to find a faculty member in their department to help develop the project. A secondary faculty member is helpful to evaluate and provide additional feedback. Alan Schurle, a Manhattan senior majoring in Chemistry and English, got a UGRA to work on a chemistry research project dealing with the structure of molecules. He says he needed the money to pay for lab materials and travel expenses to attend conferences where he wanted to present his project. Schurle says he tried to write the proposal on his own, but realized the benefits of collaborating with an adviser. Explaining the project to someone else really helps in clarifying your own thoughts, Schurle says. He says completing the UGRA process helped prepare him for more complex grant proposals later in life. After working with an adviser, the students proposal goes to a committee of professors in the respective field of study to evaluate and rank it based on the focus of the study and contribution

Photo illustration by Valerie Skubal Rolling in dough: Grant money may be available to students in a wide range of majors to help complete independent projects or undergraduate research.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

The spring application for the School of the Arts travel fund was due on February 19th, but students wishing to travel between July 1 and August 1 can apply at any time, though additional funding might not be available.

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Undergraduate Research Symposium registration is due on March 25th. The application deadline for the second UGRA period is at 4 p.m. on March 30th.

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FEATURE

MAKING A

CONNECTION
// LESLIE KINSMAN
s the sun slowly begins to set on a cold February evening in Berlin, Miya Ando straddles a patch of snow in front of the Reichstag building. With luminous paint, she fills in an outline of numerous tiny cherry blossoms spread on top of the snow-covered lawn. The blossoms go unnoticed in the daylight and are only visible later on for just a few moments in the dark until disappearing into the night. What shes working on will never hang in a gallery and never go on sale. It wont be featured in a glossy book, or even be seen by more than a few people. It wont even last more than 24 hours. But still, Ando says, its a work of art. I dont think it would be possible to create this feeling with a painting, Ando says. The ephemerality of the melting snow and the people walking over the piece was something that was very important to the piece, as was the fleeting nature of the viewing time frame of the work. Mixed-media and installation art has never been more interactive and accessible because of the freedoms allotted to the modern artist. Spaces are being filled at an alarming pace, never being imagined to be occupied with an artistic intention. Artists are doing whatever it takes to fulfill their personal, artistic aesthetic while still, and more importantly, maintaining a connection with the viewer. Maria Velasco, associate professor of installation art within the School of Arts, says mixed-media and installation art emerged in the 1960s, when artists rebelled against the authority of museums by finding other venues to display and express their work. At the same, time this offered a more direct and refreshing way to connect with their audiences. They would question the power of the art establishments and museum curators. Because of this, the artists work was considered much more action- based and ephemeral, Velasco says. This generated a lot of energy thats been since ongoing, but has ended up being a little more polished these days. If you call an artist mixedmedia, you want to see that in his or her work is inter-disciplinary and offers an alternative viewpoint to what art is and can be. Nathan Hoffman, Oregon, Illinois, graduate student, is experiencing first-hand the potential effect and ever-evolving possibilities that mixed-

Mixed-media artists reach out to viewers by transforming ordinary objects and spaces into extrordinary art, making visual experiences more accessible

media art, including todays technology, can offer. For example, whereas images used to consistantly be just static, now artists such as Hoffman utilize video. Its a more photogenic process, he says. I dont think technology or multi-media has hurt the art world but only transformed it more. Aaron Storck, local installation artist, says the artists of the 1960s and 70s paved the way for modernizing installation art and helped mold artists like himself. I feel grateful to pioneering, twentieth century artists who made some of the first happenings, installations, performance pieces etc., Storck says. They really opened up a lot of new territory for artists to explore. Storck grew up in New York City. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, Storck came to Lawrence to attend the University to escape the East Coast pace. He completed a BFA in printmaking from the school of art in 2001. He returned to New York after graduating, but returned to Lawrence in 2006 for the easy living and inexpensive space so he could develop some art projects. Since his return to Lawrence, he has worked intensely with his collection and even helped find a local Lawrence alliance of artists called the Fresh Produce Art Collective. Storcks artistic livelihood is dynamic and hyper-evolving thanks to the technological advances offered to todays artist. Installation art is a young discipline and is extremely flexible and powerful way to think and work, he says. It can get the artist thinking spatially and architecturally about the viewers experience with the work. There becomes a time-based, programmatic unfolding of the experience for the viewer as they move through the space and discover their way through its intentions, Stork says. When developing his work, Storck says he deals with interlocking mediums. Within one piece of installation Storck has staged performances, which are photographed and videotaped, which then become the basis for more work. I take the photographs and arrange them in the computer, Storck says. I print them out and collage them to canvas and proceed to paint on them to make a new kind of hybrid painting. I write poems and speeches which become printed narratives for my

Photo contributed by Thomas Kruesselman Ephemeral art: Brooklyn-based installation artist Miya Ando works on a project in which she painted flowers onto snow. The outdoor exhibit only lasted a few hours, but the fleeting nature of the work was its core message, Ando says.

