Rapid River Magazine January 2008

RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE Preview Lotus Announces their “Copy Paste Repeat” Tour Look For “Escaping Sargasso Sea” and “Copy Paste Repeat: Lotus Remixed” In Stores Now

or those waiting for a concert by Claire Tonelson experience with the dynamics of a rock band (read: no laptops), the dance inducing rhythms of club spontaneously on stage. Restraining music, and the sophistication of from flaunting their individual chops, modern electronica, an unlikely Lotus builds compositions on catchy Fmusical alternative has arrived in the melodies and heavy grooves. form of the band Lotus. The five-piece band has creatively Formed at a Mennonite college that fused electronic dance music with had banned on-campus dancing as late instrumental post-rock for eight years. as the 1980’s, Lotus brings their club- The result is an explosive live show that worthy beats and rocking instrumental has made crowds get down across the anthems to theaters throughout the US, Canada, and Japan. Armed with a country this fall. No glow-stick brace- massive light rig and one of the most lets, pretentious Can trivia, or expensive bonic Tonic’ for fans to create their own energetic shows on the circuit, Lotus distressed fashion required. remix and submit for review. The site will proves why they have become a go-to act In January 2008, Lotus embarks on feature the band’s favorite submissions. for late night festival slots. their “Copy Paste Repeat” tour, which Visit www.lotusvibes.com for details. celebrates the release of Copy Paste Copy Paste Repeat: Lotus Remixed Repeat: Lotus Remixed, an album the comes on the heels of the band’s most If you go band released this past November. The recent live album, Escaping Sargasso Sea, released May 2007, is a double-disc Lotus and Asheville, North Carolina recording offers 12 remixes by renowned favorites Telepath producers including DFA Records artist live album that draws from two previous Juan Maclean, DJ Harry, and Lotus’s own studio albums, Nomad and The Strength Thursday, January 24th at 9:00pm, Jesse Miller. Lotus’s post/electro/dancer- of Weak Ties, along with never before Doors open at 8:00 ock is deconstructed and reassembled into released material. From the post/math- Tickets $10 Advance, $12 day of show / club ready dance, dub, glitch-hop, and rock of “When H Binds to O” to the Ages 18+ Welcome. IDM tracks. slippery dance beats of “Wax,” this collec- Orange Peel, 101 Baltimore Avenue, ® The band’s website is currently offer- tion shows Lotus’s ability to deconstruct, in Asheville. For more information please Rapid River ing up the source files for the track ‘Bu- stretch, and rebuild their compositions visit www.theorangepeel.net presents a new column... Joe’s Folk Veteran Bill Staines Live at Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse!

he much appreciated and highly Staines gained notoriety as a song- Brew Notes by James Cassara successful Mountain Spirit Cof- writer in 1966 when Randy Burns and the feehouse series continues with Skydog band recorded his first original a show by Folk veteran and Red song, “That’s the Way It’s Going to Go in “Kookaburra.” Over the past two decades House Records artist Bill Staines. Time”. He released his debut album, Bag Staines’ songs have been featured in four The New Hampshire based song- of Rainbows, the same year. songbooks: If I Were a Word Then I’d Twriter will be celebrating the release of Staines initially attracted national Be a Song (Folk-Legacy, 1980), All God’s Old Dogs, his first CD of new material in attention with his yodeling. In 1975, he Critters Got a Place in the Choir (Puffin, over three years. won the prestigious National Yodel- 1989), River (Viking, 1993) and Music to It’s a collection of folk/country songs ing Championship at the Kerrville Folk Me (Hal Leonard, 1994). He is truly an that were inspired by years of touring Festival in Kerrville, Texas. His 1976 original and revered voice in the world of America’s highways; creating a simple, album Miles included the ballad, “Sweet traditional folk. spacious sound that is reminiscent of the Wyoming Home” which has since become Old Dogs features all-new originals artist’s earlier recordings. A performer and a signature song of sort. A self-taught, and covers by such notable songwriters as recording veteran whose career has now finger style, acoustic guitarist, Staines was Guy Clark, Norman Blake, John Stewart The brew tanks spanned four decades, Staines’ music has heavily influenced by the playing of Jackie and Elizabeth Cotten. As always Staines at French Broad Brewery. long reflected the central themes of the Washington and Tom Paxton. Staines uses lends his voice and guitar to stories that American landscape. a right handed Martin D-18 guitar that he echo across the mountains, rivers and Local Craft Beers and the His ability to write tunes that seem turns over and plays left handed. open prairies. like traditional folksongs has long made Staines’ song, “A Place in the Choir Best Places to Enjoy Them him a favorite source of new material. (All God’s Critters)” has become a - See Page 29 Staines’ original tunes, including “The children’s music classic. In 1993, he If you go Roseville Fair,” “River,” “Wild, Wild released an album of children’s songs, Heart,” “Yellowstone Winds” and “A Place The Happy Wanderer, that included “The Sunday, January 6th – 7:00 pm Unitarian Next Month: The French in the Choir (All God’s Critters),” have Hound Dog Song” and “I Can Feel the Broad Brewery and its exciting Universalist Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin neighbor, The Garage at Biltmore been covered by such artists as Nanci Sweet Winds Blowing (Bless My Soul)” Place, Asheville. — the beer, the music, and the folks Griffith, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, as well as interpretations of “Home on For tickets and show information: (828) who love both. Fairport Convention, and Mason Williams. the Range,” “The Gypsy Rover” and 254-6001

January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 Lotus Announces their “Copy Paste Repeat” Tour

Folk Veteran Bill Staines Live at Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse! Rapid River ® ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Volume Eleven, Number Five Established in 1997 Distributed at over 390 locations throughout eight counties in WNC and South Carolina

Publisher/Editor: Dennis Ray January 2008 Managing Editor: Beth Gossett www.rapidrivermagazine.com Art Director: Dennis Ray Print Production: Simone Bouyer Marketing: Dennis Ray Inside Staff Photographer: Dennis Ray Accounting: Sharon Cole 5 Cover Book Editor: Marcianne Miller Asheville Lyric Opera presents Film Editor: Marcianne Miller Lucia di Lammermoo Distribution: Dennis Ray

Contributing Writers 10 Columns H. Byron Ballard, Tim Brandon, Roxane Clement ...... 10 Sierra Bicking, Jenny Bunn, MariJo Moore ...... 12 James Cassara, Roxane Clement, Peter Loewer ...... 13 Lonnie Darr, Amy Downs, Bill Walz ...... 27 Ann Dunn, Heidi Foss, Joe Zinich ...... 29 Beth Gossett, RoseLynn Katz, Mackensy Lunsford ...... 31 Chip Kaufmann, Michelle Keenan, Christine Kloostra, Peter Loewer, 7 Art Mackensy Lunsford, Fine Arts League ...... 7 Marcianne Miller, Folk Art Center . . . . 8 MariJo Moore, April Nance, Blue Spiral ...... 9 Advertising Made Simple: Michael F. Parker, Dennis Ray, Merrimon Gallery ...... 11 Jonathan Rich, John M. Rose, Gallery 86 ...... 39 Eric Scheider, Taryn Strauss, Claire Tonelson, Kay Waldrop, 14 Music Bill Walz, Joe Zinich. CD Reviews ...... 14 Free web links Ruby Slippers ...... 15 INFO Tyler Ramsey ...... 32 Free ad design Rapid River Art Magazine is Richard Thompson ...... 35 a free monthly publication. Easy monthly billing Address correspondence to: 16 Books [email protected] H. Byron Ballard ...... 16 Free listing of events or write to: John M. Rose ...... 17 Rapid River Art Magazine, Marcianne Miller ...... 18-20 and much more... 85 N. Main St.., Canton, NC 28716. 21 Movie Reviews Phone: (828) 646-0071 Advertising with Rapid River magazine allows www.rapidrivermagazine.com 27 Artful Living over 35,000 people each month to know a little All materials contained herein are owned and copyrighted by Rapid 28 Wine more about you and your business. River Art Magazine and the individual contributors unless otherwise stated. Each month we cover the best in performance Opinions expressed in this magazine 29 Beer and the visual arts of the area. do not necessarily correspond with the opinions of Rapid River Art Magazine or the advertisers found herein. 31 Local Flavor Please call (828) 646-0071 © Rapid River Magazine, What to Do Guide™ Rapid River Magazine can help you! January, 2008. Vol. 11, No. 5 36 Callie and Cats ...... 37 Rapid River Magazine has been a part of this community Corgi Tales ...... 37 for over 10 years!

January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE COVER STORY

So Much to Give Thanks For Asheville Lyric Opera and the Opera Company of North Carolina present With a new year coming, there is so much to give thanks for and not enough space to do it in. So I’ll be brief. A big thank you to all of our loyal readers the Lucia di Lammermoor past eleven years — without you there wouldn’t be a Rapid River Magazine. A he heroine of Donizetti’s tragic Basic Plot Summary By Dennis Ray special thanks to one of the best entertain- masterpiece — a young woman of Lucia di ment editors in the US (and she works who is driven to madness when for us — eat your heart out. Larry King), forced to marry a man she does Lammermoor political reasons. She Marcianne Miller, who has given Rapid not love — has inspired memo- insists that they keep River the best film and book sections of rable performances by some of Act I their love a secret; the any publication in western North Caro- Topera’s most luminous stars in Asheville Enrico decides that two exchange rings and lina. An equally special thanks to Simone Lyric Opera’s faithful rendition of Lucia his sister, Lucia, should say goodbye. Bouyer, our graphic designer who joined marry Arturo Bucklaw di Lammermoor. Act II us in July, and who’s made the look and This opera will be produced by for money and status. feel of this publication better than anyone two of the NC states most lavish opera She, however, is in-love Enrico uses a could have thought possible. companies The Asheville Lyric Opera and with Edgardo Raven- forged letter from Ed- Thanks and welcome to our new The Opera Company of North Carolina swood, who is her gardo to another wom- columnists: poetry editor MariJo Moore, in Raleigh. brother’s bitter rival and an to persuade Lucia nature essayist Peter Loewer, local beer their family’s mortal en- to marry another man, guide Joe Zinich, and book reviewers H. “It would be almost impossible emy. Edgardo wants to Arturo. Lucia is crushed Byron Ballard and John M. Rose. Thanks for one company to produce a play of ask Lucia’s brother for by what she sees in and “glad you’re back” to our regular this magnitude and star quality,” says her hand in marriage, the letter and agrees to columnists: health expert Dewayne David Starkey, general director of the but Lucia is scared of Butcher, M.D., music reporter James Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO). “Split- what her brother’s reac- Talise Trevigne as Lucia ‘Lucia di ting the cost with another company, — a singer noted for the Cassara, artful home specialist Roxane tion will be. Edgardo Lammermoor’ showing it in two parts of the state, sheer beauty of her voice and Clement, foodie Mackensey Lunsford, then hears that he must cont’d on pg. 30 wine guru Michael Parker, and artful allows us to put on a show that rivals leave for France for exquisite stage presence. living guide Bill Walz, as well as our the biggest brightest cities.” two cartoonists, Amy Downs and Philip Hawkins. Thanks to our new and con- The general director of The Opera tinuing writers for film and performing Company of North Carolina, Frank arts: Sierra Bicking, Hilary Boram, Louis Grebowski, had done some consulting Boram, Lonnie Darr, RoseLynn Katz, with ALO and contacted Starkey to see if Chip Kaufmann, Zachary Maynard and he would be interested in doing an opera Michelle Keenan. together. My most heartfelt thanks, of course, “This was a great opportunity,” go to our managing editor and longest Starkey says, “for a smaller market supporter, Beth Gossett. like Asheville to work creatively with a larger more established art market I wish everyone a wonderful like Raleigh. Hopefully, this en- and exciting new year. deavor will allow both cities to gain greater respect for each others artist Dennis Ray, Publisher Rapid successes.” River Magazine

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008

RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE fine art The Fine Arts League of the Carolinas: Moving On Up By Tim Brandon he Fine Arts League of the Caro- understanding of the tools, materials, classical sculpture, the student endeavors color theory and mixing colors from di- linas has moved from downtown methods and preparations of the artist’s to learn how to see proportions correctly rect observation of nature, supplemented Asheville to a 362 Depot St. in craft. Besides hands-on training, the and to model the effects of light and by lectures and demonstrations on over- the River Arts District that is students will be able to witness the art- shadow, which reproduce the three-di- painting in color. home to affordable housing. ist-instructor’s own creative process, as mensional form in space. This process Students begin to explore the move- The property is part of a he or she works along with the students. prepares one for portraiture and is a pre- ment and mixing of paint, using a system- Tlarger development project that Moun- One great incentive to coax professional liminary for painting. Retaining what has atic approach, developing underpainting, tain Housing Opportunities plans for the artists to pass on their knowledge is to been learned from the cast, the student and working in glazes with a grisaille adjoining properties, the old Glen Rock allow them to do their own work, just as concentrates on elements of portraiture palette. Hotel and several properties along Ralph they might do in their own studio. For a using various media: pen and ink, chalk, Sessions for 2008 and Choctaw Streets. student to observe a master at work is a graphite, charcoal, etc. The partnership replicates a model powerful learning experience. • January 14 - April 4 Drawing: seen in other cities, whereby arts organi- The first year heavily emphasizes • April 21 - July 11 Students complete numerous zations partner with community develop- drawing — first-year students concentrate • September 15 - December 12 ment groups to revitalize neighborhoods. on the study of anatomy, figure drawing, thumbnail sketches using pencil, charcoal, The property the Fine Arts League and cast drawing. and pen and ink wash, with attention to Instructional Fees occupies is a 6,400-square-foot building The second year’s study will move line variation, rhythm of form and visual dynamics of composition. Students will Student Tuition for one session that was originally a company store for into more advanced drawing and begin- 12 weeks, 5 days per week, railroad men. It was also used for several ning painting of portrait, still life and maintain a sketchbook and be encouraged to complete a series of drawings. 3-6 hours per day – $2,000 decades as Asheville Packing Company, a landscape. Student Tuition for One locally owned and operated food process- The third year is advanced study Painting: Academic Year – $6,000 ing facility that made, among other items, encouraging individual projects and Students execute several thumbnail chili for the hot dogs sold at Asheville expression of ideas towards fully realized sketches for each study, and choose one Tourist baseball games. works and producing toward exhibition. to develop into a painting. Working with For more information contact Mountain Housing Opportunities Students who advance through the final an easel and palette, students draw with Anne Rawson, Executive Director, plans to build an 80,000-square-foot year can expect to exhibit their work in brushes, developing a wash underpainting (828) 252-5050, www.fineartsleague.org, mixed-use building on vacant land on the League’s gallery. to establish values. Students learn about [email protected] Depot Street that will offer market-rate Anatomy is stressed all three years, as and affordable homes (both rental and for is craftsmanship, color theory, perspec- sale), as well as commercial, retail, and tive, composition, and other necessary studio space. elements of the professional artist. They The old Glen Rock Hotel will be wish to offer a full education devoted to historically restored and will be used as the development of a classical fine artist, office space on the upper two floors, with so that the serious student will leave after commercial and retail space on the first three years with a solid foundation in two floors. Also included in the develop- drawing, anatomy, and craftsmanship, ment will be community space for meet- and with the confidence of a professional ings, classes, and children’s programming artist to pursue his or her talent. intended to link river district artists with children in the neighborhood. Selected Teachers The Fine Arts League of the Caroli- nas, founded by fresco artist Benjamin F. John Mac Kah Long IV, is a non-profit school commit- Landscape and Still Life Painting ted to teaching the realist traditions and John Mac Kah is a graduate of the techniques of the old masters. Ringling School of Art. He has taught Benjamin Long, the League Head- oil painting and watercolor privately and master, has lived, studied, and painted for publicly at the college level for many 30 years in Europe. He has exhibited in years. He is the Program Director of The Florence, London, and Paris, had works Swannanoa Valley Arts League and main- in the Royal Academy and Royal Portrait tains a fine and applied arts studio. Society, and has created seven major frescoes in Italy. John Dempsey Cast Drawing and Portraiture The School for the John Dempsey studied academic Serious Artist drawing in Florence, Italy at the studio of Daniel Graves. He has studied paint- Asheville is fortunate to have the ing with John Mac Kah and Benjamin Fine Arts League of the Carolina a school Long . His pursuits range from figurative dedicated to teaching the realist traditions anatomy to landscape painting with a and techniques of the old masters. concentration on portraiture. Instruction is based on the Master- apprenticeship studio system—teaching Types Of Classes the fundamentals of the artist’s studio, working from live models in natural Cast Drawing north light, and stressing a thorough Through the discipline of copying

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 RAPID RIVER ARTS FINE ART January at the Folk Art Center by April Nance

he Folk Art Center galleries continue to inspire and delight in January. There is still time to see Western North Carolina Pottery: The Rodney Henderson Leftwich TCollection. WNC is a premier destination for fine art and craft collectors, and this exhibition illustrates the deep historical roots tied to this designation. Photographs of days gone by are paired with objects from the Leftwich collection. The show includes work from Oscar Bachelder, Walter B. Stephen, J.S. Penland and Brown’s Pottery. The show closes January 13. Beginning January 19th the main gallery will host: Pressing Matters in Printmaking, an international invitational exhibition representing the work of 50 artists. Notably the exhibition will feature vitreographs of Harvey Littleton and Dale Chihuly in cooperation with Littleton “Over the Moon”, Jan Heath Studios of Spruce Pine, NC. Photo courtesy of the Southern Vitreographs are prints made from a Highland Craft Guild

The Focus Gallery will feature furniture made by John Mc- Dermott and metal by James Peavey. This forum offers members of the Southern High- land Craft Guild the opportunity to display new work in a gallery setting at the Folk Art Center. The show will run from January 5- February 26. While at the Folk Art Center, take time to visit Allanstand Cameo Mugs, Pisgah Forest Pottery, Craft Shop, the Walter B. Stephen c. 1940s nation’s oldest craft photo by Tim Barnwell gallery displaying the work of members of Southern Highland glass matrix. The show will also explore Craft Guild. The Guild is a juried orga- printmaking techniques such as aquatint, nization representing artists living in the silkscreen, woodcut and linocut. Also mountain counties of nine states from participating are members of the Califor- Maryland to Alabama. nia Printmaking Society and members of For more information, call (828) 298- the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The 7928 or visit www.craftguild.org. exhibition dates are January 19-May 18.

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930 to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation. The Southern Highland Craft Guild is authorized to provide services at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center under the authority of a cooperative agreement with the Na- tional Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville.

January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS FINE ART Blue Spiral Annual Exhibit Celebrates Sixteen New Artists

lue Spiral 1, Asheville’s notable by Marcianne Miller downtown gallery, rings in the New Year with its most ambi- abstracts reveal subtle, haunting rhythms tious new artist exhibit yet. New x that promise more revelations at each Three (New Artists, New Works, viewing. She’s another artist whose star is New Year!) is a festive introduc- rising. Keep her in your view. Btion to both emerging talents and recog- As in many Blue Spiral 1 exhibitions, nized artists who are “new” to the gallery. New x Three has a strong focus on craft A preview of the work reveals a tan- and the selection of media is thrilling. talizing hint of the excitement to come. Marlene Rose’s cast glass sculptures draw If there’s one event that is an unequivo- from a broad range of influences includ- cally must-see for Asheville art lovers, ing Asian and African artifacts as well as it’s this exhilarating exhibit. New York Paul Klee’s hieroglyphic-like paintings. Lord! When you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue — you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night — there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book. – Christopher Morley (1890-1957) Book reviews begin on page 16

She Drives Me Home (2002), by Taiyo La Paix, oil on canvas, 33" x 78" galleries, eat your hearts out — the place Ceramicist Pat Scull hand-builds boxes for contemporary art with an astonishing and lamps from stoneware and found array of media and styles is right here in objects that give new meaning to the the mountains of North Carolina. concept of “rugged spirit.” Vivian Beer Sixteen artists comprise this year’s designs furniture that is so sleek you’ll exhibition. My favorite work is that of want to stand next to them to convince Asheville artist Taiyo La Paix. To be fair yourself how good you’ll feel if you lose a to the other artists, I must reveal I’m a few pounds. David Munson inspires with friend of La Paix, so of course I’m fero- his modern geometric sculptures. ciously prejudiced. Blue Spiral 1 is a stunning 15,000 What’s amazing about La Paix’s work square foot gallery specializing in South- is that the man in person is quiet, almost eastern fine art and craft. It’s located right self-effacing. I knew him for a few years next to our favorite movie theatre, the before he even revealed, shyly, in a whis- Fine Arts Theatre at 38 Biltmore Avenue. per almost, that he was a painter. So with one parking stop, you can see the I was stunned. A painter? I never met best films (The Kite Runner should be a painter who was so polite and didn’t showing this month) and go next door to call attention to himself. Did he do tiny enjoy the New X Three exhibit as well as Japanese-style minimalist paintings that the other gallery exhibits. were gentle ruminations on nature and the uncelebrated joys of life? No, he said, almost apologetically, his work was big, Art lover Marcianne Miller is also Rapid very big. He opened his arms wide indi- River’s editor for books and films. cating “huge.” I was flabbergasted — it was the most expansive gesture I’d ever seen him make. La Paix’s work is wildly If you go colorful, earthy, boisterous, and hilarious — in other words this seeming ordinary New X Three exhibit at Blue Spiral 1, man is an extraordinary artist. 38 Biltmore Ave., downtown Asheville The other painter to admire at the January 3 through February 23, 2008 exhibit is Celia Gray, whose encaustic Hours: 10-6, Monday-Saturday (828) 251-0202, www.bluespiral1.com

