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Show WESTMINSTERFORUM.NET THE PEOPLE IVE WORKED WITH AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY HAVE INSPIRED ME. THEYVE HELPED ME PRESENT AT CONFERENCES, CONTRIBUTE TO A TEXTBOOK, o TEACH A CLASS. i Chailyn Nelson, Nutrition U and Food Sciences MS of UWestminster College Graduate School Fair Date: November 1 1 , 2009 Time: 1 0 a.m. - 2 p.m. Behnken Field House Health, Wellness Utah State University & in the Athletic Center - More than 140 graduate degrees Top-1- 0 1 . 0' Science magazine) safest U.S. metropolitan area (Popular - ' smartest school (City Crime Rankings) Within a m days drive to 3 ski resorts and 6 national parks, including Yellowstone ytfCJ iTfOv. Learn more at: www.usu edugraduateschooi ; i itflufe UtahStateUniversity SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES v r ur'fr rr mr nrfiftii fmtnfrUrri- - nvVunurirn- fry irm y, i Comedians and comics come to Jewish Arts Festival Cultural celebration highlights contributions to entertainment Feli Anne Hipol StaffWriter Celebrate Jewish culture at the IJ & Jeanne Wagner Jewish Community Centers annual Jewish Arts Festival, Comics and Comedians. The event will be held Nov. 14 and 15 at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Salt Lake. They have invited two nationally renowned people from the Jewish Community. Michele Balan, a Jewish comedian, who was one of four finalists on NBCs Last Comic Standing in 2006, and JT Waldman, a Jewish graphic novelist, who published his first novel, Megillat Esther in 2005. They will perform Saturday evening. Michelle Oelsner, community events coordinator for the JCC, said, The Jewish Arts Festival is an annual community and cultural event that brings the Jewish culture to our city." Oelsner decided on the theme Comics and Comedians because of the Jewish influence in the comic book industry. She wanted to bring awareness to the community about how Jewish people, Sol Brodsky in particular, created super hero comic books, like Marvel, and sold them to make a living. Oelsner said, historically the Jewish people who wrote comics would sometimes base the stories from their experiences during the Holocaust. IB She said Maus is an example of a super hero that was used as a metaphor for a savior figure, and his super powers portrayed good conquering evil. She also thought this years theme would be a fun opportunity for kids to dress up as their favorite super heroes. Oelsner invited Balan and Waldman because both of them were highly recommended throughout the JCC world. She said, Balans never performed here, so she really wanted to come. Oelsner invited Waldman because the comic book industry is going towards graphic novels and he had just written a ground breaking graphic novel called Megillat Esther, said Oelsner. Balan is a professional comedian and will perform stand up comedy at the event. In a phone interview, Balan said the Jewish culture has influenced her comedy because she, grew up really loving the Jewish comics. And, well people say to me all the time, that Im sort of like a Brodsky comic, Im a one liner. So Ive taken on that kind of style. Balan goes on tour almost every week to comedy clubs, cruises, corporate events and JCC country clubs around the nation. She was under the impression she would be performing for a Jewish crowd, but after finding out she would have a diverse audience, she 11 I look forward to performing for everyone and watching the Jews and non-Jeget along. Waldman will lecture about his graphic novel Megillat Esther. In a phone interview, he said, I will be focusing on the history of Jews and comics. Waldman has been drawing comics for 20 years, and said he would talk about his own process and the evolution of comic books. Waldman conducts lectures around the country about Megillat Esther, which is based off The Book of Esther. Waldman said he lectures about how he relates to the themes within The Book of Esther such as, the role reversals and things that are hidden being revealed, he said. Waldman made a connection to his culture in a way that drove his passion of drawing. According to Oelsner, Sundays event is free and open to all. She said each floor of the JCC is utilized as a space for the many activities and workshops. The first floor is the Vendor Village with over 55 vendors present and live performances throughout the day. The second floor is designated for three adult workshops. The different workshops include, one by Waldman himself, another by political cartoonist, Pat Bagley, and a Krav said, ws See JEWISH ARTS on page 14 NOVEMBER 10, 2009 |
