Urban Arts sets Art-Is, Cultural Discovery programs The first day of school, Caroli na Strcctscene, and Monday Night Football arc three sure signs of fall. They're also signs of two fantastic programs presented by Urban Arts of The Arts Council, Inc. which are designed tcTbnng the arts into the lives of some of our very special residents. Formerly called The Art -Is House, Art-Is offers classes in the arts to children aged 5 to 15. Target ing low- and moderate-income fam ilies in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Art-Is teaches dance, drama, piano, voice, ceramics, drawing and painting. -How much Every year there seems to be discussion about February as Black History Month. Then, there is talk about white teachers not teaching black history or having a limited knowledge about black achieve ment. But the most amazing phe nomenon that I've been observing is . the ratio of white people to brack .people who attend totack-oficmed programs. Programs which impact history and have more than enter tainment value. Two cases in point. Last weekend, The Bull Durham Blues Festival was held in Durham. This festival is sponsored .by St. Josephs Historic Foundation, Inc. a nonprofit organization found ed to restore, preserve and develop Historic St. Joseph's as a cultural Did she or " 33-year old ? ~ LaToya Jackson is denying reports that she married her 50-year old manager Jack Gordon- in Reno, Nevada, recently. However, a Neva da state clerk has shown a signed marriage license complete with bride and groom's signature and detailed family information: Ms. Jackson is saying someone forged her name. Star Studded Bash for Cole: Natal ie Cole was radiant at a party thrown in her honor at the exclusive St. James Club top ping off a per- | formance at the A ? - . D . . . . Natalie Cole Roxy nightclub in Los Angeles. Among those on hand at the star-studded gala were Robert Townsend, Connie Selleca, Leon, Body & Soul, actor Def Jeff, actors George Stanford Brown, Michael Warren, David Hassel hoff, and Chris Conrad (Roberts son), "Married With Children's" Katie Segal, Kimberly Russell, and Stephanie Kramer of "Hunter." The party kicked off a whirlwind week for Ms. Cole full of showers and last minute wedding preparations. Natalie promises that it is going to be the wedding of the year. "Brewster Place" May Join ABC Lineup: Talks are still underway between Oprah Winfrey and ABC in its consideration of "Brewster Place," (which scored high marks in the rat ings) as a possible midseason replacement. ABC maintains that no decision has been reached, only that "there have been wide-ranging discussions with Oprah on a num With spaccs for about UK) chil- and painting classes held in the dren, The Art-Is House was located Sawtooth Building at 226 N. Mar in the old Kate B. Reynolds nurses' shall St. The program will continue dormitory on File Street. When that building was condemned, the pro gram split with ceramics, drawing continue this season, but without a home'' ol its own. Classes will continue for the 1989-90 year, how By REGGIE JOHNSON still looking for a place we call our own. Beginning Oct. 9 and continu ing through March, parents who are interested in enrolling their chil dren) may call Urban Arts of The Arts Council, Inc7 at 722-5293. There is a $25 enrollment fee due upon submission of the application for the 24-week program. However, scholarships are available, so be sure to inquire when you call. Sponsored by a grant from the National Endowment For the Arts, this program ends with a recital, complete with light, sound and the atrical staging. A definite "plus" in do-we appreciate our own cultural institution promoting the under standing of and appreciation "for the African-American experience. The festival was marvelous". The Satur day nigTff line included Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Cha's from Louisiana, Valerie Wellington from Chicago, Latimore "Let's Straighten It Out" fame, A.C. Reed & the Sparkplugs , The Kinser Report with Big Daddy Kinsey and Son Seals. There were old blues, new blues, and blues blues. But of the more than, 4,000 people only about 30 black people came to hear this part of our heritage. Mark your calen dars now for next year. The third Saturday in September the Bull Durham Blues Festival will be blowing again. The second event was last didn't she? ber of issues." Paula-Kelly, the only actress recognized for her work in the four-hour TV special week's free public reading by author David Bradley. The reading, held at Others say they don't like the blues, writers or whatever the specific pro the main library was ihe iirst of five to be held.