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE The ARTFUL Home

Transform a Problem Into a Plus - An Easy Limestone Technique by Roxane Clement

hen I was teaching, my stu- I just eyeball the dents would horizontal distance frequently between the blocks remark “I’ll Wbet your house has beauti- to match the vertical ful faux finishing in every distance; this isn’t room!” as critical as getting Well, that is certainly not the case, partly the rows level. because I never seem to have the time and partly because every wall in my 100+ year-old house is covered with heavy cornmeal-type texture, and most faux techniques The liner paper takes on some of the texture from the require a smooth sur- wall underneath, starting the stony texture. Professional Decorative Painter face. This has been such Roxane Clement of Asheville. a bane to my existence 3) Liner paper generally comes pre- that I refuse to teach texturing techniques pasted, but I use a good quality pre-mixed Decorative painter Roxane Clem- at all. When you change your mind you wallpaper paste to fix the pieces onto the ent spent ten years in Raleigh, NC are stuck with the monumental task of wall. Simply spread it generously onto as a theatre set painter and lighting sanding it down, or covering it with heavy the back (the sticky side) with a 4” chip designer. She graduated with distinc- duty wall-liner paper. Thinking of liner brush. Position the piece up against the tion from the prestigious Decorative paper, I hit on something. line you’ve drawn on the wall, then wipe Restoration Program of the City and 1) Take heavy-duty liner paper (found at it down well with a damp sponge to clean Guilds of London Institute at A-B Tech off excess paste and press out air bubbles. and taught Decorative Painting there any home improvement or paint store) for two years. and cut into “blocks.” Most liner paper comes in 20 ½” widths, so I cut it in She has worked on numerous restora- half to a 10 ¼ “width and then into 15” tion projects in Asheville including the lengths. You can always add more Smith-McDowell House, the Biltmore interest by painting cracks, The finished effect. Estate, and the A-B Tech library. Her 2) Using a level, mark out your wall in decorative painting business special- horizontal lines 10 ½ “apart. This will al- vines, or little critters on izes in stone effects and wood grain- low for the height of the stone block plus the wall. 4) I just eyeball the horizontal distance ing. Contact her at Rmclement2001@ ¼” for “mortar.” between the blocks to match the vertical aol.com distance; this isn’t as critical as getting the rows level. 5) Allow the wall to dry at least 24 hours, “shadow” under each stone and along the then prime with an acrylic primer. Once edge away from the light source. that is dry, base-coat it with a satin or egg- The rough texture of the plaster shell latex paint in a light beige color. underneath gives the “blocks” enough 6) Using a 1:1:1 ratio, mix several darker variation to simulate stone, and the spaces colors of latex paint with glaze and water. in between suggest a rough mortar. Once Paint patches of these in a random pat- you’ve finished, you can always add more tern on each stone and manipulate with interest by painting cracks, vines, or little a damp rag until you achieve a nice stony critters on the wall, depending on how texture. rustic you want to go. 7) Take your darkest color of glaze Next Issue: Try Some “Smooching” and, using a chisel brush, paint a line of for Valentine’s Day

Advertise with Rapid River Magazine (828) 646-0071 www.rapidrivermagazine.com

10 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS FINE ART The Shape of Our Existence By Heidi Foss

he human figure holds an irre- sistible attraction for most people. It has been the subject of the most powerful and memorable works of art — from the Venus de Milo to Michelangelo’s Pietá, Tto Bouguereau’s. Yet the taste for figurative art has gone in and out of fashion from classical times to the present. This winter Merrimon Galleries re- ignites the mystery by bringing to Ashe- ville a collection of figurative work by local and regional artists. “The Shape of Our Existence, Figures and Faces” will include a large range of styles and me- diums all inspired by our human form: from black and white images of the Masai, photographed on safari by local writer Kevin Cropp, to Impressionistic “Woman Holding Her Hair” oils by Keith Spencer, and carved stone by Keith Spencer. figures by Bernie Segal which exhibit a deep human emotion. Opening night will be an enjoyable If you go evening for all. There will be live music; and the event will be catered by local The exhibition will be on display from Matt Parris (known for his gourmet February 15th to the end of March, at salads featured at EarthFare.) Merrimon Galleries, 365 Merrimon Av- The opening is appropriately enue (right next to Picnics), in Asheville. planned for Valentine’s Day weekend. Opening night celebration is Friday, the Bring your loved one; it’s a romantic op- 15th at 6 p.m. portunity to share in the mystery, beauty For more information on this event please and admiration of the human form by contact Heidi Foss, curator of Merrimon some of the regions top artists. Galleries, (828) 252-6036.

“Eternal II” Alabaster by Bernie Segal.

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 11 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE poetry poetry Poetry as Ceremony here is much to be A sacred fury... said for the art of by MariJo Moore an uncommon madness... poetry. It has been the medium of mys- defining Spirit. But I am tics, prophets, and accepting and therefore the healers for thou- words continue to come. T sands of years. I have had people For me, poetry is proof tell me of a certain poem of the mystery living inside saving their lives. I have me; it is reality scratching at MariJo Moore had people tell me they do the surface of my soul; it is not understand poetry, yet my true connection to the whole. Poetry they still allow it to come through them. I is ceremony woven from the voices of understand this perfectly. the old ones, intuition, dreams and vi- There was a time in my life when a scattering of birds... sions. The poems that find me are gifts alcohol could no longer numb the pain, from Spirit through me to others. when the memories of a crushed child- In the belief system of American In- hood and adult misery caused by addic- dians, this quintessential Spirit is known tions would no longer stay in the deep by many, many names and has many, dark recesses of forgetfulness. When the Ceremonies many voices. These voices often pen- entire world seemed dark and foreboding. etrate our spoiled, scarred psyches and When not even time spent underneath a by the Sea willow tree could connect me back to the present wonders of life. For me, creating Write, an elder told me, write it all Lying out; get it out of you. And so I wrote, next to the waters a poetry is a way of a stream of consciousness writing that beautiful woman seeking balance pushed the hardened tears from inside listening to the waves through ceremony... my guts up into my throat and choked feeling the fullness of me. Choked me until I gave them an the lighted moon outlet through my fingers. Liquid poems, force thoughts to materialize, expressing I call these. Manifestations woven from dreaming themselves in creative forms: song, dance, strong repressed anger and an even she awakens inside a small star music, art, and literature. stronger desire to survive. And yes, these only to imagine These creations provide us with creations were poetic by design. what a wonderful place a sense of interconnection, a sense of Later, after I had written all I could, this planet with being. The purpose of ceremony is to these poems were burned in ceremony. moving waters could be. integrate: to unite one with all of human- Releasing the hurt through smoke kind as well as the realm of the ancestors, circling my head like the dark bodies of Climbing to blend one with all of creation. This al- crows. I felt better. Not healed, of course, down climbing climbing lows one to raise consciousness and shed not totally devoid of painful memories, to the point the idea of individuality, of separation. but lighter somehow. I had taken physical of almost touching this revolving Ceremony brings one into balance with action. I had accepted the truth. planet with the moving waters all there is. I suggest this ceremony to anyone she sees Each ceremony has its own special who might be struggling with inner pain, purpose. Of course, the purposes vary hurtful memories, or the fear of day-to- lying from group to group, from nation to na- day existence. No, I am not offering poet- next to the waters a tion. Nevertheless, all ceremony brings ry as a panacea for the multitude of issues beautiful woman one to the realization there is no separa- facing human beings today. But poetry is listening to the waves tion from anything or any one, provides definitely a way to reunite with the voices feeling the fullness of great illumination, and gives one percep- of the old ones, to carry out their desires the lighted moon. tion of a cosmic relationship. and prayers concerning this earth and Poetry, like song, art, music, and ourselves, and perhaps to awaken us from Deciding dance can be proof of this relationship, our dreamless sleepwalking. this too sacred a moment and help promote spiritual healings. Only to disturb in isolation can sickness exist, therefore to she returns to the small star heal, one must recognize a oneness with never to fear viewing the the universe. MariJo Moore (Cherokee/Irish/Dutch) is ceremonious again. For me, creating poetry is a way of the author of a dozen books including seeking balance through ceremony, a three books of poetry; “Spirit Voices way of going into the silence, gathering of Bones” and “Confessions of a words, then bringing them to this realm. I from the book Madwoman” (now available on CD) Spirit Voices of Bones dare not try to give a rational explanation and the forthcoming “Poets Inhale The as to how this poetry comes, nor why it Darkness Artists Breathe”. She resides © 2005 MariJo Moore chooses me. I do not understand, for I am in the mountains of western NC. www. not capable as I am not capable of fully marijomoore.com

12 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE the art of nature

Thoreau’s Garden by Peter Loewer ooks have been written about majority of decision makers in Henri David Thoreau’s effect on this country would read a bit of America’s psyche but it’s inter- Thoreau before entering public esting to note that even today, life, the direction of our own In 1845 Thoreau wrote: his name is often used in vain, country would certainly change “To live to a good old age to market nature to a starved for the better. such as the ancients reached, Bpopulace. A few years ago an adver- Recently an Arizona resort advertisement appeared in The New serene and contented, tised its extensive heath spa, pool, and Yorker featuring an expensive dignifying the life of man, restaurant by telling potential visitors that watch called the IWC Da Vinci. leading a simple, epic Thoreau would never have settled for It was not really a watch but an a log cabin if he had known about their automatic chronograph with a country life in those days twenty acres of Spanish style architecture perpetual calendar and moon of confusion and turmoil… and world class facilities! phase indicator. The copy con- retaining the tastes and the Walden is what Thoreau is remem- tinued: “It will be a reminis- bered for but his Journals are, to me, the cence of Leonardo Da Vinci’s innocence of his youth, most precious thing he left. I’d like to ingenuity for entire generations Peter Loewer examines some Lenten roses. There is nothing so cheering believe that future starship captains and of watch connoisseurs to come and world-famous as this.” politicians will consult his writing before — at least until the year 2499.” they land on new planets and face both According to the ad copy, the embowered walks, such as no nobleman’s aggressive and benign life forms, not to watch will stop as the century turns to ground can boast, with animals running mention their environments. If the vast 2500. But included with the watch (total free and wild therein as from the first cost: $19,995) is a “century slide,” a days of the earth. Peter Loewer is a well-known writer and special metal chip that the owner must Remember, there’s not enough time botanical artist who has written and illus- insert within the works sometime in the in the world to create this collection of trated over twenty-five books on natural year 2200. plants that ranges from mature balm-of- history over the past thirty years. Forget the word reminiscence in Gilead trees, to odd and assorted funguses connection with Leonardo’s ingenuity ready to bloom along with goldenrods, — after all, when’s the last time you or to partridge berries that haven’t changed yours sat down at the dinner table and since Thoreau wrote about them, to Peter Loewer talked about the good old days with Da jimson weeds. But using the written word Printmaker Graphos=Studio Vinci? Zero in instead on the century and our imaginations we can learn about slide. Forget what the world is like when them all. the watch finally stops, but imagine your Most of us lack the opportunities to heirs in the year 2200, wishing to keep the wander the land that Thoreau wandered darn thing going but they just can’t find and because this garden lives only in the that chip! imagination, I’ve taken plants that he It’s totally ridiculous. If alive today, wrote about in his Journal, plants that I Thoreau would have launched a fusillade also have affection for, and in addition to of talk against that advertisement calling his comments, added my own about their it a salute to the strained imaginations history, their uses, and their charms. I’ve of much of today’s advertising business. included some wildlife, too. Perhaps in a And, he would point out, that it shows world where oceans are rising, summers our present preoccupation with all the are hotter, winters colder, and a benefi- wrong aspects of time, including our own cent sun has become a bit crueler, the PO Box 5039 ~ Asheville, NC 28813 mortality, and our almost obscene preoc- best garden is a garden of the mind. email: [email protected] cupation with the amassing of wealth. So join me as we look at the plants Time is also directly involved with (and some philosophy) that Thoreau my column entitled Thoreau’s Garden. marveled at, plants that continue to excite It’s larger than any artificial garden ever even today, in a world of artificial flowers grown and includes mile after mile of and artificial trees.

Time is also directly involved with Thoreau’s Garden. It’s larger than any artificial garden ever grown and includes mile after mile of embowered walks, such as no nobleman’s ground can boast, with animals running free and wild therein as from the first days of the earth.

www.ArtAsheville.com

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 13 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE MUSIC

January CD Reviews by James Cassara

This month we wrap up the year by giving long overdue mention to a couple of local and region- ally produced discs as well as a few albums leftover from previous columns. Remember that these and many other wonderful listens are available at your locally owned independent music store. Without them where would we be? I’d love to hear you thoughts, email me at [email protected] and share with me your favorite discs of 2007.

Jesse Dayton and combined result is a disc that unabash- Domino Brennen Leigh edly takes from the past but lives in the his life. The present. That’s a winning formula if ever home was Call us with Your Special Orders. Holdin’ Our Own there was one. ***1/2 flooded and Fast Turnaround! Stag Records sustained It’s a sad indictment of the current Overnight Delivery in most Cases. Michael Hurley major dam- state of country music that an album as age and the fine as this Ancestral Swamp rock and cannot find Gnomonsong Recordings roll pioneer its own niche; During his nearly four decade career had to be Holdin’ Our Hurley’s approach to making records airlifted by Own is the hasn’t changed much. Certainly it’s helicopter from his roof. Age 77 when sort of honest adapted to the times and circumstance but the storm hit, Domino was no longer and mourn- his rustic and eccentric style of folk is as performing as often as he once did, but ful record timeless now as it was back in the day. he emerged proud and resolute and even upon which This is relaxed, earthy eclectic folk recorded a new album, whose proceeds Nashville was with a sitting-on-the-porch feel, the he donated to an organization aiding mu- built but, for recording so sparse that you often feel as sicians hurt by the disaster. some inexpli- though you’re smack in the front row. Just how loved Fats Domino is by cable reason, Although it’s grounded in traditional the music community is borne out by it is marketed as alternative or Americana; Americana type acoustic folk, it’s not the A-list names who’ve contributed it appears that the mainstream country es- reverently to one of the more remarkable tribute tablishment doesn’t want anything to do traditionalist, albums to surface in recent years. Span- with songs that have the least bit of grit or adding such ning the worlds of rock (Neil Young, reality in them. nuances as Elton John, Los Lobos, Tom Petty), blues Such decisions might affect the sales gutbucket (B.B. King), country (Willie Nelson), and distribution of an album (whether for tremolo jazz (Herbie Hancock), and even reggae better or worse is still to be determined) electric guitar (Toots & the Maytals, who just nail “Let but what it doesn’t alter one bit is that, a (on “Dying the Four Winds Blow”), 30 artists are decade into playing solo gigs and adding Crapshooter’s represented on the two discs, along with his talents to the bands of Waylon Jen- Blues”) and a healthy sampling of New Orleans artists nings and Ray Price, Dayton has written electric piano of various grooves, among them Irma an album of traditional male/female coun- (“Lonesome Thomas, Dr. John, and Art Neville. try duets, full of the subtle humor and Graveyard”) It’s a celebratory affair, for sure, and fine picking that used to be the hallmark along with carefully layered and oh so it would have to be, as Domino’s music of country music. lovely backing vocals. has always tilted toward the upbeat. You Co-conspirator Brennen Leigh-more Hurley’s wizened voice and an off- can bet he wouldn’t want it any other well known as a bluegrass singer-is a solid the-cuff narrative should strike a chord way. The project gets moving with one Loretta to Dayton’s Conway and brings with the free folk Devandra Banhart sect pulled up from the past, no less than the plenty of oomph to the proceedings. but it’s much more cogently structured late John Lennon, who cut Fats’ “Ain’t From the exuberant “Let’s Run Away,” melodic than it is stream-of-conscious- That a Shame” for his 1975 Rock ‘n’ Roll a Tex-Mex flavored bit of rockabilly ness rambling. In that regard Ancestral album. Lennon’s former band mate Paul extolling the escape to exotic locales from Swamp is most aptly named: it’s a sum- McCartney teams up with Crescent City everyday life, straight through to the mary of American folk-a bit of Delta mainstay Allen Toussaint for a duet on country duet purity of “Take Me” this blues commingled with Appalachian the jaunty “I Want to Walk You Home,” album combines romantic tales of lost music with a dash of Midwest dust bowl- one of a number of inspired pairings of love with tear stained ballads of regret. As with none of the forms overpowering the seemingly mismatched artists who find in the best country classic tradition they others. The end result is an album that’s common ground in the Fat Man. even toss in a trio of covers: equal parts comfortable and homey and Both Joss Stone and Buddy Guy Their rendition of the Webb Pierce accomplished and thoughtful*** hook up with the Dirty Dozen Brass tearjerker “Back Street Affair” is pure Band for an electric “Every Night About country soul, the Carter/Cash hit “Long Goin’ Home: This Time,” Ben Harper meets the Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man” gets an Skatalites for a zippy ska version of “Be energetic reading highlighted by Dayton’s A Tribute To Fats Domino Vanguard Records My Guest,” and, in one of the album’s stellar fretwork, and the Everly Brothers most surprising and satisfying moments, chestnut “Brand New Heartache” gets His decision to stay in his home in Robert Plant and the Soweto Gospel reinvented as a honky tonk rocker show- New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward dur- casing Dayton’s wicked guitar work. The ing Hurricane Katrina nearly cost Fats ‘CD’s’ continued on next pg.

14 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE local musicians

Ruby Slippers An Asheville Band on a Musical Yellow Brick Road by Joe Zinich

usically captivating and visually musicians, then singing says. Unlike Dorothy an edge, but I can assure fans that it still arresting, Ruby Slippers is a those songs at Tressa’s who desperately wanted contains the vocals and range of lyrics local band destined to have an open mic nights with the to go home, Molly Kum- displayed in Living Room. Molly’s lyrics enormous impact on the Ashe- house band. “It all comes merle passionately wants are poignant slices of life, shared with a ville music scene. The group together with the energy to stay on the journey. close friend, or introspective musings on can’t claim our mountains as that is shared by the audi- “So I have to keep experi- the storms and insights of life. Mtheir first inspiration, though — that ence and the band.” menting.” As exciting as Ruby Slippers is on credit goes to a hurricane. The name Ruby She deliberately set CD, it’s nothing compared to seeing Molly Kummerle, lead vocalist and Slippers literally popped out to challenge herself in them perform live. Whether it’s the tell- leader of Ruby Slippers, was born in St into existence late one a variety of performance ing detail of a quiet tiny moment or the Croix, US Virgin Islands. The island, so night. “We were all talk- and music formats. She painful memory of a raging life storm, dependent on tourists, was devastated ing about music being a performed in local stage with Molly’s dreamlike movements Ruby by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Recovery journey with companions plays, such as Rocky Hor- Slippers will sweep you away. would take years, too many, so Molly’s who come and some- ror Picture Show, Porgy Ruby Slippers is one of the 34 pop/ parents gathered their possessions and times have to go,” Molly and Bess and the Scar- indie/alternative bands performing at this two daughters and moved to the Ashe- remembers. “We face and let Letter. Crazy about year’s POP Asheville (formerly ID Fest). ville area, a place previously visited and overcome adversity, like Molly Kummerle, lead cabarets, she studied enjoyed. The daughters learned to love it Dorothy in the Wizard of vocalist of Ruby Slippers. cabaret-style shows like For more info on Ruby Slippers visit here too, and still do. Oz — that was it — ruby the Dresden Dolls, with www.rubyslippersmusic.com. The most curious question for Molly slippers! “ The name crystallized their its outrageous costumes and “characters is: how does a soccer playing trombonist feelings and lead to the birth of the band. without rules”. In addition, she began Joe Zinich is an avid fan of local (in middle and high school bands) be- Molly joined with drummer Robin performing with an “all star” band, Asheville musicians. come an outstanding vocalist, performer, Tolleson and multi-instrumentalist including different instruments, such as and songwriter? Andy John to form the band Ruby Slip- the cello, keyboards, and a DJ (electronic “Three easy steps,“ Molly explains. pers and cut the demo disc, which led to sounds). This wide experience is expand- If you go She let her love of music (“my sister their CD, Living Room. ing her unique performing style and complains I sang loud but off key in The music in Living Room is a col- evolving sound. She describes her music Asheville Pop 2-Day Music Fest all our car trips”), performing (“always laborative effort bringing out the best of as “Indie Electronic Alternative with a When: Saturday & Sunday, January 19 & playing dressup in Mom’s clothes”), and each musician’s experience. The vocals are Jazz influence.” 20, 7:30 to 2:00 a.m. her education (B.A. in English Lit) meld sultry, the lyrics from the soul, the music These days Ruby Slippers’ music is Where: The Grey Eagle, the “new” with her “courage to try.” Add the op- jazz-influenced alternative rock — the becoming more of a reflection of Molly’s Rocket Club, and Stella Blue. A shuttle portunity to sing backup with R&B band result is mesmerizing. ideas — less jazz influence, more elec- provides transportation between the Mavis, which led to writing with local But “you can’t stand still,” Molly tronics (DJ). The new music has more of three venues. www.popasheville.com.

‘CD’s’ continued ing spirit persistently looking for his bet- somewhat predictable songwriter who key albums. Her 2003 debut On The ter half. A soul mate, as it were or, as he lacks a talent for ear catching hooks. Still, Other Side was a breath of country fresh Choir collaborate on a stunning and so eloquently states in the heart rendering the full band arrangements of songs like air which received widespread internet haunting a cappella “Valley of Tears.” “Burning Red and Blue,” someone who “Certain Circles,” along with Carroll’s exposure. Of the individual performers, Randy will “make me a man.” vocals and odd, lonely lyrics, make The Break Down, is produced by Bill Newman presents “Blue Monday” faith- Such is the fabric of Carroll’s new Lost One an enjoyable though somewhat VornDick, who helped shape the career fully, Norah Jones applies her signature disc, one that might just propel him from unfulfilling record. **1/2 of Nashville maverick Ali- quasi-jazzy style to “My Blue Heaven,” critical favorite to a more mainstream son Kraus. Unfortunately, and Corinne Bailey Rae’s live “One success. The opening cut, the intriguingly Jennifer Brantley as is often the case when Night of Sin” (penned as were many of titled “Pretty Girl’s Going to Ruin My independent artists make Life (Again),” is comic in its intelligence: Break Down the leap to larger label, his greatest hits by Domino’s writing Mountainside Records partner Dave Bartholomew) returns to the narrator seems to know what’s going Brantley and her producer to happen, but damned if he’s able to The Nashville based do little to distinguish the song the sense of tension removed country music business has from the more antiseptic but well known avoid his own mistakes. her music from that of Carroll’s vocal style reminds one always been a fairly small her contemporaries. The version by Elvis Presley. operation. Only a tiny There really are no clunkers here; vaguely of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, though songs are very much in he sings at a lower register; and like percentage of performers the mold of present-day these artists have done Fats Domino maintain contracts on the proud, making the gift of Gilmore, his voice works country, overly orchestrat- exceptionally well with a limited rosters of the major ed snippets with some- both his music and survival labels which in turn reach all the more righteous. **** lyrical song such as this. what forced rock touches The aforementioned the masses by feeding the restricted play tossed in for no good reason. Brantley has “Burning Red and Blue” lists of country radio. a strong voice and VornDick has wisely Barton Carroll has an evocative story In the old days, an artist’s failure to surrounded it with solid, but thoroughly The Lost One line-focusing on an illicit get signed by a major label meant that conventional country arrangements. For Sky Bucket Records sexual relationship, but one might as well pack up a U-Haul the most part she competes successfully As one might guess from Carroll extends the ballad and head back home. Fortunately there with similar singers on major labels but the title the “lost one” of Bar- paced song for five-and- are now other avenues for determined one cannot help but wish she’d trust her ton Carroll’s world is a man half overly long minutes. performers; avenues which have allowed instincts and do a bit more to distance without a woman, a wander- He’s a dependable but Jennifer Brantley to release her own low herself from the pack. **1/2

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 15 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE BOOKS

The December holidays are always a mixed bag, but one sure thing is that by January 3, I’m ready to get out of Dodge. Or I’m at least ready to read about the Gotta Go possibility of escaping the confines of my home and life, and setting out on an adventure in the world. I’m looking longingly at these books for the armchair or reviews by H. Byron Ballard literal traveler. And my passport is up to date, as always.

