Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 9, 1990, edition 1 / Page 18
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Keeping idle hands busy defuses those hot summer tempers When Pam Murrell, manager of the Kimberly Park housing complex, approached Urban Arts and asked for hejp in programming activities for . youngsters in her development no one knew the impact her request would have on city youth at all of the housing developments. After prelim inary meetings with Ms. Murrell and a resident representative, dance and theater classes were decided upon. It ^as then that we offered the same classes to Cleveland Homes, Happy Hill Gardens, and Piedmont Circle. All three eagerly accepted the meetings with development man agers, and community representa tives decided days, times and pro grams for each site. It was important to include the site managers and community representatives because so many times communities are told what they are going to get rather than being asked what it is that they want. It is hoped that this temporary sum mer program will be extended into the fall. There is a great possibility that these classes may meld into the currently existing Art- Is program. Leading the theater classes, Joe Sutherin offers a stark contrast to the usual male role models. Though he appears soft-spoken and perhaps tpo "laid-back" at first glance, he demon with young people and knows just what to do to get their attention when he needs to. According to Mr. Sutherin, M... the most important thing I can do in this program is to listen. Let them know that there is -someone who is interested in what they have to say." This philosophy has successfully allowed him to tap some very creative resources. " Sometimes kids who are labeled 'trouble-makers' are highly intelligent and possess natural leadership skills," he continued. "It is necessary toreach into the depths of the partici pants and allow them to do the cre ative work. Let them see how good they can really be -- redirect all of that energy." Recent breakthroughs have been seen at the sites as the participants are drawn into the creative phase of the summer program. At Kimberfy Park, the theater class is preparing an original drama written by one of the ten-year-old students (with Joe's assistance). Happy Hill Gardens has found a favorite excerpt from "Fie dler on the Roof' in which one of the . "star" performers has taken her previ ous abilities to be disruptive and is now using them ta inject emotion into reading words from a page. Piedmont Circle is doing a modern parable on^Little Red Riding Hood." In the revision by the students, the ayCh^eland Homes, the youth are working on a reading of "Jack and with school. Robin Franklin offers a familiar needs at each site differ as night does from day. It is a challenge, but very positive things have happened at each site. The participants are urged to use their own creativity, and there are many beneficial "side effects." There may be a visible difference -as each child begins to build self esteem, pride in knowing that they have the ability to be very good at something they may not have been exposed to before. These classes develop creative problem-solving skills as the students use their own creative abilities to revise stories or write original dramatic pieces. As this program teaches the teamwork ethic, how to work positively with others, discipline, cooperation and ~ learning how to follow instructions, there are some very tangible bene- ' fits as well. Academic skills-suck as reading and speech are improved though exercises not associated face as well as a very strong, positive female role model for participants. Svelte and full of energy, Robin knows many of her students from past relationships through Upward Bound. And through her excellent choreographic skills she takes the boundless energy of youth and directs it to dance steps in modern, jazz and ethnic dance. Through the rigors of dance exercises, from a physical aspect, she takes explosive energy that usually has no focus and teaches some very real skills just as the theater classes do. Dance is a very real instrument in teaching dis cipline, in developing creativity, in learning how to follow instruction, and again learning how to wprk posi -tively with others.