Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Feb. 23, 2006, edition 1 / Page 25
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httpiAvww.thechar1ottepost.com Ctie Cljarlotte $0£(t THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 2006 D Section PHOTO/WADE NASH ART REVIEW Adult entertainment in Charlotte is almost exclusive to men, while women aren’t afforded the same. Ladies lockout? Eyeing beefcake niay be frowned upon, but women like it By Cheris F. Hodges cliensJtodges@[lifcharlofteposfx:om Charlotte’s adult enter tainment industry is boom ing, especially if you’re a man But how can women par take in the fim without taking their clothes oflf for dollar bills? Kount Down entertain ment is hoping to tap into the carnal desires of women by giving them a chance to see brothers shake it fast at least once a month with Ifemptation Thursdays. Exotic dancers will enter tain women with provoca tive routines and VIP tick et holders will be fed whip cream-covered fruit. General admission tick ets are $20 and VIP tickets are $40. Discoimted tickets for new shows will be sold at the venue. Though Charlotte has numeix)us strip clubs that feature women dancing, men are still taboo. So taboo in fact, that Tfemptation Thursdays promoter Michelle didn’t want to give her last name for this artide. '' • “Tho:^ are a lot of men in power and politics. They want to see women danc ing, it strokes their egos. But when they see men, they immediately call them gay,” she said. But giris want to have fun too, Michelle said. “So many things (entertain ment wise) are geared toward men. All women have is Lifetime (TV) and shopping. Women deserve a night out once a month,” Michelle said. So Michelle and Kount Down Entertainment host a monthly ladies lock up at Club Champagne on Atan- do Avenue. “I’m hoping that 300 to Please see TEMPTING2D Robinson’s realism mirrors life’s hard moments By Sandy Seawright mECll\RI.OTrF.POt^ "The Art of Tommie L. Robinson " Gallery L Mam Public Library 310 North Tryon Street Through March 26 Sometimes, Ibmmie L. Robinson’s realistic watercol- ors, egg temperas and graphite drawings look so real we e^qjected the ahsfs sub ject to speak. Robinson, who grew up in Lumberton, N. C. and knew who Andrew V^eth was when he was in elementry school, seems to have a veiy spedal feeling for the underdog. His watercolor, “Vietnam Vet,” reveals this soldiers soul behind his blue eyes. Robin son gives this man dignity and an honor that turns the painting into a^ spiritual moment for the viewer. “Professor Norman Walk ing” shows a familiar home less man who has been seen by thousands of uptowners, but never like this before, walking by the iron gate in the space that was once the luxurious Montaldos women’s clothing store. The spirit that keeps this deprived man going wins the viewers respect. Next to those who have ejqDerienced a hard life, Robin son loves to paint women, old and young. “Praise House” features three senior women, all connected and all having a separate response to a church service. The lady on the left dressed in pink from head to toe is full of happiness, the middle lady in green is con-, tempiative and the lady in Author examines Christianity’s response to relationships By Victoria Elmore 77IE CHAHLOm: POST There is hope for women who are attracted to other women. The remedy is ‘Wom ankind; When a Woman Loves a Woman,” written by TVacy L. Howell. Instead of rebuking women who strug gle with same-sex attraction, Howell stresses the need for the Christian church to address their secret Lives by ministering to them. “The Christian church is summoned to take its ri^tful pJace - not just to stand in ver bal opposition to the homo sexual agenda, but to stand as a place of hope and healing for those who are broken,” How ell said Howell, a native of North Carolina, uses her own story of sexual molestation to reach women who desire whole some, fillfilling relationships. She was ordained as a minis ter at 22, but at the time she’d already encountered things beyond her years. “I was a teenager when I gave my life to Christ, but I’d already endured things of a 30-year- old” Howell said. While she was active in the church, Howell was involved in a same sex relationship. After hearing some women speak negatively about homo sexuality, she knew some thing had to be done. “In church homosexuality is a taboo,” Howell said. “I got to a place where I saw a great need for an outlet for women. I feel stron^y that diurdies should deal with issues that we’d rather keep quiet. I know the stru^es are real. I have a great amount of com passion for people who have these stnig^es.” In “Womankind,” Howell writes the creation of woman and man to ejqjlain the battle of the sexes from a biblical standpoint. Tbpics of femi nism, soul ties, artificial plea sures and how genuine con cern between two women can transform into an intihiate relationship are touched on. Ihe purpose of the book is not to shame woman but to give them hope,” Howell said. ‘Tou’re not the only one going through this. There is healing and hope. You don’t have to continue to be in bondage.” Howell said single and mar ried women have contacted her to discuss their strug^es with homosexuality. Howell believes her book will help change married women’s PE sidekick sinks into reality-TV caricature I know Fm late since there are wily four women left on the VHl show “The FlavOT" of