- There was a good ' turnout but more than halt of the audience was white. I've heard different opinions about black participation. Some folks say they live the black experi ence and don't need to participate. gram. Some say they don't want to be associated with black programs. Others feel they don't' understand the area or topic so they don't par ticipate. Some say they did not know about the event. However, events like Winston-Salem State's Lyceum Series, art exhibitions fca the education of any child, Art-Is promotes the mission of Urban Arts ? to replace apathy toward the arts with creative expression which eliminates the hopelessness that often results in poverty and crime. What T)etter way to relay~this vital message about life than to begin with our youth? The cultural development and education that Urban Arts provides can change indifference into a desire for quality of life. By pre senting arts experiences to special populations in Winston-Salem and Please see page A9 heritage ? turing the work of black artists (Arlene Morgan's work is currently showing at Wake Forest Universi ty's Scales Fine Arts Center) read ings by black writers (Fatima Shaik will appear at the library tonight at 1 7 p.m.) need our support. Our children, especially ^teenagers, need To attend these ? events. We need to make events about our culture important to us. We need to claim our heritage before we completely lose it through inaction. But it will be claimed by others The decision to be knowledge able or ignorant is a personal choice. Be informed. Support our black oriented programs given from the black perspective. -- LaToya Jackson says she didn't the first black-owned theater to run first-run movies. Js Behind The Scenes . _ y . __ By LISA QOLLINS with an Emmy nomination, is happy' about the possibility, even if sne is not sure that she would be part of it. "I doubt if I would want to do that character every week," said Ms. Kelly. "If she came back to visit or something, I don't know." Ms. Kelly, who just wrapped production on a special for PBS titled "Zora," is more excited about is a proposed project for HBO based on the life of Josephine Bilker. A Star For Marvin Gaye: Another battle is under way to get a star for Marvin Gaye on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Official word from the Hollywood Chamber of Marvln GaVe Commerce Ts that there is not enough support for a star to be grant ed. If you'd like to lend your sup port, write the Committee for a Star for Marvin Gaye, P.O. Box 431578, Los Angeles, Calif. 90043 . . . Meanwhile, actresses Beverly Todd and Sheila Frazier are chair ing a campaign for the development of a black entertainer walk of fame outside a Los Angeles theater, I A N e \\ Home for Stephanie: Stephanie Mills is back on top again with her new MCA LP, "Home. " Stephanie, who had on occasion said she never wanted to sing the song again, (due to all those years she did it as the lead actress in the hit Broadway musical "The Wiz"), was moved to re-record the tune with tragic passings of "Wiz" producer Ken Harper and song writer Charlie Smalls. Ms. Mills said the song took on a new mean ing even though it was still very dif ficult to record, what with all the memories Hooding back. Another of the album s singles, "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel," was penned as well as produced by Angela Winbush, whose own sec ond solo LP "Real Thing" is due out Oct. 17th. Short Takes: Filming on Spike Lee's latest, "A Love Supreme" began last week in New York. The film, based on the story of Mr. Lee's jazz musician falSer, stars Denzel Washington . . . . The Congressional Black Caucus Stephanie Mills -was-trcated to a screening of the film, "A Dry While Summer." The film, whose storyline centers on the South African system of apartheid, is five years in the making and the subject of mounting interest. I'll report on the black woman who undertook the project next time. Next week: Natalie Cole gets married. Lisa Collins is a free-lance writer and syndicated columnixt based in Los Angeles. DO YOU HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT EVENT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN OUR CALENDAR? BRING THE INFORMATION TO THE CHRONICLE BY 5:30 P.M. ON MONDAY FOR THAT THURSDAY S EDITION. WGGT-TV The Great Entertainer CABLE CHANNE L 6 ALL SHOWS $2.50 TIL 5 P.Mr TUESDAY SPECIAL ^LLSHOWS$2j4^_ Kick Boxer m Sat Sun 2:00. 430. 7:00, 9:00 Mon-Fri 7:00. 9 00 BLACK RAIN ^ Sat-Sun 2:00. 4:30. 700. 9:15 Mon-Fri 7:00. 9:15 (R) Uncle Buck Sat-Sun 2:00. 4:30. 700. 9.00 Mon-Fri 700, 9.00 (PG 13) 99C JOarkvieuf "Turin / AILSIATS ,w' '/ cm Nightmare on Elm St. V