Category: Arts & Life

 

Alex Alam
Contributing Writer

For the first time in 16 years the University’s radio station WVBU, is kicking off the school year the way they feel a radio station ought to: by organizing a “mini-festival,” featuring a few of the school’s many student artists.

The First Annual WVBU Student Music Showcase will be tonight at Uptown. This is the first of a series of hopefully many events that will introduce student musicians to the rest of the school.

After last semester’s overhaul of the station’s programming and campus involvement and the complete physical transformation of WVBU’s control room, the station’s board members decided it was finally time to shift their focus back to the most important part of campus: the students.

“It was all of a sudden,” Christos Schrader ’14 said, “But we realized that there’s all of these crazy talented people around campus, and we hadn’t done anything to celebrate that.”

Tonight’s showcase aims to change that. Featuring talented performers in a wide range of genres, styles and backgrounds, the event was planned so people with all types of tastes can find a group they like that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Performers include folk/punk outfit Those Damn Jackalopes and popular alt-rock group The Wingmen. In between bands, singer-songwriter Colin Hassell ’15 will show off his vocal skills with acoustic sets. Closing out the party will be the underground and experimental rap/electronic music collective known as The Banquet.

“I wanted to put on a show that I would enjoy going to from start to end, and I think we did that, because there’s such a cool variety,” Charlie Geitz ’15 said.

The show will be nearly non-stop, with members of the radio station working closely with Uptown staff to keep the party going.

The results “will be crazier than any register, because it’s not just live music, but the people going nuts on stage are in your classes too,” Geitz ’15 said.

“I think that people think there’s always been a pretty good music scene here, but you had to look closely for it. Hopefully, we can be a kind of weird metaphorical magnifying glass,” Duke Wellington ’15 said.

The WVBU Student Music Showcase will be at Uptown tonight, with doors opening at 8:30 p.m. and the show starting at 9 p.m.

Elizabeth Bacharach
News Editor

I have lived outside of New York City my entire life. Just 10 minutes from mid-town Manhattan, my quaint suburbian town is constantly bombarded with the Big Apple’s newest trends. Whether these fads are fashion-forward, technologically-savvy or culinarily creative, I have become accustomed to acting as the guinea pig, testing the hottest products the minute they travel across the Hudson River.

When I opted to go to school in Lewisburg two years ago, my city-centric family was puzzled by my enticement of isolation. I looked forward to separating myself from the hustle and bustle of New York and its influences on my hometown. I wanted to get away, and central Pennsylvania was a perfect escape.

A few weeks into my first year, I began to question my decision. I found myself longing for the once dreaded fast pace of society. I felt as if I went back in time, into what we like to call the “Bucknell Bubble.” Here I was, shocked at my nostalgia for ever-changing fads, constant competition and hasty living. That was until this little bubble I have come to call home was popped.

It was as if a huge gust of New York City air–fresh with competitive instincts and creative inspiration–blew down Route 80 into our little Lewisburg. Before we knew it, the University had its own food truck, the town of Lewisburg one as well and plenty of store fronts devoted to new delicacies. The Big Apple’s hot culinary scene has made its way, officially, to Lewisburg, and as a self-proclaimed foodie, I could not be happier.

Within the last weeks of the spring 2012 semester, Dining Services opened up the University’s first mobile food dispenser: more commonly known as a food truck. Aptly named the Flying Bison, this kitchen on wheels traveled, and continues to travel, around campus providing hungry students witha diverse menu of delicacies, such as late-night grilled cheese and the innovative spin of fried mac n’ cheese.

“I love how convenient the Flying Bison is for a late night snack. The food is great; I was totally satisfied,” Jackson Timm ’16 said.

Accustomed to seeing a gamut of food trucks lining the city streets, spotting the Flying Bison as I walk to my 9 a.m. class every morning fills me with joy. Not only is it delicious and opportune, but it also gives campus a breath of New York City, not to mention opening up the bubble a little to the newest fads.

“I haven’t experienced the Flying Bison yet, but it seems like a clever idea and stays in trend with what other competitive schools are adding,” Elizabeth Pullman ’13 said. 

Albeit its name as Historic Lewisburg, downtown Lewisburg is moving towards the 21st century, influenced as well by the hottest hits of the big city. Following in the food truck trend, there is now Chantana’s Thai Food Truck. This mobile marvel brings cultural aspects to Lewisburg as it moves from 501-517 Market Street.

“I’m excited about it I’m excited about [Lewisburg’s new additions]! Mostly because all of the changes involve food, but Lewisburg definitely needs help moving into the 21st century,” Brett Walter ’15 said.

Located at 611 Market Street, Stay Sweet Cupcakery opened this past August. Taking a hint from the New York City fashion of cupcakes, Stay Sweet Cupcakery features plenty of favorite pint-sized sweets.

“There is honestly no other dessert I’d rather have at any other time of the day than a cupcake,” Lauren Kaufman ’15 said. “I love the cupcake trend in the city and I am so excited to try the cupcake shop opening in Lewisburg!”