Round Ireland with Make the Most of Go to your local indie January 2008 a Fridge Your Time on Earth: bookstore and dream in front Saturday, January 5, 7:00 PM of the Travel shelves. Meet Hal Marienthal, author of Good by Tony Hawks A Rough Guide Germans. Hal will read from his new novel This may be the funniest travel book to the World “Nicholas Icarus.” ever written. You know you’ve had too a pilgrimage to Ireland several years ago Friday, January 11, 7:00 PM much excellent ale, when you wake to 1000 Ultimate Travel Experiences and it changed my view on travel forever. Meet Sam Davidson and Stephen Moseley, find a note like this There are a bunch of travel books out It’s also nicely written and a delight to authors of “New Day Revolution!” by the bed: “I hereby now about where to go before you die, read (an area in which some travel books Saturday, January 12, 7:00 PM bet Tony Hawks where to go when you retire, where to go fall short). MariJo Moore presents her Audio CD the sum of One if you’re a kid, etc. This book is for you “Confessions of a Madwoman.” Hundred Pounds armchair adventurers, as well as those of Sunday, January 13, 3:00 PM that he cannot you with a taste for adventure. It’s a well- Roadfood Albert LaChance presents a complete hitchhike around researched and well-written guide from by Jane and Michael Stern reframing of Christianity. the circumference my favorite travel guide company. I’m a foodie and I detest eating the Friday, January 18, 4:00 PM of Ireland with a The Rough Guides go beyond the Julie Cannon will be here to sign copies of fridge within one “major monuments and festivals” of most same old nutritionally-challenged and “The Romance Reader’s Bookclub.” calendar month.” travel guides and dig into the culture of junky fast food wherever I go. This is a super guidebook for finding good food Friday, January 18, 7:00 PM As the result the roads less traveled. They are for seri- Jill Conner Browne, one of Malaprop’s of this drunken ous wanderers who yearn to get off the as you cross the country. It’s out in a favorite fun ladies, is back with her newest pub-bet, the author undertakes a mysti- beaten path. new edition and, sadly, the one entry for “Sweet Potato Queens.” cal adventure in the land of poets and Asheville (Battery Park Café and its fabled Saturday, January 19, 7:00 PM martyrs. His story is picked up by RTÉ pies) is gone, but not forgotten. Suzie Millions will be here for an adult , Ireland’s national radio and TV broad- How To Travel The food in this book is mostly af- craft night, with her book “Complete Book caster, and people throughout the country Practically Anywhere fordable and always taste-tested (now, of Retro Crafts.” keep an eye out for the silly traveler. that would be a fun job). The Sterns Sunday, January 20, 1:00 PM The Irish are as eccentric and warm- by Susan Stellin have traveled the country and distilled Karen Chavez will be here to sign copies of hearted and hospitable as one could wish their culinary experiences into a very “Best Hikes with Dogs”. Excellent choice for any one who readable volume. and it’s a darn good story. Get this one for dreads packing a suitcase for any trip. Friday, January 25, 7:00 PM the first snowy day. Stellin gives us all sorts of tips and advice Don Salmon will be here with Jan Maslow 100 Places to discuss Yoga Psychology and the for making a journey away from home Transformation of Consciousness. Way Off the Road: and hearth. She tells you the best way to Every Woman Should Go Discovering the buy tickets, to plan the trip, tips on last Saturday, January 26, 7:00 PM minute travel, what and how to pack, and by Stephanie Elizondo Griest Meet author Andy Rae and hear him talk Peculiar Charms of This is one of those books for a about woodworking, as he shows off offers lots of resources (web and other- “Building Drawers and Doors.” Small Town America wise). I do a fair amount of traveling and I specific demographic and it’s full of good learned a couple cool tricks from this one. advice and tempting adventures for your Sunday, January 27, 3:00 PM by Bill Geist women’s circle or grrl group. Divided Thomas Rain Crowe This one’s funny, too. Geist is the into 100 tiny chapters, Griest’s book takes Tuesday, January 29, 7:00 PM guy from CBS News Sunday Morning Art of Pilgrimage: the reader on a globe-trotting exploration Rita Mae Brown, details to come. and this book contains some of the high- of places of specific interest to women. Wednesday, January 30, 7:00 PM lights of 20 years on the road. The history The Seeker’s Guide to From surfing in Costa Rica to diving for Tim Pegram, all about the of Hanlon- Making Travel Sacred pearls in Bahrain, there’s something here Blue Ridge Parkway. town, Iowa’s, for any woman traveler, from the most Sundown by Phil Cousineau timid to the thrill-seeker. 55 Haywood St. Days (cel- I recommend this book to anyone When the wind is whistling past your 828-254-6734 • 800-441-9829 ebrating the who is turning a vacation trip into a spiri- ears, your colleagues at work are making Hours: Mon-Thurs—8am-9pm day the sun tual journey. you consider acts of violence or you just Fri & Sat—8am-10pm sets in the Cousineau’s want a refreshing look at how the other Sun—8am-7pm middle of book is a clas- people in the world spend their days, go the railroad sic, filled with to your local indie bookstore and dream tracks) inspiration in front of the Travel shelves. There’s makes and stories, sure to be a book of traveler’s tales or a some as well as guide to the Great Lakes or a hilarious bizarre advice for memoir of a life lived on the road that sense and turning even will raise your spirits. And maybe even the other the simplest inspire you to get out of town. chapters trip into a contain the equally odd but somehow pilgrimage. Byron Ballard is a local bookseller, writer, compelling stories of people and events I used this gardener and mom who thinks books that gave me hope for the nation. book for make the very best get-aways.

16 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE BOOKS

Until Proven Innocent: Political Correctness and the Water for Elephants: Reviews by John M. Rose Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case A Novel Written by Stuart Taylor Jr. and K.C. Johnson by Sara Gruen Thomas Dunne Books, 432 pages Algonquin Books, 250 pages

n March, 2006 a lash by faculty, known as the his novel by recent transplant characters black woman from “Group of 88,” accused the to Asheville, Sara Gruen, is a drawn to Durham, NC, hired entire lacrosse team of hiding fun book to read. It’s the story that calling. as a stripper for a par- a racially motivated crime. of Jacob Jankowski’s years on The center ty organized by Duke This was after the DA publi- the road with a traveling circus of the story is University men’s cized his charges, not before. — told from his perspective the romance Ilacrosse team, accused The Group of 88 may Tthrough a series of cinematic flashbacks between Jacob three of the team’s players, well be a manifestation of when he is confined to a nursing home and Marlena all white, of gang rape. what authors Taylor and in his 93rd year. and through Michael Nifong, then Johnson decry as “liberal Jacob is a young man in veteri- this, she has Durham District Attorney, political correctness on cam- nary school in the 1930s. Forced out woven real-life also white, sensationalized pus,” but it didn’t cause Ni- of his comfortable life by a family anecdotes and the case to advance his elec- fong to act. He had all the calamity, he drops out of school tales culled from tion prospects in a predomi- election season motivation before finishing his final exams her firsthand nantly black district. he needed without campus — and stows away aboard The interviews with The resulting media cheerleaders. Benzini Brothers Circus train. August, actual circus performers. firestorm focused on The authors paint the menagerie manager, discovers Jacob’s Much of the strength of the novel polarizing issues of race, the Duke faculty talent for healing animals and allows him is the inevitable pairing of comedy and class, and privilege. The authors jump from Group of 88 as leftist to stay with the show. pathos, the hokum of entertainers driven Activists and commenta- narrative to historical extremists and deca- This circus is a seedy, second rate by that curious combination of both tors piled on. Some of background to pure dent radicals, an aber- show, surviving precariously on the edge affection and contempt for their audi- the faculty, facilitated by rant faction hostile to of one town after another, struggling to ences. The language of stage perform- Duke president Richard conjecture. the mores of the greater survive the hard times of the Depression. ers is cruel. “We slayed ‘em last night.” Brodhead, rushed to Duke community of Jacob is drawn deeply into the insular “This show will be a knockout.” “They judgment of the players in what amount- students, parents, alumni and trustees. community of the show people where he bombed.” The show people travel on the ed to a character lynching. If this were indeed true, why does Duke learns the lingo, the unique routines and fringe of settled life and they tread a fine In following months, a legal defense continue to tolerate it? the customs of their life on the rails. He line between being welcomed and driven team discovered the DA’s case was based Taylor and Johnson raise and then out of town by the police. Loving fantasy on false allegations and showed how one evade the question without convincing and violence are ever present on stage of the three accused was not even present. answers. They condescendingly dismiss and they are, likewise, at the heart of this Nonetheless, Nifong obtained indict- alumni and others as confused or cowed excellent story. ments against two of the students, who by academic activists — an extremely Gruen charms us with then surrendered to police. They were unlikely possibility given the informed, the romance of the For more info on this Asheville author released on bail a few hours later. engaged nature of many Duke supporters. canvas tops, the smell visit www.saragruen.com Pre-trial, the defense showed how Condescension permeates the text. The the prosecutor invented his case and il- authors seem to hold a low opinion of of the popcorn and the legally withheld exculpatory evidence. In North Carolinians and have little patience menagerie and the lives John M. Rose is a freelance writer who re- December, 2006, Nifong announced that with Southerners generally. of the strange characters views books and movies for Rapid River. he was dropping all charges. The NC At- This is a dense, painstakingly re- torney General condemned the DA’s ac- searched book, but it’s a difficult read drawn to that calling. tions. The state Bar Association disbarred because the authors lack an essential Nifong and he stepped down in disgrace. quality: focus. Taylor and Johnson throw The authors of Until Proven In- in journalistic reporting, exposé, academic falls in love with Marlena, the beautiful During the Storm nocent: Political Correctness and the policy critique, history of prosecutorial young wife of fiercely jealous August. Shameful Injustices of the Duke Lacrosse abuse and thoughts on race relations in Marlena has a place near the top of Rape Case attempt two points: they claim North Carolina. They’re critical of others the circus hierarchy. She is a featured I climb the lightning this case was a terrible injustice and, for such offenses as unsupported charac- performer with a team of ‘liberty’ horses I inhale the rain further, this happened because of “politi- terizations and then do the same. They and also with the elephant, Rosie, who I grasp the thunder cal correctness” on America’s campuses. jump from narrative to historical back- is acquired along the way. Jacob and and wait for Ironically their book shows how both ground to pure conjecture, yet wander Marlena try mightily to conceal their intuitive reminiscences points simply are not true. away from their own theses. Considering illicit affair from August and his violent As for injustice, the authors them- that this book was produced by a major rages, but that’s impossible in the close- I descend the flashes selves demonstrate how within nine publishing house, Thomas Dunne Books/ knit circus society. A final confrontation I breathe out the flood months — very speedy for felony cases St. Martin’s Press, it’s a wonder there’s so becomes unavoidable. I unleash the turbulence — the prosecutor publicly backed down little editorial guidance. Author Gruen has carefully re- without ever going to trial. Nifong was If you’re convinced the Duke case searched the life and times of the circuses and then I create... subjected to ultimate legal censure. The is “smoking gun” evidence of a liberal which crisscrossed the country by train, a defendants spent an astonishingly small assault on America’s values, this book’s once common and colorful part of Amer- MariJo Moore amount of time in custody. Justice was for you. If you want thoughtful insight icana that now seems so distant. Gruen swiftly and surely served. and analysis of a painful episode in North charms us with the romance of the Confessions of a Political correctness did not cause the Carolina’s history, look elsewhere. canvas tops, the smell of the popcorn and Madwoman case. An ideologically motivated back- the menagerie and the lives of the strange

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 17 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE BOOKS

reviews by Book Editor Marcianne Miller For Mystery Fans For Map Lovers with a Funny Bone Cartographia: Mapping The Spellman Files: A Novel Civilizations by Lisa Lutz, Simon & Schuster, 268 by Vincent Virga Sometimes you just can’t face blackmail Little, Brown & Co., 272 pages another “serious” novel (apologies, — in other If you’re one of those travelers who Philip Roth). You love to escape with words actually likes to go places, see Byron mysteries, but you’re sick of gag-by-gag invad- Ballard’s great list of get-away books on descriptions of bloody violence (fare- ing other page 16. But if you’re that other kind of well forever, Patricia Cornwell). people’s privacy is as automatic traveler, the The ideal novel for such a time is as breathing. Kinda hard to get a normal one like me, The Spellman Files, a hilarious debut hunky guy to fall in love with you with one who mystery novel by talented newcomer that kind of baggage. would rath- Lisa Lutz. It’s totally fun but so well- Izzy decides she wants a real job er peruse written you don’t with normal maps for feel like you’re people. Her hours on end slumming. parents agree than even There’s enough to let her go mystery to keep Izzy gets more and more on condition roll down the involved with weird people car window you wonder- she do one last to take a peak ing, dialogue to who don’t give up their job — solve an at the pass- make you laugh secrets easily. old case that ing scenery, out loud, and remains open you’re going most especially, on their books. a dysfunctional Reluctantly, family of quirky never one to oddballs that makes you realize, “Hey, trust parents whose careers are spent my goofy tribe’s not so bad after all.” manipulating people, Izzy agrees and 200 of the most Isabel “Izzy” Spellman, 28, lives in then of course gets more and more incredible maps a Victorian mansion in San Francisco involved with weird people who don’t which serves as home and offices for give up their secrets easily. you’ve ever seen. Spellman Investigations, the private Her best friend starts sneaking investigation firm run by her parents, out on dates with her horrible perfect for which she has worked since she brother, a yuppie attorney. She has the to be in map lovers’ paradise with a gor- was 14. hots for a dentist who plays golf. Her geous new book entitled Cartographia: Poor Izzy has little experience uncle disappears on a bender. Then her Mapping Civilizations. knocking on doors because she’s more little sister gets kidnapped. You get the It’s a breathtakingly beautiful volume, used to picking the lock or climbing idea. put together by Vincent Varga, known as through the window. It’s hard for her Lisa Lutz is a writer to watch and “America’s foremost picture editor.” It to have a normal conversation because The Spellman Files is a novel to curl includes 200 of the most incredible maps she’s much more used to snooping, up with and then share it with your you’ve ever seen, all from the Fort Knox wiretapping, steam-opening enve- friends. of maps, the U.S. Library of Congress. lopes, and figuring out how to perform Maps where the earth is round, or square, or covered with monsters, maps drawn on paper, on wood, or stone. Maps showing empires, and warfare, and journeys dreamed and real. For Children There’s the Waldseemuller Map of the World from 1507 which was the first The Frog Who Wanted to include the designation “America”; a 17th century map of the soul; and one of to See the Sea $31.95 for the complete set my favorites: William Faulkner’s hand- (includes S&H) or purchase separately drawn 1936 map of the fictional Yoknapa- Written and illustrated by Guy Billout The Creative Company, 32 pages, ages 4-8 For personalized copies tawpha County, Mississippi. Tip: Get one of those handheld mag- Alice is a small frog who lives in a pond but call Jaileen at (828) 488-8216 nifiers because the print on captions is so dreams of bigger waters. Off she goes on her lily small, they’re hard to read. Otherwise the pad. In a moment of both “joy and fright,” she finds herself on an end- book is so exciting, you won’t even want less ocean of blue. In her grand adventure Alice learns that neither she nor the world to read it for a long time — just turning is always one thing or another. In a flawless combination of minimalist writing and the pages and enjoying the sheer beauty artwork reminiscent of Japanese prints, award-winning children’s book author/il- of the maps and the images of the worlds lustrator Guy Billout creates a beguiling modern day fairy tale that adults will love they create will keep you busy for months. reading out loud to children — and themselves.

18 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE BOOKS

Plain Secrets: An Outsider Among the Amish reviews by Book Editor Marcianne Miller by Joe Mackall, Beacon Press, 208 pages

n Sundays when I was growing I’m not the only non-Amish Ameri- week, wear Mackall sees himself up in suburban Cleveland, my can, or “English” as the Amish call us, strictly with new eyes, and father would take the family for who idealized them. Ever since the regimented adjusts his priorities. drives into “Amish country.” I popularity of the 1985 movie Witness, cloth- remember fondly the thrill of especially its iconic barn-raising sequence, ing and Oseeing real-live horse drawn black buggies the Amish have increasingly been objects receive no their rigid and isolated lifestyle, almost and children in old-timey clothes. of curiosity — and tourist appeal — in education 90% of Swartzentruber children choose to I’d stare in awe at the well behaved the states where they live. Their tight- beyond remain in the religion of their birth. th Amish youngsters, wondering what it knit families and protective communities the 8 For ten years in Ashland County would be like have brothers who weren’t inspire nostalgic longing for a time when grade. Ohio, Mackall and his family lived next always threatening to “pound your head people were closer to the land, and, we The men door to a Swartzentruber family. They off.” My mother inadvertently stoked my imagine, to one another. some- were the Shetlers: young patriarch Sam, Amish fantasies when she revealed she But few non-Amish really know the times mother Mary, and their nine children. thought that there had to be an Amish Amish because most of them, true to take Though the two families never socialized person somewhere in our family tree their traditional ways, have only surface jobs away from the farms, such as in in public, they did become friendly, and since, she claimed, Miller was a common contact with the outside world. They construction and local manufacturing Mackall came to know them, especially Amish name. hold sacred one of their main Biblical plants, but often charge lower fees than Sam, as few outsiders ever have. There is indeed an Amish town in directives: “Come out from among them non-Amish workers to avoid competition He was struck often by how his Ohio called Millersburg. After I got my and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” (II for material wealth. neighbors’ experience of the world dif- driver’s license, I would travel to Mill- Corinthians 6:17) The women marry young, obey fered from his. They knew no advertis- ersburg by myself and shyly cruise the Plain Secrets, by Ohio writer Joe their husbands, and work from sunup ing jingles, no movie references, had village streets, hoping God would send Mackall, is a fascinating and extremely to sundown. Like other Amish sects, the no knowledge of global terrorism and a long-lost Amish cousin my way. Alas, rare look at the most conservative of the Swartzentrubers don’t proselytize, and never felt the lack of these things. For no luck. I remained an all-too ordinary Old Order Amish sects, the Swartzen- have no church buildings, but gather the Shetlers life is not easy, but simple mostly-Irish melting pot Catholic. My trubers. These devoutly religious people every other Sunday in their homes. They — everything from the smallest details of Miller ancestor, it turns out, came from live without electricity, indoor plumb- reject insurance of any kind and claim no life — the width of a boy’s hat brim, to England, not Switzerland from where the ing, telephones, cars, birth control or social security benefits, taking care of their the largest, including the tragic death of a Amish emigrated. military service. They bathe only once a injured and elderly by themselves. Despite child, are the result of God’s will. With respect and affection, Mackall tells stories that demonstrate what he ad- mires about the Swartzentrubers, a long Poems from Snow Hill list of beautiful and peaceful attributes The Fist Fight in Heaven that are testaments to the community’s by Brent Martin, New Native Press, www.newnativepress.com skill and self-sufficiency. From his neigh- In my steamy dream bors, Mackall sees himself with new eyes, here’s a newly pub- Martin was my companion in this is the last shower and adjusts his priorities, becoming more lished poet in western long lines in the post office and soon I will be seated in tune with the rhythms of natural life. North Carolina and a and in doctor’s waiting rooms. somewhere down the line On the other hand, Mackall is never mighty voice he has. At night, instead of reading to the right of the right hand blind to the problems such insular groups Brent Martin hails one or two poems at a time, of my old Michelangelo God, have, such as the rejection of labor-saving from the Cowee com- I could easily re-read all of who sternly watches technology, the squelching of individual- Tmunity near Franklin in Macon them. By the time I started my every move. ity, and the specter of genetic diseases that County. A forest conservation writing this column, I’d read Still not free, I will at last are endemic to closed societies, including specialist by trade, by avoca- the entire collection a half see you in a different light — some Mormon sects. For girls especially, tion, it seems he’s a professional dozen times and never tired our fights about zoning codes Mackall points out the lack of opportu- observer. Of nature, particu- of a one because each read- and floodplain ordinances nity they endure — the rigid patriarchy larly birds and the plants he sees ing revealed something new receding into dim memory. of the Swartzentruber traditions preclude while passing them, of history and thrilling I hadn’t caught any semblance of fulfillment outside the and the men who walked these before. I imagine you approach me roles of wife and mother. woods before, and of people, fascinating Martin’s perspective is that of a with a golden halo — Mackall’s observations provide a bal- strangers and intimates who live nearby. mature man, thus his poems are full of I am, frankly, a little surprised. anced perspective of the advantages and I’ve never been to Cowee, but when I insights that young poets just don’t have disadvantages of close-knit groups. For do go there, it will be familiar territory yet. But don’t let the word “maturity” God gives a half-smiling nod, waves a fat finger at all those who voice dreams of creating because Martin’s words have brought it mislead you. There’s a ruggedness in community, especially in Asheville where to life. His poems are like photographs these poems that is intoxicating (in fact, our diminishing past, and looks away the word “community” is often called on from a treasured album, some old-timey I wouldn’t put it past Mr. Martin to have as an ubiquitous mission statement in just sepia, others blazing in intense color, a tippled a few local brews now and then) toward an eternal sunset’s red-rimmed clouds. about any course of action, Plain Secrets few wide shots, but mostly finely focused and I’m sure a good manly brawl isn’t offers valuable insights on how such an close-ups. something he finds too distasteful. Like Feeling as confident as David, ideal might work in reality. At first glance, Poems from Snow all eco-activists, he must have had heated I say goodbye to it all Hill seemed slight. There are only 20 words with those on the opposite side of and calmly punch you out. poems, each on its own page. I soon environmental issues, but few of them, Marcianne Miller is an Asheville-based realized, however, that this was a bless- I’m sure, would retell those disagree- - Brent Martin author and critic with a background in ing. Being so lightweight, I could take the ments with his fantasies of heavenly archaeology and TV and film production. volume everywhere, so last month Mr. justice and sly humor. Poems from Snow Hill Contact her at [email protected]

