OCR Text |
Show Thursday. November 7. Timely news, columns, features and social issues concerning the culture. Today - Page THE HERALD, Provo. Utah, 1985 21 tail useum Director Urges Artists to Take a Chance By LAURA JONES Herald Arts Editor There ing an quaint, terribly is something about paintold barn that is terribly terribly genuine safe. - and Perhaps that is why so many Utah artists prefer old barns to new subdivisions. Over the years Utah has produced many fine artists, and these in turn have created count- less beautiful paintings and sculptures. But according to Spring-villMuseum of Art Director Vern Swanson, beautiful art is not always synonymous with great art. He believes that too many of this state's artists choose to stay with "safe" subjects rather than striking out and challenging themselves. As a direct result, much of the art produced here is devoid of freshness and immediacy. He describes it as a "generalized concoction. "Utah's perennial artistic problem is that we have not worked with images and issues of the contemporary scene. In the 1950s we did pictures of the '20s, and now in the '80s we are doing the e '50s. "When an artist paints a house, he or she invariably chooses one from the '30s, '40s or '50s but never a brand new solar home." In response to this and in an effort to focus some attention on a neglected area, the Springville Museum will host an exhibit of contemporary genre works that, opens Saturday and will continue' through Jan. 2. An opening reception Saturday evening from p.m. will feature speakers Paul Davis and Kenny Baxter, both of whom have paintings in the show. Swan- 9 son will serve as moderator and the artists will discuss their involvement with contemporary genre and why it appeals to them. refers not to "Contemporary modern art but to art that is reflective of our time," explains the director. "Genre means that which deals with the lives of people." This highly "untypical" show traces its roots back a few years ago to another, more conventional exhibit at the museum. Two New York art well-know- the work he had seen had a certain maudlin, banal quality Soon after that Swanson happened to travel to the regional museum in Oakland, Calif., where he saw the History of California Art unveiled. "The differences between the California School and the Utah School of Art became exceedingly obvious." he says. "They had a strong tradition of working in contemporary genre, which made After studying the entries, Gra- Utah art was too generalized and did not touch specifically enough subor emotionally enough jects that dealt with the human condition. He noted that artists in this state almost always seem drawn to nature rather than mankind. Moreover, he felt that most of wouldn't deal with elements such whether abstract or as style or with media or traditional technique. Rather, it would concern itself entirely with content: subject, theme, imagery and issues. Swanson says that on the national level, artwork tends to be size contemporary genre. It Dear Ann Landers: This is for "Angry and Bewildered," whose son .fathered a child. She made it clear that the woman trapped the guy. It's too darned bad that the law can't be changed to protect men who have been tricked by conniving women. The same thing happened to my husband. A scheming trollop confessed, to me that she was dying to have a baby and picked my husband to be the father of her child because he was so "intelligent and handsome." In other words, she set him up. So now we are paying $150 a month in child support, this financial drain will continue for 19 more years. How unfair that if a woman chooses abortion, the father has no say in the matter, but if she chooses to have a child he is obligated by law to support that child for 21 years. I believe this is a rotten system and I hope you have the guts to spearhead a drive to change this law. Burning And Bled Dry In Cal. Dear B. And N.: Sorry, dear, I believe the law is a good one. What needs to be changed Is the sexual behavior of men who don't want to get trapped. You don't say whether your husband was married or single when the "trollop" set him up, but I'm sure he was old enough to know that sex can result in pregnancy if certain precautions are not taken and if he wanted to be perfectly safe, he should not have left the responsibility up to his partner. Dear Ann Landers: My father passed away recently. He and my mother were inseparable. Their marriage was the best one I ever knew. A month has gone by and Mother has not opened a single sympathy card or disturbed any of his things. I think she is trying to pretend Dad is still living. I don't want to rush her. but isn't it time she accepted his death? I've tried to get her to go to church, but she says it would make her feel worse to return to the place where they said "goodbye." She doesn't drive, but I've I gotten her out as much as can. Should I let Mother handle her grief in her own way? Please tell me how I can help her accept reality and adjust to life without Worried About Mom him. Dear Worried: A month may be rushing It a bit. Walt another two or three weeks. If the cards remain unopened, contact your family physician and ask him to put you In touch with the American Psychological Association. They can recommend a therapist who specializes In grief. Depression that results from the death of a loved one requires special handling. Dear Ann Landers: My fiance and I have decided on a very small wedding. We sent invitations to our immediate families and a few very close friends One friend wrote on her response card that she and her husband M'tMWyf I t .' Ji.!:-- w r, I n.',1 ii. i i.i .. imiMU r mi ...,. ," mm .t Brlun Trcgaskls Pholo: Don Burke, head of visual arts for the Utah Arts Council and LaVelle Moss, professor of art at Brigham Young University and on the Board of Directors for the Utah Arts Council juried the upcoming contemporary genre exhibit at the Springville Museum of Art. works rather than risking their reputations on something new and maybe a little daring. For example, not a single Utah painting has surfaced in the last few years of the famous flood on 13th S. and State Street in Salt Lake City. "All over the country this image struck a chord with other more figurative than in Utah, and and far more contemporary -oriented. Utahns are traditionally somewhat iconoclastic and this is mirrored in their art except, possibly, where official portraiture is concerned. "Perhaps we are also overwhelmed by our landscape and wildlife. Or perhaps our rustic genre comes from our strong rural