Highlights: Private Property
Private Property
Opens Wednesday at the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center Gallery
Ambiguous interpretations of privacy in modern life will be investigated through an artist mode using video, digital media, and sculpture in a two-person exhibit. The two-person show features the work of UA art professor Tom Hapgood and artist Bethany Springer.
Hapgood says he is interested in merging traditional materials with digital technology, projection and an internet connection, which provides a constantly changing source of content.
Hapgood’s installation includes:
“STOP Sign Preacher” is a web-based non-destructive graffiti system projection that allows viewers to add personalized messages to a traffic stop sign.
“Raw Sewage” is a projection of raw sewage at a sewage plant, set to porn movie style music.
“Identity Friend of Foe” is a traditional Alexander Calder inspired mobile outfitted with RFID tags. As the air pushes the mobile toward an RFID antenna reader it triggers of of the web pages projections dealing with the RFID controversy in religion, corporations, government and privacy. The projections will display the latest photographs constantly uploaded around the world into the flickr.com photo sharing service, which fall into the four categories.
“Stick it to Father,” a twist on the stick figure family art work that usually appears on the back of mini vans. “It is a statement on the ludicrous portrayal of the father (and men in general) on television, specifically in situation comedies and advertising.”
In Springer’s recent projects, she examines how technological advances in communication, globalization and product development affect regional identity and subsequently impact individual experience.
Springer’s installation includes:
“Flyover Territory” which pairs aerial imagery from Google Earth with an audio recording of a nursing home patient who voices his desire to leave his situation.
“Converse All-Stars” is a cast wax replica of the famous sneakers tossed over a cable line.
A video clip on the work in progress “Homeless Project,” a collection of testimonies from the homeless in Northwest Arkansas about their memories of home.
“Showcase Showdown” an installation of demolition site timber, fiberglass, carpet and vinyl animal hides arranged in an open diorama.
“Decoy” a vinyl sculpture in which representations of land, sea masses, camouflage and rooftops converge.
An opening reception for the artists will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28. The exhibition will be on view until Mar. 19.
In the Clubs
It’s another hopping week in the clubs this Valentine’s week. Beginnning tonight with Trout Fishing in America at George’s. If you’d like to learn some Cajun dance steps, head to the Green Door tonight for an early lesson with Snake Eyes and the Bug Band, followed by a late show with Redemption. On Friday night, scratch DJ, Mix Master Mike, who has been touring with the Beastie Boys will be at George’s along with local fave’s Ultra Suede. Saturday night catch The Dark Suits at The OPO on the Fayetteville Square, the incomparable Randy Crouch at the Green Door and a triple bill of Matt Jones, Ben Rector and the Eli Young Band at George’s. Word on the street is, The Gypsy is going through some changes. Stay tuned for updates.
Rejoice with the African Children’s Choir as their angelic voices fill Walton Arts Center’s Baum Walker Hall on Thursday, February 21 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature children from various places in Africa sharing their life story through joyous music. Ticket prices range from $14 to $22 and can be purchased by calling the Walton Arts Center box office at 443-5600 or visit www.waltonartscenter.org.
Their songs may be joyful but it is also a cry for help as they sing on behalf of Africa’s 12 million AIDS orphans. These children, ranging from the ages 7 to 11, bring a story to tell through their voices about tragedies that have occurred in their lives. They have witnessed the lost of one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease. They sing on behalf of friends, brothers or sisters that were lost. The children are the future leaders of Africa, representing places like Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa with dreams of being doctors, pilots and musicians.
After doing research for a book about the cruel years of dictatorship and terror in Uganda, Ray Barnett, Human Rights worker of 1978, soon learned about the orphanage children hunting the city streets for food and water. The idea of the African Children’s Choir was created after Barnett and company gave a small boy a ride to another town. He sang the whole time. As a way to raise money and help the country, a group of children traveled to Vancouver, BC in 1984 to perform, stealing the hearts of everyone they met.
For over 21 years, the African Children’s Choir has performed throughout North American and United Kingdom. Since its creation, the group has helped establish several schools throughout Africa and provided tuition assistance for thousands of children with no access to an education.
Diane Sawyer, co-anchor of Good Morning America, said, “they sing like angels.” They’ve also performed on Ellen and were recently featured on American Idol.
For more information, visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com or www.waltonartscenter.org.