Stay Sweet Cupcakery is definitely a touch of home for me. When I’m at home, there is not a week that goes by without me having a cupcake, especially one from the infamous city shops such as Magnolia’s and Billy’s. Now extremely close to campus, I have a whole shop dedicated to my favorite culinary trend.

“There are some delicious bakeries in NYC that thrive on unique cupcake flavors and decorations. I can’t wait to give these ones a try,” Pullman said.

The “Bucknell Bubble” continues to shield us from plenty of reality’s problems, competition and basic societal ways. However, pierced slightly, this bubble has officially welcomed plenty of the fabulous and fashion-forward culinary creations that New York City has to offer.

“All of this is like bringing a little piece of New York to our small and quaint town,” Kaufman said.

For Kaufman and myself, it’s like having some of the comforts of home we’re so used to now just a walk away.

 

Molly Ford
Writer

Q: For those still unfamiliar with the artist, let us know what makes Avicii stand out.

A: I think Avicii will bring something completely new and exciting to the University. Avicii is a Swedish DJ and is recognized as one of the top DJs in the world. His most well known hit is “Levels.” I think that for the Concert Committee, we realized hosting Avicii would allow the campus to experience a new concert atmosphere as well as be at the cutting edge of an emerging music scene. The festival has become very mainstream and artists are playing all over the country and world at events such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Electric Zoo, etc. I studied abroad in Italy last year, and even there, Avicii was being played in restaurants and clubs. 

Q: Could you discuss how Avicii brings a different genre than we have seen in the past years with Nelly, Kesha, B.o.B., Sam Adams, Timeflies, etc. that were very much hip hop and pop focused? House or Electrical Dance Music (EDM) is sweeping the nation. Is this what the students asked for? Why a DJ?

A: Avicii will bring a completely new vibe, as we have never had such a big DJ performing on such a large scale. Choosing an artist is always a challenge because the committee takes into account various factors such as availability of artists, campus wants, budgets, etc. Recently, hip hop and rap have been able to fill most of our needs and seemed to work out the best. Having the opportunity to get Avicii was an obvious choice for the committee based on campus excitement surrounding this genre.

Q: How do you think this change in artist and genre will affect the night? How will the concert be unique to past years?

A: I think the concert will be unique because it will be more about production and atmosphere than musicality and the artist. For example, if you go to see Dave Matthews, you expect live instruments and a traditional “band” performance. With Avicii, people are going to be part of something larger than themselves and experience the awe that comes with a house artist and atmosphere.

Q: How do you think the turnout will be?

A: The committee is hoping to sell out. I think there is a lot of excitement surrounding this concert and it truly is an amazing opportunity for students. The Fieldhouse is a very intimate setting for such a major act and any student that misses this concert will definitely feel left out.

Q: Why a Sunday?

A: The Concert Committee is heavily focused on availability of artists, and Avicii was available for a Sunday this year. We thought the benefit of hosting such a great artist would outweigh any costs of having the concert on a Sunday. Also, most other schools have concerts all nights of the week. Our University just hasn’t moved there yet. So, we’re exploring new territory and moving the Concert Committee forward.

Q: I heard rumors about bringing Avicii to campus last year. How did you make it happen this year?

A: Avicii was not available for our needs last year. Luckily, we were able to fit him within our schedule and budget this year. With the committee’s excitement about Avicii and insight into the wants of the student body, we were able to quickly jump on the opportunity.

Q: How do you handle hosting such a popular and successful musician on campus?

A: Most of what the Concert Committee does on campus is not seen or recognized. We focus heavily on the decision that goes into choosing an artist and spend a lot of time preparing for marketing and producing the concert. We also spend a great deal of time setting up and breaking down the show. This year we have a really strong committee of dedicated members who put in lots of time to make sure everything at the concert runs smoothly. We’re also consistently reflecting upon the wants of the student body and our range of options. The artists’ arrival is the easy part. We make sure that the day of the show runs as smoothly and comfortably as possible and that everyone has a great time.

Q: Please add anything else you would like The Bucknellian to know! Ticket sales, marketing for the concert, etc.

A: Tickets go on sale today at 11 a.m. in the Campus Activities & Programs Center (ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center), Weis Center, Bookstore Box Office and online at bucknell.edu/boxoffice. Tickets are $25 for students and $30 for the general public. All tickets go on sale at the same time, so get them quick before they sell out!

Elaine Lac
Arts & Life Layout Editor

The University’s theatre department produces the best plays and prepares the best actors on this side of the Susquehanna. What if we told you the department is a triple threat: that they not only crank out fabulous performances and quality performers, but thoughtful and creative directors, too?

“Cocktail Theatre,” a student-directed one-act play series, are organized by Assistant Professor of Theatre & Dance Anjalee Hutchinson’s directing class. The series is a part of the class’ final project.

The students must select plays, make costumes and find actors like in a professional play. “Cocktail Theatre” has been a long standing tradition at the University and is a final test of the student’s directing skills.

These plays are contemporary and range from comedy to drama. This year’s theme of “Cocktail Theatre” falls under a theme of  “Lovers and Strangers.”

For example, Gwenn Gideon’s ’15 play is called “The Man With the Flower in His Mouth,” a drama about a man whose days are numbered.

