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Show 5 ARTS Film series exhibits Native American stories Wednesday www.dailyutahchronicle.com March 27, 2013 Louisa Austin STAFF WRITER The Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Utah Film Center are partnering to produce awareness of depictions of Native Americans in modern society. To present these issues, UFC is showing its Native Voices film series at the UMFA tonight. UFC shows free movies across the valley that are not normally seen in big theaters. The purpose of the movies are to "[emphasize] social content and artistic excellence [and] present the best documentary, independent and dramatic cinema year-round," according to the website. UFC wants to highlight new voices in Native American filmmaking by showing short films at the UMFA to coincide with the exhibit "Bierstadt to Warhol: Native Americans in the West." The first film in the series, "On the Ice," began the feature of Native American films Feb. 27. The Native Voices series is the conclusion to the UFC's highlight of films by Native American directors. The series illustrates the "evolution of traditional Native American storytelling," said Patrick Hubley, the artistic director of UFC. "These are young filmmakers and part of a new generation of storytellers." While Native American storytelling is traditionally oral, these films show the progression of storytelling in Native American culture as it moves to more contemporary forms, such as film. "We hope the series introduces the audience to new films and filmmakers they wouldn't normally see," Hubley said. The benefit of having a shorts program is that more filmmakers are able to gain exposure and have their movies seen. Hubley said the six short films are different from one another and range from documentary, shorts, ani- PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN INDIAN FILM INSTITUTE A screenshot from the film, `Flez Ball,' directed by Myrton Running Wolf, which is part of Native Voices, a series of films that raise awareness of depictions of Native Americans in modern society. mation and narrative. Native Americans directed each film. One filmmaker, Cedar Sherbert, whose film "Gesture Down" is featured in the series, spoke on the Smithsonian website Native Voices. "I wish to continue producing narrative works that not only speak to native and non-native viewers from within the culture, but that challenge long-held stereotypes concerning Indian life while helping to expand the vocabulary of Native American cinema," Sherbert said. Brooke Swaney's film "Ok, Breathe Auralee," a story of a young girl who is baby-obsessed, is only one part of a larger story Swaney is trying to tell. Swaney, like Sherbert, is interested in the evolution of storytelling in Native American culture by using film to tell four stories about issues in contemporary Native Americans' lives. The documentary "Napi," directed by Damien Eagle Bear, is about the trickster Napi of the Blackfoot tribe. Tricksters are prevalent in native cultures, and in the film four elders of the Blood Tribe — the largest in the Blackfoot Confederacy — share their knowl- edge of their tribe's trickster and how he has affected the Blackfoot people. In "Napi," traditional oral storytelling crosses with the newer storytelling in film. The two styles come together to entertain and inform the viewer about Napi's adventures. "Shimasani," directed by Navajo Blackhorse Lowe, is a story taken from his grandmother's life in the 193os. The main protagonist, Mary Jane, must decide between continuing her traditional lifestyle or leaving the reservation to go to boarding school. According to Native Networks, the film won the SWAIA Indian Market's Best of Show Award — the first time a film has won SWALVs top prize. The film also earned the award for Best Cinematography at the First Peoples' Festival in Montreal. In a culture that has traditionally been swept to the sidelines, these films give students a small glimpse at the issues and challenges Native Americans face in the contemporary art of storytelling through film. The series is free for everyone and starts at 7 p.m. at UMFA. l.austin@chronicle.utah.edu 2010 Emancipator's newest album combines techno, the senses Frances Moody STAFF WRITER PHOTO COURTESY SHANNONCORR.COM Thrash metal group, Exodus, will be playing across the United States in the 2013 Metal Alliance Tour III with Anthrax. The tour kicks off April 1 at In The Venue. Metal Alliance Tour kicks off in Salt Lake Javan Rivera STAFF WRITER It is a bit difficult to imagine a more heartpounding, adrenaline-pumping genre of music than heavy metal. This subgenre of rock `n' roll is known for brutal guitar-drenched tracks filled with blisteringly fast bass drums like rolling thunder, and cutting, unapologetic vocals. Thrash metal icon, Anthrax, will be heading the 2013 Metal Alliance Tour III going across the United States with fellow metal pioneer Exodus. To kick off the tour, Exodus will be performing a one-off show at In The Venue on April 1. Originally hailing from Richmond, Calif., many consider Exodus to be one of the original bands behind the much faster and more aggressive form