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 19 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE BOOKS Two of Asheville’s Favorite Now Hear This Writers at Malaprop’s in January The Darkest Evening of the Year As if being named Rapid River’s Thomas Rain new poetry editor (see page 12) weren’t Crowe reads from his by Dean Koontz, Read by Kirsten Kairos enough excitement for MariJo Moore this acclaimed novel of love Random House Audio, unabridged, 12 hours month, she also cut a CD. stories, The House of In Confessions Girls. (See last month’s Unspeakable evil. Or selfless and every of a Madwoman: Rapid River book sec- courageous good. In his characters dog An Oral Journey, tion for our positive Dean Koontz never fails to differenti- she Moore reads her take on this fascinating ate between the two. His bad guys are meets. poems (“sultry” first novel from one of really bad and his good guys are really More uncanny than and “inspiring” our mountain’s most good. You never have to wonder about the average brilliant golden retriever, are the words compelling writers.) who to hiss at and who to root for--and Nickie “knows” things. Amy and Brian friends use to Crowe’s readings are always exciting you never get let down in the end. both have pasts they’d rather not think describe her read- affairs because his friends — our fair city’s Darkest Evening is Koontz’ latest about--would you believe they both ing voice). The most shining luminaries in literature, art, yarn and it’s a winner, especially on au- have old connections with monster poems are accompanied by wonderfully music, theatre and storytelling — show dio where the voice of narrator Kirsten Moonglow and her vile lover? original music by Doll Imago — piano up, because there’s nothing quite like Kairos makes the story even more Simplistic? It isn’t. But it’s damn infused with electronic soundscapes and a great storyteller doing his magic on a compelling than it would be on the good and interwoven, as with all Koontz organic rhythms. Now both women plan Sunday afternoon. page. Moonglow is a nasty malevolent books, with threads of humor and hor- a live performance at Malaprop’s. Quite a woman who believes the most horrific ror, and a touch of the miraculous. lineup for Saturday night at a bookstore! Where: Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café thing on the planet is boredom. I’ve read every Koontz book on (www.marijomoore.com) When: Sunday, January 27, 3:00 pm. When she’s bored, she chooses unabridged audio and never cease to Tip: Both of these writers are very popu- a person or place at random to set on be amazed at how enjoyable they are. Where: Malaprop’s Bookstore and Café. lar with Asheville readers, so get to the fire. When she’s finished with her Like spinach, Dean Koontz is not for When: Saturday, January 12, 7:00 pm. store early to get a snack and a good seat. deadly arson, she goes home to have a everybody, but if you haven’t read him sandwich and torture her 10-year-old before on audio, The Darkest Evening daughter. Her dark partner, Harrow, is of the Year may be the perfect book amused by Moonglow’s eccentricities. to start with. If you’re a fan, then you He thinks their sex is terrific and he has already know it’s time to order the a dark foul secret of his own. book from the library or buy a copy for Amy Redwing and her fiancé Brian yourself. McCarthy are the best of the good Review by Lonnie Darr people: Amy loves Brian. Brian loves Amy. Amy is a legend among animal activists for rescuing golden retrievers. Writer/photographer Lonnie Darr is an Nickie, her latest rescue, is an Alpha to avid audiobook reader.

Books into Movies The Complete Persepolis Pantheon paperback, 352 pages

Perse- pi’s acclaimed memoir is both sweet polis, first and terrible, deeply personal and trou- published blingly political, a rare perspective of in 2004, a particular time and place that speaks was a well- to people everywhere. The full-length received animated version of the story, made in graphic France, will show here in Asheville in novel that helped kick off the graphic a few months. novel movement that is so robust today. The latest version of the book Reading a novel in this format is combines the two volumes of the se- an exciting new experience that can, ries (Persepolis and Persepolis 2) into literally, transform the meaning of the one. Read it now and enjoy anticipat- word “literary” for you. Persepolis is ing the film. the unforgettable story of a privileged review by Marcianne Miller, girl’s childhood in Tehran during the Rapid River Book Editor Islamic Revolution and its subsequent turmoil, told in a series of striking Marcianne Miller is an Asheville- B&W comic strips. based writer and critic. Contact her at Writer/illustrator Marjane Satra- [email protected]

20 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Good movies make you care, make you believe in possibilities again. – Pauline Kael January Movies

with Marcianne Miller Keira Knightley longs for love in the beautiful 5-star For the latest reviews, theater info drama Atonement. and movie show times, visit www.rapidrivermagazine.com

cinematographer such as Seamus McGar- ∑∑∑∑∑-Fantastic vey (World Trade Center, Sahara) can go ∑∑∑∑-Pretty darn good into ecstasy with the breathtaking natural ∑∑∑-Has some good points beauty. The women have flawless skin Becoming Jane). Robbie, meanwhile, mance alive by letter. “Come back, come ∑∑ and are draped in slinky silk dresses, the home from Cambridge, is in his servants’ back to me,” Cecelia begs Robbie. “I will -The previews lied men wear exquisitely tailored slacks and cottage fantasizing about Cecelia. On his return,” Robbie promises. “Find you, ∑-Only if you must shiny shoes. Everybody smokes, show- typewriter, he amuses himself by churn- love you, marry you and live without M-Forget entirely ing off their high cheekbones. The rich ing out a raunchy love note to her. He shame.” They dream of being together are very rich and everyone else is not, the puts that note aside for a more genteel in a cabin by the sea. But fate has other latter certainly being servants or treated as handwritten version. But he accidentally ideas. The sea becomes the location of January’s Guest Critics: if they were. puts the naughty note in the envelope. the enormous evacuation at Dunkirk. For this fleeting lapse of attention, Robbie Using what may be the longest, most Roxane Clement is an ardent movie fan who was will pay dearly. Typewriter keys pulse incredible single moving shot in film raised by an equally ardent Pauline Kael fan. ominously throughout the movie’s sound history, director Joe Wright (Pride and Chip Kaufmann is a film historian who also track, reverberating like longing dreams Prejudice) creates an unforgettable tab- shares of his love of classical music as a pro- or nails driving into a coffin. leau of the madness of war. gram host on WCQS-FM radio. During a sweltering summer week- Decades later, Briony, now a famous Michelle Keenan, Director of Listener Sup- end, the crowded household becomes a novelist (Vanessa Redgrave, Evening) port at WCQS-FM, loves all movies, especially hothouse. Desires are fevered and resis- reveals what happened to Cecelia and 1930s screwball comedies. tance melted — and a nosy little girl sees Robbie. Your tears may flow at this point. things she doesn’t understand. Briony Or you’ll be like me, so caught up by Sierra Bicking, Teen Reviewer, prefers movies lies, accusing Robbie of sexually assault- the sheer artistry of the film’s magic that that show teenagers as brilliant and brave. ing her cousin. Though only a child, you’ll remain enchanted. Briony is upper class, and Robbie is still Atonement is beautiful, poignant, a servant’s son. He’s dragged off by the harsh and gentle — a real old-fashioned Atonement ∑∑∑∑∑ James McAvoy and Keira Knightley police and sent to prison for a crime he big movie. See it. are war-tossed lovers. Short Take: An old-fashioned British didn’t commit. Rated R for disturbing war images, lan- The war comes and life as everyone WWII drama that is astonishingly The movie begins with typewriter guage and some sexuality. beautiful and easy to understand. You’ll on the estate once knew it ends forever. keys pounding enthusiastically and echo- Four years later, war-weary Army private Review by Marcianne Miller cry, but feel good. ing throughout the mansion as 13-year- Fans of Ian McEwan’s emotional Robbie is in the devastated French coun- old Briony Tallis races to present her tryside trying to get back to his unit. In three-part 1998 novel Atonement will be mother with her latest creative opus — a The Bucket List ∑∑ happy with this film version, and those London, Cecilia is an play that she insists the experienced nurse, and Short Take: Two dying men live their who don’t know the book can still enjoy weekend guests perform the movie thoroughly. It’s a heartbreak- now grown-up Briony last days to the fullest before they “kick that afternoon in honor of the bucket.” ing romance, a war story, and a journey of (Romola Garai (Amaz- her older brother’s visit. This movie made me want to throw atonement, all wrapped up in the haunting Grace) is in nurse’s Briony (in a mesmerizing tomatoes at the screen. It’s about two ing power of the written word. training. The two sisters performance by Saoirse old coots who throw caution — and It’s that gorgeously elegant time haven’t spoken since that Ronan) is in the throes of their families — to the winds so they can between world wars at a sprawling estate terrible summer night. hormonal yearnings and have the time of their lives before cancer in England — the interiors are palatial Briony, ever the fanta- her fanciful imagination does them in. Good thing megaloma- and the grounds are so extensive that a sist, longs to atone for often skews the truth. her sins. She rehearses niac Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson, The Briony’s older sister how Cecelia and Robbie Departed) has money to burn so he can is Cecelia (Keira Knight- will accept her apologies. pick up the tab for his new unlikely pal, Note: There is the use of a word in ley, Pride and Prejudice), The lovers mean- poor, hard-working auto mechanic Carter Atonement that some people might find a languorous beauty while keep their ro- Chambers (Morgan Freeman, Gone Baby offensive. The word is essential to the who has finally realized Gone). Instead of creating memories for story so the filmmakers couldn’t leave it she’s madly in love with their families, these two goofballs pursue out. It’s in the scene when Robbie writes Sisters Keira Knightley her childhood play- and Saoirse Ronan thrilling globe-trotting experiences for his raunchy letter and Cecelia reads it. It’s mate, the housekeeper’s seen, not heard, and once the scenes are enjoy the good life themselves. No volunteering at the soup over that’s the end of it. educated son, Robbie before WWII. Turner (James McAvoy, ‘Movies’ continued on pg. 22

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 21 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE FILM REVIEWS

‘Movies’ continued from pg 21 meeting with the photo, while Nazi-like evil scientists and talking bears, local big whig fea- Joanne Herring, sailing ships and armored dirigibles. An- kitchen, no donations to the starving tures a great shot who wields real noying men hold most of the power here, people in Darfur for this self-absorbed of their cowboy power, is first seen yet the story’s lead is a feisty young girl duo. Oh, no, wads of cash are spent help- boots, and there’s in a regal, full- and the most evil of all the characters is a ing these guys pretend they’re making up never a doubt length portrait. gorgeous, intelligent woman. for lost time. Being a paint-by-numbers whose boots are The outrageous My favorite aspects of this world are Hollywood push-the-emotional-triggers going to win. His corruption is the daemons (pronounced dee-mons). flick (director Rob Reiner hasn’t done knowledge of the light-hearted, but These creatures have nothing to do with anything really great since 1989’s When geography of the more than a little devils. They are animals who are the Persian Gulf, and disturbing. outward manifestation of the souls of hu- his ability to navi- The film ends man beings. Children’s daemons change gate the corridors on a prophetic shape all the time, thus a child can have of power in DC note as Avrako- a squirrel one minute, a cat another, and also show us that, Julie Roberts is a rich conservative tos recounts to a firefly the next. When people reach more than any- and Tom Hanks is a not-so-rich Wilson the Zen adulthood, their daemons settle on their thing else, Charlie congressman in Charlie Wilson’s War, parable of the boy final forms. Since it is the representation Wilson knows the a comedy with serious overtones. and the horse in of a person’s soul, a daemon is as much a lay of the land. which each turn of part of a human being as their heart is. It’s When he is approached by the fortune is answered with an eerie refrain too horrifying to even contemplate what wealthy, ultra-conservative Joanne Her- of “We’ll see…” In 1989, the Afghan free- would happen to a person if they were ring (Julia Roberts, Ocean’s Twelve) dom fighters, largely due to the efforts of separated from their daemon. to take on the cause of delivering Af- Charlie Wilson, were able to defeat the Lyla Belacqua (played wondrously Among many other things, Jack ghanistan from Soviet occupation, Wilson Soviets. Ironically, this Texas congress- by English newcomer Dakota Blue Nicholson and Morgan Freeman go considers it an advantage that he is man, a man of true patriotic zeal, unwit- Richards) lives in Jordan College (think sky diving in The Bucket List. currently under investigation for cocaine tingly supported the rise of one famous Oxford) and runs around the ancient use. Knowing the penchant the American freedom fighter, Osama Bin Laden. buildings like a feral child. She’s sup- Harry Met Sallly, so you can’t blame him public has for any scandal involving sex Rated R: Strong language, nudity and posed to be getting a formal education, too much), Carter’s abandoned wife, or drugs, he figures it will create a useful sexual language, and some drug use. but mostly she’s the beneficiary of benign diversion. He finds in Joanne his own neglect, preferring to get her lessons from Virginia (Beverly Todd, Ascension Day) Review by Roxane Clement smiles wanly when her ever-so-righ- diversion, and their deal is well lubricated street urchins. Her daemon, Pantalaimon teous still faithful husband finally drags with whiskey and love-making. Through (voiced by Freddie Highmore, August her considerable connections, Joanne Rush) known as Pan, is exhausted from his sorry ass home in his fancy new suit, The Golden Compass ∑∑∑∑ and Edward’s estranged daughter and sets up a meeting between Wilson and changing form all the time to get Lyra out the granddaughter he never saw hug him Pakistani President Zia ul-Hak. Things Short Take: Thrilling, spectacular, of scrapes she gets them into. gleefully. Oh, pulleeeeze. don’t look promising, however, when sparkling — it just needs another half- Lyra’s hero is her uncle, the dashing Wilson leaves the meeting muttering to hour in length. Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig (The Invasion), Rated PG-13 for language, including a his assistant, “I was just told I have ‘char- I absolutely loved who makes an all-too sexual reference. acter flaws’ by someone who hanged his this movie. What of it fleeting cameo appear- Review by Marcianne Miller predecessor in a military coup.” there was. ance. Lord Asriel in- Wilson does agree to go on a tour Forced by market- forms the scholars of his of the refugee camps on the Pakistan- ing demands to have a scientific investigation Charlie Wilson’s War Afghanistan border, and the horrors he happy ending instead of into “dust” and dust’s ∑∑∑∑1/2 encounters there compel him into action. the sad one of the Philip proof of the existence Pullman novel on which Short Take: A Texas congressman finds Over the course of the next nine years, of other universes. His it’s quite a trip from a hot tub to the Wilson, who is a member of the House’s the movie is based, theories are shocking, hotbed of the Cold War. Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, writer/director Chris repulsive — they’re “Good time Charlie” Wilson, a increases spending on covert operations Weitz (About a Boy) heresy. As if religious boozing, womanizing Texas congress- in Afghanistan from $5 million to $1 ended up cutting short free-thinking weren’t man finally uses his considerable skills billion, the largest covert operation in his- his film and the audi- enough to worry about, to accomplish something significant. tory. This escalation of support eventually ence. Compass sparkles something equally ter- Directed by Mike Nichols (Closer), this brings down the Red Army. in every way — per- rifying is happening in movie’s real-life events are more filmic, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts display formances, sets, special the streets of London and certainly funnier, than most fiction. their usual skills in bringing their char- effects, costumes, props — children are disap- We first encounter Wilson (Tom Hanks, acters to life, but even more compelling — except pace. pearing. The Da Vinci Code) soaking in a hot tub is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s (Capote) The story is so First the missing in Las Vegas, surrounded by strippers, breathtaking performance as Gust Avra- rushed you don’t have children come mostly being coaxed into backing a television kotos, a Greek-American CIA operative a moment to relax and from the ranks of the project that’s “like Dallas, but it’s Wash- who pieces together the diverse elements marvel. Let’s hope the Lyra Belacqua and the Gyptians, the gypsy-like ington.” This becomes prophetic as the of the operation. DVD comes out soon great armored bear ride north tribes who inhabit the film unfolds, depicting the nation’s capitol Charlie Wilson’s War is written — and with a long di- to the rescue. rivers, but soon chil- peopled with efficient, voluptuous women by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) and rector’s cut that includes dren are being stolen and neurotic, bombastic men. The cast of George Crile from his book of the same all the scenes he had to leave out. closer to the bastions of power — one Dallas had nothing on this group. name. Under Nichols’ direction, the The Golden Compass takes place in a day Lyra’s closest friend, the cook’s son Wilson’s political savvy is nicely re- political scene of 1980s Washington is parallel universe, meaning some things are Roger (played by Ben Walker, who was vealed early on when he adroitly defuses cleverly and satirically distilled. Presi- like they are in real-life on planet Earth a potential brouhaha in his district over dent Reagan is a shadowy figure at best, and other things are fanciful. Thus you ‘Movies’ continued on next pg. the public display of a Nativity scene. His glimpsed only in a small, standard issue have snooty professors and gentle witches,

22 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE FILM REVIEWS

‘Movies’ continued from pg 22 Hendersonville Film Society: January 2008 so terrific as the boy Tobias in Sweeney Todd), disappears. The Hendersonville Film Society starts off the new year with a sampler program of At a banquet at the college, a rare the types of movies we feature throughout the year. They fall into four basic catego- female scholar, Mrs. Coulter (Nicole ries; Forgotten Films, Foreign Films, Classic Films, and Cult Films. Kidman, The Invasion) makes a jaw-dropping entrance, strutting ever so seductively January 6 January 20 by Chip Kaufmann A Cottage on Dartmoor Don Giovanni This late silent offering from Eng- This movie adaptation of Mozart’s Dir: Joseph Losey land is a significant rediscovery filled greatest opera was filmed on location 1979. In Italian w/subtitles. with astounding camerawork, lighting, in Vicenza, Italy. It features top-notch Color – 176 minutes. and some of the fastest editing for the performances from singers Ruggiero time. The story of a man’s escape from Raimondi (Don Giovanni), Kiri Te January 27 prison and how he got there is tense Kanawa (Elvira), and Jose Van Dam Jonathan Livingston Seagull and shocking and evokes early Alfred (Leporello). The music is performed by Based on Richard Bach’s best sell- Hitchcock. the Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus ing novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull Dir: Anthony Asquith led by Lorin Maazel. is a cinematic achievement of stunning 1929. Silent w/music score. beauty. This timeless tale will open your Black & White - 89 minutes. heart to wonder and dare you to dream. Imagine Siddhartha and Winged Migra- January 13 tion combined. It features a Grammy Newcomer Dakota Blue Richards Black Book Award-winning score by Neil Diamond. studies her truth-telling device in This acclaimed Dutch film is Dir: Hall Bartlett the sparkling fantasy of a parallel set during the end of World War II 1973. Color – 99 minutes. universe, The Golden Compass. and tells the story of a Jewish girl down the aisle in a glittery form-fitting who narrowly survives the war in If you go gown, with her golden-haired monkey Holland. She joins the Resistance daemon trailing behind her. Lyra is in and goes undercover to find out Hendersonville Film Society Screen- awe. So when she’s sent to live with Mrs. who betrayed her family after all ings, Sundays at 2pm. Smoky Mountain Coulter to learn how to be more lady-like, of them are killed while attempt- Theatre in the Lake Pointe Landing Sebastian Koch is a Gestabpo officer whom Lyra at first thinks she’s landed in girl ing to flee. Retirement Community. 333 Thompson Carice van Houten is sent to seduce, but falls Street, right behind the Epic Cinemas heaven. At first. Dir: Paul Verhoeven in love with in Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book. 2006. In Dutch & German w/sub- The film has been included in many critics’ top Call Elaine Ciampi at (828) 697-7310. titles. Color – 145 minutes. ‘Movies’ continued on pg. 24 ten films for 2007. Open to all. Donations accepted.

TEEN REVIEWER: Juno reviewed by Sierra Bicking

Juno ∑∑∑∑ Last Stand) is a tell-it- must find the maturity Juno MacGuff and her boyfriend Paulie Short Take: In a fresh, down- like-it-is girl who gets to make a final giant pregnant by her sweet decision. Bleeker try to deal to-earth movie, a pregnant with her pregnancy teen has to deal with a but oblivious boyfriend At last a fresh, Bleeker (Michael Cera, down-to-earth movie in the touching situation “way beyond her comedy, Juno. maturity level.” Superbad). Now she about teenagers! Some- This one struck close to must face the giant how director Jason Re- home. Why? Because I’ve seen decisions of whether itman (Thank You for it happen. I’ve seen girls disap- to give up the baby for Smoking) made a film freedom to address pear from school for months Film critic adoption (and if so, to (from a script by young the issues that are because they’ve gotten preg- Sierra Bicking whom?) or to have an female writer Diablo really important to nant, and this movie reflects lives in Asheville. abortion. Luckily, Juno Cody) that addresses teenagers, like “Who the reality of what they go through. oddly has laid-back par- teenage pregnancy am I?” “Will my Here in the US. thousands of girls ents who take her pregnancy in stride without preaching. boyfriend stay with become pregnant every year (an esti- and support all of her decisions. Juno is The choice Juno faces, me?” and “Where do mated 750,000 in 2006) and will have to also unusual in that she doesn’t seem to pro-choice vs. pro-life, I go from here?” decide whether to have the baby or get mind being ostracized at school, never is very understated. The movie also an abortion. These are extremely tough having fit in in the first place. Quirky She could have gone provides true enter- decisions for girls who are barely able and independent, she cavalierly makes either way. tainment, with oddly to deal with the emotional jungle of the decision to have the baby, then goes Much more attention was given to likeable characters and wacky situations. teenhood. No matter what hard choice about choosing its future parents. Of Juno’s relationships with her parents, All in all, Juno is a movie everyone can they make, their lives will never be the course nothing is ever that easy, and as her boyfriend, and her baby’s adoptive enjoy and teenage girls can relate to. same again. Juno’s belly grows, so does the anxiety parents. This makes for a richer and Rated PG-13 for mature thematic Juno (Ellen Page, X-Men: The it causes to everyone involved, and Juno more interesting movie that has the material, sexual content and language.

