Month: March 2012

By Jen Lassen

Arts & Life Editor

Richard Wilbur wrote a famous poem entitled “Love Calls Us to the Things of This World.” And for artist Makoto Fujimura ’83, it’s a love of creativity that has called him to art.

Fujimura, a world-renowned artist, visited his alma mater on Tuesday, April 3 to speak with President Bravman, a professor of engineering and scientist himself, for the Creativity: Beyond the Box Forum. The two discussed the topic “Creative Engagement: The Questions Science and Art Ask of Each Other.”

Fujimura’s work has been featured in places all across the globe, including New York City, Tokyo and Hong Kong. He was also the illustrator for the King James Bible in 2009, and was the first artist ever to illustrate all four gospels.

Before the discussion took place, Christina Cody ’12 presented Wilbur’s poem. Behind her performance, the song “Delicacy,” composed by Fujimura’s son, C.J. Fujimura ’13, was playing.

C.J. Fujimura composed this song from a feeling inspired by his father’s infamous painting “Golden Sea.” This incredible piece of artwork, composed of gold leaf and crystal pigment paint elements, was displayed on stage throughout the presentation.

Bravman opened the discussion by asking Fujimura if artists perceive science as a way of art.

“I grew up in a household where that question was in everything we did. Creativity is shared in these disciplines; science is an objective analysis. It does have to begin with an intuitive knowledge. Creative language is shared between the two,” Fujimura said.

Fujimura then questioned Bravman about science and how Bravman made his connection between science and art. Bravman said that as a scientist, he was attracted to two main things: how Fujimura makes his own paints from crystals and his use of gold leaf as a creative substance.

Bravman told the anecdote of his visit to Fujimura’s studio in New York City, and how this visit opened his eyes to how science and art relate.

“I instantly made a connection between science and art. I was stunned by the material content of your work,” Bravman said.

Progressing to the topic of mystery, Fujimura asked Bravman about mystery as part of the creative process.

“To me, mystery [in science] is why complex materials do what they do; I don’t understand that, but I want to,” Bravman said.

Fujimura then responded with his take on mystery.

“The role of creativity in art has been challenged and questioned in some sense. This creativity flows in the same way in the sciences,” Fujimura said.

Fujimura drew on the analogy of an idea being “pregnant with possibility.” He discussed how an idea can grow and grow, then eventually open up, rather than close, to expose a new idea that “leads to a generational dialogue.”

Conversely, Bravman and Fujimura then discussed the limits of creativity and failure. 

“[With science] the issue is, even if you have notions, your freedom has been diminished due to a lack of funding. Few scientists have the ability to pursue anything they want to,” Bravman said.

Fujimura noted how these external limits to science parallel the internal limits artists place on themselves.

“Don’t be afraid of limitations; that’s how you can really find your voice. Limitations allow me to reach these levels,” Fujimura said.

Both Fujimura and Bravman admitted to failures in their endeavors, yet Fujimura pointed out how failure can be positive.

“I look for failures. It turns the question upside down and allows you to see something differently,” Fujimura said.

Fujimura’s limitations and failures very much influenced his creation of “Golden Sea.” He talked about how he did not want the application of the painting to affect the outcome of its creation, and his painting took two and a half years to successfully finish

“I wanted to slow down, to let the painting speak back to me,” Fujimura said.

The completion of “Golden Sea” can also be seen as one of Fujimura’s greatest labors of love.

“The love of what we do can call us into and engage reality. This was about my love for these materials. I exercised a discipline of love,” Fujimura said.

After a short question and answer period, Fujimura surprised Bravman and the entire audience by gifting the University a beautiful, one-of-a-kind painting, composed of Fujimura’s signature gold leaf and crystal elements. The entire audience erupted in a round of applause and a standing ovation.

“I am in a complete state of speechlessness; this is extraordinary,” Bravman said.

“It was incredibly enlightening and inspiring. I really enjoyed watching Bravman and Fujimura draw the ‘golden lining’ between art and science,” Asha Harvey ’15 said.

