The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 21, 1986, Page 5, Image 7
Spotlight
Friday, February 21, 1986 ^
Blue Sky's n&
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A giant '5' would span the space between Harden and Salud
r? By ROBYN BENJAMIN
Staff writer
I When Blue Slrv *??? * "?l? hn.
? ...... -w; ailUUUVTVIIli5 1115
bicycle through Five Points, he dreamed of
decorating the streets with art.
"I dreamed of putting a work of art on the two
islands (in Five Points) to bridge them together,"
Blue Sky, a Columbia artist, said.
A lifetime of art work later, it appears Blue Sky's
dream will not be just a childhood fantasy if he
receives the necessary funding and meets the city of
Columbia's building criteria.
Blue Sky has designed a sculpture of a giant
^ numeral five to link the land in front of the shops on
m the corner of Harden and Saluda Streets.
In Blue Sky's tentative plan, the five is lying on its
back with a hump forming an arch over the land.
The artwork, which will stand 33 feet high and 55
feet wide, is projected to weigh 70 tons, and will be
constructed either from either cement and steel or
steel aluminum and plastic.
Although the sculpture has received tentative approval
from the city of Columbia, Blue Sky must
meet a number of the city's stipulations before actual
construction of the five can begin.
? "We need to see a copy of the final construction
plan signed by an architect and an engineer," said
John Spade, Information Director for the city of
Columbia.
According to Spade, the city asked Blue Sky to
produce the final plans three weeks aRO.
"He said he'd have the plans to us in two or three
days, but we haven't seen them yet," Spade said.
, 1 Review
'Superstar' ope
a true blessing
MARISA PORTO
Editor in chief
Energetic. That word describes
[ Act One Theater's presentation
of the rock opera Jesus Christ
Superstar. n '
Directed by USC junior Jimmy r
Flannery and co-sponsored by
USC's ELM Center, the production
showcases the cast's acting feHBT jdSSf&L
and singing talents.
This version of the last seven H^Ngr e
days of Jesus' life overwhelms HhH
and disappoints at the same time. fRHgl
A plague of technical problems is BBHBBly. *
the chief flaw of this production,
f although the singing voices of the r ' r
l cast are less than professional t . \
overall.
USC senior David Avin is fl
wonderful in the starring role of ?| jf
Jesus. His exquisite gentleness
and emotive singing add special k'VHHI
depth to a character that could part of show.
easily have been a passive cliche. Gauch's exprc
Avin gives the role added depth strikes a chord \
with his expressions, gestures and dience, and a hus
biblical appearance. Indeed, time she begins.
Avin is a bright spot in a show Another fine
that seems to be overacted and singing voice is
underacted at the same time. Brown, who portn
Once again Harold Odom br- Simon. He leads
ings relief into his role as Judas. crowd scenes with
Odom, who starred as Kate in leaves the audieti
USC's all-male version of The why it isn't
Taming of the Shrew and as Puck throughout the pr<
in USC's A Midsummer Night's Other fine perl
Dream, is the production's given by Pressley S
pivotal character. Odom is Julie Shuster, high
energy epitomized, overwhelming in black graduatk
the audience with his acting and sunglasses. Both a
singing abilities. air of evil and perf
But the most impressive singer sidering their strugj
in the show is Alison Ann Gauch, on a plastic pipe p
who is making her musical handle the situatioi
theater debut. Why hasn't her professionalism,
talent been used earlier by USC (JSC psychologj
productions? Gauch, who por- Youmans gives an ;
trays Mary Magdalene, is a fine formance as Pc
actress whose singing is a brilliant Despite his bo
m<*L's
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a streets in Five Points if artist Blue Sky gets his wish
In addition to producing plans for the city, Blue
Sky must also find a financial supporter to fund the
sculptor because he is getting no funding from the
city or state.
Sky has obtained some funding from the Five
Points Merchants Association and is pursuing a
grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
"The grant is money from government and corporations
awarded to outstanding artists working
on worthy projects. Out of thousands of applicants,
5 percent attain grants," Blue Sky said. Sky received
a grant several years ago for another project.
blue Sky, who received a Masters in Art Education
from USC in 1970, recently displayed an architectual
profile of USC's buildings in McKissick
Museum.
The artist, who is probably best-remembered for
his Columbia mural, "Tunnelvision," just completed
a sculpture at the Lexington County
Hospital.
The work entitled, "Creatures from Halley's
Comet," consists of six space robots and a
spaceship. The work is located near the maternity
ward.
"It is painted in pretty colors, the air conditioner
was made to look like a spaceship," said Sky.
Warren Edward Johnson got inspiration for his
second legal name, Blue Sky, after a long period of
rain. "Ten years ago I was involved in painting
landscapes and one morning 1 went into a grocery
store when the sun wasn't out. When I came out I
saw the blue sky for the first time in awhile. It was
then that I realized how important it is to see the sky
and what it means to us."