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 23 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE FILM REVIEWS

‘Movies’ continued from pg. 23 It comes as no sur- harks back to the clas- Elizabeth: The Golden Age) to a grizzled prise that despite his sic Val Lewton films of resident of a Western town (Richard Lyra runs away from Mrs. Coulter reservations, this is the the 1940s, such as Cat Gere, Hoax). Furthermore, none of — and soon she’s off to the frozen north most faithful version People. these characters is called Bob Dylan to rescue Roger from the kidnapping to the original and is Will Smith gives a but are given names like Jack Rollins “gobblers,” release Lord Asriel from the very effective thanks to restrained and moving (Christian Bale, Rescue Dawn), Robbie marauding Tartars, and find out the truth a low-key performance performance as Robert Clark (Heath Ledger, Casanova), and about “dust.” Guiding her is a strange and by Price and scenes Neville, making us even real-life poet Arthur Rimbaud (Ben wonderful golden compass, an alethiom- that look forward to feel the character’s Whishaw, Perfume). Each one represents eter, which helps her determine the truth Night of the Living loneliness and despair a different aspect of Dylan’s personality of things. Dead (1968). even as he remains as he evolved over the years. It’s hard to Lyra is befriended by a cowboy aero- Up next was determined to find a think of another popular artist who’s been naut (Sam Elliot, Ghostrider), an ethereal 1971’s The Omega cure. Director Francis around as long or has undergone as many witch, (Eva Green, Casino Royale), a Man starring Charlton Lawrence (Constan- changes in his life and career. kindly old Gyptian (Tom Courtenay, Heston. It bears little tine) uses flashbacks to Director Todd Haynes is an un- Nicholas Nickleby) and the grand- resemblance to the great effect throughout conventional filmmaker who has made est creature in the parallel universe, the original story. The set- the film and the script only five feature films over a period of magnificent warrior bear Iorek Byrnison ting is still Los Ange- by co-writers by Mark 16 years, with only one (2002’s Far From (voiced by Ian McKellen, Lord of the les but this time the Protesevich (The Cell) Heaven) having reached a mainstream Rings’ Gandalf). What a cast! “plague” is the result and Akiva Goldsman audience. In keeping with his background The subsequent escapades match of a chemical warfare (The Da Vinci Code) and his approach to his material, Haynes both the energy of the characters and accident. The victims update Matheson’s incorporates a variety of visual styles to all become albinos, original novel while tell his story, much like Julie Taymor the creative genius of the filmmakers, Will Smith is the last man alive so you’re in for a spectacular, if speedy wear hooded robes remaining true to the did in Across the Universe but in a very like penitents, and are on earth in the scary sci-fi thriller, central points in it. different way. I’m Not There switches ride. This is a children’s movie, so unlike I Am Legend. the book, there’s no blood in the battles led by a former news All in all I found from grainy black and white photography — unrealistic but also refreshing.The anchorman turned I Am Legend to be to 60s Mod colors to the warm nostalgic magic of The Golden Compass mightily messiah who looks disturbingly like John much better than I expected and it is eas- glow of classic Hollywood Westerns. All outweighs its flaws. See it for what works. Lennon. Although Heston is surprisingly ily the best of all the novel’s film adapta- of these different styles are wonderfully And let what’s wrong whizz on by. good, the rest of the film has the look and tions because it has the advantage of a captured by cinematographer Edward Note: There is information on The feel of a made-for-TV movie. bigger budget, a more focused script, and Lachmann (A Prairie Home Companion). Golden Compass all over the internet. Here it is 2007 and the new Will the central performance of its star. It’s I’m Not There does not follow a Also the official website of the movie is Smith (I, Robot) version follows in the also very effective. As I left the theatre I linear time frame as do most biopics. superb: www.goldencompassmovie.com. footsteps of its predecessors as a dramati- overheard some jaded high school boys Haynes and co-writer Oren Moverman cally altered version of the original novel. muttering, “That’s the scariest movie I (Married Life) jump back and forth from Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy This time around the setting is New ever saw.” Maybe there’s still hope left for place to place and Dylan incarnation to violence. York and the plague is caused by a doctor mankind after all. Dylan incarnation, which can be confus- Review by Marcianne Miller (Emma Thompson, Stranger Than Fic- Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci- ing at first and requires you to concen- tion, in an uncredited appearance) whose fi action and violence. trate in order to keep up with what’s go- “miracle cure” for cancer goes horribly ing on. Editor Jay Rabinowitz (Requiem I Am Legend ∑∑∑∑ awry, creating not “vampires” but subhu- Review by Chip Kaufmann for a Dream) deserves special mention for Short Take: Surprisingly good and very man rabid creatures that are violently his accomplishment in the daunting task scary update with terrific B-movie roots. aggressive. ∑∑∑∑ of putting the variety of visual styles used I Am Legend is the third film version The trailers advertised yet another I’m Not There in this film together. of the durable Richard Matheson novel of big budgeted CGI fest featuring one of Short Take: Ambitious. All the performances 1954. It’s also the first one to use the orig- the hottest actors on the planet and my Audacious. Ambiguous. are uniformly fine, with inal title. The story is set in Los Angeles first reaction was (yawn), “I can hardly Not your father’s biopic. outstanding work from where Robert Neville appears to be the wait.” Well, I was wrong. Director Todd young Marcus Carl only survivor of a mysterious plague that Despite the big budget ($150 mil- Haynes’ new film on the Franklin (who does his turned the rest of the world’s population lion), I Am Legend is a throwback to life and career of Bob own playing and singing into creatures with vampire-like tenden- a type of old-fashioned moviemaking Dylan is definitely not as the black guitar-play- cies (aversion to light, garlic and crosses). where script and performance are the key a standard straightfor- ing “Woody Guthrie”) He spends his daylight hours killing the elements. The effects are just window ward look at a celebrated and Cate Blanchett “vampires” and his nights protecting his dressing to enhance the story, not an end musical figure, ala Ray or (whose incarnation as home against their attacks. He also dwells unto themselves. Walk the Line. Rather it’s the mid 60s jaded “Jude on his fate as the last person alive until There have been a number of a multi-faceted look at Quinn” is nothing short one day he sees a woman out during the complaints regarding the CGI mutants what it means to be Bob of jaw-dropping). If day just like him. I’ll stop right there, for who do resemble something out of a Dylan and the effect of his Blanchett doesn’t gain at to say anymore would spoil the rest of the videogame, but for me that was part of music on the mindset of a least an Oscar nomina- story for those who don’t know it. the film’s B-movie roots and I didn’t generation of people and tion from this film (not The first film version was a black have a problem with it. Neither did the other musicians. to mention the Oscar and white low budget affair that was shot audience I saw it with. In fact, they were To begin with, there itself) then there’s some- in Italy in 1964 with Vincent Price and spellbound throughout by what didn’t are no less than six “Bob thing seriously wrong an Italian cast. Matheson himself wrote happen. Most of the first half of the film Dylans” in the film, rang- with the Academy and its the screenplay but was dissatisfied with has no music. There’s just Will Smith and ing from a black teenage voters (no comment). certain script changes and was credited sound effects, which forces the audience boy (Marcus Carl Frank- Cate Blanchett is Bob under the pseudonym Logan Swanson. to focus more intently, allowing them to lin in his feature debut) to Dylan’s drugged-out 60s ‘Movies’ continued be scared by what they anticipate. This a woman (Cate Blanchett, persona in I’m Not There. on next pg.

24 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE FILM REVIEWS

‘Movies’ continued from pg. 24 him he must come to rescue the son of Afghanistan. The Russians have been his childhood friend. The boy’s parents evicted (see Roxane Clement’s review While Todd Haynes is to be com- were killed by the Taliban and he is held above of Charlie Wilson’s War), but mended for taking risks, I’m Not There in a poverty-stricken orphanage. “There now the Taliban has taken over. There is not without its problems. The film’s is a way to be good again,” the uncle says. is no singing in Afghanistan anymore, jumping back and forth can be hard to The old man’s words haunt Amir, as if he no dancing, no flirting, no merriment of follow, the mixture of photographic styles knows Amir’s shameful secrets. any kind, and certainly no kite flying. All is occasionally jarring, and at 135 minutes, What follows is the story of Amir the men must wear beards. Veiled women are the film is simply too long. Also the film’s child (Zekeria Ebrahimi) and his faith- stoned to death as half-time diversions principal motif, the six different Dylans, ful friend, Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mah- during public soccer games. And into this may not be to everyone’s taste. midzada), the servant’s son. They live hostile anti-American environment Amir in a palatial compound in Kabul, full of must travel to try to “do good again.” flowers and fountains, under the benign Technically the movie is masterfully Wei Tang and Tony Leung are lovers Marcus Carl protection of Amir’s powerful and wise done. The cinematography by Robert during the Japanese occupation of Franklin China in Lust, Caution. plays the father, Baba (Homayoun Ershadi. One Shaefer, who shot director Marc Forster’ Woody of the favorite pastimes of Afghani youth Neverland and Stranger than Fiction, is was the annual kite-flying contest, when incredible (Morocco is a fine stand-in for deaths of many Chinese. Young Wong Guthrie will pose as Mrs. Mak, the wealthy wife personality dozens of two-boy teams would compete Afghanistan) and the computer-enhanced to keep their kites aloft and knock the kite-flying scenes are lyrically haunting. of an importer/exporter. Her role is to of Bob Dylan befriend Mrs. Yee (Joan Chen), and then in I’m Not other kites out of the skies. Fine performances by all, most of whom Amir is the champion kite flyer are unknown, and especially the children lure Mr. Yee into an affair, ergo earning There, the fascinating multi-personalities his trust. At some vague point thereafter, character study of Bob Dylan. because his friend Hassan is the best who are uncannily impressive. A flawed, kite runner, the one who can tell where but lovely and important film. the others will swoop in and assassinate the kite will land and retrieve it quickly Note: Some of the movie is in him. Prompted more by her unspoken However, if you’re an admirer of love for Kuang than her own patriotism, Bob Dylan and his music (which runs before it’s damaged. The neighborhood English but most of it is spoken in Dari, a bully has it out for the two friends and Farsi dialect, and subtitled in English. Wong goes along with the plan and Mrs. throughout the film in performances Mak is born. from him and others) and enjoy being on the day of the kite flying contest, he Rated PG-13 for strong thematic material leads an attack with his cronies on Has- So far we have a story with war, pas- challenged at the movies by non-tradi- including the rape of a child, violence and sion, lust, friendship, betrayal, loneliness tional fare, then don’t miss it. It’s worth san. They rape the boy and leave him brief strong language. bloodied. and heartache. In theory, we should be saying again, it’s ambitious, audacious, Review by Marcianne Miller enraptured. No such luck. and ambiguous — very few films can Amir sees the attack but is too afraid for himself to intervene. Instead of apolo- As our heroine weaves her web of make that claim. seduction, we see her loneliness, con- gizing to Hassan, over the next weeks ∑∑∑ Rated R for language, some sexuality, Amir treats him cruelly. He tells a terrible Lust, Caution (Se, jie) flicting emotions and bravery. Mean- and nudity. lie that causes the Hassan’s father to leave Short Take: The trailer is beautifully while Mr. Yee spins his own sticky web. Review by Chip Kaufmann the compound, thus taking both of them intense and moving and meant to lure Initially he seems the perfect Chinese you into seeing it — don’t be fooled. gentleman. But by the time the two of Lust, Caution is indeed beauti- them reach the bedroom, he is a brutal The Kite Runner ∑∑∑∑ ful and is masterfully directed by Ang beast. Lee (Brokeback Mountain), but for this What ensues is a series of sex scenes Short Take: A faithful adaptation reviewer, it stopped there. Would that I of brutal attraction and repulsion that of the book, which is both is make anything you’ve ever seen previ- strength and its flaw. could end the review right here . . . The script is adapted from a story by ously (in the non-porn form) look like The main flaw of both the milk toast. (Seriously, Sharon Stone novel and the film version of The beloved Chinese author Eileen Chang. In Chinese with English subtitles, it suddenly seems a schoolmarm in com- Kite Runner for me is that the parison.) The numerous graphic scenes hero of the story isn’t particularly takes place in Japanese-occupied China, from 1939 to 1942–a period in history of are far more vicious than they are erotic. heroic. Amir (played by Scotland- However, it is through these torridly born Khalid Abdalla, United 93) which most westerners know little. With WWII underway, Wong Chia cruel and wrenching moments that “Mrs. did some despicable things as a Mak” gains Yee’s trust and finds the way child in Afghanistan, so awful Chi (Wei Tang) is a naïve and lonely college student whose father has abandoned to his heart - er, sort of . . . that the memory of them lingers There is nothing technically wrong throughout the rest of the story. her for life in England. While at univer- The Kite Runner, with this film. It’s visually luscious and As a grownup he indeed tries As shown beautifully in sity, she falls in with a theatrical troupe before the Taliban took over their country, run by an impassioned, young zealot, the actors are perfect. Without including to atone for his sins, but he contin- spoilers, suffice to say that at the conclu- ues to waver between courage and Afghanistan boys loved to fly kites. Kuang Yu Min (Lee-Hom Wang). Kuang formed the drama society to drum up sion of Lust, Caution, I sat bolt upright cowardice even to the end, when he and said, “That’s it? So what?!” Granted, is saved, not by his own efforts, but by away from Baba’s protection. As the say- patriotism among the Chinese. After her ing goes, you hate those you’ve hurt. first performance in which the audience the emotion of the story is shown more the child of the man he once wronged. in what’s not said than said, and in what’s Because of this inherent weakness in the The Russians invade Afghanistan and leapt to its feet in appreciation, Kuang re- Amir and his father flee to America with alizes his new leading lady has an innate not demonstrated, but I was unmoved. story, The Kite Runner fails to soar to Ultimately this tragic story simply fell flat. the highest level, but it tries so earnestly barely the clothes on their backs. They ability to move and inspire others. that its beauty overtakes its heavy ballast settle near San Jose. Baba, once a prince Spurred by Kuang’s fierce resis- Rated NC-17 for graphic sexuality, adult most of the time. of men, toils in a gas station and sells used tance towards the Japanese occupation, content. When we first meet him, Amir is an junk in a flea market on the weekends. the core members of the troupe decide Reviewed by Michelle Keenan Afghan émigré in central California who’s Always skilled with words, Amir learns to use their theatrical skills to infiltrate been married for a few years without English so well that he graduates from the life of one Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), a having a child. He receives a call from college and dreams of becoming a writer. Chinese collaborator with the Japanese, Kabul from his beloved uncle, telling Then the phone call comes from who is responsible for the downfall and ‘Movies’ continued on pg. 26

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‘Movies’ continued from pg. 25 first 3/4ths of it. In fact, I could say that the can get away from everyone.” first 75% was one of the best movies made Early in the film, Plainview meets Sweeney Todd, The Demon in recent history. The cinematography (by a man who matches his venality and for ∑∑∑ Robert Elswit, Michael Clayton, Syriana), one moment forces him to his knees. Barber of Fleet Street the production design, the set, the cos- This is Eli Sunday (Paul Dano, Little Miss Short Take: Too much Grand Guignol tumes, the props--all were dazzling. I was Sunshine), a dirt-poor local evangelist with and not enough Stephen Sondheim. literally giddy with the exciting historical national radio fame ambitions. In different When I first heard that Tim Burton recreation of California’s oil history. ways both men sell their souls for oil and was going to make the film version of Being based on the Upton Sinclair their eventual face-off in the end deter- Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, The novel Oil!, which purportedly did to the mines which one will lose the most. Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I was posi- oil industry what his muckraking The The last scenes of the movie, that tively elated. Burton is one of my favorite Jungle did to meat packing--the movie 25% I couldn’t stand, take place in the contemporary film directors, creating Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham also points out how the drilling for oil was 1930s. Plainview is no longer in the fields movies that have their distinct personal Carter are perfectly macabre business mucked up with great evils--greed, thiev- but ensconced in his mansion (no doubt vision (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, partners in Timothy Burton’s musical ery, murder and madness, to name a few. off modern day Doheny Drive in Beverly Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) and blood feast, Sweeney Todd: The Demon For all its sweeping scope and pro- Hills) where he’s become an insane should have been the ideal choice, but Barber of Fleet Street. duction marvels, There Will Be Blood is monster. I disliked these last scenes, somewhere along the way something essentially a character not because they went wrong. vancement, but they make the most with study, the rise and weren’t done well, Sweeney Todd has been a staple of what they’re given. At least Tobias (Ed fall of a quintes- but because there British popular fiction since the early Sanders) the workhouse boy, whose char- sential American was such a signifi- 19th century. The story of a barber who acter is instrumental to the story’s resolu- businessman, loosely cant change in tone murders his customers and his accom- tion, is left pretty much intact. All four based on millionaire from the earlier plice Mrs. Lovett who makes meat pies performers are making their film debuts. Edward Doheny who scenes that they out of them was first made into a film in With solid performances, outstand- headed Pan Ameri- seemed tacked on England in 1936 but it was hampered by ing set design and cinematography that can Petroleum and rather than inher- the restrictions of the film censors of the recall Edward Gorey as well as Stephen Transport Company. ent to the story. time. However, the stage version was pure Sondheim’s music--what could possi- Think Citizen Kane Nevertheless, Grand Guignol and that is what Burton bly go wrong? Two things. First, there’s in oil. Daniel Day-Lewis’ is attempting to recreate here, using his the music itself or lack of it. Four of Daniel Plainview Daniel Day-Lewis and his son performance from favorite leading man, Johnny Depp the show’s 13 major songs are missing, (Daniel Day-Lewis, beginning to end is including the all-important The Ballad explore the harsh country near future Depp (Charlie and the Chocolate Gangs of New York) oil fields in California. brilliant. His pres- Factory) gives a quietly intense perfor- of Sweeney Todd. Not having it is like refers to himself, ence, with not-so- mance as Sweeney, with a singing voice removing Angel of Music from Andrew in fake humility., as a simple “oil man.” faint hints of John Huston in Chinatown, that resembles David Bowie from the Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. With his adopted son H. W. (Dillon dominates every scene and his malevolent mid-1970s, but his interpretation lacks The film carries a well-deserved R Freasier making his debut), Plainview energy seems literally to pulse out from depth. He is already crazy when we first rating for graphic, bloody violence and tugs on the the screen. It’s an absolutely stunning meet him and the character has nowhere that’s the second problem. Burton wants “family performance and will stay with you for to go. In the original musical we watch to showcase the Grand Guignol aspects of values” card, days. him become more demonic over the the musical but in the film’s more realis- impressing Considering his age (he’s only 33) course of time so that by the end he’s tic setting, the killings are unnecessarily unsophisti- and his minimal previous experience almost a tragic figure wronged by every- nasty with excessive amounts of throat cated Califor- (Punch Drunk Love, Magnolia), director one--but that doesn’t get the chance to cutting and body dumping that make it nians with his Paul Thomas Anderson has accomplished happen in the movie. resemble an Italian giallo or slasher film. promises that something miraculous--a big, powerful, Helena Bonham Carter (Big Fish) It will be interesting to see how the oil work- mature film. But for the detour at the has the pivotal role of Mrs. Lovett. She Sweeney Todd will fare at the box office. ers who wreak end, I also could have added “perfect.” has to portray a much greater variety of Those who come to hear Sondheim’s the oil from Rated R for some violence. emotions, from unrequited love to pity music will likely be put off by Burton’s their worthless to callous indifference--and she does it dark vision and the graphic violence, while farmland will Review by Marcianne Miller all with a gleam in her eye that gives the those who respond to the trailer and think live like fam- film a welcome touch of humor, which is they’re getting another Sleepy Hollow ily in the oil Coming Next Month needed to relieve the grim proceedings. will be surprised to learn that most of the fields. What She doesn’t have a strong singing voice film is sung. If this were a straightforward Daniel Day-Lewis a laugh. It’s • The Great Debaters but it suits her character perfectly. reworking of the original Sweeney Todd hard to have a • National Treasure: Book of Secrets As for the supporting cast, Sacha story then I would give it a solid 4 stars- is brilliant in the oil industry drama, family without • Margot at the Wedding Baron Cohen (Borat) makes the most of -but it isn’t. It’s supposed to be a film There Will Be Blood. any women his brief appearance, although his part has version of the Stephen Sondheim musical and there’s • The Orphanage been cut down from the original stage and in that regard it rates only 3 stars. nary a woman in sight in this whole • P.S. I Love You show. Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and Rated R for graphic bloody violence. movie other than Mother Earth and a few • The Savages the Order of the Phoenix) and Timothy Review by Chip Kaufmann church ladies. • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Spall (Enchanted) do well as the villains As Plainview continues his ruthless of the piece with Rickman’s Judge Turpin • The Water Horse: march to success--which for him means Legend of the Deep having been rewritten to make him even ∑∑∑∑ eliminating the price-gouging railroads more reprehensible. There Will Be Blood for a pipeline that will carry his inland oil Three other principal characters An- Short Take: 75% of a great movie + 25% to the sea--he reveals the man he really is. thony (Jamie Campbell Bower), Johanna of a detoured ending still equals 100% “I have a competition in me;” he says, “I Rapid River Movie Editor and critic (Jayne Wisener), and the Beggar Woman of a powerful performance from Daniel want no one else to succeed. I hate most Marcianne Miller is a member of the Southeast Film Critics Assn. Contact (Laura Michelle Kelley) have had their Day-Lewis. people… I want to earn enough money I parts reduced to little more than plot ad- I enjoyed Blood tremendously for the her at [email protected]