- Reaching back - into our history giv^s these young dancers a sense of who we_are^as^ people. It exposes them to a world which can expand for them beyond the social dancing they see most often. There is also a special compo nent of the program which Urban Arts of The Arts Council is offering to the entire community at each loca tion. The popular "Evenings in the Neighborhoods" touring musical pro gram will be presentingan evening of fun, popular tunes and relaxation at each site or at a location close to the residents of these housing areas. beyond keeping the kids off the streets, although that goal in and of itself prevents many of the problems with youth we find ourselves address ing every day. Allowing the partici pants to discover a pan of themselves they didn't know existed is a most valuable gift. Allowing our children ~ to shine, even if only for two hours each week, is well worth the shine thai comes from their eyes when their very souls have been lifted. For further information about specific programs at each site, please contact the office manager at each * housing development. For informa tion about possible programs provid ed by Urban Arts, please caTTonr" offices at 722-5293. Reggie Johnson is the executive director for Urban Arts of the Arts Council Inc. You must see history in the making There are few occasions where we have the opportunity to witness an historical event. But, everyone within driving distance to Winston-Salem has such an opportunity. Each day in August, you can observe the most complex murals by renowned artist John Biggers being drawn and paint ed. Plans are underway to feature these two murals in a documentary, designed for television broadcast and a national publication. Several years" ago; I held the atti tude, like many other people, that education was something you go to school to acquire. But, I realized that education is a lifelong quest, and the quest may involve learning about unfamiliar subjects from sources out side the classroom environment. Recently, this concept was rein forced as I began to spend time observing and listening to Dr. Big gers. Though I have not had formal training in art, I have gained a depth of understanding of the process a seri ous artist follows in producing a small or large piece of work, just from watching Dr. Biggers paint and from conversations with him. I am seeing first hand the stepwise progression of the "architecture" in building the two murals, as well as the tremendous amount of time, energy and patience an artist must give to a project. From the inception of this pro ject, plans were made to make this a An avid reader of diverse literary works, an outstanding educator, a eminent artist who is strongly influ enced by African art and culture, John Biggers is foremost a humanist, seem ingly always willing to enlighten oth DeltaArtsCenter C o By ANNETTE SCIPPIO public art event It is hoped that many people will come to the library and observe the progress of the murals. I can guarantee that each visit will pro vide a different view of the murals. Those who have watched the event to date have seen a plain white canvas transformed with basic charcoal line drawings, then painted outlines and on to images of women, birds, fish, turtles, suns, moons, beetles, railroad tracks, mothers, fathers, children, washpots, scrub boards and shotgun "houses. ers about the nature of his art cre ations. Each day I gain new informa tion or uncover areas I need to research about history, art, literature, mathematics, geometry, sociology and astronomy. Indeed, it is a tremendous opportunity for our community to have this Gastonia native create these works. We are doubly fortu nate to be able to observe his tech niques, his style and his creative genius - the artful depiction of infor mation that has~deeply influenced his attitude about life and living. I invite you to gain new knowl edge by watching the murals become a reality. The murals are being paint ed each day in August on the walls of the O'Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University. Come see the artist at work during the library's normal hours. Though this project will last about 18 months, make plans now to observe the various stages/transfor mations the murals will go through. -There is no charge. Natalie Cole gets green light on new series Things couldn't confirmed are M.C. Hammer, Bell better for Natalie Cole these days. Biv DeVoe, Regina Belle, En Vogue, Married life is great. There's a great Patti LaBelle, and Smokey Robin Behind The Scenes I By LISA COLLINS deal of success with her record career, particularly with the success of the "Pretty Woman Soundtrack" (on which she performs "Wild Women Do"), and hubby Andre is being praised for his work as producer of Lelah Hathaway's new album. (Hathaway is the daughter of R&B great, the late Donny Hathawa^ And now, topping things off, is a new scries. Cole calls the weekly, one hour showcase for up-and-coming new talent, "a play on the old Ted Mack Amateur Hour.