Love” but as I was zooming down the street listening to S some cdd b school hip- I hop. my I favorite Pub- I lie Enemy I song came across the ' CD. “Bum Cheris Hollywood Hodges Bum.” For you youngsters who think Flavor Flav is just a reality TV show star, he was once a memba* of hip-hop’s most influential, pcditical and powerful group. Puh^c Enemy made you want to fi^t the power, bum down Arizona imtil its law makers voted Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a state holiday and made you want to go out an see every Spake Lee movie ever made. Flav was comic relief, the hypie man, if you will. With trademaric lag clock swinging as he danced, he was the aide- kick to fiontman Chuck D, who spit some of the most thou^it provoking lyrics ever. What happjoied? First it was ‘The Surreal Life” where Flav made a don key o[ himself by linking up with C-list star Brigitte Neil- scn. Then it was their rela- ticaiship in “Strange Love,” where this small black man went to Europ)e to chase the tall white blcxvi and make a fool of himself for everyone to lau^ at. He put me in the mind of Stepin Fetchit, the same character he and Public Enemy railed against in “Bum Holly wood Bum.” Even thou^ hip>-hop has been taken Flav over by thug nation. Public Enemy still has a lasting legacy Chuck D speaks at cd- 1^8. The group tours the country performing at places like the House of Blues. Then there is Flav an^ the reality shows. Now, if you haven’t seen “Flavor of Love,” it is a show were women compete to be FlaVs woman. Beauty is only skin deep. I know, but Flav has a face that only a mother could love. Yet the show start ed out with 20 women who weren't all-American rejects vying for his afifections. He’s gone firm wanting to pJay the role of controversial Negro like H. Rap Brown to being a whoremonger. Flav gets off when the women throw themselves at him, kiss and allow him to rub their bodies provocatively. Flav is a pmp. Flav is the joke now, not 9-1-1. Back in the 1980s, PuHic Enemy realized that the image of Uacks an TV and in movies weren't the best and here is a member of the group showing America that all a black man needs to be happy is gold teeth, chicken, liquor, big booties and big breasts. I question the sincerity of the women on this show. Why would they allow themselves to be groped and fondled on national TV with the goal of being Flav’s girifiioid? If any of them watched “Strange Love, “ then they know his first marriage or relaticttiship with his baby’s mama didn’t turn out too well. So as I listen to my old Pub lic Enemy CDs, I’ll remember Flav as what he used to be and never watch that show again to see what he has beccane. white is eryoying ev^ything oiound her. Robinson has several works featuring a young girl, Alana Jewell. I wonder if Jewell is a relative. What is interesting is that Jewell doesn’t look like she wants to be painted Robinson’s work invites comparisons with other artists. In a statement on the gallery wall, he says diat a Please see ROBINSON’S/2D lives too. “By reading the book, married womai will be able to connect with those things fi:om the past and get counseling to give them- bal ance,” Howell said “Womankind: When a Woman Loves a Woman,” is for women, but men will also be enlig^itened, Howell said “I believe I’ve had men read ers who are appreciative. If we address these issues, women will be a blessing to men Married men will really be thankful,” she said “I try to bring balance between male and female relation ships.” A few bright spots for ‘Gospel’ The Gospel Boris Kodjoe, Clifton Powell, Omar Gooding, Nona Gaye and Idris Elba Rob Hardy, director Screen Gems/Sony Pic tures Director/writer Rob Hardy may have been able to put a few more cliches into “The Gospel” but I think he used all that were available. It’s not that the film isn’t eryoyable - generally any thing with this much gospel music is - but there isn't an original idea to be found. Boris Ko^oe plays David a would-be preacher who turns away fix»m the church at the death of his mother. He becomes a successful singer which puts his career on hold when his father. Bishop Tay lor (Clifton Powell) becomes ill. He returns home and is tom between his father’s church and his calling fame. If this sounds like the Prodigal Son, you guessed right. There are a few twists. David isn’t battling a brother, but childhood fiiend,Charles,. (Idris Elba) who is about to take over the church. Charles has problems of his own. His wife Charlene (Nona Gaye) isn’t giving him any love at home and members of the church are jumping ship. David’s got his eye on Rain (Tamyra Gray), but she’s got baby daddy drama. There are moments when this movie works. Kodjoe and Powell are fine as father and son. There are some touch ing, albeit hokey moments. Elba is fine as the arrogant minister and Gooding contin ues to impress in different roles. The musical moments actually Icxtk like real church scenes. And there’s a gaggle of gospel artists making appearances. Note: Donnie MeCTurkin’s in the movie but doesn’t sing. Bummer. Yet, the sappy story, uneven acting and so-so production values make this a ho-hum film. The DVD extras are sparse. This is a film that’s safe for the family but you may get more enjoyment fi^m watching a gospel cable channel. mmo
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 23, 2006, edition 1
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