Mount Hood

Art that tells a story: On Western Campus

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Campbell Hall currently has an exhibit up, called, “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts: Selections from the Permanent Collection” featuring 26 artists. 

The artists shown are Rick Bartow, Marwin Begaye, Pat Boas, Joe Cantrell, Corwin Clairmont, Jim Denomie, Demian DineYahi’, Vanessa Enos, Joe Feodorov, George Flett, Ric Gendron, Jeffrey Gibson, Don Gray, James Lavadour, James Luna, Brenda Mallory, Larry McNeil, Whitney Monthorn, Lillian Pitt, Wendy Red Star, Sara Siestreem, Kay Walking Stick, Marie Watt and Shirod Younker.

According to the “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts at 25” by heather ahtone, Rebecca J. Dobkins and Prudence F. Roberts, the art institute in Pendleton, Oregon was founded by the Oregon painter and printmaker, James Lavadour (Walla Walla), who “envisioned a Native printmaking atelier on the Umatilla Reservation … that would provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.”

The company started out small in 1992 and has now grown into one of the most important printmaking locations in the country that brings together Native and non-Native artists to create with the guidance of master printer Frank Janzen.

Entering the Campbell Hall gallery, the first piece is colorful and bold, featuring two young girls dressed in Native American dresses.

All of the art pieces are either lithograpic or monotype — both are forms of printmaking. The interesting factor of having a collection of different artists all doing the same form of art is the diversity in style and color. Some pieces are neutral colors while others are more bright; all of the pieces are bold in their imagery and meaning.

It is apparent that the connection to Native American roots plays a large role for the artists, showing landscapes, traditional dress and more.

The flow of the gallery is easy to follow and provides a nice contrast between each piece as a viewer walks through.

This gallery is an opportunity for people to learn about Native American culture. The art is expressive and a book is provided that gives background information about the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts, which can be found on the windowsill in the gallery.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Never Retallack

Become captivated within the stunning views the Portland Japanese Garden has to offer

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Galleries are a staple within the realm of art, but for those interested in seeing art and nature combined, the Portland Japanese Garden is the perfect solution.

The idea for the garden was conceived in the 1950s by Mayor Terry Schrunk and members of the Portland community, in an attempt to soothe the tension between the United States and Japan after WWII and provide citizens with a garden of serenity and beauty.

On portlandjapanesegarden.org, it says, “Our mission is to bring the ideals of Portland Japanese Garden to the world: art of craft, connection to nature, experience of peace.”

Professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University designed the Garden, and his plan included five different garden styles laid out on 5.5 acres.

It officially opened in 1967, and the next year they started construction for the Japanese Tea House — where they host events for people to visit throughout the summer. 

It wasn’t until 1981 that they kept the gardens open all year round, and in 2015 the famous architect Kengo Kuma was enlisted to create a new visitors center, for the increasing amount of people coming each year.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Japanese Garden this month and the chilly weather did not hinder the experience at all. The intricate weaving pathways are interwoven with art features and an array of plants. There is a pond near a waterfall with large koi fish meandering within the depths. 

The routes that are available allow visitors to choose how they want to approach the gardens; this was helpful when it came to avoiding larger groups of people, keeping the experience serene and personal.

Located within Pavilion Gallery and Tanabe Gallery an art exhibit, “Spirits Rising: ひろしま / hiroshima” by Ishiuchi Miyako, opening Jan. 18 until March 15. This is the 75 year celebration commemorating the end of WWII. The exhibit will showcase the tattered clothes and belongings of those who experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima; it’s meant to remember what was lost and spark conversation as well.

They are open Monday 12-4 p.m. and Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; for students with ID, a ticket costs $13.50. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of japanesegarden.org

Wizard World Portland brings together pop-culture lovers at the Oregon Convention Center

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Wizard World Comic Con’s 2019 celebrity guest list included the likes of Jason Momoa, known for “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman”, Melissa Benoist, star of “Supergirl”, and many others. The Comic Con was held on the weekend of Feb. 22-24 in the Oregon Convention Center.

Wizard World is a comic convention that provides fans and cosplayers an opportunity to socialize and meet their favorite superhero and sci-fi celebrities. The convention also allows artists and other vendors a chance to increase their visibility within the community.