of heavy metal — commonly referred to as thrash metal. With io albums of material stretching back more than 3o years, the band has a rich history within the genre, and possibly no member more so than band co-founder and drummer Tom Hunting. "Looking back on it, growing up, we had a cool little scene going on with about two to three hundred people," Hunting said. "It was a special thing to be a part of. We helped make it, and we're thankful for that, and we're proud of the fact that we were part of the pioneering process of that kind of music." Hunting said that putting together a set list for this year's tour was — much as it has been in previous years — a difficult but enjoyable process. "There's a lot of material to choose from," Hunting said. "The band's got a lot of music, so we go around and around about that con- stantly. You know, everybody has got their favorite song. Some people want to play new material, some people want to play old material, and then you've got the crowd reactions as well. But there are worse problems that a band can have than having too many songs to choose from." As for his personal preferences, Hunting said he enjoys the challenge of the band's more recent works. "I like to perform a lot of the newer stuff, just because it's fresher and it's been played less," Hunting said. "You know, I've played `Piranha' off 'Bounded by Blood' probably a thousand times in my life. We still bring as much as we can as hard as we can even with some of the older music, but everyone has their favorites." For Hunting, the chance to share his music and perform it live across the globe has been more than just a hobby. It has been a major part of his life — his work with Exodus alone spanning more than 20 years. Hunting said reflecting back on it all, he has greatly grown as a musician. "I think I appreciate it more," Hunting said. "It's pretty special to be able to do something you love while traveling the world. I like to humble myself due to the fact that I'm fortunate enough to do this for as long as I have. I don't look at it like a 23-year-old anymore, and as far as being a musician, I think I'm a way better drummer now than I was even 20 years ago." Doors for Exodus' show at In The Venue will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance or $18 at the door. j.rivera@ chronicle.utah.edu Smell, taste, touch, sight, sound and techno — to electronica gurus, the experiences created through electronically produced music formulate a sensation uncommon to the five senses. To them, techno is the sixth sense. Whether it is trance, house, dubstep, chillwave or triphop, techno fanatics seem to understand something other music listeners just don't. In fact, those electronica lovers have often been told it is contradictory to state that a natural sensation has grown from the marvel of synthetically created music. This sixth sense phenomenon was in full swing last Friday at the Urban Lounge. There, the trip-hop producer, Emancipator, proved electronic vibrations have the ability to pulsate through one's body and produce an awareness incomparable to any other. Despite the deep connection made through the many forms of heavily synthesized music, Emancipator, aka Doug Appling, separates himself by truly understanding the notorious sensory effect by way of the soundboard. With the help of his partner in crime, electronic violinist Ilya Gold- I FRANCES MOODY/The Daily Utah Chronicle Trip-hop producer, Emancipator, performing last Friday at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City. berg, Emancipator is capable of producing an orchestra of wave-like symphonic notes. Emancipator's sold-out show at the Urban Lounge demonstrated his unique noises can transfer into something more than music. From the boxed speakers on stage to the densely packed audience of men with mustaches and women in lace tops, the music bumped from the walls to the enthusiastic dancers in the crowd. The majority of the music replicated throughout the show was from Emancipator's most recent album, "Dusk to Dawn." Following the path of his prior albums, Emancipator epitomizes the true sound of trip-hop music. This Oregon native begins "Dusk to Dawn" with the title track, "Minor Cause," which pulls from artistic ways of kicking out piano-like rhythms and changing tempos. Though the music was made by way of plugging in pieces of geared equipment, the clatters pull in the vibrations of the outdoors. In fact, the "Minor Cause" music video seems to mimic the beauty of nature, which parallels techno as the sixth sense. In any and every way, the "Minor Cause" music video echoes the interconnections between mankind and nature. Through the sound of wind blowing in the grass and then touching human skin, to the smell of salt water from the shores of the ocean, it is clear the video represents man's significance to earth and the universe. In Emancipator's show, the electronic tremors of the ocean were personified through his performance. Although fans can't get quite the same experience of Emancipator live, the senses can be excited through his new album, which is definitely something techno lovers should invest in. fmoody@ chronicle.utah.edu |