* The three-time Grammy Winner will perform weekly while also serving as host. Already, Multimedia Entertainment has put together a heavy-hitting, all-star line-r up for the shows that are to launch the new series. Among those stars already son. The new series is set to debut the weekend of Sept. 15 on more than 100 stations across the country. Quick Changes: : James Reynolds will step into the lead role of daytime TV's newest drama, "Generations," as Taurean Blacques, who portrays Henry Mar shall, the black family monarch, leaves the cast for personal reasons. Reynolds, who portrayed Det. Abe Carver on "Days Of Our Lives" for close to nine years, will make his first appearance on the August 29 broad cast. ..Meanwhile, TV actress Shari Belafonte (co-star of ABC's "Hotel" series) made her Los Angeles stage debut as the title character in "Tama ra.H ... Meanwhile, veteran stage actor James Earl Jones has announced that he is retiring from the stage. "Too demanding," said the 58-year old actor of his reasons why. Instead, Jones will focus his attentions upon a new TV series, "Gabriel's Fire", which is slated to debut on ABC this fall. In it, Jones plays an ex-con turned investigator. "I'm at the stage now where I have a hard time sustain ing a serious drama beyond six months," the two-time Tony winner said. "My energies, I've had to face it, I just can't keep getting up there after six months, eight times a week." ] On The Home j Front: It's official. The honeymoon is 5 over for C. Thomas Howell and j actress Rae Dawn Chong, who recently filed for a legal separation. Howell has since filed for divorce 1 from Chong, citing irreconcilable dif- 1 ferences. This, after just one year of marriage. ... Are wedding blues in the \ near future for Jackee, who showed I up on the arm of actor Dick Anthony \ Williams (who plays Denzel Wash ington's dad in the movie) at the LA \ premiere of "Mo' Better Blues"? j According to reports, the two have been rumored to be engaged. ... Next week: Graffiti Bridge co star tells what it's like to play Prince's girlfriend, even if only in the movies. * ASTRO-DESTINY * 5V *<ttMI A degree of flexibility will be nUM to cope with VV w Mar.2l-Ajr.lt the changes coming up inycurwoik. Stay toou?l . ^ * ^|( Ifcl J A L J Aa n ^ M ftnfilt b 1 L ,-k tvfeJO *""?"* It 1 maw inpononr mar your personal try Keep* on nw -V TAWMW ta?a level with your ?occe?. A grumpy di?po*ition ^ W Agr.t*Miptt ipoils it all. W ^ |?;. ;A_ ?' ' '-' " ?V & Vouf ot^^o^v^boyetbetrle^lr^i burt wHeo a , jg,, W Iby tl - Swm N **?orfc is interpreted incorrectly. >?5 ^ *"* j|t- ' * CANCER A letter arrive* from out of (Ha past* Someone you _ JL hdvan't Not# fium Iwfaau iu.*<W..iujtes. -^j > ', ' V ^ "7" '? - 7 ~v/ - -- - -- 4- -> *' 5-.y ? ; ... -, ? ?"/; ; iJ.-.?_ v~ ir ? .,. . ' ? ' ' 110 H>?4 work newer hurt mynrief but lag bucMi not et ^ ' jl Joljr Ml - A*C. tt all good far you. Take time to relo* . a > W ' >7 VIRGO nT Money f? freer than If, hot boon in a long, long, time 'JP' ". . A??< SS - Sept. SS a and you should take tame time to enjoy yourself. . ? ? w '<r- ? LIBRA You discover that you hove baan miaing the fun In* Sept. St - Oct. SS Ufa OM| decide to do same thing about it. . ? , .?_.... ;?? ? '??? ^ ? ? ? z" ^ ." ' 1 C ? ? SCORPIO 1 fiS?ao#j!allay to seek adyjea when a ma|ardeci" Oct. SS > Nav. St tt taba mode. Experience help*. . ? ? * J(. SAGITTARIUS Your charm and personality shine brightly and bus)- JjL Nov. St ? Dee. SI neat accomplishments are possible. ? ? jjk " CAPRICORN fVopl. mm M b. purpouly blocking you ou) of th? ? ??. jp - -* d?c. 11 - ?**??. Trtr-nmwrt ??? AM* m* ? ??r^aajSSg*. ? 4^/^ ft'* ???:??? vs*siiPPhtp&**^ ??' 1 ^dtSLv . ? ? . . I I ? ? ? ? ? ? ? a. -1- ? . * ? g* 111^ i ^.a_ a*wo appearing ovany sacran ve 10 co-worweoaur * AQUARIUS ing this tense period . WiwHiiilawligi elll bo tea Jk. Jen. 2*- Feb. 18 hard to remedy . ? ? *jk PISCES Romance means a gentle person to PWceont and just ^ a Pli*. It* Har. tt such a one walks into the picture this week. a ' ? ? SMITHFIELD'S "The Finest Dining and Live Jazz in the Triad" For Dinner Reservations (919) 725-5959 Hyatt? Winston -Salem 300 \\ est Fifth Street * Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102 * Mayflower * fi ^ i mdt * fee SEAFOOD RESTAURANT "A New Discovery In Seafood Enjoyment " ^dayflower Seafood Restaurant is a new discovery in seafood enjoyment. We fry our seafood in pure vegetable oil only. Our daily specials are offered at great prices. Plan to visit us soon! All Day - Eyery Day Sunday - Thursday Fried Popcorn Shrimp *2.59 Popcorn Shrimp andTrout Combo *3.45 Popcorn Shrimp and Perch Combo *3.45 Super Thursday (Available Thursdays Only) Flounder and Popcorn Shrimp Combo ...*3.49 Take-outs Welcomed Mayflower SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 850 Peters Creek Pkwy. 725-3261
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Aug. 9, 1990, edition 1
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