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FEATURE

Photo contributed by Nick Cave Tribe of many colors: Dancers, including Jessica Molina, 2009 graduate, in yellow, model soundsuits in an installation performance piece by Kansas City and Chicago artist Nick Cave. The performance was part of celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the Kansas City Art Institute and represented an emerging trend of art interactive experiences that break away from static, two-dimensional paintings and drawings.

shows or performance pieces which are done within the installations. Storck says he wants his art to reach people, especially those who care about art. In the long term, however, Storck wants his art to be able to communicate and connect with people in different cultures, present and future, about the qualities and issues pertaining to this culture. Art has a power like that, Storck says. When you walk through a museum and check out works from all over the world of all ages, you can get a feeling for what the people were thinking about, what they cared about. I want to take part in that cultural exchange. Kyle Davis, Alma senior, is a prime example of embracing the rule of no limitations. As an architecture major, Davis says his designing motivations can derive from artistic origins. Davis has always been interested in building furniture. After taking an independent study course focusing on tensegrity, non-gravitational based structures made from smaller parts that are suspended in tension apart from each other, he found that the separation between installation art and architecture can be pretty blurred.

Good architecture should excite and delight the senses, or at least cause some kind of emotional response, he says. Architecture can be considered a little more permenant of an installation. Nick Cave, graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute and director of the graduate fashion program at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, made the Kansas City debut of his Soundsuit performance art production at Bartle Hall on Feb. 20 for The Kansas City Art Institutes 125th Anniversary Gala. Raised in Folton, Mo., Cave says he always felt a satisfaction in performance, even at a young age. I remember feeling so much joy performing for my family at picnics when I was a little boy. I remember feeling a family connection, even then. Cave says. It wouldnt be long until his feeling would drive him to apply for the Kansas City Art Institute where he studied painting, drawing, textiles, dancing and performance art. Within a few years, Cave has established himself in the art community with the introduction of his soundsuits. Cave initially built his first soundsuit

as more of a sculpture piece, collecting and compiling tiny twigs into a handmade, one-piece body suit. It wasnt until later, when he tried the suit on, that he realized its true capacity. I want people to associate something familiar with the sounds of the suit by making a direct connection or reference, not necessarily a western civilization connection, Cave says. Its more of a ritual, carnivorous dress. Cave says that he feels fulfilled in his mixedmedia collaboration of the Soundsuits and dance performance he directed. Ive done what I was set out to do, he says. I came here and allowed the community to build this show. The 32 performers and I bridged the gap together of gender, race and sexuality. It was an outreach process, as a medium, to exercise my expression. Cave believes the application of mixed-media art has always been fair game and artists are continuing to use what they will to best support a particular project.Nothing has changed in that sense. Artists are operating the same way as ever by opening themselves up to anything in order to complete a vision and express an idea. Were just seeing it in ever-evolving forms.

Jessica Molina, 2009 graduate, isnt shy about dipping her finger into too many projects. Molina graduated with a BFA in expanded media with a focus in dance and sculpture. While at school, she had installation and mixedmedia work shown in the art and design gallery as well as Murphy Hall. Molina performed as a dancer in Nick Caves Soundsuit performance in February in on of his hand-made, multi-colored suits, resembling a tribal dance. Working with Nick Cave was a ground-breaking experience for me, Molina says. The massive production scale and integration of different mediums he put together in just one show blew my mind. It also showed me how to put together a huge artistic collaboration into an amazing multi-media performance. Molina has not only had experience with performance art, but also dove head-first into her own interpretations of mixed-media and art installation. Molinas work can range anywhere from site-specific installation art to performance art pieces with interactive elements. In discussing installation art, Molina says it doesnt matter whether its a virtual reality or 800 pounds of human hair weaved into a massive braid, installation has the advantage of creating an interactive experience. Installation artists today are continuously embracing new technology and mediums to incorporate into their work, Molina says. Theyre always taking information in and utilizing their surroundings. Molina says she was drawn to mixed-media and art installation because of the artistic freedom. She tries to transform space and create an experience that the participant can embrace. My main goal is to get people to think in ways theyve never confronted before, Molina says. I try to avoid telling them what they should necessarily think or believe. I want people to use their brains to form their own opinions and thoughts. Jp

