www.spencerdailyreporter.com • Friday, April 9, 2021 5B ENTERTAINMENT GUEST MOVIE REVIEW Dave Hoye to conduct ‘Voyagers’ doesn’t quite take off book signing at AOG Author Dave Hoye will participate in a book signing from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Arts on Grand in Spencer. Hoye lives in Everly with his wife Cheri. They have two daughters and six grandchildren who have played a major role in his writing. His Midwest values and outlook come from his years of living small town Iowa. Hoye has published three books of poetry and a nonfiction book about kids. Hoye’s work in schools combined with his work as a therapist and lay minis- ter has influenced both his writing as well as who he is as a person and his view of the world he lives in. “Bits and Pieces,” is different from his first three books of poetry as he intermingles prose and poetry to- gether. He has chapters on spirituality, people, friend- ship, family, nature and a chapter of poems about his railroad experiences. In Hoye’s unique way he shares his values and life views that show his faith and how small town Iowa has shaped his world perspective. In Hoye’s own indelible style he describes life around him. “Special Days of Summer A Stevie Hopkins Sports Se- ries” by Hoye is a story about four eighth graders who are beginning their high school athletic careers play- ing softball. The story includes tragedy and drama as it follows the high school softball season and beyond. Hoye was a school social worker and private practice therapist. He continues to be a lay preacher in the Lu- theran Church. Hoye was also a little league baseball and softball coach for 15 seasons, and a licensed high school softball coach for 16 seasons. His passion for softball was a major motivation for writing this book. care very much about any- feral sex predator with an a bad guy and a potential BY LINDSEY BAHR Witter Gallery auction one involved and feels like obsessive focus on Depp’s rapist with no discernable Associated Press it’s the first book in a series Sela. Soon enough every- charisma, and it’s totally when all is said and done. one stops taking “the blue” unclear why any portion spotlights area artists The most surprising thi- “Voyagers” dumps vague and after Richard is hurt in of the crew would choose ng about “Voyagers,” a sci-fi information about earth’s an accident and there’s no to follow him instead of the thriller about a group of yo- deteriorating condition and supervision anymore, the level-headed Christopher. ung adults who have been a plan to send a group of ship devolves into a cha- Also, while the crew is quite tasked with travelling to and people to another planet otic jumble of raging hor- racially diverse, 95% of the repopulating a new plan- to start life anew. Since the mones, power struggles and film is still laser focused on et, is that it isn’t based on journey is 86 years long, it’ll paranoia and “The Lord of four white leads. a young adult book series. be the grandchildren of the the Flies” parallels really It’s the kind of premise Writer and director Neil initial explorers. So they ge- start to take over. There’s that you can imagine would Burger, who was also beh- netically engineer a group even a Piggy-like charac- have been better served by ind the “Divergent” films of racially diverse, suspi- ter and a moment where a a limited series with time apparently decided to cut ciously attractive geniuses riled-up faction of the crew to get to know and like at out the Intellectual Prop- for this first generation and starts chanting “Kill!” Oh, least some of the charac- erty middleman and make shoot them off into space the crew also starts to won- ters so that there are some his own YA statement. That as young kids with only Co- der whether there’s an alien stakes. We should be up- said, it does borrow heav- lin Farrell’s Richard there aboard, as if there wasn’t al- set by Zac’s villainous de- ily from quite a few oth- to raise and monitor and ready enough to chew on. volution and torn by who might be the better lead- er sources, with shades of counsel them. What could “Voyagers” has lofty am- STORM LAKE — Witter Gallery is holding a two- “Lord of the Flies,” “The Giv- possibly go wrong with this bitions and big, cliched er. We should know more than three of the charac- week online auction showcasing 12 original art piec- er,” “Ender’s Game,” “Euph- terribly hasty plan? questions about purpose, es created by area artists. oria” and any number of sp- Well, it certainly doesn’t but one of the main