INSIDE: th Raleigh on Film; Bethune on Theatre; issue Behrens on Music; Lille on Dance; Trevens on Dance; Our 300 Speak Outs: Pomeroy on Forests, Barron on Art; Seckel on the Cultural Scene; Steiner on Landscape Painting; New Art Books; Short Fiction & Poetry; Extensive Calendar of Events…and more! ART TIMES Vol. 29 No. 4 January/ February 2013 Farewell & Greetings By FrAncinE L. TrEvEnS BiD ADieu to 2012 and happily Luam. they caught the spirit of embrace 2013! each woman’s monologue. in the world of dance, the December was also the month of final month of the year always awards – such as the third annual presents a selection of Nutcracker cLivE BArnES FOUnDATiOn performances throughout the AWArDS held December 10 at world. ever wonder how Walter Reade theater/ Lincoln tchaikovsky would have felt that Center. these Awards were this should be his most performed established by Barnes’ widow composition? i suspect it would Valerie taylor-Barnes, to honor rather astonish and disappoint outstanding young talents from him. But so often creators’ favorite the worlds of theater and Dance. works are not the favorites of the the 2012 nominees for dance public at large. were -Lauren Lovette (New York this December also presented City Ballet), Steven Melendez a number of dance retrospectives (New York theater Ballet), – such as Alpha Omega’s works Ashley Murphy (Dance theater from 1972, 1987 and 1989 as well of Harlem). Winner, chosen by as twenty-first century dances the Selection Committee: edward at their 40th Anniversary Dance Albee, Alexandra Ansanelli, Gwin Program at Ailey Citigroup Joh Chin, Barbara Hoffman, theater. Jacques le Sourd, Arthur Mitchell, Most of the numbers were Patrick Pacheco, Valerie taylor- Lauren Lovette (New York City Ballet), winner of Clive Barnes Foundation joyously danced and visually Barnes, Damian Woetzel, Craig Dance Award, performing in Polyphonia by Christopher Wheeldon delightful. one, the oldest of them Wright, was Lauren Lovette (New Photo: Paul Kolnik. all, Essence “a rainbow portrayal York City Ballet). of different realities of the Black December offered other dance was presented as if in a music hall me was the nightmare ballet in the American woman” was beautiful viewing opportunities as well. of the 1890’s. the dances were opium den. in addition to being and potent. the four dancers, the rousing dance number from strenuous, provocative and very sensuous and somewhat off center Donna Clark, Shauntée Henry, Les Miserables on stage musical, in-your-face blowsy at times. the in its athleticism, it was beautifully elise King and Jinah Parker were “Master of the House”, was even audience, surrounded by the cast, done and a quiet, mood changing stellar. the evening featured more engrossing and amusing in was enthralled. bit of theatrical creativity. works by many choreographers the new film version. Here you But the number that captivated Continues on Page 5 connected with Alpha omega could more readily see the knavery over the years – Martial Roumain and filching by the pair of hostlers for Essence, company artistic and hustlers – portrayed on screen CSS Publications, Inc. Support the Arts; by Helene Bonham Carter and PO Box 730 director enrique Cruz DeJesus, Enrich your Life eleo Pomare, Andy torres and Sacha Baron Cohen. Mt. Marion, NY 12456-0730 Angel Garcia. one number especially stood out www.arttimesjournal.com 845-246-6944 eve ensler’s “Emotional for me in the Broadway version of creature” had a number of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” Each Month visit arttimesjournal.com appropriate dances for its six – choreographed by Warren for new essays, videos, female cast choreographed by Carlyle. Dickens’ unfinished story calendar & opportunity listings ART-LITERATURE-DANCE-MUSIC-EXHIBITIONS-THEATRE-FILM-ART-LITERATURE-DANCE-MUSIC Jan/ Feb 2013 ART TIMES page 2 Peeks and Piques! ART TIMES Commentary and Resource for the Fine & Performing Arts oF ALL MY regrets — and i have my meal. that was Chi! —i could only not refuse — so off he went, back to ART TIMES (iSSN 0891-9070) is now pub- share — the one that still nags at me smile at his usual pragmatism. i his native country (Chi, incidentally, lished in print quartery (as of March 2013) by in the wee, wee hours of the morning grew to look forward to our lunches came from Wuxi, a small town not far CSS Publications, inc and distributed along the Northeast Corridor primarily throughout concerns the late master watercolor- and jaunts and Chi’s thoughts and from Shanghai and which i visited the Metropolitan & Hudson Valley Regions, ist, Chen Chi. Since i wrote a Memori- it was on one of these meanderings while attending the Museum’s Grand Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Copies