Ending his discussion with advice to future artists, Fujimura closed with an inspiring idea.

“Remember your first love; that is so easily forgotten when we become successful. Ask questions about your first love and ability to dream dreams,” Fujimura said.

By Carolyn Williams

Staff Writer

Director Gary Ross’ film adaptation of “The Hunger Games” has been arguably the most anticipated book-to-movie release since the end of the Harry Potter era. Either way, Suzanne Collins’ best-selling series is well on its way to becoming one of those rare instances in which the movie bests the book.

Our heroine Katniss Everdeen, (Jennifer Lawrence “Winter’s Bone,” “Like Crazy”) is a scrappy huntress from the outlying District 12, a poor coal-mining community. The story begins on the day of the Reaping, in which each of the 12 districts is forced to draw the names of two children, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, and offer them up as tributes (basically sacrifices) to compete in the annual Hunger Games. The games represent a reminder of the Districts’ failed revolt against the Capitol, for which the children of the Districts pay each year. It’s a battle to the death, and the last man standing is crowned champion, at a bloody price.

So, naturally, Katniss, in a show of bravery, volunteers herself as tribute to go in place of the chosen girl tribute, her younger sister. Alongside her is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson “The Kids Are All Right,” “Bridge to Terabithia”), the other tribute from District 12, and the two set off for the famed Capitol. Their handlers include the insufferably superficial Effie Trinket (a nearly unrecognizable Elizabeth Banks), their guide of sorts from the Capitol, and the drunken Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) the only tribute from District 12 to have won the games in the past. With his help, Katniss and Peeta are meant to practice their fighting and survival skills, as well as making nice with the cameras in an attempt to encourage support of their unpopular district. Dazzled and disgusted by the finery of the Capitol compared to the abject poverty they were raised in, Katniss and Peeta are transformed by styling crews and coached for interviews with Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), complete with electric blue hair. All anyone is wondering, though, is what will happen when they step into the arena of the games, and who of the 24 entering will be walking out.

“The Hunger Games” has everything necessary to make a good movie: action, suspense, romance, an underdog hero, elements of a corrupt dystopia, a strong cast and a huge budget to make the otherworldly set look as good as possible. The movie actually draws tears at times, and gasps of fear and surprise at others, and overall it has the potential to genuinely entertain a wide audience of viewers.

“It went back to what movies should be about; it isn’t the level of special effects that is important but instead the story itself,” Kendall Woods ’14 said.

Lauren DelloStritto ’14 had a similarly positive experience, calling the film “exhilarating and exciting.” 

So whether or not you have read the books, “The Hunger Games” is definitely this spring’s must-see film.

By Rob O’Donnell

Columnist

Other critics have dismissed Tegan and Sara’s album “So Jealous” as too commercialized and self-conscious for folk-rock, or even indie rock. Luckily, I’m not one of those critics, and I have no idea what they’re talking about. This album is incredibly raw and emotional with a hard anti-commercial bite to it. Compared to their previous albums, it is much more rock-oriented, but not in a bad way. In fact, it’s incredibly refreshing.

This is the problem that almost every folk musician will eventually run into: as soon as the band changes its sound, it is accused of selling out even if the new material is just as anti-commercial as the previous songs. It’s the Bob Dylan Curse. As open-minded as they say they are, folkies apparently don’t appreciate too much change.

For me, it is the vocals that keep “So Jealous” from being commercial or pop music. Both sisters have beautiful voices on other albums, but on this album they mixed them with effects to make their sound more grunge-like. For this album, though, Sara Quin has a very unusual, somewhat nasally voice and when mixed with reverb it sounds as punk rock as Tom Gabel. And that is what I don’t understand about the critics. Before I read them, I was fully prepared to say that this was almost a grunge album, albeit with synths. The White Stripes covered a song off the album, “Walking With a Ghost,” and that could be the final proof that this is not a commercial album. “Jack White” and “pop music” cannot be said in the same sentence. 

