Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / April 28, 1989, edition 1 / Page 4
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PAGE FOUR THE BENNETT BANNER Friday, April 28, 1989 Black artists offer provocative exhibition by Taundra Woodard Dark eyes bore through your soul asking, “Who am I? Where do I belong?” These eyes try to examine the recesses of your mind to find the inner thoughts that fight to remain hidden. Dark eyes beg for attention from passers-by. The eyes wonder constantly where the time of youth and adolescence goes once it leaves a body old and brittle. Talented artists Ernie Bames, Ellis Wilson, John Biggers, Romare Bearden, Eva Hamlin Miller and Alma Adams displayed works in “An Exhibition Featuring African- American Artists” in celebration of Black History Month. They see the other side of the land of the free and the home of the brave. These black artists share a common bond even though the works are drastically different in terms of content and style. Dr. Alma Adams, chairperson of the department of visual arts and humane studies, wants to see the interest in African-American art generated by Black History Month continue throughout the year. According to Adams, “There should not be a month set aside because we contribute to the deve lopment of this nation all year long.” Adams also says that an art exhibit opens up possibilities for the viewer to interact with the artist, and it heightens the appreciation level of African- Americans. Ernie Barnes, best known for his works featured on the sitcom “Good Times,” combined the majesty of the 23rd Olympiad with the sight of young black men playing basketball on a neigh borhood goal made from a bushel basket. The peculiar combination reflects the distance between the prestige accorded Olympic athletes and the commonality of young black men striving to become a part of the American dream. Romare Bearden’s masterful use of the college extracts pieces from all aspects of life to create a por trait of black America through multi-dimensional eyes that create a oneness. Adams’ use of the environment and those around her brings a comfortable feeling to her works. She says “People that I meet and interact with and my environ ment provide a backdrop for my work. These things allow me to respond in a visual way to every day occurrences.” The image of small children huddled around a table drawing contentedly, oblivious to the hard ships of the world, presents one of the central themes of the show — the innocence of children con fined in their own world of crayons, markers and piaper. Crowds gathered along the street listen to the sitrains of a lively marching band, trying to drown themselves in the colorful uni forms and loud noises, wanting to forget the sorrow that awaits them at home. An old man with severely wrinkled hands from years of hard labor and a face that sags under the pressure of years of mistreatment pervades the consci ousness of those oblivious to the meaning of pain. Eva Hamlin MiUer’s portrait of Miss America, a beautiful milk- chocolate woman draped in the United States flag, symboUzes the 60s struggle for equality of all races in a nation created to ensure that all people can enjoy the same rights and freedoms. The exhibition combined many different elements of black and white America to produce a colored view of the world. Through the eyes of the artist the viewer can look into the past while trying to grasp the future. Newsmakers: focus on achievement Choir Caravan The Bennett College Choir represented its alma mater during spring break, March 3-12, in six states and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. and New York City. During the tour choir members had the opportunity to reside with Bennett alumnae and friends of the college, enabling many to see the respective cities and have feedback with interesting people. The choir sang a variety of selections during the concerts, ranging from “Adoramus Te” to “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel ?” The program also consisted of instrumental solos by Dr. David Pinnix, director and Mr. Fred Mason, college organist, along with vocal selections b.y Tanya Bruton, Valerie Rice and April Brooms. As a closing selection the choir, along with the alumnae, presented the Bennett College Alma Mater. (Lorraine Patton) Overseas Scholars Two Bennett students have been selected to study abroad in England during the coming academic year. The students are Cheryl Childs and Monique McCray. They were chosen from a group of applicants the best two candidates to go to England. Cheryl Childs is a sophomore from Seat Pleasant, Md., whose major is Eng lish. Childs is a Bennett Scholar who plans to attend law school upon graduation from Bennett. Monique McCary is a sophomore from Denver, Col. who is majoring in che mistry. She, too, is a Bennett Scholar. In the application process both studets had to submit two essays and had to have at least a 3.5 grade-point average. The students will be studying at the University of Reading in Reading, Eng land. They are scheduled to leave at the end of September and return in July of the following year. At Reading the year will be divided into trimesters, each lasting approximately ten weeks. Childs seems very enthusiastic about going to England to study. When asked about the upcoming trip, Childs said, “I’m very excited, but I’m very nervous. It is an experience