are also available by mail to subscribers am on Chi in September 2005, i keep that i floated the idea of writing his opening). While he was in the process and arts organizations throughout the uS and running through my mind an offer he biography. in addition to the Profile of moving, Chi proposed that i come to abroad. Copyright © 2013, CSS Publications, inc. once made to me that i unfortunately (and the Memoriam), i had also writ- live with him for a year in China (“all ART TIMES online can be viewed at: arttimesjour- nal.com and has a pdf of the current print issue had to refuse. ever since i first met ten a review of his work in 1991 at the expenses paid”) where, in his words, (with images in color), as well as archived critiques, Chi in 1989 when i interviewed him (now defunct) Connoisseur Gallery in we could “paint the clouds and hills all reviews, art essays, theatre, film, music, dance for a Profile for our pages, that initial Rhinebeck, NY, and about attending essays from 2001. each month the site is updated over the country” during which time, with new essays, videos, advertising and resources. meeting had quickly blossomed into a the opening of his museum in 1999 he added, i could discuss and write Call for visitor statistics as they change daily. friendship that lasted until his death (the Chen Chi Art Museum) at the his biography. Stunned by the gen- Publisher: Cornelia Seckel in China at the age of 93. We often Jiao tong university in Shanghai erosity of his offer i was immediately editor: Raymond J. Steiner took walks in New York City — both for ART TIMES, as well as several tempted, but there was no way i was Contributing Writers: Henry P. Raleigh Robert W. Bethune in the vicinities of his home (Wash- additional essays on Chi’s works as able to spend a whole year away from ina Cole Dawn Lille ington Square) and study (Gramercy introductions to various books and my obligations to ART TIMES — and Frank Behrens Francine L. trevens Park, at the National Arts Club) as pamphlets that were published over so, to my nagging regret, i had to turn Subscription Rates: uSA: $18 /1 year $34 /2years well as to one of his favorite restau- the years — thus a full biography him down. i can only imagine the Foreign: $35 /1 year $45 /2 years rants in Chinatown — during which came to my mind. We did not pursue sights, adventures, and excitement Contact for Print and online Advertising Rates: Chi would ruminate on art and phi- the idea for some time and when the that i had to turn my back on. My CSS Publications, inc., Po Box 730, Mt. Marion, losophize on life. one time, during Chinese government wooed Chi back NY, 12456. Phone/ Fax (845) 246-6944; decision to pass-up that opportunity email: [email protected] one of our “dim sum” luncheons (at to China by building a Museum not still haunts me. it was not long after Web site: www.arttimesjournal.com which i always left all the ordering only dedicated to his work and person his proposal that Chi passed away, a Advertising reservations are due: the 18th of the up to him), i tasted something that (they wanted him to be a showpiece hero to his country, and a very great month preceeding publication (print or online). Feb 18 for Spring- Mar/Apr/May; May 18 for Summer- was exceptionally good and asked as “Master Artist in Residence”), but loss to me — with no way of ever get- Jun/Jul/Aug; Aug 18 for Fall-Sep/oct/Nov; Nov Chi what it was. He looked up at also with built-in apartments to serve ting over my regret of not spending 18 for Winter- Dec/Jan/Feb. items for inclusion in me and asked, “You like it?” When as a home for him and his wife and the Calendar must be uploaded to www.arttimes- that year in his company. journal.com/submitevent.html and opportunities i emphatically nodded my head, he with a guest room to accommodate raymond J. Steiner listings must be submitted by email or mail by the said, “eat it!” and went back to his visitors — this was an offer Chi could 18th of the month preceding publication. email ef for guidelines. visit: arttimesjournal.com and read previously published Peeks and Piques! Guest articles on the arts are also considered but must be preceded by a written Query. our “Speak To the Publisher: out” section is a forum for reader’s relevant opin- January/ February ART TIMES marks ions on art-related matters; viewpoints expressed From the Publisher Hi Cornelia—Bravo to you! th in the “Speak out” section are not to be construed A friend brought me the latest our 300 issue in print. in 2001 ART TIMES began an online presence that as positions held by the publisher, editor or staff continued to grow dramatically over the past number of years and even of this publication.