PLACES YOU CAN CONNECT WITH INSTALLATION ART Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St. First Fridays, various venues in the Crossroads district, Kansas City, Mo. Local artist Aaron Storcks work, Altar to magical thinking and garbage realities on imaginary slag heap (expressed as new kind of painting 2009-10), will be showing at the Dolphin Gallery, 1600 Liberty St. in Kansas City, Mo., through May 8th

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FEATURE

CONNECTIONS
eoul-based artist Kim Jongku spent two weeks in-residence at the Spencer Museum of Art in February. After acclimating to his new environment, Jongku began to create a largescale painting. He manufactured his own tools to apply iron powder, which he used to write his calligraphy and lines of poetry on the canvas. In his conversation with the canvas, Jongku was very physically involved with the work, often standing on and running across the canvas as he laid down the calligraphy. Jongku continued to apply additional layers of poetry until he felt his conversation with the canvas resolved itself. Guests watched as Jongku created this work, which distorts viewers perception of scale through the use of closed circuit cameras and a live feed projected on the wall. The calligraphy that makes up the mobile landscape gives the impression of a mountainous terrain, which conflicts with the image of people walking past the work. Jongkus piece can be viewed at the Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St., through July 25.

CLOSE TO HOME
// WORDS BY RYAN WAGGONER

Photo by Chris Bronson On February 25, Jongku gave an artist talk at the Spencer Museum of Art. Immediately following his lecture, he created his mobile landscape installation piece while guests enjoyed the process from start to finish. His mobile landscape consists of a projected video feed of his iron powder calligraphy, which creates the image of a mountainous landscape on the wall of the gallery.

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Photo by Ryan Waggoner After applying a layer of calligraphy and a layer of dripping, Jongku added a second layer of calligraphy in his conversation with the canvas. Jongku spoke of how at a certain point in his work, the conversation between himself and the canvas became more of an argument. Upon completion, the conflict was resolved.

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PLAY

stage presence // STik FigA

local musicians. feel free to swoon.
Stik Figas lanky appearance isnt a sign of weakness. This raw-boned rapper uses his lyrics as ammunition to stand out among the abundance of commercially sold music. I dont make things up, Stik Figa says. Ive never shot anybody. I dont sleep with 88 exotic women in one day. From making social commentaries to figuring out his path in life, Stik Figa describes his music as honest and passionate. Stik Figa was born in Fort Campbell, Ky., as John Westbrook Jr., but spent most of his adolescence in Topeka. As a child, he heard LL Cool J rapping I Cant Live Without My Radio on a videocassette tape. Thats when hip hop got a hold of me and didnt let go, Stik Figa says. At age 19, he got his rap name from his mother, who said he resembled a stick figure. Stik Figa says the art of writing lyrics is a poetic outlet for him. His other musical influences include Johnny Cash and Andre 3000. The 27-year-old took his rapping from the halls of high school to the stage of 2007 KJHKs Farmers Ball, the stations annual music contest. Stik Figa says he was terrified being the only rapper among a sea of bands. I thought they were going to throw tomatoes and cabbage at me, he says. But he won the competition, which helped him gain confidence to pursue a career in rap. He also won the 2009 Pitch Music Award for best hip hop act in Kansas City, Mo. His most recent album is Hello Goodbye and his follow-up album, Alive and Well, will be released later this year. You can hear Stik Figas poetic lyrics at 9 p.m. this Saturday at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.