The music on “So Jealous,” as I said before, is more rock- and grunge-oriented than the group’s previous albums. The first two albums were pure folk acoustic music and the third was a blend of acoustic and folk-rock. The albums followed a steady progression, each one a bit harder and edgier than the last. So, the sound of this album is the next logical step. It feels very unpolished, and yet is even more beautiful because of that. Even the synths are aggressive for such a mellow instrument. As someone once said, a truly great artist is one that constantly stays in the “becoming” stage and is not content with simply “being.” Once you’re happy with where you are, you start to slip. And that is what makes Tegan and Sara so great; every album builds on the last one and improves on the previous mistakes.

This album is perfect when you’re just having one of those days where everything seems to go wrong, or you’re having relationship trouble, or you just have some general angst. It is the best of punk and grunge-pop with lyrics for those of us with ears too delicate for most other bands in the genre. If you’re a fan of Metric or Florence and the Machine, this album is absolutely essential.

By Michelle Reed

Contributing Writer

The newly renovated Campus Theatre and the recently opened Downtown Art Gallery are just two of the many factors contributing to Lewisburg’s fast-growing art scene. With the help of the Lewisburg Downtown Arts Collaborative, the borough might soon be an exciting destination for art lovers.

“In a broad sense, the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership [LDP] supports regional and community development that fosters the vitality of the downtown core of Lewisburg. As a consequence of its strategic planning process, the LDP identified four strategic collaborative partnerships that support this mission. One of these efforts is focused on economic development, bringing together leaders from the region to focus on strategies to support business development and economic growth. In the course of developing this initiative, the LDP identified a strong and vibrant visual and performing arts environment as one of the inherent strengths of Lewisburg. Clearly, a collaboration focused on the arts made sense. A strong and diverse arts scene is something that distinguishes this community. There is an opportunity for Lewisburg to become an ‘arts destination,’” said Linda Sterling, executive director of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership.

The Arts Collaborative was established with the goal of encouraging and developing the arts in Lewisburg.

“The Arts Collaborative is intended to support the arts and make the arts more visible,” said Emily Conners ’14, Arts Collaborative liaison. “We are extremely lucky that there are so many great arts happenings in Lewisburg and we want to promote access to such great cultural events.”

Creating a network of artists who practice various types of media–studio art, poetry, music performance, film and more–is one of the objectives of the collaborative.

“The collaborative will allow arts organizations, both big and small, to be connected easily and efficiently, creating opportunities for collaboration to occur,” Conners said.

The Collaborative also aspires to form stronger bonds between the arts at the University and in the greater community.

“The Arts Collaborative intends on strengthening the link between the arts at Bucknell and the arts downtown by including artists and art supporters from all areas of Lewisburg,” Conners said. “Students will benefit from the Arts Collaborative because the more that the arts are promoted in Lewisburg and the more that different artists are connected, the more students will be exposed to many different forms of art than they are already exposed to, which could enhance their Bucknell experience with the arts.”

Rebecca Willoughby, a lecturer in the University’s English department, is excited about the growing relationship between the University and the Collaborative.

“It’s a benefit to all Bucknell students–whether they are in the arts or simply enjoy the arts–to build this bridge between what’s happening in the arts on campus and what’s happening in the surrounding community,” Willoughby said.

“We are thrilled to partner with Lewisburg in our mutual desire to promote the arts and to enhance the reputation of Lewisburg and Bucknell as premier regional arts locations,” said Carmen Gillespie, professor of English and University Arts Coordinator.

“Ultimately, we trust that this initial effort will foster additional relationships and partnerships that will encourage and promote the arts in this community. We hope and expect that groups and individuals who engage in this collaborative effort will find new ways to work together, enriching the community in the process,” Sterling said.

For information on upcoming arts events in downtown Lewisburg, check out the events calendar at www.lewisburgpa.com.