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Show The Sait Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday, Kennedy Center: Art of Turning 25 CITYVIEW M3 Annual Honors Gala Is Just 1 of 2,800 Performances By Lisa Faye Kaplan JACK GOODMAN GANNETT NEWSSERVICE WASHINGTON —- At 25, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts knows whatit is and where it’s going. If only the rest of the country did. For instance, when people around the country think of the Fresh Chapter In the Story Of Spring City As many Salt Lakers have long been aware, the town of Spring City in Sanpete County (just off U.S. 89) is almost precisely 100 miles from Utah's capital city. center, they often think of The Jack Gooéman The computer age has reached quiet Spring City, where bookstore can track desired reading material all over the pianet. And it is, visually at least, 100 years behind our ultra-progressive times. Spring City is, to the naked native eye, almostutterly lacking in paved streets and completely lacking in such amenities as radio television stations, newspa- pers, or fashionable (or even unfashionable) shops. No mall, of course. No toweringbillboards or neon lights. No discernable traffic semaphoresorgasoline station pumps — nogasstation either. Ail this is preface. Today’s sketch shows the former Schofield general store at the somnolent corner of Main and Second North in Spring City.It’s a typical “false front,” the sort of structure ceen in all too many western moyies. It’s a house of rather solid substance, topped with a shingled roof, a house with a two-story, wooden slatted, multi-windowed front slapped on to the underlying, partially hidden structure. In the days of William S. Hart, Roy Rogers or John Wayne, the downstairs doors, placed between a pair of show windows, would of courselead to the local bar. Not in this case. Decidedly not — although, truth toteil, ultra-saintly (LDS) Spring City did have a bar or twoin its wilder days. Thisis, after all, a community chiefly settled by Danes and their descendants. Aquavit must have been drunk (complete with “‘skoais”’) in this historic Danish settlement. There’s no liquid refreshment purveyed behind that false front today. No crackers, no cracker barrel. No cheeseis beingsliced. No tub of butter, no meats, no vegetables picked from local plots. No apples, plums, cherries or melons. The groundfloor shop operated by Helen and Daniel Keenan now dispenses books. Turn-cf-the-century books. Modern first editions — plus current best sellers. Antiques too, many from local barns andattics. Perhaps more important and curious, Helen and Daniel are “book searchers.” If you search them out while on a hunt for a favorite old novel, a historic title recalled, or even a well-remembered childhood volume, the Keenans will endeavor to findit. How? They are members of a book-seekers group,an electronic organization linked by computer, a group with a multitude of members in large and small communities and towns. This one-time general store is part of a thoroughly modern network of book finders. Shades of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Shades too of Brigham Young, who sent a network ofpioneer settlers to every valley in Deseret which could be cropped, every valley where water and goodsoil might be present. Never mind the wishes and rights of thoseinitial landowners we now call “Native Americans.” The wresting of the Sanpete lands from thefirst inhabitants — that’s another story ripe for some future revisionist historians. Thetale of this bookstore building begins with John R. Baxter, Sr., who “became disgruntled with the management of the Spring City Co-op founded in 1870.” He decided to join Robert Blain in retail business in 1895. Starting with a store in his home, Baxter soon expanded to Second North and Main, where (accord- ing to Athene Allred’s history of the community) Baxter and Blain became known as the “Gold Dust Twins.” Why I don’t quite know. In addition to groceries, the pair sold coal oil, shoes and sewing materials, while their pot-bellied stove heated many a winterchilled customer and “drummer.” Blindness forced Blain to retire. In 1924, Baxter's age dictated retirement. He sold to son-inlaw Claren Schofield in 1924, but by the end of World War II the store had given up the ghost, but was restored in the 1980s by exSalt Laker Craig Paulsen. Meanwhile, most local businesses had vanished and farm and range chores heldlittle fascinatien for the newest crops of youngsters, Spring City’s population, never in excess of 1,000 souls, dropped to a few hundred. Rescueof a sort camein the personofarchitects, artists and historians who saw in the towna reservoir of regional western lore, architecturalstyles