this weekend // DOUBLE-FEATURE OF STUDENT THEATER

because those CSI marathons are getting old.
Dont depend on a horror flick to give you a thrill this weekend. The University Theatre presents Undergraduate Student Projects, a doublefeature play showing Bedside and 4.48 Psychosis. Undergraduate students produced and directed both plays. Bedside is a psychological thriller about how dark thoughts of harming others manifests into reality. The interaction between two high school brothers takes a turn when one psychologically torments the other in his sleep. The play examines what truth is and who is in control. Youre going to leave trying to reassess the different elements of what you saw, says Tosin Morohunfula, Leawood senior and playwright. Garrett Kelly, Tonganoxie senior and director, describes the play as a surprisingly funny thriller, which blends humor into the dark play. Full of plot twists and manipulation, this first feature will mess with your mind. 4.48 Psychosis is the second feature, which was British playwright Sarah Kanes last play before the 28-year-old committed suicide in 1999. The play is a psychological drama about the actual versus perceived relationship between a patient and her therapist. Amy Virginia Buchanan, Stillwater, Okla., senior and director, describes the play as brave, dynamic and jarring. She defines it as a memory play where the patient experiences psychological madness. Its like a patchwork quilt within the mind, Buchanan says. The title refers to 4:48 a.m., a time when the patient experiences a range of emotions from desperation to sanity. At 6 a.m. her madness ends and she reaches a personal sense of clarity, which is sure to arrest your attention. Undergraduate Student Projects debuts at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Inge Theatre in Murphy Hall. The double-feature is running until April 2; tickets are $10.

// ANNA KATHAGNARATH

// ANNA KATHAGNARATH

Contributed photo Long and lean: Local rapper Stik Figa, also known as John Westbrook Jr., grew up and discovered a love for hip hop in Topeka.

Contributed photo J.T. Nagle, Osawatomie junior, right, and Jordan Foote, Overland Park senior, rehearse the roles in Bedside, one of two student-run theater productions running this weekend at the Inge Theater in Murphy Hall.

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REVIEW

music review //

JOaNNa NEwsOM HavE ONE ON ME (DRag KJHKs weekly guide to sonic consumption. City) Its fitting that this elvish California chanteuses
third full-length album be more than two hours long and recorded on three CDs. Her previous release, Ys, leaned towards epic, finely-tuned, orchestral pieces that one finds even more of on this album, all overflowing with Victorian lyrical flourishes and equally ebullient strange instrumentation. But interspersed throughout these tracks are short little gems of true, pithy songwriting, much more like her debut album, The MilkEyed Mender (2004). The harp is still the dominant instrument (on which Newsom is an unquestionable virtuoso), but there are simply stunning orchestral arrangements on many of the songs that dont overpower other elements (which happened a bit on Ys). The standout element of this album is the lyrics, which are pure poetry and could stand on their own without music. The meandering tune You And Me, Bess is both humorous and melancholy, while the simpler 81 is mysterious and full of clever wordplay. For those who have heard Newsom in the past and have been immediately repulsed by her unique, warbling voice, take another listen. She has certainly polished her singing technique, making it more versatile and palatable than on previous releases. But this album, like her others, is a grower. Give it a few listens with an open mind, particularly with the lyrics in front of you, and it will reveal itself slowly.

movie review // REPO MEN

hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
For a movie that champions what it means to be human, Repo Men seems to be missing a few vital organs. Chief among these are originality, innovation and the ability to take advantage of a willing cast. What could have been a grisly commentary on the current healthcare debate now feels as careless and artificial as the synthetic organs our titular heroes are assigned to retrieve. Stop me if youve heard this one. In the not too distant future, a shadowy medical conglomerate known only as the Union offers replacement organs to the highest bidder. The only catch is that once anyone gets behind on the payments, a Repo Man is dispatched to carve up the client and reclaim the merchandise. The best of these butchers for hire are Remy (Jude Law) and his sociopathic BFF Jake (Forrest Whittaker). Both men love their job with a perverse passion, although Remys wife (Carice van Houten) wants him to settle down with a nice desk job. But Remys enthusiasm is dampened considerably after an on-the-job accident forces him to swap his heart for an exorbitantly priced man-made ticker. This prompts Remy to turn against his former employer Frank (a gloriously smarmy Liev Schreiber) and arbitrarily join forces with a fugitive torch singer (Alice Braga). Will Jake be forced to hunt down his old friend? Will Remy and his new love interest have to infiltrate the bad guys gargantuan headquarters to take down the system from within? Do you really have to ask? Almost everything about this latest dystopian nightmare is too familiar to be compelling. Every neon-drenched alleyway and bombed-out scrapyard feels harvested from older, better sci-fi films like Blade Runner and the supremely underrated Children of Men. The derivative plot reads like an ill-advised Minority Report remake, and the admittedly enjoyable action sequences are a virtual grab bag of stolen movie memories, shamelessly cribbing off everything from the Matrix trilogy to the South Korean thriller Oldboy. What should feel like the future instead seems like a diluted, uninspired version of the past. Sci-fi fans deserve better.

