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Life & Arts

Art talk covers global influence 

Speakers discuss their experiences in a variety of disciplines 
at Blaffer Gallery's Wednesday event 

by CHIGO OKERE 
The Daily Cougar

Artists working in different mediums gathered Wednesday night to share with students, staff and guests their experiences in art production, theater direction and intercultural communication. 

The event was held at the Blaffer Gallery in conjunction with Contemporary Salon. Speakers at the event also discussed the Blaffer Gallery's current exhibit, One Way or Another: Asian American Art Now. Terrie Sultan, facilitator for Contemporary Salon, said these types of gatherings are important. 

"Contemporary Salon is modeled after 19th-century talks. This gathering is not necessarily a panel discussion, but an opportunity to talk about themes and concepts with artists in ways we can understand," Sultan said.

Members of the Big Dance Theater discussed their coming production, The Other Here, which will run at 7:30 p.m. May 2 and 3 in the Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre. The Other Here centers on traditional Okinawan dance, contemporary Okinawan pop music and short stories from author Masuji Ibuse. Annie-B Parson, co-director, spoke of her experiences with the production. 

"We are Western artists interested in good writing. I'm very interested in Japanese traditional dance, which is hundreds of years old. The Japanese are really involved in their culture and are attracted to the authenticity of pop music," she said.

Speakers concurred that art in Asia is meant to serve society, as it is a free form of thinking, and currently there is a market for Asian art and a general desire to experience other cultures in the United States.

"My grandparents were from Russia and wanted to leave Russia. Now you see people these days wanting to speak Russian in America. We are becoming more of a global society," Sultan said.

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