prob- ter’s names and care when people start dying. “Voy- The online auction will begin on Friday, April 16, ace madness films. help that a few years into lems is that it doesn’t do a and will end on Friday, April 30. Local artists have sub- With a cast including Lily- the journey Whitehead’s great job of establishing its agers” is simply a semi-ef- fective thriller with about mitted pieces ranging from woodwork to paintings, Rose Depp, Tye Sheridan, Zac and Sheridan’s Chris- own characters. Part of that drawings to ceramics. Witter Gallery will be produc- Fionn Whitehead, Chante topher discover that they’re is likely due to “the blue” as much emotional intelli- gence as its lab-produced, ing artist spotlights over the next few weeks for each Adams, Archie Madekwe all being drugged to sup- which makes everyone doc- of the participants — including local favorites Barb and Quintessa Swindell, press their hormones and ile and emotion-free, but hormone-controlled, se- questered youngsters. McGee, Mary Mello-Nee, Cherie Courter, Ron Netten nice-looking production de- keep everyone semi-ro- even after they stop taking and Jason Braunschweig. sign and a fast-moving plot, botically focused on the it, the few characters who • “Voyagers,” a Lionsgate release Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Witter Gallery has it’s a very watchable film. It mission instead shacking get personalities are paint- in theaters Friday, has been rated had to keep its doors closed for several months to fol- also unfortunately suffers up with their crewmates. ed with such broad strokes PG-13 by the Motion Picture Asso- low recommended safety protocols. While staff miss- ciation of America for “violence, from the same problems When they decide to stop that there’s nothing to hold es regular visitors very much, they have responded to as some of its IP-brethren taking the blue drink that onto. Only Zac gets a real some strong sexuality, bloody images, a sexual assault and brief this challenging time by transitioning many programs — it is dreadfully serious, it’s been hidden in, Zac transformation, but there’s strong language.” Running time: to online platforms. They moved most of our scheduled fails to make the audience turns immediately into a also no nuance to him. He’s 108 minutes. Two stars out of four. art activities to Facebook virtual events in order to con- tinue providing opportunities to create, learn and find support for artistic expression during the pandemic. Recently, Witter Gallery hosted a virtual exhibit ti- tled “QUAR-ART-INE,” where artists ranging in age from Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra to play Roof Garden 13 to 60 showcased the work they had created during ARNOLDS PARK — In a this most unusual year. Participating artists came from newly-announced concert across the state. Work by 21 area artists, as well as a for the Roof Garden Ball- student from Storm Lake High School was displayed room this season, the clas- at the gallery and shared on our social media outlets. sic Jimmy Dorsey Orches- Our efforts to keep the arts alive during these un- tra will be presented by precedented times has also included a virtual Smith- Arnolds Park Amusement sonian American Art Museum tour on March 6 led Park. The show is Sunday, by retired BVU professor Bob Ferguson. The tour re- June 13, 7:30-10:30 p.m. The viewed some of the major styles and movements in show was scheduled earli- American art and included a national park photograph er, but had to be canceled. by former Storm Lake artist Bruce Ellingson. If you Tickets are $25 in ad- are sorry to have missed it, let us know and we may vance, $30 at the door as be able to schedule another SAAM tour for our Wit- available. Booth and table ter Gallery members in the future. group tickets are available. Check the Witter Gallery Facebook page for more Dorsey’s musical train- information and photos of the items available for bid. ing began when he was a young boy in Pennsylva- ENTERTAINMENT NEWS nia. Along with his brother Tommy, the talented young PRAYER VIGIL PLANNED FOR STRICKEN RAPPER DMX musicians joined Paul Wh- (AP) — A prayer vigil was planned for Monday outside iteman’s Orchestra and at the suburban New York hospital where rapper DMX the same time they were re- remained on life support Sunday following a heart at- cording many records un- tack. The family of the rapper said in an email Sunday der the billing “The Dorsey that the vigil will be held outside White Plains Hospital Brothers Orchestra.” Their at 5 p.m.