26 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE ARTFUL LIVING

Everything Is As It Can Be As you are aware of your thoughts and emotions, you must ask yourself “Who is it that is aware?” the phrase, “Everything by Bill Walz is as it can be” is from the - Zen Koan philosopher/theologian, self. That’s the truth in Alan Watts, who wrote the world of enlighten- and spoke about Eastern ment. But here in level of consciousness that and behavior that you are conditioned philosophy so eloquently the world of society, is the only thing we can be to. Expand your awareness for what is T through the 50’s and families and inse- from within the prison of our possible, and the limited neurotic addic- 60’s, introducing Americans to cure interpersonal conditioning, but we are not tions, hang-ups, insecurities, impulsive, Asian wisdom. interactions, what our conditioning unless we compulsive, anxious, angry, depressed Bill continue in the belief that features of your false conditioned per- At the beginning of a new Walz Buddhism calls year, as we think about “resolu- “Samsara”, the world we are. sonality will begin to resolve themselves. tions” for improving ourselves, of the illusion of So, you’ve got You will begin to evolve. it is wise to also consider that confusing our some addictive Wake up! If you are what you can everyone is also as they can be. Includ- conditioning for who behaviors? Some be and the circumstances of your life ing you. This is an important realization. we are, we act out interpersonal hang- are what they can be, expand what can It allows us to see ourselves realistically our conditioning ex- ups and insecuri- be. Evolve. Change is nearly impossible and compassionately so that we might not actly and only as we ties? Tendencies from within the limits of believing your seek to change so much as to grow, that can be from within to be impulsive, conditioning to be who you are, but if is, evolve our self. that conditioning. compulsive, you have the courage to let go of your Change, as in going from one state But, who anxious, angry defensive identity and live as curious, to another, does not realistically happen you are is con- or depressed? compassionate, resourceful, expanding, in a person. Growth and evolution do. In sciousness. You If you would evolving awareness, the possibilities are fact, evolution can be so powerful that it are not your like to “change” nearly miraculous. All you’ve got to lose can appear as dramatic change. Evolution thoughts or emo- some undesirable is your neurotic self. Then you will begin begins with a compassionate understand- tions or behaviors. That’s just the stuff traits in the coming year, it’s important to see what can be. ing that you are exactly as you can be by conditioned into you that you believe is to realize, these traits are exactly and only the factors of your conditioning and that you, and that society reinforces by all of what can be from within the prison of we can grow beyond our conditioning. us judging and identifying each other by your conditioning, but break out of the Bill Walz is a UNCA adjunct faculty When you understand this, you then have our programmed thoughts, emotions and conditioning prison, and true growth, member and a private-practice teacher a handle on how to expand your life in a behaviors. evolution can begin to occur. of mindfulness, personal growth and manner that creates real change, some- We can even get pretty defensive The pioneering psychologist Fritz consciousness. He holds a weekly medita- thing “resolutions” cannot do. about our thoughts, emotions and Perls used to say, “The contours of your tion class, Mondays, 7pm at the Friends A great Zen koan instructs us, “As behaviors, but guess what? They aren’t neurosis are exactly the same as the Meeting House, 227 Edgewood. you are aware of your thoughts and emo- even ours. They are from our mother, contours of your awareness.” You are Info on classes and personal growth and tions, you must ask yourself, ‘Who is it our father, our society, media, personal exactly the same dimensions of thought, healing instruction or phone consultations that is aware?’” The awareness is you, experience, etc. They are what we have emotion and behavior as you are aware at (828) 258-3241, or e-mail at healing@ your true self, as Zen says, your original learned, and they represent a certain of the possibilities for thought, emotion billwalz.com. Visit www.billwalz.com

Can One Man Save the Vanishing Hemlock? In a race against time, one man strives to save what remains of one of the last remaining ancient forests in the southeastern United States.

n the southeastern United States resources allocated to save them, this ences to take up the cause to protect stands one of the most spectacular precious slice of ecological history will be what remains. sites in the world, the ancient hem- destroyed forever. The Vanishing Hemlock: A Race lock forests. These magnificent old Filmmaker David Huff is raising the Against Time has been heartily endorsed growth trees, towering at times over alarm through an inspiring and challeng- by the Southern Documentary Fund and 170 feet and living as long as 600 ing feature documentary: The Vanishing has been awarded a tax-deductible status Iyears, provide some of the most diverse Hemlock: A Race Against Time. In the so that much needed funds may be raised, Will Blozan, subject of the documentary, eco-system habitats in the southeast. film, Huff will follow arborist and cham- hopefully, in time to bring awareness to hangs alongside the 172 foot tall “Usis” Yet, deep in the heart of their pristine pion tree finder Will Blozan, (Blozan is this rapidly progressing biological crisis. hemlock. This tree, estimated at 400 tranquility a terror is mounting that, left featured in a recent article in The New “This is part of our legacy”, said Huff, years old, was killed by HWA. unchecked, will destroy what small clasp Yorker on the plight of the hemlock) deep “we must do all that we can to save these of ancient ecological history remains in into the hemlock forests of the southern forests, for the rich diversity of life within surroundings for inspiration. this country. Appalachian Mountains. There he will them, for ourselves and for our children.” For more information visit the The soaring and majestic native document the devastating impact the loss The Vanishing Hemlock is a pro- Southern Documentary Fund’s project eastern and Carolina hemlocks have been of these ancient trees is having on the rich duction of Back 40 Films in association page at http://southerndocumentaryfund. infested by a human-introduced insect diversity of southern wild forests. with Musk Entertainment. Back 40 org/works-in-progress/the-vanishing- pest, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). Shot on location in the Great Smoky Films is an independent film production hemlock. Or contact producer/writer Few of the remaining ancient hemlock Mountains National Park, this film will company based in Charlotte, NC. Root- David Huff, Back 40 Films, at david@ forests are free of this devastating infesta- reveal the devastating loss, which has ed in the American South, the company back40films.com. tion, and without financial and human already occurred, and challenge audi- draws on its cultural and geographical

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 27 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE REstaurants & Wine

Drink That Wine – It’s Not as Nice as You Think it is by Michael Parker

o, someone gave you wine for Think about it. The temperature in there And again: no date, no wait. Christmas, and you are still enter- is fairly constant year-round. There are no There are awesome exceptions. There January Events at taining notions of saving it for a devices creating heat. The floor in there is are quirky, minerally whites from Italy special occasion. Wine gets better the perfect place for your wine storage, es- such as Fiano and Greco di Tufo that can the Weinhaus pecially in the cardboard box. Do you ever be delicious at ages well past ten years. with age, right? Here we go again. Reservations are required for these Some wines improve with age, think about how much wine you could buy I once drank a white Rioja that was 24 for the price of a nice rack? years old. There are also occasions when events unless otherwise noted. Call Smany more do not. There are numerous the Weinhaus at (828) 254-6453. variations and all kinds of conditions that About ageing: here are a couple of re- you prefer a red to be a bit young, open effect the ageing potential of a wine, so ally simple, very general rules to consider before the critics say it is ready. Well- Saturday, January 12, 2008 many that if you really care enough to about a good age for your wine. Almost aged Bordeaux-style reds, and even Gran The Grovewood Café, under the consider most or all of the factors, you all whites should be drunk young, espe- Reserva Riojas are not my cup of tea. I auspices of chef/owner Larry Wal- risk becoming neurotic and losing your cially before they are four years old. Most like the taste a little more youthful red on drop, will have a five course dinner ability to just enjoy a wine for what it is. reds are best drunk right at four years my buds. of their favorite foods paired with And let’s face it, no one has given you old. Again, this is a very general piece of This weird need for constant quali- wines from the Weinhaus. The res- wine that is as nice as they want you to advice. fiers highlights the real need for reliable taurant features Nouvelle Southern think it is. I consider the four-year mark a fairly staff in locally-owned wine shops. The big Cuisine and is located next to the The ageing problem recently hap- consistent expiration date for white wines. stores don’t have the staff you need for all Grove Park Inn. Time is 7:00 PM. pened to Angela, who described her Chardonnay, especially the standard these particulars. If you think you have Cost is $55 all inclusive. Kunde Sauvignon Blanc as the color her (boring) California chardonnay recipe of been given a special wine, then ask your pee-pee gets after having digested a load oak and butter and butter and oak (the retailer. Wednesday, January 23, 2008 of vitamins, and she supposed that the ten-dollar style often available for twice Sugo Restaurant, with owners taste was probably that, too. Of course it that price), can last a little longer. How- Rumor: Damien and Lindsay Cavicchi, will was a bad experience, it had been atop the ever, white wine is almost always ready Changes in the S&W present a five course meal paired to drink when released. More complex with wines from the Weinhaus. This fridge for seven years. It’s no rumor, because it’s on the door. varieties are often at their best at the two- restaurant, with its emphasis on Ital- So, someone gave her a wine rack for What once was the Sherrill and Williams year mark. ian country cuisine also specializes Christmas, in the year 2002 (and with it Cafeteria will soon simply be Steak and Cabernet — again, in general — ages in fresh and locally grown foods, so presumably what was at the time a good Wine. The lettering is copied from the longer than merlot or other lighter-styled come and enjoy a meal to remember. bottle of Kunde Sauvignon Blanc) and original advertisements. Peek through the reds like Chianti or Beaujolais. One of my Time is 7:00 PM. Price is $55 all she, like many of you, had been led to windows and see the main dining room favorites, old-vine zinfandel, is perfect for inclusive. believe the top o’ the fridge is the perfect full of fine woodwork defining the seating place. Wine gets better with constant me right at four years. Pinot Noir is very complicated and very hard to understand, areas. (Whoever is doing this is not fool- Saturday, January 19, 2008 warmth, right? How is it that we all agree ing around.) that a cellar is the perfect place to store so forget about any general advice for it. Free wine tasting at the Weinhaus About Champagne and sparkling There are additional rumors about from 2:00-4:00 PM. Featuring wine and at the same time many of us are who is leaving where to run this, cook that, way too happy to store wine above the hot wine: no date, no wait. However, vintage Winter Wines for Hearty Meals, no Champagne also calls for professional and pour, rumors which will not be printed reservation needed. coils of a large appliance? here, because you can’t believe a damn If you lack a basement or cellar, or advice. Vintage Port doesn’t even begin to thing you hear in the restaurant and wine The Weinhaus the energy to go down there for good business. However, it is super news that 86 Patton Ave., in Asheville wine, there is another ideal place for your reveal is specialness until its tenth year, but late bottle vintage is ready on release. someone has finally found a way to make (828) 254-6453 wine storage. The floor of your closet. good use of the finest room in the city.

Our FREE Saturday tastings continue at The Wine Guy South, every Saturday, from 4-6 p.m. Every week we invite a different distributor to pour 4 or 5 new wines from their portfolio for us to sample. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and all wines poured will be specially priced.

www.theashevillewineguy.com 555 Merrimon Ave. (828) 254-6500 1200 Hendersonville Rd. (828) 277-1120 Asheville, North Carolina

28 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE Joe’s brew Notes

Local Craft Beers and the Best Places to Enjoy Them by Joe Zinich

’m an unabashed beer lover. When the globe — well, the good A few session beers can traveling, the first question I ask is, times roll! In this column, be enjoyed socially over Asheville Beer Notes 101 “Where is the nearest brew pub?” In every month we’ll explore the course of an evening most places I don’t get an answer so Asheville’s exciting world and you won’t have to be Most of the beers produced in then I ask “Where is the bar with the of beer. concerned about your be- Asheville are ales. These beers are most taps?” From my experience, The fresher the beer, havior or the drive home. heavier in body and richer in flavor. the more taps a place has, the more the better it tastes. From In this column we’ll be discussing I High Gravity Beer different styles of ale such as wheat knowledge of beer, and the higher my experience, likelihood of enjoying an excellent beer tastes best at Alcohol content above beer, ESB (Extra Special Bitter), IPA brew. the brewery that about 7% is considered (India Pale Ale), stout, porter, pale I’m a beer snob, too, and makes it. Period. a high gravity beer and ale and seasonal brews. proud of it. I always ask for locally Next best tasting should be savored. High The other types of local beers are brewed, craft beer. Craft brewed is beer poured gravity beers are richly lagers — think pilsners, Oktober- beer comes from a small brew- from a tap. Third Stephanie’s ID is a flavored and typically have fest, and bock styles. These beers are ery using traditional methods next best is from frequent performer in a heavier body. Because lighter in body and flavor. Not as and ingredients to produce beer growlers (half-gal- Asheville’s brew pubs. of the high sugar or malt many of them are produced locally. with wonderful and rich flavors. lon bottles with content, or both, which I’ll cover those that I like based on are used to create more alcohol, many availability. But finding a locally produced Beer lover a screw cap), and lastly from craft beer is not always easy. I’ve capped bottles. tend to have a slightly sweet flavor as a Joe Zinich. start or sometimes as a finish. (Gravity Here are Asheville’s five current discovered no matter where I am, Bottled beer is processed breweries: it’s easier to find satisfying food than an so it will ship better and last longer—and is the density of the beer and is used to enjoyable locally produced, craft beer. So that stabilizing process can affect its taste. calculate the alcohol content — in es- 1. Asheville Pizza and Brewing life can be awfully tough for a beer man Thus, when you drink a mass-produced sence, the higher the density the higher Company (two locations) like me — except in Asheville, which to beer, such as one from the big three the alcohol content) • 675 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, me is a beer lover’s heaven. (Budweiser, Coors, Miller), you don’t Some high gravity beers are aged for (828) 254-5339, www.ashevil- To get the full satisfaction of a great get a beer known for its flavor. Processed six months to a year or more before they lepizza.com are introduced to the public. In fact, some beer, it needs to be enjoyed in an equally beers are usually a little lower in alcohol • 77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, styles are actually presented in vintages. pleasant environment — a place with and calorie content than craft beers, but (828) 255-4077, Depending on the brewery, these beers friendly people, wonderful music and they’re a lot lower in flavor — and so you www.ashevillebrewing.com delicious food. Asheville is a fun-loving tend to drink more. Just the opposite is may be aged in new oak barrels or even beer snob’s paradise with five local well- true of a craft brewed beer. These beers barrels used to produce fine whiskies. 2. French Broad Brewing Company, known breweries, a sixth one sched- are all about the flavor. You tend to drink Expect a variety of flavors that can change 101-D Fairview Road Asheville, uled to open this month, and a seventh less because you are enjoying the flavor. over time. Given the alcohol content, 9 (828) 277-0222, opening in about a year. Each one has Think a McDonald’s hamburger versus to 13%, these beers should be savored www.frenchbroadbrewery.com like a fine brandy after dinner with some its own personality and each is superbly one made by a master chef. 3. Green Man Ales and Brewery/ entertaining in different ways. Combine The alcohol content of beer runs soft music and conversation. Think wine, Jack of the Wood, Pub the breweries with Asheville’s great music from about 4-½ to 11% (sometimes much only better, because of a much broader palate of flavors. Green Man Ales were initially scene, its festivals and events, and the higher). A beer with alcohol content at produced at Jack of the Wood pub. large number of tourists from all over or below 6% is considered a session beer. To share with you what I’ve learned about fresh tasting local beer, and the When the pub was expanded a brew- best places to enjoy them, in the next few ery was built close by and brewing months I’ll report on each of the local was stopped at the pub. Their fine Beers of the Month brewery/tasting rooms. (See the list below ales can be sampled at both places. for the current breweries and their loca- • 23 Buxton Ave., Asheville, tions) I’ll suggest the specific beers to try, (828) 252-5502, Brews of the month are beers that I think have exceptional or interesting flavors as well as the other interesting reasons to www.jackofthewood.com/ales.htm that I think you must try. Some of the beers may be seasonal, made for short peri- visit each one. • 95 Patton Ave Asheville, ods of time once a year, or a brewer was experimenting with a style and may or The beer scene in Asheville isn’t just may not make it again. (828) 252-5445, the breweries and pubs. In this column www.jackofthewood.com The Seasonal Brew this month and creamy head. It’s a full bodied we’ll also look at the wide range of other is Highland Brewing Cold Mountain beer with 11.5% alcohol content. The beer-loving activities the region offers, 4. Highland Brewing Company, Winter Ale. It pours dark red with a alcohol taste is well masked. Savor the such as the Brewgrass Festival, the Brews 12 Old Charlotte Highway, tan head; made with spices that change flavors. This beer can be “cellared” for Cruise (personalized brewery tours) and Asheville (828) 299-3370, year to year, has slight malt sweetness about five years creating even more specialty stores like Brusin’ Ales which www.highlandbrewing.com not only has a huge selection of beers, but with spices and a clean finish. A must complex flavors. 5. Pisgah Brewing Company, try. The Interesting Beer is Pisgah also enjoyable and educational bi-monthly 150 Eastside Business Park, The High Gravity Beer, freshly Red Devil. Red Devil is a fruit beer beer tastings. You’ll find out about the lat- Black Mountain (828) 582-7909, produced, is French Broad Wee made with cherries and raspberries. est beer tastings, where to find ice cream www.pisgahbrewing.com Heaviest. It pours dark chocolate with This is the beer for people who don’t made with beer and answers to that earth- a creamy head and has a surprisingly like beer, but is also for beer lovers shattering question — what is the best The ales made by Asheville Pizza light body with a very rich flavor and who think that fruit beers can’t be any cheese to serve with this beer? Whew! and Brewing Company and Green light finish. good. This beer isn’t good, it’s great. It Man Ales are served only at their The High Gravity Beer, aged, is pours red (pink) with a pink head, just facilities. The other local beers are For five years, Joe Zinich has been tak- available at some of the area’s favorite Babtista from Pisgah. This beer has slightly sweet with a flavor of cherries- ing a self-guided, high-intensity tour of been aged for six months before bot- -thirst-quenching. Another must try. pubs, restaurants or grocery stores on Asheville’s beer world. Contact him at: draft or in bottles or growlers. tling. It pours with a dark yellow color Should pair well with chocolate. [email protected]

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 29 RAPID RIVER ARTS COVER STORY

‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ plished artist, known for her colorful, cont’d from pg. 5 clear voice and thoughtful interpretation, Mezzo-Soprano Teresa Buchholz is marry Arturo. As the wedding ceremony rapidly emerging as a prominent force in begins, Edgardo arrives back to the castle the world of singing. Most recently she from his time in France, claiming that he performed in productions of La Nozze di still loves Lucia. Enrico and Edgardo draw Figaro with the Duke Symphony Orches- swords and Edgardo is shown the signed tra in Durham, NC, where her debut in marriage contract between Lucia and the role of Cherubino was greeted with Arturo. Edgardo gives Lucia back her ring enthusiastic critical acclaim. and storms out of the castle. Branch Fields (Bidebent), has been on the roster of the New York City Opera Act III since the 2005/06 season, and will be sing- Enrico challenges Edgardo to a duel. ing the roles of Zuniga (Carmen), Major Raimondo burst into the wedding party to Domo (Vanessa), and Angelotti (Tosca) tell everyone the news that he has found for NYCO this year. In addition to his Lucia over Arturo’s dead body, still hold- work at Lincoln Center, this past season ing the bloody knife. Mad, Lucia appears brought debuts with the National Sym- carrying the murder weapon. She hal- phony under Leonard Slatkin in Salome, lucinates about how she hears Edgardo’s Princeton Festival’s Carmen, and Virginia voice and how Arts Festival. she is about Timo- to marry him. David Ossenfort who plays thy My- She collapses Edgardo, continues to garner ers, (Guest and dies. Conductor), Edgardo, accolades for his “superb returns to who is wait- musicality and pure vocal appeal.” Asheville ing at the Lyric Opera tomb of the immediately Ravenswoods for his duel with Enrico, following three highly acclaimed receives word via Raimondo that Lucia performances of Grieg’s Peer Gynt has died calling out to Edgardo. Edgardo with the American Symphony in New stabs himself, wanting to be reunited with York. Mo. Myers’ previous engage- beloved Lucia. ments include nearly 50 productions Merrimon Galleries Presents with companies such as New York Cast City Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Lucia di Lammermoor boasts a stellar Central City Opera, Opera Omaha, cast with Talise Trevigne in the title role the Bard Summerscape Festival, New The Shape of as Lucia, is a singer noted for the “sheer England Conservatory, and the Music beauty of her voice” and “exquisite stage Academy of the West. presence”. She has collaborated with This play will be directed by James Our Existence many acclaimed artists including Mari- Marvel who was born and raised in New lyn Home, James Morris, Warren Jones, Orleans and made his début as a conduc- Figures and Faces Roger Vignoles, Will Crutchfield, Rhoda tor with the New York Philharmonic at Levine and Larry Foster. As one critic re- Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in cently stated, “Talise Trevigne is the buzz New York City. Recent engagements of the opera world.” include new productions of The Rakes An exhibition inspired by David Ossenfort who plays Edgardo, Progress for the San Francisco Opera continues to garner accolades throughout Merola Program; Tosca for Opera Santa the human form. the world for his “superb musicality and Barbara and Opera East Texas; Turandot pure vocal appeal.” In recent seasons, he for Utah Festival Opera; and Idomeneo has been enthusiastically praised for his for University of Southern California. performances as concert soloist and on the opera stage in an array of leading roles Composer: Gaetano Donizetti Opening Night including Alfredo, Edgardo, Ferrando, Librettist: Salvatore Cammarano February 15 Nemorino, Roméo and the Baron von Based on “The Bride of Lammermoor” Eisenstein. A truly versatile artist, he has by Sir Walter Scott. Language: Italian. performed in the unique Heinrich Heine Premiered: Sept. 26, 1835; La Scala. 6 o’clock Doppelgänger with American Opera Proj- 365 Merrimon ects, Stravinsky’s Renard with the EOS Orchestra, and Glass’ Symphony No. 5 If you go with the Choral Arts Society of Washing- “Woman Holding Her Hair” Photo by ton, DC. Raleigh information: January 17, 19, by Keith Spencer Kevin Cropp James Taylor who plays Enrico, has 7:30pm and January 20; 3:00pm – Fletcher been described as “…impressive… a rich, Opera Theatre; Progress Energy Center focused baritone,” “Richly musical,” and Asheville information: January 25, 26, 365 Merrimon Ave 828.252.6036 “superb…his rich voice has great beauty 8:00pm; January 23, 2008 (preview dress as well as dramatic power.” evening) 7:00pm – Diana Wortham The- Asheville, NC 28801 www.merrimongalleries.com Teresa Buchholz (Alisa), an accom- atre; Pack Place

