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THEY SAID ITa “The camera is an instrument that teache^ people how to see without a camera." age 6 DOROTHEA LANGE Fnday, August 27, 2004 AMERICAN photographer 4- ' • By D.E. McGUIRT THE GAMECOCK Roots musician. Avant-garde filmmaker. Cultural anthropologist. Founding member of the Greenwich Village counterculture. The inspiration for the Grateful Dead tune “Uncle John’s Band.” John Cohen is, in part, all of these. He also happens to be a very good photographer. In the winter of 1961, young Bob Zimmerman arrived in New York City with little more than a guitar and a goofy cap. He frequented the cafes of the East Village, attracting a crowd with his old man’s voice and caustic harmonica. He posed for John Cohen’s camera while standing on the rooftop of his tenement building. It’s an amazing picture — the face of the boy who very soon would become Bob Dylan. Columbians interested in gazing at this photograph can find it and others on the corner of Main and Hampton streets downtown in the exhibition entitled “There Is No Eye: John Cohen Photographs.” The title of the exhibition comes from the liner notes of Dylan’s 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited, a letter written by Dylan to Cohen that states, “There is no eye. There are only mouths. Long live the mouths.” Other famous faces can be found among the photographs on the wall. A soulful jack Kerouac tilts his head toward a radio listening to his own voice. Woody Guthrie, hobbled but not defeated by a degenerative nerve disease, leans forward to light a cigarette. Allen Ginsberg, wearing a smile as content as the Buddha’s, rests his head on a friend’s lap. Cohen has a remarkable knack for beftiending passionate artists, some famous but many more unknown and unheralded, and taking pictures of them at their most passionate moments. His subjects include a Harlem gospel singer, an Appalachian banjo player and a Peruvian blowing on the panpipes. A musical purist, Cohen’s enduring search for art and artists who transcend commercialism led him on a journey that began in the 1950s and continues today. A passion for American roots music 1 led Cohen deep into Appalachia, where he photographed fiddlers and bluegrass players in their own environment. His camera captures the hard-worn essence of these subjects, as best evidenced by a portrait of a steely-eyed Roscoe Holcomb, elegantly cradling his banjo with wiry arms scarred by veins. Cohen’s most expressive photographs were taken during trips to Peru in the 1950s and 1970s. Like his Appalachian subjects, the people in ■ Cohen’s Peru photographs reveal a strange beauty in their weathered complexions, whether they are gazing through the Andean mist or dancing to an impromptu street concert. Not to be missed is the photograph of the Macchu Tussec dancers, clad in European suits More than anything, the exhibition is a testament to Cohen’s* tenacity* following his interests HI From the unknown jazz singer, to the man on the street, John Cohen's Hb portraits depict people ordinary splendor. Bob Dylan, before he gained fame, Hg was one of his favorite subjects. $ When the Mall is Not Enough While area malls offer convenient, one-stop shopping, they often present little in the way of originality. For those looking to step beyond the chain stores, area boutiques allow the fashion savvy to indulge in high style. Shoppers can choose from Luna in Five Points, Cobalt 27 downtown and several stores on Devine Street, including M and Willis &C Winter. Those with retro flair have area thrift and vintage stores, from HipWaZee to local Goodwill locations, ready to help them perfect their look. The Internet is also turning into a dream destination for fashion plates everywhere. From bargain buys to upscale lines, the Web is a virtual collection of stores and styles, hipper than any mall and always open. A boutique bonanza: www.shopbop.com www.revoiveclothing.com www.daszi gn. com wftw.goclothing.com www.shopkitson.com www.shoplastyle.com www.vibetheboutique.com www.blaec.com www.activeendeavors.com www.houseofstyle.com www.rawclothing.com www.girlshop.com The usual suspects: www.gap.com www.abercrombie.com www.oldnavy.com www.ae.com www.bebe.com www.ardenb.com www.hollisterco.com www.forever21 .com www.jcrew.com www.urbanoutfitters.com www.anthropologie.com www.guess.com www.pacsun.pom www.polo.com Lux picks: www.eluxury.cotn www.net-a-porter.com www.saks.com wr ww.neimanmarcus.com www.barneys.com Bargain basements: www.bluefly.com wwwcoverstock.com www.yoox.com www.ebay.com Accessories galore: www.amiciaccessories.com www.e-jules.com www.fossil.com www. cutx paste .com www.ebags.com Shoe stops: www.zappos.com www.shoes.com wwwcshoebuy.com www.davidz.com www.whatapair.com www.journeys.com £ Students explore new fall styles By NAIALIt Ntl^tL THE GAMECOCK August in South Carolina is, weather-wise, not the best times to be thinking about fall fashion. But along with buying new books, dorm or apartment supplies and cheap groceries, students are being enticed by a new style season. Around campus, guys enjoy being laid-back and casual with their Abercrombie & Fitch shorts, Rainbow sandals and USC shirt collections. Ladies sport Rainbows, Abercrombie & Fitch apparel and S.C. gear as well — along with those trademark pearls. Are you sensing a pattern? Although the Palmetto State isn’t known for being cutting edge, new fall fashions are already finding their way onto store shelves. Out-of-state students have had the advantage of shopping stores still unknowrl to South Carolina. Second-year pharmacy student and fashionista Lina Gray is from New Jersey and has a trend savvy take on what to wear. She was already up on some styles that did not hit South Carolina until recently. Flowered and beaded slippers sound familiar? Those are so over, according to Gray. H Sc M, a fashion haven full of cheap chic — “Love it!” Gray said — and Against All Odds are her favorite stores. And as for hot brands, Juicy Couture, Pepe and Azure jeans top her list. First-year elementary education student Austin Crockett, who hails from Dallas, said “students’ styles are just so different here; it seems more relaxed and casual overall. She credits the laid-back vibe to being on the east coast and closer to the beach, adding that she is still adjusting to the style climate. She said that girls here seem to have a select few similar items such as the Vera Bradley bags, pearls and Rainbow sandals. Crockett added that she would never carry a Vera Bradley bag because they seem too mature and old. Although out-of-state students have to adjust to South Carolina’s limited hip-ness, there are stores in Columbia to visit, and Greenville, Charlotte and Charleston are just a couple of hours away. At local malls, Express and Hollister are two style-forward stores sure to carry many trendy items this fall. The preppy, classic look is sure to be popular in the coming months as tweed fabrics appear on shoes, handbags and blazers. The Limited, a popular mall store carrying women’s fashions, is already offering such styles in its, collection. If you are tired of the spiky high heeled shoes, tweed flats are huge this season. They work well with dark jeans for that casual yet professional look. This month’s issue of Lucky magazine spotlights such footwear and offers many options from pricey to affordable. For those who do love heels, they are still quite popular. Gray said that she “must” have stilettos because she is only five feet tall. She and other heel lovers may want to consider rounded, open-toe shoes and platforms as an alternative for fall. These offer height without PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Fall fashion is all about putting a contemporary spin on classic styles. New trends take their cue from decades past. hurting your toes. Students who lean more toward a comfortable and cute look will appreciate the relaxed apparel at stores such as American Eagle. Offering classic, lasting styles, stores such as Charlotte Russe appeal to college students with a tight; budget. Fall is just around the corner and the clothes you will need to look cool in the cold are already arriving at local stores. Shop for apparel that will fit your overall style, but don’t be afraid to spring for spmething more original. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gmn.sc.edu