// JAsON ChArNey

// LANDON MCDONALD

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SPEAK

GrowinG Pains
It took 1800 miles of separation to finally bring me closer to my mother.
approval. When I announced Id been dating a guy for two months without her knowledge and that he was four years older than I, she tried to restrict me. Lucky for me though, she started dating a man a couple weeks later, which sidetracked her from any real parenting obligations. She started spending the night at his house, which had never happened before, and her neglect only lead me to question her priorities more. She became consumed with this man. She started missing dinners at Grannys and stopped asking about schoolwork. She even missed my birthday because she decided to go the Indy 500 with her boyfriend. The paradox in it all came when they broke up; she came crying to me. I hugged her, but rolled my eyes behind her back, because I was glad she was feeling what I had felt for the past six years, angry and alone. This is what I call Depression Phase III, when Mama and me hit rock bottom. Anger began to live where feelings of love and compassion were supposed to. By the time I was a senior, I applied to college without her input and then buried my fury towards her into planning my escape. In the months leading up to my departure for the University, Mama and I were just living side by side. I felt nothing when I saw her pull away from Oliver Hall on move-in day. I only went home twice that year to avoid the fighting, anger and resentment I had towards her. Through the next several years, we talked only when absolutely necessary. The distance between us helped, but our unspoken problem had yet to be resolved. When Mama decided to come visit for Moms Weekend spring of my junior year, I was skeptical about spending 72 hours alone with her. I had mixed emotions as I drove to the airport ,and when we saw each other we shared a forced embrace. A KU basketball game filled the silence of the car until we stopped at the Legends to eat dinner and watch the game. We started with small talk, but by half time the conversation turned to more serious issues. In a calm, but deliberate manner, Mama looked at me with tear-filled eyes and told me how sorry she was for everything. That was the beginning of the end of my anger. After the game, we continued our conversation in the car ride home. We both started crying when we both apologized for the pain our selfishness had caused each other all of those years. The tears didnt stop until we got to Lawrence and hugged each other for the first time in what seemed like 100 years. Our time apart allowed room for us to grow up and move on while also bringing us closer than weve ever been. Jp

// KATY SAUNDERS

I dont remember much of my childhood before the age of 11, but I can recall everything from the day Daddy said he was leaving my mama and me. I was in the sixth grade, and it was as if a voice from above said, Its time to grow up. Mama and I moved into a small twobedroom house in the middle of our small town, Tappahannock, Va. I hated that house. It was old, stunk of mothballs and worst of all, it was painted some putrid shade of yellow with green shutters. It became our home, and for the next seven years that house would be the battleground for our fights, our tears and our struggle to raise each other. I always felt more like my mothers older sister than her offspring. As soon as Daddy left, Mama went into a downward spiral. She was trying to cope, but instead of dealing with her depression over him leaving, she avoided it with distractions. About a month after the separation, Mama started dating a townie shed known from high school. When that didnt work out, Mama went into what I call Depression Phase I, playing Mahjong on the computer for hours. Then she got into online dating. I can remember her calling me away from my homework and into our home office on countless nights so that I could look at bachelor #1 and bachelor #2. She wanted me to judge them with her and I guess, on some level, she was seeking my approval too. I always just rolled my eyes and thought she was desperate and embarrassing. When her first online date came to pick her up, I answered the door to a man wearing fake rubber hillbilly teeth. Nice try attempting to impress the 12-year-old. Whenever her relationships didnt work out, Mama went into what I call Depression Phase II, watching TV in the dark while eating popcorn, then man hunting on the computer for hours. A part of me felt sorry for her, but the selfish side of me didnt care what she was feeling. I was just tired of being pulled in so many different directions with no real role model to depend on. The tension worsened once high school started. Not only was I sharing a bathroom with my mother, but she was a teacher at my all-girls high school and my coach in two of the sports I played. There was no escaping her. At this point, our selfish attitudes toward life and each other only aggravated our situation. I wanted nothing to do with her. By my junior year, both of our hormones were raging and as I grew more into my teenage years, I thought Mama was entering into hers, for the second time. The problem was she wanted to play the teenager role, while also parenting one. I started to leave no room in my decisions for her

Contributed photo Mama played many roles in my life. My senior year, pictured here, as my softball coach, I couldnt wait to get away from her. But four years later, weve been able to reconcile our differences, and though separated by 1800 miles, were closer than we ever were living in a two-bedroom house sharing a bathroom and seeing each other every day at school and practice.

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