The Convention Center was teeming with cosplayers and vendors on Feb. 22, the first night of the convention. Many characters made appearances in many different iterations thanks to dedicated fans that took the time to create their own costumes. Among the characters present were Jack Sparrow, Professor Snape and Mad-Eye Moody, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and many others. Even Darth Vader was there — wearing a kilt, riding a unicycle, and playing the bagpipes.

While attendees milled about the ballroom waiting to meet and greet with different celebrities, there were many vendors to keep them company. Typical t-shirt and collectible booths that attend every street fair and convention were there, but there was also a plethora of artist booths present. Most any movie or show imaginable was represented: there was fan art, comic books (both originals and collectibles) and most everything else.

“I actually do comic conventions and fandom conventions once every two or three weeks, like, all year round,” commented Misty Figs, an artist at the convention. Figs makes stickers, pins and online art through mistyfigsgiftshop.com.

“I get to meet a lot of the people that I interact with online, that buy my art or give me ideas for art. So getting to put a face to a twitter or instagram username is really cool, and I’ve met a lot of artists that way as well,” said Figs.

Aside from art vendors, there were also sections with computers for gaming and a virtual reality booth in which volunteers could try a VR game. Several tattoo booths were in attendance, one of which was called “Ink Bus”: that was a old bus turned studio. Another booth was born out of a partnership between Wizard World and Transition Project, a Portland-based company, to put comic books and other reading materials into the hands of people transitioning out of homelessness.

The Wizard World convention brought together many people from different walks of life that were able to bond over a similar love of movies and art. It has not yet been revealed if the convention will return in 2020.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Chrys Weedon

“The Grudge” of 2020 fails to find new angle for the franchise

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor 

“The Grudge,” released on Jan. 3, written and directed by Nicolas Pesce is definitely an unnecessary evil for the new year. A spin-off from the original movie “Ju-On: The Grudge,” this continuation was disappointing as a viewer.

This version focuses on a mom, Officer Muldoon, who moves to a small town with her son after her husband passes away. It’s meant to be a fresh start, but several bodies are found all connected to one house: the house that the audience knows has the grudge.

For those who are unfamiliar with “The Grudge” franchise, a grudge is defined in the 2004 remake as, “when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage… a curse is born. The curse gathers in that place of death. Those who encounter it will be consumed by its fury.”

It’s the same idea in this spin-off; the grudge has traveled to the states, moving away from its origins in Japan.

Pesce’s take on this film is nonstop violence and jumpscares. There is never a point where the viewer sits in suspense and wonders “What’s going to happen?” It forces the audience along for a predictable and bloody ride that lacks any development for the franchise.

While “Ju-On: The Grudge” was slow and, admittedly, the visuals are less scary, the storyline and tension is preferable over the 2020 film. 

Despite my issues with the methods for scaring the audience, I also am not a fan of the dialogue or the plot in general. A lot of the dialogue in the movie feels awkward or forced and quite frankly, out of place. A couple of characters, such as Detective Goodman, were given interesting arcs, but those ideas were never developed and it left the audience with bits of useless pieces.

Overall Review: I am not impressed by the newest rendition of “The Grudge.” It was unnecessarily violent, and every jumpscare was predictable. The visuals were creepy enough to keep me entertained, and there were scenes that sent shivers down my spine, but for the most part it was another disappointment in the horror scene. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Get comfortable and grab a glass of cocoa and settle into these three short stories full of tension

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

With the start of the new term, many students may already be overwhelmed with new schedules and workloads. Reading in college often becomes tarnished as a pastime because of the amount of homework and class readings that students are required to do; a solution for that is short stories. There are countless tales that leave one breathless, contemplative or unnerved, all accomplished within 15-20 pages. 