and life. Many Salt Lakers know the rest of the tale — all of Spring City has been placed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places, along with such very different communities as Colonial Williamsburg, Va., and Brooklyn Heights in New York. The town wasfirst settled in 1852, when James Allred came north from the regional Mormon outpost of Manti. Native Ute-Shoshonis fought to protect their lands and successfully drove the white settlers away in 1853. But the landseekers returned in 1859, anda yearorso later the town was laid outin a typical Mormongridiron, with 110 five-acre blocks. Early settlers received a quarter blockin the grid for homes,barns, sheds and gardens. Danish converts arrived in numbers, and their buildings, erected with oldcountry craftsmanship utilizing local stone and timber are of particular interest to teams of students from the University of Utah School of Architecture. Graduates come each summer to measure, make drawings and take photos of elderly buildings and their interiors. Such faculty members as Tom Carter and Peter Goss have,these past 10 or so years, impressed Utahns with reports of this Spring City treasure house. artist Max Blair, a native son, did virtually ali his work in the town impressing still others. Pat Brim, whose grandfather Jacob Johnson (1847-1925) was the local judge and later the district’s congressman, has returned to marvel at the curved benchesin the balcony of the Mormon wardhouse,a towering stone structure that is one of the town’s chief glories. Business executive Dick Kimball and his wife Jeanne are representative of the Salt Lakers lateiy buying and restoring old homes — some as permanent residences, others as vacation or weekend retreats. While many old houses and barns remain in disrepair, the big old schoolhouse has been the scene of restoration activity perhaps leading to a new role as a museum andart gallery. Ontypical weekends, the sound of hammer and saw is heard town. There's life in Spring City still. Real estate prices are rising. Californians (such as the bookstore couple)arefiltering in, some even reaching for checkbooks. Jack Goodman has been associated with The Salt Lake Tribune as a staffor free-lance writer for more than 45 years. Kennedy Center Honors gala, the annual televised black-tie salute to the nation’s artistic treasures. “What you seeis peoplesitting in tuxedos because it’s a special gala occasion,” said center president Lawrence Wilker. ‘But that’s only one of 2,800 performances” each year. Perhaps the biggest misconception is the notion the federal government finances its operations. The government built and pays for upkeep ofthe building -- the official memorial to President John F. Kennedy that attracts 3 million visitors a year. Bui the center’s $75 million operating budgetis raised through grants, contributions,ticket sales and the Honors gala. “People don’t thiak we need contributions to keep doing our service to the nation,’’ said Wilker. “We need people’s sup: port.” In addition to the annual TV bash, the Kennedy Center: & Commissions new dance, music and theater productions aroundthe nation. GUnderwrites the Fund for New American Plays, which develops plays — including three Pulitzer Prize winners; ‘The Heidi Chronicles”; ‘‘Angels in Ameri- Facts About Washington, D.C., Facility GANNETT NEWS SERVICE The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was built 25 years ago beside the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., asa memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The center: © Was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone. Its Grand Foyer is 640 feet long, 300 feet wide, 200 feet high — the longest room in the world. Features a 7-foot bronze bustof President Kennedythat was sculpted by Robert Berks, a Boston-born artist. The sculpture, which stands in the Grand Foyer, weighs 3,000 pounds and was cast in Italy not far from the mountain quarries from which the Ken- nedy Center marble was taken. Is decorated with gifts from other nations. Included: A Waterford crystal chandelier with 4,000 pieces from Ire- ca Part I and II”; and “The Kentueky Cycle.” @ Revives American musicals, including ‘Guys and Dolls,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and the upcoming “The King andI.” Establishes touring performances and arts education programs. Produces hundreds of free shows each year. The center is celebrating its mission and 25th anniversary with a free open house todaytitled. “Routes of American Music,” a day dedicated to musical diversity. Other anniversary season high- With Music, Food, Exhibits 7,8VIEDOLEe and goid silk stage curtain came from Japan; china used in the Roof Terrace Restaurant is from