tradition." Whatever the case, he believes that many artists are cheating themselves. They remain content to reproduce typical Utah-theme- Something is inevitably lost or gained when it can only be documented by a memory. Sometimes the poignancy or satire of a work is undermined. Always the image is less sharp, less clearly visual. "Artists make better journalists than they do historians, but in Utah, most tend to be histori- artists, yet our artists never ans." touched it. And it has been this way historically. "Most pioneer art was painted during the 1880s and '90s, long Hopefully, the emphasis will begin to shift as more and more of the local artistic community discover the marvels that surround them, awaiting only their creative touches. after the actual events took place. " d Drug Produces NCalm Joy7 By HARPER'S BAZAAR A Hearst Magazine drug called "Ecstasy produces a but not "calm joy" among users among psychiatrists who want to use it and federal drug authorities who have classified it with heroin and LSD. Ecstasy, or MDMA as it is chemically known, was legal until last July, according to an article in the November issue of Harper's Bazaar, when the federal Drug Enforcement Agency temporarily listed it as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, as are LSD, marijuana and heroin. A group of psychiatrists, convinced of MDMA s therapeutic value, want it listed on the less restrictive Schedule III. A Ann I, and irs hold it can be exploited based on its current clandestine production and widespread availability. are anecdotal "AH we have MDMA was developed in 1914 as a diet drug but never manufactured. In the 1970s, some psychiatrists began using it in therapy as had been the case with LSD. It was never produced by the phar- maceutical industry, chemists custom-mad- e tors and recreational the DEA stepped in. out-of-to- ,... , ... but private it for docusers until ,...... I . rWv I 1 wnen you bring m any 3 color negatives (3bmrn. Disc. 110 or 1261 (or enlargement you pay lor 2 and get FREfc' All three enlargements must be the same size (5 x7 : 8 x10 8 x12". 11 x 14 Limit one coupon per customer Coupon not valid with enlargement service Not valid with any other oiler Valid through Nov. 14. 1985 k m mm to insight-oriente- d psychotherapy," said Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor of psychiatry at Harvard, who fears Schedule I listing will halt research, as it did with LSD. When You Pay For Prints With this coupon we will develop your rolls or discs (C 41 process 35mm. Disc. 110 126 sies onlyi ol color print film lor FRE E when you pay lor the prints Mini mum of 15 prints Faring in as many rolls as you like and we will do them in 1 HOUR while you shop Not valid with any other oiler Valid through Nov. 14, 1935 1) Frank Sapienza. a DEA chemist, gave the government view: "We believe MDMA does not fit the criteria for Schedule III. One requirement is the substance have a presently accepted medical use, and we stiil do not believe it does. "The other is that it have a relatively low abuse potential. We Decorating SALE! HOME DECORATOR' Decoratof Interior Satin Gloss Latex Enamel Dut.ihl" st iuMi.iHi-ColorMulch 1. Ill x w.ill paml So,ip .t"i1 w,iV' lean up 99 Per Gal 30 All Off New WALLPAPER 25 Reg. Price $17.99 SAVE $5.00 gal. Free Home Off On Special Order WALLCOVERINGS Inspection and Decorating Help Utah Valley PMS Center PMS may be the world's most common disease. Researchers claim that 40 percent of all women have it, 10 percent of them seriously enough to require treatment. While the exact cause of PMS is not known, researchers believe it is a hormone disorder originating in the brain, affecting many systems of the body at the same time. Seemingly unrelated symptoms appear at one phase of the menstrual cycle, then disappear for a time, only to reappear again in the same phase of the next cycle. There may be an inability to control physical and emotional setbacks, even though there appears to be no medically or environmentally definable cause. you think you or someone you care for suffers from PMS, it's important to seek help. Help is available from the Utah Valley PMS Center at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. An experienced and specialized staff can assist women with PMS learn how to control it instead of having it control them. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center is a hospital, so both the emotional and physical of PMS can be successfully treated. All services are aspects completely private and confidential and there is no charge for initial evaluations and recommendations. For information or help with PMS, call us today. If -- full-servi- fnji? lliV" WIS! Dick Kruitmoti Mark Kruilrt.oei 375-2PM- S Ted Kruitmoei Utah Valley Regional Medical Center 164 W. 500 N. Provo mXL 377-711- 8 hp Department of Behavioral Medicine 1034 North 500 West Provo, Utah 84604 An Intormountain Health Care Facility mm Fl,m Deve,0PnS Help For PMS MDMA warrant a full exploration of this drug as a possible catalyst r W yr.r. m.m i Enlargement - - ,i,,IMtt 5W ten. re- ports suggesting its role in therapy and that is not enough." "The general properties of would attend and that she is also bringing her mother. We did not invite her mother. I am really furious. My fiance says we simply cannot tell the woman that her mother is not welcome. I do not wish to share that special day with a complete stranger. I feel my friend is being rude and pushy. Please advise. Fairbanks, Alaska Dear Alaska: If it's a wedding reception and the mother is an n guest, say yes. If it's a supper, say, "Sorry, no outsiders can be accommodated." Home Hi ; W i i: Back home, the walls of the Springville Museum seemed sadly overgrown with pure landscapes, rustic genre and historical reconstructions. Swanson became determined to mount a show that would empha- f AW0 , i Li Li i r d. their museum walls exciting." Don't Blame the 'Trollop For Husband's Mistake : lis Vern Swanson ham made the comment that arm 'VMM meim-- v or bad. issue-oriente- critics had been invited to jury the assembled works. One of them was Robin Graham, president of the board of directors of the National Academy of Art, and owner of one of America's oldest sales galleries. an WW mmj.iuL.ii it; it really didn't deal with any of the realities of society good "On the national level, artwork tends to be more figurative than in Utah, and far more contemporary and For example, not a Utah painting has sursingle faced in the last few years of the famous flood on 13th S. and State Street in Salt Lake City." , to I |