PERSPECTIVE

page 12 THE MANITOU MESSENGER March 11,1994 Junior Art Show exhibits fresh talent Golden Boy faces Critic cites works as mythical, powerful, honest many closed doors by Karl Rosenquest Benedict's "Chester," a pencil dialogue between two and three students and the equally steady by Chris Nagel frankness of Melson's story, describing candidly his sexual Saff Writer portrait of a rather mythical- dimensions. growth in the quality of the work Contributing Writer looking man's face, is remarkable Alex Palumbo is showing some coming out of the department. (I exploits and his purple lesions, gives a raw perspective of his life. The Junior Art Show opened for its technical sophistication as rather dark and fantastic work. say this not so as to diminish the James Kenneth Melson, a gay St. He chose a life of fast-lane vanity, of February 27 in Flaten Hall, another well its liveliness. Schmidt's self- The piece that struck me most was achievements of previous art Olaf student in the 1970s, wrote his sexual self-absorption, and of link in a long chain of artwork portrait in oil demonstrates a keen a ceramic wall-hanging of a students, rather to distinguish autobiography before he died from outright disregard for others. Aside compiled from the stores and sense of color and manages to hold powerful, sardonically hateful what has allowed the program to AIDS in 1992. The Golden Boy is a from a religious conversion at the portfolios of junior studio art an attitude which, like Benedict's face. Like Palumbro, though improve, and what obstacles fascinating book in many respects. onset of his disease, almost all that majors. Twenty-two artists exhibit piece, gives it life. Of course, to certainly in a somewhat different remain to hinder further It is the story of a small town Iowa concerned Melson was finding the their work in this sjiow, which will really experience the grandeur of vein, Mellissa Maier is showing an improvement.) boy who eventually makes his way largest penis and the most be up through Spring Break. these works, you'll have to walk or intriguing ceramic sculpture of a As many of the art majors may through St. Olaf and then cracks into the glittery sexually satiated handsome stud. One can't help but Strong works fill the gallery drive over to Flaten and take a lower leg, interfused with be aware, Rutgers' ranked the St. elite of the New York club scene. admire Melson, however, for his with promises of more art to come. look for yourself—that is, after all, inorganic mechanics. Olaf Art Department in the top The book also explores sexual unbounded commitment to his To be able to praise all these works the wonderful part of art. Also noteworthy for its echelon for selectivity, an honor relationships, homosexual American desire, and his embrace of his fate. of exception in print would be I was also struck by the honesty freshness and candor is Aby shared only with one other school history and New York City's sexual Response to Melson's story is ideal, but for the sake of brevity, present in Kari Griffith's series of Algueseva's handmade book, a in the state, Macalester College. liberation of the 1970s. interesting. Fellow gay Arnie and at the risk of falling prey to photographs on the farm family. collage-type memory creation This is a distinction for which the Kantrowitz writes in the Epilogue: that horrible beast called Her angle on farm life seems to which seems to explore, in a very junior majors, and all St. Olaf art Melson's St. Olaf years are spent "Narcissism may be one option for Exclusion, I'll point out a few come without pretense. No less personal sense, the significance of students, can be proud. All the in the closet. Once, returning from a gay men, but it is not the only pieces of particular interest. distinguished, Peter Fetsch an influential relationship. more reason to attend the show in break, he finds that he's been ousted by his roommate. Melson later option. I chose another route." Beth Benedict and Jessica incorporates his photos into The show as a whole is the Flaten Gallery. discovers that his roommate is gay Instead of Melson's lonely "...world Schmidt both have portrait works sculptural and architectural forms, happy result of a steady growth in himself and is testing the waters of of competition, one-upmanship and of unusual strength on display. drawing out an interesting the number of dedicated art Olaf's homophobia. The author's rejection," Kantrowitz found a sexual life at Olaf is restricted to "world of mutual nurture and occasional trips to Minneapolis and encouragement." the Gay '90s. In.contrast, Lawrence Mass writes In order to escape the closet of in the Foreword that "many Manitou Heights, Melson travels homosexuals are obligatory with the St. Olaf Urban Studies narcissists. Deprived of role group to Chicago. There he makes models, of social structuring, of more gay connections, and decides identity, constantly ridiculed, to take a break from schooling and threatened, punished and move to New York. Thanks to his endangered for natural sexual good looks, he begins to befriend instincts, homosexuals have been the high-living socialites (those who completely excluded (not unlike associate with the Kennedys), and women) from honest participation lives among drugs and studs in in the patriarchal societies they have Studio 54 and the Flamingo. lived in." Eventually, after a stint back in Although not well-written, The school and after modeling, Melson Golden Boy succeeds in depicting a returns to New York and becomes man of glamour and hubris in a an investment banker. During these clandestine and exciting pack of years he lives closeted at work and other beautiful and wealthy men. spends weekends and summers at But the book also reveals a man that gay resorts. During this time, AIDS today's gays will hopefully mourn is more and more frequently heard and never see again: a closeted man about, and Melson begins a long- aware that he is not understood by term relationship with a man from his fellow humans, who show him Greece. Even this latter-day no compassion. monogamy, though, does not save The Golden Boy is available in the Junior studio art majors display their Work in Flaten Hall through Spring Break (photo by Tyler Godfrey). him or his lover from the disease. OLGA office. The boastful yet regretful Lullabies: Grind your techno-pelvis. Hiphop this. by Keith Long in capturing the true essence of and Onyx, NdegeOcello wishes to slaveholder made, sent into ... Perspective Editor . create a positive image of the future shock." While building up "Step Into the Projects" has an African American, especially the esteem of the African American, "There's no such thing as infectious beat and a bottomless women. Songs like "Untitled" NdegeOcello unfortunately attacks alternative hiphop because the bass line guaranteed to melt any affirm that "her blackness is fine, the aspects of white culture. "We've only known alternative to hiphop sub-woofer. "Dred Loc" is a sexy blackness of her skin the blackness been indoctrinated and convinced is dead silence." (Greg Tate) number with gorgeous jazzy of her mind." In "Two Lonely by the white racist standard of Me'Shell NdegeOcello ("free like a and flute parts. These songs are Hearts (On the Subway)" she beauty," starts off the overly bird" in Swahili) is a skillful and infused with the groove of old confides in a prospective lover "I accusational "Soul On Ice." She diverse musician with a sometimes and the swagger of • just want to get to know you/ Your goes on to say "Excuse me does the controversial agenda. On her debut white woman go better with the record Plantation Lullabies Brooks Brothers suit," and "You (Maverick), NdegeOcello handles « want blonde-haired, blue-eyed soul most instruments while rapping and \Hiphop is the black Snow White passion without the hot about her views on modern comb." black life. Her message is best aesthetic by-product of the Plantation Lullabies should be summed up in the CD's liner notes commended as a stunning debut written by art and social critic Greg American Dream machine..." effort for its innovative sound. Tate. NdegeOcello's desire to raise the "Hiphop is James Brown's pelvis consciousness of the African digitally grinded into American is also admirable. But at technomorphine." Plantation's what cost? Putting down one race to promote another only creates unique blend of rap, , and soul Sly and the Family Stone. lovely black face/ Accompanied by more injustice. makes it a stand-out in the hiphop "Hiphop is the black aesthetic some STRICTLY ROOTS as we genre. Groups like Digable Planets by-product of the American Dream venture." Yet, this sentiment is and Arrested Development have not machine..." Unlike the popular sometimes taken to extremes. been as successful as NdegeOcello "gangsta-rap" of Snoop Doggy Dog "Hiphop is the world the

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