30 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE Local Flavor

by Mackensy Lunsford Mushroom Barley Resolutions You Can Stick To Risotto nce again, ‘tis the season. tofu cubes and seaweed or starving Here’s a delicious way to get a serv- This is the time of year when slowly to death. Gently tweak- ing or two of whole grains. This recipe fitness centers experience a ing certain habits in eating can calls for stock, but does not specify boom of born-again health be more effective than drastically what kind. Vegetable and chicken stock nuts who have made some sort cutting out the things that provide are fine, but I like to make stock with of ridiculous pact with their gustatory pleasure. Taking steps the gills and stems of mushrooms. It ever-expanding waistline. – rather than sprinting – toward turns the barley a nice earthy color, OGenerally, these promises involve better health tends to be more ef- and gives the dish a more concentrated grabbing double fistfuls of holiday fective for most people. mushroom flavor. enhanced blubber and pleading, “If I eat For example, instead of forgo- Mushroom stock can be found at nothing but bulghur wheat and steamed ing a weekly treat of a café mocha your nearest whole foods store as well. kale and hit the treadmills every morn- at the local coffee shop, have the I prefer to season the stock with salt ing at 5 am will you leave me once and barista make it with soy milk instead of finishing the dish off with for all?” instead. Use soy milk and honey salt, but experiment with your own For a short amount of time, these instead of refined sugar and half method. poor souls frustrate regular gym-go- and half in your coffee. Better yet, Healthy hedonism: wild salmon, ers by sweating all over start drinking seared baby bok choy, mushroom risotto • 2 Tbs. unsalted butter and hazelnut brown butter. every weight machine in green tea or chai (olive oil can be substituted) the place and most likely once in a while quinoa, or look for brown rice sushi. • 1 Tbs. olive oil injuring themselves at instead. Replace regular Many people have a hard time eat- • sliced:1/2 pound fresh mushrooms every turn. Then they mayonnaise with vegan ing right because they just don’t know (I like shiitake or morel), or about vanish into thin air mayonnaise. Try sub- how to cook amaranth or what to do 2 ounces dried and refreshed – poof! Suddenly, the stituting plain yogurt with an eggplant. One good (and fun) • 2 Tbs. shallot, minced determined New Year’s for sour cream in resolution for health is to go out and Resolutionist is the burritos. I often blend buy a good vegetable cookbook and • 1 small white onion, minced downtrodden February yogurt with avocados, bone up on some new techniques. I like • 1/3 cup dry white wine couch potato, soothing lime juice and cilantro Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Vegetables • 3/4 cup pearl barley the dull pain of failure for just this purpose and Bert Greene’s Greene on Greens • 4 cup stock with a pint of dulce de and I never miss the ex- and Grains. Heck, any resolution that leche ice cream and Top tra fat. Instead of going involves shopping is a plus in my book. • pinch of fresh, minced thyme Chef reruns. Asheville Chef out for a milk shake, These books always help me get through • 3 Tbs. grated high quality Parme- Resolutions rarely Mackensy Lunsford blend yogurt, fresh the growing season when I just can’t san to finish (optional) stick, and it’s no wonder. mango, carrot juice think of one more thing to do with • salt and pepper to taste We generally set the bar too high for and honey for a vitamin-packed mid- eightball zucchini. ourselves. This time of the year – when day snack. Yogurt is also a healthy and However you resolve to get health- In a sauce pan, keep the broth on a we’re supposed to be dusting off those flavorful replacement for whole milk in ier, for God’s sake, make sure to live a low simmer. old feelings of resolve -- is precisely mac and cheese for a twist on a classic little! Butter and bacon rank up near In a heavy saute pan, heat 1 table- when curling up in front of the tube couch potato snack that’s better for you, the top for me as far as earthly delights spoon of the butter. Add the mush- with a bucket full of mac and cheese and but still comforting. go. I don’t condone eating pounds of rooms, thyme and the shallots and a warm human and/or cat seems much If a big, juicy steak gives you either at a time, but a bit of butter tossed saute until soft, about 5 minutes. I like more appropriate. Most of us are loathe pleasure, don’t swear it off forever in in a barley risotto or spread on 7-grain to deglaze with a little water to help lift to surrender our comfortable winter the name of a resolution. However, try bread just makes life a little bit more all of that good caramelized mushroom evenings to the gym and its cold steel to learn to enjoy smaller portions and enjoyable. A bit of rendered bacon in a flavor off of the bottom of the pan. Set machines and spandex-clad mustachioed leaner cuts from healthfully raised ani- pot of beans or a slice or two next to an aside men. Although being active is very mals. Cutting down on the amount of otherwise healthy breakfast once in a Heat remaining butter and olive oil important, perhaps looking at what kind meat you consume by putting iron-rich while is more than likely okay. I believe in a deep skillet over medium heat. of food we eat is the easiest place to start. red kidney beans in that burrito instead that a bit of dark chocolate – packed with Add onion and saute until soft, taking Do I advocate dieting in the traditional of steak, for example, is a great way antioxidants and all manner of mysteries care not to brown. Add barley and sense of the word? Certainly not – I’m to get a handle on those love handles. that somehow make everything better – reduce the heat to low. Stir frequently not into that sort of torture. There are plenty of other protein rich should be part of a balanced diet. When until barley toasts a bit. When making New Year’s Resolu- vegetable-based foods out there. Too setting resolutions, remember that good Add wine and stir until most of the tions to “go on a diet,” people tend to much protein makes a body sluggish, by health is a holistic affair. Indulgence, on liquid is absorbed. forget that drastically cutting out favorite the way, and many Americans consume occasion, is good for the soul and spirit. Add a ladle full of broth, stirring food items is a form sensory deprivation. much more protein than they actually Without that, what good are tight abs? with a wooden spoon until liquid is Most of the flavors that we most enjoy need. almost absorbed. are tied to positive emotional experienc- Sometimes, being healthier involves Repeat the process until all of the es, like family dinners and holidays. It’s adding things to a diet, rather than Have an idea for future articles for Local broth is gone and the barley is tender. no wonder that amnosia, the complete subtracting. For example, most people Flavor? Local foodies we must know Add the mushroom mixture and stir. loss of smell that also leads to a loss of don’t get enough whole grains these about? Workshops or community food If the barley is not as soft as you taste, has been shown to cause severe de- days, a factor that can be attributed to events? Contact Mackensy Lunsford at would like it, add a bit of water, cover [email protected]. pression. It’s also no wonder that many the (thankfully waning) cabophobia sur- skillet, and steam on low until soft. diets tend to fail. rounding the Atkins diet. Instead of cut- Add salt and pepper and garnish each Making the journey toward a ting carbs, eat the right kinds. Buy whole Mackensy Lunsford is an award-winning serving with Parmesan if desired. healthier lifestyle need not involve a grain breads and pastas, and learn how to food writer. With her husband Judd Lohof, regime as austere as eating nothing but make dishes with grains like barley and she owns Café Azalea in East Asheville.

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 31 RAPID RIVER ARTS on stage References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot by Taryn Strauss sheville’s most socially responsible and politically adventurous theatre collective is proud to announce its new play, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot by Jose Rivera. AThis play is part of the NC Stage Catalyst Series. In References, longing and lust prevail in the hot desert as the bewitching Gabriela awaits the return of her soldier from overseas. In a world where the talking moon plays the violin, the figurative is transformed into the literal. Rivera uses surreal imagery to explore the connections among love, lust and war in this enthralling tale. Art Moore and Ashley Marchesi.. “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot” in other media “...a double-sided dream of intelligence and wit.” “On a moonlit July night in Barstow, ~ Gordon Cox, Newsday California, strange, seductive things can happen, especially if you talk to the moon, which is portrayed as an aging, violin- Scapegoat Theatre Collective is honored playing dandy in a Panama hat and white to be a part of North Carolina Stage suit.” Company’s 2007-2008 Catalyst Series. “Rivera’s intriguing fantasy... is a meditation on the impossible, but told in a provocative manner by Rivera, a writer If you go whose language manages to be poetic and earthy at the same time.” References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot ~ Michael Kuchwara, by Jose Rivera will be performed January Associated Press 10-12 and 17-19, 2008, Thursday-Saturday 7:30 PM at NC Stage “...marvelous and satisfying... In Company, 15 Stage Lane, Asheville 28801. DALI, Rivera... imagines Gabriela’s dream Tickets: Call the NC Stage box office for world as rigorously as he does her real ticket prices 4 weeks before each produc- world, striking a balance between the two tion at (828) 350-9090, or purchase tickets with the affecting power of his language.” online: www.ncstage.org.

Tyler Ramsey: Set to Break Out at The Grey Eagle by James Cassara s a formidable talent on guitar, and come on board as their new guitar piano, bass, percussion, and player. “This is going to be an amazing vocals, the name Tyler Ramsey tour. To have the opportunity to play has become synonymous with solo, as well as with such a great band, theA finest of the Asheville music scene. I really couldn’t ask for more,” says Ramsey is best known for his guitar Ramsey. Neither could supporters of work a subtle styling that crafts delicate, this local boy made good who just hap- finger-style guitar picking evocative of pens to be both an enormously talented John Fahey and Leo Kottke. But with a musician and all around nice guy. sum effect that is all his own: Whether its indie folk, country blues or finger- style guitar, Ramsey is a composer of If you go intricate, ethereal songs of melancholy Tyler Ramsey and friends at The Grey and rumination. Eagle. Friday, January 4, 9pm. $10 Bill Reynolds, long time friend and admission; Advance tickets available bassist for Band Horses invited Tyler online and at our local outlets or call to open for the band on their fall tour the club for more information.

32 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS Have That Special Item Framed While You Visit noteworthy With “Rafferty” America’s Favorite Art Fairs & Festivals by Christine Kloostra he results are in for AmericanStyle 7. Fiesta Arts Fair magazine’s 2008 Top 10 Fairs & (San Antonio, Texas) Festivals readers’ poll. Now in its 8. La Quinta Arts Festival fourth year, the annual readers’ (La Quinta, Calif.) poll has become a coveted award Tby the nation’s top art events. 9. Francisco's Farm Arts Festival at Midway College (Midway, Ky.) 2008 Top 10 Art Fairs and Festivals: 10. Des Moines Arts Festival 1. Paradise City Arts Festivals (Des Moines, Iowa) (Northampton, Mass.; Marlbor- Ballots appeared in the August and ough, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.) October 2007 issues and on www.Ameri- 2. Scottsdale Arts Festival canStyle.com. A full write-up on each (Scottsdale, Ariz.) event will be available in the February 3. Long's Park Art & Craft Festival 2008 issue of AmericanStyle. (Lancaster, Pa.) The issue also features Ameri- canStyle’s Essential Guide to Fairs & OFFERING: 4. Ann Arbor Art Fairs Expert Picture Framing (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Festivals, a month-by-month planning calendar of some of the country’s most Shadowboxes ~ Mirrors 5. The American Craft Shows prestigious craft events. Local Artists Work Pet Portraits by Maggie (Atlanta, Ga., Baltimore, Md.; AmericanStyle magazine is the na- Charlotte, N.C.; San Francisco, tion’s premier arts lifestyle magazine for 900 Hendersonville Rd. Calif.; Sarasota, Fla.; St. Paul, art collectors, enthusiasts and travelers. Minn.) Published bi-monthly, AmericanStyle can Suite 102 Asheville 6. Craft Fair of the Southern be found online at www.AmericanStyle. 247-5176 Highlands (Asheville, N.C.) com and on newsstands nationwide. www.fastframeasheville.com

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 33 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE festivals

by Eric Scheider The Echo Early Music Festival Arrives Just in Time Edited by Dennis Ray

nyone who has ever been to a The Laughing Seed Café, and gour- Barbara Blaker Krumdieck grew Renaissance faire knows just how met vegetarian chef Jason Sellers, will be up in the East Bay, studying cello with much fun there is to be had — a hosting a medieval feast to balance the Mildred Rosner and Jeff Stauffer. She capturing of bravado, clanking humours and benefit the festival, joined changed her focus to Baroque cello after mugs spilling foam, laughing by harpist Lelia Lattimore and Sound- attending the San Francisco Early Music and pure escapism. If we look at ings Choral Group, directed by Timothy Society’s Baroque Workshop, and went Awhat we have inherited from pre-modern Wilds. Tickets are reserved for seating at on to study with Viola ter Hoeg in the culture from another angle, however, we 5:30 or 6:30pm and do not include drinks Netherlands, and Pheobe Carrai at the find astonishing artistic treasures and im- or gratuity. Call soon for the evening’s Conservatory of Music in Hilversum, posing triumphs of human achievement. menu: perhaps Grendel cakes will be on NL. She has toured all over Europe and In the deep quiet of midwinter, the the menu. recorded with Concerto Köln, of Germa- Echo Early Music Festival will be bring- After dinner, midwinter renais- ny, and is currently a member of various ing a few of these long-hidden treasures sance revelry will continue into the night early music groups including the Wild back to life, complete with heroic tales, downstairs at the Jack of the Wood Pub. Rose Ensemble, Vita Nova and Ensemble joyous celebration, and plenty of bravado A renaissance band will be perform- Vermillian. She is a sought-after teacher and humor. Benjamin Bagby ing dances and courtly musick of the of cello in Davidson, North Carolina, Beginning with Beowulf, Benjamin olde world. Period attire and dancing and can be heard on the Disc Continuo L’incoranozione di Poppea. This concert Bagby’s remarkable one-man tour de are encouraged. Admission to the pub is series of recordings as well as Ensemble is a part of the “Brevard College Presents” force, and concluding a week later with included with a dinner ticket, or may be Vermillian’s CD ‘Stolen Jewels’. series, and is hosted by the Brevard Col- Ensemble Vermillian playing music of the purchased separately at the door. lege Department of Music. Baroque period, the Echo Early Music Festival sets a high marker of expecta- Lebedinsky and Brass Ensemble Vermillian tions. In-between there will be a presen- January 30, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral of All January 28, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral of All tation of the first operatic masterpiece, Souls at Biltmore Village. Tickets: $15 Souls at Biltmore Village. Tickets: $15 L’Orfeo, favola in musica, and a medieval general admission / $25 for select seating feast made for a king at The Laughing general admission / $25 for select seating Ensemble Vermillian brings to Seed restaurant. Acclaimed historical keyboardist audiences unusual, exciting and moving The festival runs from January 26 Henry Lebedinsky will be joined by the compositions from the Baroque period to February 1. This not-for-profit arts Asheville based quintet, the Biltmore played in historically informed style on event provides an opportunity for musi- Brass, for an exciting night of French and recorder, Baroque cello, viola da gamba cians and early music enthusiasts to come German music. Lebedinsky and the Bilt- and harpsichord. The group has made together for a week of exciting programs. more Brass will perform independently, many innovative transcriptions (a com- The events will probably sell out, so order and then join forces for the exciting finale. tickets as soon as possible. mon practice during the baroque period) Monteverdi’s Orfeo as well as playing works composed for Beowulf their instruments. January 30, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral of All Using several types of recorder and January 26, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral of All Souls at Biltmore Village. Tickets: $25 interspersing solo/basso continuo with Souls at Biltmore Village. Tickets: $25 general admission / $40 for select seating pieces with multiple obligato parts, En- general admission / $40 for select seating L’Orfeo, favola in musica, is celebrat- semble Vermillian provides wide-ranging Benjamin Bagby brings the untitled ing its 400th year, and is perhaps the and enthralling programs to audiences Anglo-Saxon epic poem known as Be- earliest operatic masterpiece. The text, by across the country. owulf to life — in the original Old Eng- Alessandro Striggio, is based on the Greek Frances Blaker received her Music Ensemble Vermillian lish — as it could have been experienced myth of Orpheus, the legendary musician, Pedagogical and Performance degrees more than 1000 years ago. who attempts to rescue his dead lover from the Royal Conservatory of Music Elisabeth Reed has performed with, Bagby has been investigating and Eurydice from Hades, the underworld. in Copenhagen where she studied with among others, Philharmonia Baroque Or- performing Beowulf for over 20 years, ap- First performed at the ducal palace in Eva Legêne. She also studied with Marion chestra, American Bach Soloists, Magnifi- pearing around the world at such illustri- Mantua, the Echo Camerata Opera will Verbruggen in the Netherlands. Ms. cat, California Bach Society, Los Angeles ous venues as the Utrecht Early Music be bringing the story to life in a semi-con- Blaker has performed as a soloist and with Baroque Orchestra, Musica Angelica, Festival, the Lincoln Center Festival, the cert version at the Cathedral of All Souls. various ensembles in the United States, Dayton Bach Society, Portland Baroque Edinburgh International Festival, the Aaron Schnurbusch will sing the title role, Denmark, England and the Netherlands, Orchestra, Seattle Baroque Orcestra and Library of Congress, and many others. and Dr. Michael Porter will conduct. including the Farallon Recorder Quartet Jubilate Baroque Orchestra. A graduate This is an exceedingly rare oppor- and the recorder duo Tibia. She teaches of the North Carolina School of the Arts, Harmonia Baroque tunity to see this powerful work live, privately and at workshops throughout the Oberlin Conservatory, the Eastman January 27, 3pm Brevard College’s Porter complete with an ensemble including an the United States, including the San School of Music, and Indiana University’s Center. Tickets: $20 general admission / interesting mix of period instruments: Francisco Early Music Society Baroque Early Music Institute, she can be heard on $5 students harpsichords, recorders, natural trumpets, workshop and Port Townsend; she is a the Virgin Classics and Focus recording a viola da gamba, a lirone, and a theorbo, co-director of the Amherst Early Music labels. She is a Guild – certified practitio- Harmonia Baroque is a period instru- to name a few. Festival, Inc. ner of the Feldenkrais Method of Aware- ment ensemble based in Boone, NC. Blaker is the author of The Recorder ness Through Movement and Functional Join them for an afternoon of celestial Medieval Vegetarian Feast Player’s Companion and the “Opening Integration with a particular interest in harmony at Brevard College’s Porter Measures” column in the American Re- the issues facing musicians and perform- Center. They will be performing music January 31, 5:30/6:30 until late. The corder, and a collaborator and performer of Janitsch, Bach, Handel, Lully, Jacques Laughing Seed Café, 40 Wall St. Asheville on the Disc Continuo series of recordings. ‘Echo Early Music Festival’ Morel, and music from Monteverdi’s (828) 252-3445. Cost: $40 per person cont’d on pg. 39

34 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE STAGE PREVIEW

Local Comedy Troupe Laughs at Life in Asheville by RoseLynn Katz

ave you ever “LYLAS has helped keep us sane,” says makes it easier for us to bounce things wondered who Puckett, remembering the inevitable ad- off of one another,” adds Puckett. Laura Lynn is, justments that had to be made when her Men enjoy LYLAS as much as when reach- child was born. Motherhood has helped women. This writer can personally ing for the her, too, by expanding her insights into attest to that. When I saw a LYLAS per- store brand comedy. She’s been humbled by what formance last year with my husband, he of chicken her 14-month-old toddler has taught laughed as much as I did. And the other Hsoup at Ingles? Or driv- her about the importance of humor. guys in the audience were laughing right ing around Asheville, “Zeke has always been such a happy, along with him. why most of the cars are funny little guy. He’s definitely shown actively conversing with me never to underestimate the power of each other through bum- pure silliness.” If you go per stickers? LYLAS is 100% home-grown and Would You Like Yoga With That? The LYLAS Comedy unique to Asheville. There’s nothing Wednesday-Saturday nights at 7:30 pm, Troupe has not only con- pre-packaged or canned about the group. January 30-February 9, 2008 templated those cosmic To see Would You Like Yoga With That? questions — but discov- is to see the creators, the writers, and the North Carolina Stage Company down- ered the answers. They’re performers in action right before your town next to the Rankin Avenue parking garage. bestowing their hilarious eyes. That’s the real deal. insights this month at Why only women? “It’s a kind of Buy tickets online at www.ncstage.org or North Carolina Stage Co. girlfriend thing,” says Jenny Bunny, a call (828) 350-9090. Advance purchase is in a series of humorous LYLAS founding member. “It gives us all is strongly recommended. skits entitled Would You a way to get together without having to Like Yoga With That? join a book club.” RoseLynn Katz is an Asheville actor/play- LYLAS (short for the “And the fact that we are all women wright/storyteller. popular greeting “Love You Like a Sis”) is made up of seven Asheville women: Kari There’s lots more in Would You Brantley, Jenny Bunn, Sarah Carpen- Like Yoga With That? including romps ter, Emily Miller, Betsy Puckett, Robin with the Texas Hold Em Card Game, Raines and Marissa Williams. The pur- the karaoke craze, Dennis Kucinich and Richard Thompson’s 1000 Years pose of the group is simple: “We like the DaVinci code. by James Cassara to laugh at ourselves,” explains Betsy Each of the seven LYLAS members of Popular Music Puckett, at age 37, “the old lady in the has a performance background and all are working now in various careers. group.” hen asked by Playboy Maga- Britney Spears. The tour demonstrated What’s remarkable is that they’ve melded The focus of LYLAS’ laughter is life zine to name his favorite songs not only Thompson’s vocal and guitar their different backgrounds so well in Asheville, which, according to Puck- of the past millennium Richard acumen but his sheer knowledge and they’re able to pool their ideas and shape ett, “is a beautiful catastrophe. There’s Thompson, in typically dry love of music: from thirteenth-century them into skits that seem as if they’ve such a tremendous diversity of people Wfashion, took them at his word. Rather rounds and minersí ballads to Squeeze been written by one voice. If one mem- – all the way from dyed-in-the-wool than submit what he knew for certain and Abba. ber is having trouble with a concept, Republicans to skirt-wearing men who they really wanted; that is a who’s who Richard Thompson’s astounding then another will offer suggestions until attend City Council meetings with pup- of the twentieth century with perhaps body of work includes over 40 albums the problem is resolved. So cohesive are pets in hand.” a nod or three to the past, Thompson of lyrical wit anchored by such a singu- the LYLAS ladies, in fact, that they have A brand new target of their wit is I decided to plunge headlong into a mu- lar acoustic and electric guitar delivery no director. They’re enough in sync to Wanna, the weekly Asheville classified sical excursion that delves deeply into that Newsweek recently announced, function without one. paper where everything from Granny history. ‘like all genuine art, it satisfies com- This comes across onstage. The Smith Apples to zebras are listed for sale. Of course the magazine chose not pletely.’ That is what Thompson does: group is full of a spirit of warmth and Those everywhere-you-look signs to include his offering so Thompson, He might eschew the press (although friendliness that make you feel plain old in store windows that say “Thanks for never one to be swayed or daunted by the lone time I had the pleasure to meet good and put you in the perfect mood voting us the best of Western North expectation, assembled both a set list and interview the man he was offhand- to laugh. Carolina” also get a side-splitting LY- and tour around the theme. That set, edly charming) and he certainly cares Many others have laughed along LAS treatment in a Family Feud type which found Thompson playing some little for awards but Thompson has with LYLAS since their formation in skit where basic meat and potatoes fans of the best music of his career (inspired built a long and steady career by never 2004. LYLAS’s first production at 35 votes Hardee’s the best restaurant in by his cohorts Judith Owen (keyboards/ giving less than his fullest. It is a mark Below in the Asheville Community town, while the tofu and whole wheat vocals) and Debra Dobkin (percus- of both the artist and the man. Theatre was such a hit that more shows crowd fights passionately for The sion/vocals) was documented in both a followed at North Carolina Stage, Laughing Seed. highly acclaimed CD and DVD. Windows on the Park and the Orange “I have nothing against Hardee’s,” Thompson has been known to If you go Peel, where they wore body mikes. “We Bunn points out. “What’s funny to me is include “Summer is Icumen In”, the all felt like Madonna!” says Puckett. “It the diversity of choices that Ashevillians oldest known song in the English Richard Thompson presents 1000 was awesome.” Years of Popular Music, with Judith are apt to make. But LYLAS tries never language, and continue through time Since the group began, many Owen & Debra Dobkin. to be mean-spirited or to take a political from madrigals, ballads, sea shanties, members have been through major life stand. We once did a very popular skit British Music Hall, Broadway tunes, Sunday, January 20 at The Orange changes. Some have gotten married and about City Councilman Carl Mumpow- The Kinks, garage rock (Bowling For Peel, 8:00 PM (7:00 PM doors) both Jenny Bunn and Betsy Puckett er, for example. He definitely wouldn’t Soup’s “1986”) and even a wink to $26 advance / $28 door, Ages 18+ have been offended.” have crossed the line into motherhood.