that I am looking forward to.” McCray said of her anticipated experience, “I feel it is one of the best ex periences that I will ever be offered. The exposure and experience will be far better than studying England in the classroom. I will get to actually live there and get a personal knowledge of the country. I am definitely very excited.” Of Childs’ selection. Dr. Martha Gleaton, assistant professor of English, said: “Cheryl is an extremely bright and determined young woman who will represent the College very well.” Of McCray’s choice, Mr. Michael Gaspeny, assistant professor of English, said: “Monique is an ideal student who possesses keen analytical skills and strong powers of communication. Tlie British will be impressed by her.” (Shavaughn Neal) Nuptials DeJureia Walker, a Bennett sister, married Mr. Andre Kevin Hawkins John son on Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel. (Shavaughn Neal) Belles score high marks at model United Nations While I throught of changing from the standard Bennett College sweatsuit to a nice pair of shorts. Dr. Baffour Agyeman-Duah had plans to visit BC-C to meet the gentleman with whom he had been corresponding, I halfheart edly climbed back into the van. As we approached the college, I noticed students in shorts and tank-tops. 1 longed to be dressed as they were with no thoughts of a model United Nations to in fringe upon my good time. At the political science depart ment, I realized that BC-C stu dents were taking the model United Nations seriously. On bulletin boards, there were signs giving meeting dates and times for the model U.N. club. Immedi ately 1 thought, “Model U.N. club? What are these people talk ing about?” Meeting the director of the program. Dr. Kenoye Eke, did not relax me. Dr. Eke did not want to hear about the first time jittei's. He was merely in terested in our attendance at the opening session. Grudgingly 1 put on one of those “sure, we’ll be back with bells on” smiles. On the trip back to the hotel, I realized that I had to alter my frame of mind to represent Bennett College effectively. Al though the beach lingered in the back of my mind, the opening session was a major obstacle that had to be faced. When 1 was able to get to the room and think, I knew that mingling at the recep tion was the only way to get a feel for the other students' pre paration. After talking with the others, we headed to the opening session. The lobby of the hotel was filled with college students looking ill-prepared for the weather and the conference. The sight of them eased some of my tension, but 1 didn’t want to let my guard down as I might have lapsed back in the beach-blanket- blngo syndrome. The opening session was filled with technical aspects of the con ference and a platform for intro ducing the BC-C students. After an hour of students’ smiling and looking interested, the formal opening session adjourned. The Bennett College delegation, Zen- gara Loper, Kimberly Grant, Paula Patrick and myself, set about mixing and mingling to pick the brains of the other dele gates. The task was not easy be cause some of the delegates had just been assigned countries the day before while others were thoroughly prepared. The students who were ill-prepared shared our fears but those W’ho were pre pared seemed arrogant. After the reception we shared the informa tion from the spy mission. We all realized that presentation was everything. Of course, content was important but if the presentation was dynamic enough some of the content could be easily by-passed. The next day our theory was put to the test. The fii’st order of business was the bloc meetings designed to draw allies closer by having each make concessions un til a strong front was built. Naturally, the major powers domi nated the show and made puppies out of the rest of the world. From bloc meetings there were committee meetings. In committee vital issues such as refugeeism, over-poulation and the environ ment were discussed. These meet ings were beter organized than the bloc meetings, but at times they turned into free-for-alls. The general assembly was like taking a giant bowl of jelly beans and mixing all of the colors, shapes and sizes together. By Saturday, I was very un willing to return to the cold of North Carolina, My heart indeed belonged to Florida with its warm air and beautiful trees. But all good things must come to an end. So we loaded up after receiving our certificates and headed home. The nine-hour trip home was a time to reflect on the activities and the people at the conference. There was discussion on the best- looking and most obnoxious males. Also, there was talk about how some of the men were intimidated by women who spoke out against them even though they repre sented small countries. The performance of the Belles was put on the floor. Indeed it was not the best at the conference by any means, but what we lacked in content we made up for in presentation. There were times when we had to be the women behind the world powers, but we definitely got our point across. Overall, the conference was a suc cess in my mind because we de vised a plan of action, put it into motion and came out the victors. End apartheid Hooliganism In South Africa RgCOQNiTION MIS mEATJ S
Bennett College Student Newspaper
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April 28, 1989, edition 1
4
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