1
*
ra energetic,
for students
I Youmans handles the role
|ssive singing skillfully a n d^em^n^nalj^^
vitmn the au- something this production lacks
h occurs each at times.
After 16 years in Columbia
but neglected theater, Steve Strickland portrays
that of Stan the character of Herod with
ays the apostle vividness and energy. However,
i the singers' this part is slightly disturbing, as
1 a voice that its costuming is so different from
ice wondering that of the other characters. The
used more feathers and flourish of
>duction. Strickland's outfit seem out of
"ormances are place among the other characters'
iutherland and earthy, simple costuming.
priests dressed Even Jesus has only one
>n gowns and costume, which should have been
ictors have an changed after the whipping
orm well, con- scene. Instead, a red-stained
gle for balance cloth is added.
latform. They Despite this and other distraci
with tact and tions, the play merits a viewing.
Jesus Christ Superstar will con/
major Brett tinuc until Feb. 22 at the
admirable per- auditorium of the Wil Lou Gray
ntius Pilate. Opportunity School. For reservayish
looks, tions, call 796-7550.
in idea would
n Five Points
Review
Townshend's
'White City'
worth visitina
w
By JONN OWENS
Staff writer
Pete Townshend must be
familiar with the thought,
"Where do I go from here?"
As a young man, Townshend
founded The Who, a band whose
legend equals that of the Beatles
and the Rolling Stones, and his
solo career has been a succession
of critically acclaimed albums.
He began with Rough Mix, a
country-rock collaboration with
ex-Face Ronnie Lane, followed
by the Who-like crunch of Empty
Glass and All the Best Cowboys
Have Chinese Eyes, in 1982, in
which Townshend exchanged his
angry emotion for subdued
poetics.
After Chinese Eyes came a successful
publishing career at Faber
and Faber. Now, four years after
his last alhnm Tnujchpn/l
w w ?... 9 v/ ?? uuvuu uas
released White City, an album
that is also a movie. The music is
typical Townshend: guitar-driven
blues not touched up with piano
and horn support. Subtle but
definitely present are the synCPU
brings 'G(
By ED CHAMVU8S
Assistant Spotlight tditor
For those who remember Gene G?
machine, the unknown comic and
Carolina Program Union's versii
Show" will be in the Russell Hou:
p.m. Monday night.
Those who consider themselves fu
may sign up in the CPU office to t
All contestants will competc for pri
Among the judges will be Directc
fairs Melody Hokansen and Stude
President Kelvin Stroble.
The event is a presentation of CPl
nrii- _ ^
men
f<
you'll s]
Run. Clii
And deve
skills you
Enroll in
as one ot ]
today. BE
FIND OUT /
WILL MA
"army reserve
CONTAC
mmmmmm
Mik-wit^k sSS JmB
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UppSH
Ptta Townthend's new album, White Cii
thesizers and drum machines requisite
on any of today's pop
albums. Townshend's singing is
excellent ? a rebound from the
spoken words and safe melodies
of Chinese Eyes, lending angry
power to otherwise mundane
rockers such as "Give Blood"
and "Face the Face."
Although White City is un3ng
Show' to I
grams. Other proj
elude comedian F
ene the dancing Dating Game on
Chuck Barris, March 27, a Jailon
of "Gong Races on April 1
>e Theater at 8 Spccial Program
Denise Moses.
inny or talented
)e a contestant. Special Prograi
zes. Russell House 30
)r of Greek Af- Call 777-7130 .
nt Government third floor of Ru
on The Gong She
J's Special Pro- the door. Admis<
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v
cn liuui
pendall
nh. Rappcl. Navigati
:lop the confidence ar
won't get from a textl
Army ROTC
/our electives. Get th
ALL YOU CAN BK.
\bout summer c/
ke yotj an rotc
iti t- r? r- a i
I IN i Ht r ALL.
\>llLT.RSr TRAIN
T CAPTAIN FIX, 77
Ijl STOWNSHEN
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focuscd as a whole, with an antiapartheid
song bordering both a
weird oedipal viginette and a
song about drug abuse, each song
has a strong back beat and a
definite direction. There is even a
theme of sorts, "Give Love and
Keep Blood Between Brothers,"
which crops up on the first side,
but inexplicably disappears by
the second.
Russell House
grams planned for this semester inlondell
Sheridan on March 3, The
March 24, an Easter Egg Hunt on
a-thon on April 15, a Day at the
8 and a casino night on April 28.
is recently presented comedian
ins meets 3 p.m. every Monday in
1.
or stop by the CPU office on the
issell House for more information
>vv. Contestants also may sign up at
?ion is 50 cents.
lUllg
S
week.
Lead.
id
book.
e facts
\MP THAT
JUNIOR
7-6543/2.