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 35 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE WHAT TO DO GUIDE ™

Sunday, January 6 www.buildingbridges-asheville. How to place an Call For Artists Chamber Music Concert org The Fine Arts League Request for On (2008) at 3 PM at St. Mat- These evenings provide a unique of the Carolinas event/classified Qualifications thias Church, there will be a opportunity for local people to listing with Rapid Deadline for Submissions, 34- piece Chamber Orchestra have open dialogue on race rela- The Fine Arts League of the concert “An Afternoon in Vi- tions between Black and White Carolinas, founded by fresco River Art Magazine January 15, 2008 artist Ben Long, is a non- The Public Art Commis- enna” featuring waltzes, polkas people. It lasts 9 weeks. and marches by Johann Strauss profit school committed to Any “free” event open to sion of Waynesville, North Each evening there is a large teaching the realist traditions Carolina, is issuing a call for and other Viennese composers. group presentation on race rela- the public can be listed at Laurel Fisher of the Asheville and techniques of the old no charge up to 30 words. artists for its inaugural public tions, including Awareness of masters. art project. Lyric Opera will sing two arias, Race, Institutional Racism, Rac- For all other events there is and there will be ballroom ism in the Schools, Economics a $9.95 charge up to 30 The selected artist/artists will dancers. This gala concert opens be commissioned to create a of Racism, and a Call to Action. words and 10 cents for the Twelfth season of the First After the first hour, the second unique and durable work to Sundays Series of chamber music each additional word. be installed at the intersec- hour is facilitated small group concerts at St. Matthias Church. discussion on the topic of the 160 word limit per event. tion of Miller and Main in downtown Waynesville. The There is no charge for the con- evening. There is also a manual Sponsored listings (shown in art project commission to the cert, but a free will offering will provided so that participants will boxes) can be purchased for chosen artist is $20,000, and be taken for the restoration of have educational information $12 per column inch. stipends of $500 will be paid the beautiful and historic church. that gives specifics on the history St. Matthias’ Church is over 100 of African Americans in Asheville Deadline is the 19th of each to three finalists to present proposals to the Commis- years old and is on the national and the U.S. Current statisti- month. Payment must be sion. historic register. cal information and issues are made prior to printing. included. The Call is open to all artists The church is located in Ashe- Email Beth Gossett at: residing in the 25 counties ville just off South Charlotte The reality is that for the most [email protected] that comprise the Blue Ridge Street at Max Street on the hill part, Blacks and Whites in Ashe- National Heritage Area: across from the Asheville Public ville still lead separate lives to Sketch by or mail to: 85 N. Main St, Works Building (1 Dundee St.). some extent. It’s essential as a so- Benjamin F. Long IV Canton, NC 28716. Or Call: Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Swain, Macon, Jackson, Hay- ciety to have an ongoing dialogue (828) 646-0071 to place ad * * * * * * * * * * * on racism. There is a lot of work wood, Transylvania, Madi- Sessions for 2008 over the phone. son, Buncombe, Henderson, to be done in our community • January 14 - April 4 Building Bridges and Building Bridges is a good Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Session 31 • April 21 - July 11 Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, place to start. Please join us for – Disclaimer – Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Mondays, January 28 to this important conversation. • September 15 - Decem- March 24, 2008 ber 12 Due to the overwhelming Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, Yad- For more information, please feel kin, and Yancey. Registration at 6:00 PM, sessions free to contact Building Bridges number of local event submis- from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Instructional Fees sions we get for our “What to The theme for Waynesville’s at (828) 285-0236. Student Tuition for one Do Guide” each month, we can first Public art commission MAHEC, 501 Biltmore Ave., in session: 12 weeks, 5 days Asheville. Cost: $20. Register: * * * * * * * * * * * no longer accept entries that is Old Time Music and its per week, 3-6 hours per day do not specifically follow our cultural impact in the region. – $2,000 An artist will be commis- publication’s format. Non-paid WICKWIRE fine art/folk art Student Tuition for One event listings must be 30 words sioned to produce a work that celebrates the musical “…where the heart finds art.” Academic Year: $6,000 or less and both paid and non- heritage of the region. For more information, please paid listings must provide infor- Original, new works of traditional and transitional art and con- contact Anne Rawson, Ex- mation in the following format: Complete application instructions are available at the temporary folk art of the highest quality. Currently on display at ecutive Director, (828) 252- date, time, brief description of 329 N. Main – Perpetuity – an exquisite “piece of history” 60 x 90 5050. Or, email arawson@ what your event is and any con- Waynesville Town website at www.townofwaynesville.org. x 20 (h) by furniture artist, PAT BUHRKE. The beautifully refur- fineartsleague.org tact information. Any entries not bished table top with over two hundred and sixty rings originated Rollover Public Art button www.fineartsleague.org following this format will not be at top of page and activate from an enormous California Black Walnut found on the ground considered for publication. Request for Qualifications, in the early 1960’s. Pac Application Process, Site WICKWIRE brings you distinctive art choices for home or office Saturday, March 15 Map and Photo Gallery. décor and gift giving at 330 and 329 N. Main St., Historic Down- Asheville Symphony Application instructions are town Hendersonville. Original Paintings, American Handmade also available by calling the Craft, Handcrafted Furniture, Photography, Jewelry & More. Drawing Downtown Waynesville As- Enjoy the use of All Major Credit Cards and we provide Gift Cer- Tickets are $125 each. The draw- Advertising Sales sociation at (828) 456-3517. tificates, Shipping Anywhere, Layaway, Complimentary or Special ing will take place on March 15, Representatives Gallery Gift Wrap, Gift Registry, Personal Shopping, Special 2008 during the Asheville Sym- More information about the musi- Commissions, and Art Consultation. phony Masterworks concert in- cal traditions of the area can be termission. This is a fundraising The Rapid River needs Gallery hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 1-4pm; and experienced sales personnel. found online at www.smokymoun- project and all ticket sales benefit tainfolkfestival.com First Friday of the Month until 9pm the Asheville Symphony. Tickets Interested? www.mountaingrownmusic.org. may be sold to employees, Board www.smokeymountains.net. 828-692-6222 ~ [email protected] Members and other affiliated Call (828) 646-0071, or e-mail www.wickwireartgallery.com persons. You need not be present [email protected] to win. An independent ac- August Events ~ Announcements ~ Classifieds

36 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE WHAT TO DO GUIDE ™

Frye Gaillard Thomas Rain Crowe UNC Asheville Thursday, January 17 Sunday, January 27, Tuesday, January 8 7:00 PM at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe 3:00 PM at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe UNC Asheville Women’s Frye Gaillard, who wrote extensively about Though he was from rural North Carolina, Basketball vs. USC Upstate, Carter at the Charlotte Observer, was among [Thomas Rain Crowe] revealed sophistication 7 p.m., UNC Asheville’s the first to take the Carter postpresidency with respect to poetry that even some of the Justice Center, $4. seriously and to challenge many accepted more urban and urbane young poets of those conclusions about Carter’s term in office. days lacked. Tuesday, January 15 Carter was not an irresolute president, says UNC Asheville’s Great Gaillard, but rather one so certain of his own For one thing, he had an intuitive sense of the Quotes Philosophy Lecture rectitude that he misjudged the importance of “selling” himself to class struggle, and in what is perhaps his most Series: “Science and Ethics,” America. Ranging across the highs and lows of the Carter presi- memorable poem of that period, “I Wash Your Dishes, America”, Charles Rowe of the Institute dency, Gaillard covers the energy crisis, the Iran hostage situation, he reveals a strong sense of justice with respect to workers op- for Applied Philosophy, 7:30 the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal and other treaties, pressed in their jobs, their wages, and at a time of the war and p.m., UNC Asheville’s Kel- and the new diplomatic emphasis on human rights. post-war Vietnam days. – Jack Hirschman logg Center, 11 Broyles Rd., Hendersonville, $5. Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, Wednesday, January 16 55 Haywood Street, in Asheville, NC 55 Haywood Street, in Asheville, NC UNC Asheville Men’s (828) 254-6734 (828) 254-6734 Basketball vs. High Point, 7 p.m., UNC Asheville’s Justice Center, $6. Corgi Tales by Phil Hawkins Saturday, January 19 Don Diefenbach UNC Asheville Women’s presents Video Basketball vs. High Point, Production Techniques 2 p.m., UNC Asheville’s Thursday, January 31 Justice Center, $4. 7:00 PM at Malaprop’s Wednesday, January 23 Bookstore/Cafe Thomas Rain Crowe the Video production is an art, Boatrockers in concert, a science, and a business. 12:45 p.m., UNC Asheville’s There are excellent books Lipinsky Auditorium, free. that explore the technical craft of video production, Wednesday, January 23 and others that explore the Martin Luther King Jr. Day foundations of film theory Event: Screening of “Eyes and aesthetics. Yet other texts counting Callie & Cats By Amy Downs on the Prize: America’s Civil concentrate on television and firm will Rights Movement 1954- film business models. supervise 1985,” 6 p.m., UNC Ashe- ville’s Highsmith University Until now, however, stu- the entries and draw- Union room 104, free and dents seeking to learn the open to the public. essentials of video producing. If 550 tion were without a single tickets are Tuesday, January 29 not sold, a resource that integrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day these intrinsic elements. The full refund will be Event: “What Would Martin primary mission of Video Luther King Jr. Say about Production Techniques is to provided and the the Hip-Hop Culture of unify theory and practice in a Today?” reflections by local single resource. Almost any- raffle will not occur. students, 12:30 p.m., UNC one can learn to run a camera Asheville’s Laurel Forum, and edit, but learning to be *The IRS Karpen Hall, free and open an effective storyteller is a now requires raffle winners to your federal taxes. Please consult At The Weinhaus to the public. challenging course of study pay federal taxes on raffle win- your tax advisor concerning your 86 Patton Ave., in Asheville that is as much about ideas nings at the time of the award. specific situation. Wednesday, January 30 and methods as it is about (828) 254-6453 University Chamber Music The Asheville Symphony will The Porsche Boxster was made technology. pay to the IRS for the winner’s Every Saturday - We will have Ensemble in concert, 12:45 available through Deal Mo- available free for tasting one or p.m., UNC Asheville’s benefit an amount equal to tors, www.ashevillesymphony. Malaprop’s 38.88% of our cost of the vehicle. two of our favorite value wines. Lipinsky Auditorium, free. org/tickets/raffle/2008-porsche- After 2 p.m. Bookstore/Cafe, The tax must be paid not only boxster-specifications on the fair market value of the 3rd Saturday of each month Call (828) 251-6432 for 55 Haywood Street, winnings, but also on the tax Asheville Symphony, PO Box - Join us for a Themed Tasting, more information on any of in Asheville, NC itself, therefore a grossed up tax 2852, Asheville NC 28802 featuring some of our current these events. selections. From 2 to 4 p.m. (828) 254-6734 rate of 38.88% of the winnings. (828) 254-7046 This may or may not be the (828) 254-1761 fax * * * * * * * * * * * actual amount you will owe on Classes ~ Lectures ~ arts & crafts ~ readings

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 37 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE OFF Sale! 25% - 50% Fine Art Russian Art Professionals Tour Asheville Art Museum By Jonathan Rich he Asheville Art Museum Vadim Bora, originally recently welcomed a delegation from Vladikavkaz, assisted of five art professionals from in choosing delegation Asheville’s sister city of Vladi- members for the trip and kavkaz, Russia as part of a visit said the experience pro- to learn about arts education vided a cultural learning and the arts-based economy of experience for the Russian TWestern North Carolina. visitors. On December 4, 2007, a group from “It’s important for southern Russia participating in the Open young Russian people to Bella Donna World Leadership Center toured the see there are other cul- Museum to learn about the Museum’s tures and other places that DESIGNS, LLC exhibitions, programs for adults and chil- can inspire then,” Bora dren, as well as other collaborations and said. “Art can introduce INE URNITURE connections with area community groups. one nation to another F F The delegation consisting of a sculp- and it can unite people. LIGHTING ~ ACCESSORIES tor, choreographer/dancer, the director Asheville attracts so many Valeriy Suanov, a choreographer and dancer with the of a children’s cultural arts center and a artists and I am proud to Vladikavkaz Theater, views photographs from the Located at professional photographer was greeted be part of this process to summer 2006 exhibition Under the Skin: Tattoos and by Museum Executive Director Pamela open two cities to contin- Contemporary Culture in the Asheville Art Museum’s Frances Mulhall Achilles Memorial Library. Interiors of Asheville Myers and later escorted through the gal- ued relations.” Biltmore Station leries by Adult Programs Manager Nancy Following a tour of Sokolove and Curator Frank Thomson. the exhibitions Lines of Thomson added he was pleased the 2 Hendersonville Rd. Locally-based sculptor and painter Discovery: American Drawings, Home Is Museum could be part of the delegation’s Where One Starts: Paintings and Draw- tour. “We’re always excited to have art 828-342-0809 ings by Stone Roberts and Lasting Gifts professionals from other areas visit and IV: Recent Acquisitions to the Perma- this is the second time a group with this nent Collection, Museum Curator Frank program has been here,” Thomson said. Thomson showed original images from “Hopefully, we learn as much from the the Museum’s summer 2006 exhibition exchange as they do.” III Corps Images Under the Skin: Tattoos and Contem- porary Culture after many members of The Asheville Art “I am a veteran and I am quietly proud of my service.” the delegation expressed interest in that fascinating exhibition. Museum “I see many interesting things here and wish that I had more time to explore Centrally located in downtown Ashe- and learn,” said photographer Kazbek ville as part of Pack Square, the Asheville Tedeyev. “What impressed me most was Art Museum is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 the vision you show to educate the chil- p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00 dren, as well as the impressive library you p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Mu- have. There is a lot going on in a small seum is open every Friday until 8:00 p.m. space, but it all works well together.” Special docent-guided tour packages are Valeriy Suanov, a choreographer and available for groups and students. dancer with the Vladikavkaz Theater, Admission to the Museum is $6.00 views photographs from the summer for adults and $5.00 for seniors, students Happy Swallowtail P-51 Mustang 2006 exhibition Under the Skin: Tat- with ID and for children 4-15 (children toos and Contemporary Culture in the age three and younger are admitted free). Asheville Art Museum’s Frances Mulhall Members are admitted free to the Mu- Achilles Memorial Library. seum. The Open World program enables The Asheville Art Museum collects, emerging political and civic leaders from preserves and interprets American art of participating countries to work with their the 20th and 21st centuries with a focus U.S. counterparts and experience Ameri- on work of significance to the Southeast. can-style democracy and free enterprise The Museum is accredited by the Ameri- at the local level. The Asheville Sister can Association of Museums and receives Cities hosted a similar program with four general operating support from business- arts delegates last year through the Open es, foundations and individuals, as well as from the North Carolina Arts Council, Laundry Day, Khe Sanh The Fleet World Program. “They were very interested in what an agency funded by the State of North Carolina, and the National Endowment Photography, Digital Painting and Retouching we’re doing here in terms of working with arts education in the community, for the Arts, which believes that a great but they also showed a strong reaction to nation deserves great art. Additional sup- the Stone Roberts and drawing exhibi- port is provided by the City of Asheville Lonnie Darr www.3corpsimages.com tions,” said Sokolove. and Buncombe County.

38 January 2008 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — Vol. 11, No. 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE Fine Art

‘Echo Early Music Festival’ cont’d from pg. 34 Folk Art Exhibition at Gallery 86 ers. Director and founder of Seattle, he Haywood County Arts Washington’s Viols for Youth program Council’s Gallery 86 will pres- by Kay Waldrop Gabriel Shaffer’s and the principal teacher for the Bay Area ent a show featuring the work complex imagery Youth Viols program, she now teaches of nationally-recognized con- more information about contemporary will be on display viola da gamba at the University of Cali- temporary folk artist, Gabriel folk artist Gabriel Shaffer, visit his web through Saturday, fornia at Berkeley and at Mills College. Shaffer. site at www.gabrielshaffer.com. January 5, at She teaches cello, baroque cello, viola da Gabriel Shaffer is a young, Ted and Ann Oliver are the owners Gallery 86. Tup and coming, southern self-taught/vi- of Oliver’s Southern Folk Art Museum gamba, and Feldenkrais privately. Katherine Heater received her Mas- sionary artist who lives and works in in Hendersonville, NC. The museum ters of Music in Historical Performance Asheville, NC. The son of nationally- specializes in art produced by self- from Oberlin Conservatory in 1993, known folk/visionary artist Cher Shaffer taught artists from the Southern United followed by study of harpsichord and (most notable for her appearance in tour/ States, with an emphasis on art made fortepiano at the Sweelinck Conserva- book “O’ Appalachia”), Mr. Shaffer was by African-American and Appalachian tory in Amsterdam. She has performed raised within the self-taught medium artists. For more information about in Taiwan, Iceland, the Netherlands and and had contact with many folk and self- Oliver’s Southern Folk Art Museum France as well as throughout the United taught masters as a young boy. visit the web site at www.oliverssouth- States. Since 1996, Ms. Heater has made His complex work is often classified ernfolkart.com. her home in the East Bay where she is a in the outsider art genre, but contains Born in Blue Ridge, Georgia, Ted teacher and frequent performer with early many elements of graffiti writing, collage Oliver taught art education for 31 years music ensembles as well as a member of and comic book/cartoon illustration. at the middle school, high school, and the Junior Bach Festival Board of Direc- Gabriel Shaffer’s unique art is college and university levels. He earned tors. Ms. Heater has taught at UC Santa driven by a manic obsession with the a BSED, an MED, and an EDS from the Cruz, the San Francisco Conservatory of relationships between sound, symbol University of Georgia in Athens. Music and San Jose State University. She and image, as they are literally layer Mr. Oliver served as a delegate to is director of the San Francisco Early Mu- upon layer of graffiti, free association, the National Art Education Association sic Society’s Baroque Music Workshop. collage and various medias, salvaged Congress, and has been named Second- from assorted locations (abandoned ary Art Educator and Art Educator of the Tickets hospitals, factories houses, dumpsters, Year in Georgia. He has written for Art etc.) which create a circuit board of Phone, mail, and online purchases will be Talk, a school textbook for elementary color, texture and information, used to delivered via US Mail or held at will-call and high school students, served on the form haunting characters and commu- at the performance. Please specify your High Museum’s Teacher’s Advisory nicate strange narratives from his own preference with your order. (For Harmo- Committee, and conducted workshops personal mythology. nia Baroque Tickets, please contact the and lectures on Folk Art in America, Mr. Shaffer’s characters consist of Porter Center at Brevard College, (828) and in Holland, Great Britain, Sweden, old legends, angels, protectors, tribal 884-8330.) Norway, Finland and Germany. totems, dolls, puppets, flying houses, Ann Oliver earned a B.S. from the In Person: Tickets may be purchased at iconography, shape shifters, ghosts, University of Kentucky, a Master degree Build It Naturally, 76 Biltmore Ave. in aliens, animals and any other bizarre in Art History from Ohio State Univer- Downtown Asheville, Monday through forms of creature or landscape his mind sity, and served as Curator of Education Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. can conjure. at both the Miami Art Museum and the Phone: (828) 505-2858. Have your credit Shaffer is a solitary artist, who lives High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. card and mailing information ready. between planes, using the power of sto- For additional information about rytelling, to explore his inner worlds and programming and events offered by the Mail: Tickets purchased via mail send simultaneously exorcise himself from Haywood County Arts Council please payment, name, address, contact info, and the “madness of humanity.” He has no visit the web site at www.haywoodarts. number/types of tickets to: Echo Early other option than to “create to cope,” org or call 452-0593. Music Festival, 35 Meadowbrook Ave., as it is his belief mankind is living in an The Haywood County Arts Coun- Asheville, NC 28806 “apocalyptic age.” cil is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Online: www.eemf.net In January 2004, Shaffer sold his partially funded by the North Carolina earliest works during the Outsider Art Arts Council and the National Endow- Fair to several collectors. He had his first ment for the Arts which believes that a If you go exhibition in July 2004, at the Broome great nation deserves great art. Echo Early Music Festival 2008 Lineup Street Gallery/Historic Cedar Tavern, New York City. January 26 – Benjamin Bagby, Beowulf Since then his work has been re- January 27 – Harmonia Baroque ceived with remarkable acclaim. Shaffer If you go January 28 – Lebedinsky and Brass has already exhibited in dozens of shows, Haywood County Arts Council presents January 29 – Prof. Tim Carter: and has sold work to many collectors, an exhibition of work by Contemporary Monteverdi’s ‘L’Orfeo’ galleries and museums throughout Folk Artist, Gabriel Shaffer. Through major cities nationally and internation- Saturday, January 5, 2008. January 30 – Echo Camerata Opera: ally. He made a very strong debut with L’Orfeo, Favola in Musica the Berenberg Gallery, Boston, MA, at Gallery 86 is located at 86 North Main Street, in Waynesville, NC. January 31 – Medieval Feast with harp and the Outsider Art Fair 2005. Mr. Shaffer madrigals; Renaissance Revels with raffle has appeared in several magazines and Gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. February 1 – Ensemble Vermillian: newspapers including the New York Monday through Saturday. Hidden Treasures Arts Magazine and Raw Vision. For Exhibition is FREE & open to the public.

Vol. 11, No. 5 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — January 2008 39 Enjoy Good Food • Live Entertainment Lunch • Dinner *Live Entertainment* Sat. and Sun. Southern Style Brunch www.JerusalemGardenCafe.com

78 Patton Ave. • D owntown Asheville (828) 254-0295 • (828) 254-0255

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