“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver (1981): This suspenseful tale is from the perspective of a jealous husband when his wife’s blind friend visits them in their home, and unsettles readers. The discomfort that the husband feels by the intimacy of his wife and friend makes one wonder how the story will build, leaving the reader quietly anticipating each move. It can be found online here: http://www.giuliotortello.it/ebook/cathedral.pdf

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson (1892): This is by far one of my favorite short stories out there. Each time I read it, I discover something new, and the unease that I feel doesn’t ever end. It is a complex tale that shows the distress of a woman in her new house where she seems to unravel as she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in a room. Reality becomes distorted and it’s impossible to sort if what she is seeing is actually happening or not. It can be found online here: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf

“The Lottery” by Shirely Jackson (1948): Another one of my favorite short stories is based in a small village that must partake in “The Lottery,” and there is a general discomfort or fear with the characters. Each page makes the reader more and more anxious, waiting in anticipation for what could possibly happen. It can be found online here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Start the year with an album that encourages to put yourself first

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Selena Gomez released her new album “Rare” on Jan 10 of 2020, the first album she has released since 2015. The former Disney star goes deeper with this album, singing about the heartache she went through with Justin Bieber and the depression and anxiety she has struggled with, as well as touching on the stress of being famous.

The album starts with the title track “Rare,” a catchy pop tune that breaks down a relationship where the person she is with doesn’t appreciate her. The main point is that he doesn’t understand that she is “rare.” This is a powerful song to encourage women to never settle for someone who doesn’t see how special they are.

The next song on her album, “Dance Again,” is about her moving on from her trauma and opening herself up to having fun again and trying to find happiness. She sings about how she feels high without emotional baggage weighing her down.

Gomez’s song “Look at Her Now” refers to herself in the third person and once again touches on a toxic relationship. She discusses how she was hurt and how she bounced back and grew from her troubles.

One of my favorites on her album is “Lose You To Love Me.” With slow vocals and a gentle instrumental, she croons about only loving herself after her breakup.

So much of her album covers her heartache — which shows that she is struggling to process everything — but I think that her self-love focus will be very helpful for countless listeners who are dealing with toxic relationships. Similarly, it could help those who are dealing with depression and anxiety which she touches on in several songs.

Overall Review: This album, while not totally soulful, I think has some really important songs that can help those who listen. I recommend this album to those who want a bop that has some more meaning behind the lyrics.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of selenagomez.com

Album Review of the eclectic album “Fine Line” by Harry Styles

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Harry Styles is no longer just an old member of the boy band One Direction, but rather a talented and diverse artist. “Fine Line” is Styles’ second album, released in December of 2019. It received much acclaim and was number three on the UK Album Charts and number one on the Billboards 200.

The album had a different sound than his first album, “Sign of the Times” which was more peaceful and almost folk, while “Fine Line” dabbles in rock, pop and some psychedelic soul, while also touching back on the more peaceful folk with a couple songs.

Most of the songs on the album have the core elements of love, sorrow and exploration. In an interview with Rolling Stone he said that the album was “all about having sex and being sad.” Styles also mentioned being more adventurous in the album which is evident with his hit song, “Watermelon Sugar” a summer bop that sounds far different from anything else he has produced. Then his song “Lights Up” touches on self-acceptance and rejection, and seems like a cry of freedom. This transitions right into “Cherry” a peaceful melody with calming guitar, going back to the warm folk he has done before.

One song that really stood out to me in its uniqueness is “To Be So Lonely” it has a different sound than the rest of his songs, and sounds quite uplifting but the meaning touches on some negative qualities of himself and going through heartbreak.

His final song on the 12-track album, “Fine Line” is one of his deepest songs about a relationship that causes more harm than good. It starts quite melancholic, just Styles gently crooning about someone whose love can be bought. The song then builds with more instruments and reaches a fever pitch before coming back down, quite possibly representing the ups and downs that he went through in his relationship or in life. 

An interesting thing that I noted was the difference in the album cover of “Fine Line” and “Sign of the Times.” The stark contrasts between the covers properly showcase how different the two albums are; his first album is dark and moody, while “Fine Line” showcases Styles in white pants and a pink shirt in a psychedelic bubble. It seems to be a visual of how he is pushing himself as an artist with his latest album.

Overall Review: “Fine Line” is an album that I cannot get enough of, it has a little bit of everything, if someone needs a sad song to cry to, there are several, if someone needs to be pumped up, that’s also an option. Styles created an eclectic masterpiece that dives into some of his vulnerabilities, and pushed his normal boundaries when creating music. I highly recommend this album to anyone really, it has enough elements to connect to most people.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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