Auditions for the plays are open to all students, ranging from amateurs to thespian enthusiasts. Each play will have two to three actors who make roles deeper and more intense.

“Cocktail Theatre” is an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and get noticed by faculty so that if they want to participate in future productions, they have a head start.

After “Cocktail Theatre” will be a late-night show called Nightcap, which will revolve around the theme “Playground and Injuries”.

The shows will take place during December towards the end of the semester at 5 p.m., a.k.a. cocktail hour.

 

Kate Jansen
Writer

Pairing plaid with seersucker is no longer taboo in the fashion world–whether it is snakeskin, art deco flowers or something in between, kooky and eccentric prints have been wildly popular this season. There has been quite an abundance of crazy printed pants, leggings, blouses, boots and accessories available in popular department and clothing stores recently. Although on the surface, zany zigzag and striped patterns may appear to be hard to match, these bold prints are nothing to shy away from this fall.

Like snowflakes, there is a certain unique beauty to the print trend: no two outfits are alike. This fall, it is acceptable to complement metallic snakeskins with loud color block (with limitations, of course). Fashion daredevils, this is your time to shine; feel free to mix and match–color palettes aren’t necessary!

It is easiest to assemble this look from, so to speak, the bottom up. First, choose pants, jeans or leggings with geometric flare (Topshop offers plenty of printed pants, as does Madewell, Anthropologie and Free People). Then, pick a blouse or knit tee with a different pattern. For example, pair tiny polka dot printed jeans with a horizontal pinstriped shirt. To soften the look, throw on a neutral, chunky sweater or cardigan. Surprisingly enough, the resulting outfit is aesthetically pleasing–that is, only if you use some creativity.

For those who aren’t as adventurous with mixing stripes with polka dots, start with one bold printed piece. There are a vibrant variety of zigzag pullovers and pebble-printed cardigans this fall. More conservative dressers can wear a solid-colored oxford shirt underneath their sweaters. For a more casual, dimensional look, pile on a variety of sheer tanks and long-sleeved knits before buttoning up your cardigan. Pull on a pair of black leggings or dark-washed skinny jeans and you’ll be ready for class.

The print trend doesn’t stop at tops and bottoms. Shoes can be patterned, too! Printed shoes are fantastic for fall because they come in a variety of styles and textures. My favorite right now is a pair of Keds polka-dot sneakers I bought from Madewell a few weeks ago. I love pairing these with skinny jeans, a lightweight, flowy top and an oversized geometric-printed scarf. The printed trend takes stylish staples to a funky and fashionable level.

Eve Marie Blasinsky
Contributing Writer

If you want to get into the Halloween mood early this year, then go visit the Samek Art Gallery’s newest exhibit, “Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal.”

A few words that might come to mind when walking into the gallery are: “uneasy,” “dark” and “somber.” However, putting any labels on this eclectic group of pieces proves difficult.

The display features a diversity of mediums, including painting, photography, digital media and sculpture; there’s even a diorama configured as a mini-theater, complete with curtains and black light. The collection boasts works from Louise Bourgeois, Huma Bhabha, Salvador Dali, Yang Shaobin, James Aldridge and many others.

Pam Campanaro, operations manager of the Samek Gallery, described Director Richard Rinehart’s process in assembling the exhibit. Rinehart visited a private collector in the Netherlands and hand-picked the works. This is the first time these works have been exhibited together in the U.S.

“He opted to go with a mood, rather than asking a theoretical question,” Campanaro said.

Campanaro stated that she and Rinehart “felt heavier” after installing the exhibit over the summer, a process which included painting over the bright white walls of the Samek with a dark grey color.

“He wanted to completely transform the space,” Campanaro said.

When a foundation seminar class visited the gallery, Campanaro encouraged students to look for “layers of meaning” hidden within the works.

Kiriko Masek ’16 was drawn to a massive photograph entitled “Generation.” At first look, the image evokes a typical class photo, with children standing in two lines facing the camera.

“The kids seemed normal at first, but there’s something off about the proportions,” Masek said.

That’s because the faces are, in fact, not real faces, but rather composites of hundreds of school photos, compiled and altered by Dutch artist Ruud van Empel.

Many works in “Dusk to Dusk” meditate on the effacement of identity and the dissolution of the individual vis-à-vis technology, media and political repression. Throughout the exhibit, representations of the human face in particular are distorted, concealed or eliminated entirely.

Conversely, other pieces seem to reconstruct the human out of new materials: a tree trunk, metal or, in the case of Huma Bhabha’s sculpture, pieces of garbage.

Many students gravitated towards a multi-media project entitled “Dusk to Dusk.”

In this piece, two film sequences are projected simultaneously onto the wall of the gallery. In one, an African-American mother stares morosely in the direction of her young son, who repeatedly bounces a ball against the wall with his back towards the camera. In the other, a white mother in a neo-Edwardian, unnaturally white domestic space tends to a baby hidden within a cradle. Both scenes are infused with a mood of melancholy and dejection, which climaxes when the children’s “real” identities are finally revealed.

The exhibit is open to the public and will run until Nov. 19.