Finland; two tapestries designed by Henri Matisse were sent by France; and a metal sculpture by Eduardo Ramirez was a gift from CoJombia. @® Honors all the states. The Hall of States flags are hung in the order in which the states joined the Union, beginning with Delaware, Dev. 7, 1787 and ending with Hawaii, Aug. 21, 1959. @ Has several Kennedy quotations engraved in marble panels, including: “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed overourcities, we, toc, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” lights include: a new Spalding Gray monologuein February;sev- , en new ballets commissioned by the center; a spring workshopof a new Stephen Sondheim musical, whichwill debutin the fall; anda Christmas revival of “The King, and J.” All evening performances, are preceded by free concerts. Comeearly, dress casually, said Wilker. “You don’t have to be rich or wear a tuxedo.This is the national center for the performing arts. We want our programming and our audiences to be representa- tive of all of America. Wear blue jeans, shorts, Helper Arts Fest Opens Friday Something revolutionary is happeningin the tiny town of Helper. In the past few yearsan arts community has sprung up and is beginningto thrive. Helperis traditionally a mining and railroad community rich in diverse ethnic ancestry. The town was settled by Italian, Slovakian, Greek, Japanese, Chinese and English immigrants, providing a rich cultural background as a basis for this newartistic interest. A dozen vacaat historic buildings dewntown have been transformed into “phantom galleries’ — unstaffed art galleries that occupy a building until it can be restored andinhabited. Helper has also started a small professional theater company, the Helper Intermountain Theatre (HIT). An art school and studio associat- land; the Opera Heouse’s red whatever you're comfortable wearing.”’ Novel By Camus Published 35 Years After Death ed with University of Utah art professors also drawsthe artistie crowd to this small community. These recent developments have inspired the first annual Helper Arts Festival, Friday through Sept. 17 along historic Main Street. The festival will feature live musical entertainment, including Salt Lake City’s own Saliva Sisters. A beer garden, food and art booths, theatrical street productions and a children’s art yard will also be part of the celebration. For the athletically inclined, there wili be a half-marathon run Saturday in the nearby Spring Canyon. Festivities begin at noon Friday and continue through 6 p.m.Sept. 17 and are free. Call the Castile Country Council for the Arts & Humanities office at 637-2788 for moredetails, ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Knopfhasjust published an English-language edition of The First Man, the final novel by French author Albert Camus, 35 yearsafter the writer's death. The novel was discovered in 1960 among the wreckageof the: car crash that killed Camus. According to Knopf, the family had withheld the manuscript, a; handwritten, first draft, fearing ; its rough, unedited form wouldbe ! criticized by the author’s rivals. It was finally published in France last year and became a, best-seller. ; The Knopf version appears in| the unedited form of the originai' manuscript. It is published in: hardcover at$23. ' The First Man is an autebio-' graphical novel that Camus had: intended to be the first volumein | a projected series. It covers the! author's childhood in Algeria. VISUAL ART INSTITUTE “for children who love to draw” Stay mid-week at the State Line or Silver Smith in Wendover, Nevada and play the challenging Toana Vista golf course with @ cart — for only $19. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 1-800-848-7300 Andrea Bennett, 18, enrolled with the Institute at age 7, 1980. Completed art curriculum Sprii 199i. Presently a student at Wellesley College need 3rd year level. en SEPT. 27-OCT. Wed. SEPT. 27 * 7:06 PM FAMILY NIGHT SAVE $3.50 ow ncsss: Couriesy of KSL-TY ‘ DELTA CENTER BOX OFFICE (0sercteecbarge? “CASINOS (G01) £67-TIKX or IN! ALL SEATS RESERVED 13.50 & 1-600-888-71KX teste of $1.30 “iticees, $6.00 ‘messchargefond 1 30 ce are 3 Seat orders) Sun OCF 1300M Moa. OO}. 2 ( jxips SAVE $2 FOI Ezra Andrews - age 10 Drawing I #1 FRM outers (een care2.9cn * CHARGE SY PHONE: INE/SILVERSM 2| . Fede. Todd Adamson - age 6 Imagination Drawing FALL QUARTER - SEPT. 25 - DEC. 2 calL Now Por APT 487-7855 Innovative Art Curriculum Advanced Placement Credit, Award Winning Art Portfolios to: University Entrance, Schoo! of Visual Art, N.Y. Boston Museum School of Art Parsons Schoo! of Design. L.A. Chicago Art Institute GARFIELD SCHOOL, 1838 SOUTH 1509 EAST, SLC 84105 IRS 501ic) 3 Since 1980 = 4 ie or 10, 1995 Septemb |
