Arts and Entertainment – Page 3

Small College Invitational Art Exhibition

SPRING ARBOR, Mich.—Spring Arbor university art students have 42 works displayed in the Small College Invitational Art Exhibition that opened February 8 in the Ganton Art Gallery. The exhibition includes Spring Arbor University, Sienna Heights University, Hillsdale College and Cedarville University. Spring Arbor University students won the award in the painting, sculpture, graphic design and drawing/printmaking categories. A Sienna Heights University student won the award for photography.

Out of 207 pieces entered, 77 were accepted into the show. The juror was a professor of photography from Michigan State University, Peter Glendinning. An awards reception was held February 8 where Glendinning made comments about the winning pieces. Kerri Conrad, winner of the graphic design award, said he noted the quality of her work and that it was portfolio-worthy.

Professor of 3D design J.D. Garn said he is biased but SAU’s art program is impressive, especially compared to other schools the same size. The schools competing in this exhibition are about the same size and focus their art programs on good ideas, good technique and good design. Together, the schools donated $1000 to the exhibit. Glendinning decided to divide the money amongst the five categories, with $100 going to each winner and $50 to each honorable mention. Shannon Bardwell, winner of the painting award, said she spent her cash prize to buy another book about painting.

Kim Bigos won the sculpture award for her life size wheelchair made out of little green army men. She said she wanted to convey the concept that veterans sacrifice much when they serve and we honor them for their service, but we don’t really think about the effects. Bigos used more than 1000 army men, spending 60 hours on the sculpture. Bigos said, “I get asked a lot if I have a family member in the military and I do, but that wasn’t what I was thinking of when I created this piece.”

Amelia Harris won the award in the drawing/printmaking division for her illustration of a fairy escaping from a jar. She tried different drawing techniques before deciding on stippling, which means it is created with tiny ink dots. Harris said she was thrilled to be accepted into the show and shocked when Glendinning called her name to receive the award. She said, “I was just really honored that he chose my piece, because there were so many good pieces.”

Kerri Conrad said, “We have a close-knit community at the SAU art building, and I appreciate the ability to comfortably approach other artists for their opinions.” She said it is constructive to receive criticism and she values others’ critiques. Shannon Bardwell said the encouragement of her peers motivated her to keep working even when she felt her painting wasn’t going to turn out or when she thought she ruined the painting with a brushstroke.

By Jenny Croizer

SAU Entertainment Through the Years

Have you ever wondered what Spring Arbor University (SAU) students back in the “olden days” used to listen to for music or what movies they watched? It wasn’t Taylor Swift and Kanye tunes or Nicholas Sparks movies that many enjoy nowadays, but was instead the type of entertainment that has led us to where the industry has expanded to now.

Matt Gin, the SAU personnel in charge of alumni relations, helped “The Pulse” get in contact with SAU alumni from the past decades, 1960’s and beyond. Below, we’ve listed what they have said were their favorite songs and movie during their time at SAU.

1960’s Favorites (Mel Starr, SAU Alum 1960) “This was the decade we were introduced and fell in love with The Beatles,” said Starr.

1970’s Favorites (Wes Harper, SAU Alum 1979)

This song was used as an example for Jesus

AM was used for hits, FM was used for “non-hit” songs

“School’s Out” and “Eighteen” were breakout hits

The 1972 breakout hit considered one of the greatest films of all time

1980’s Favorites (Brian Philson, SAU Alum 1985)

The 1980 movie made Kenny Loggins “I’m Alright” a classic

1984’s “The Heat is On” from “Beverly Hills Cop”

“Let’s Hear It for the Boy” became famous from “Footloose”

Prince’s 1984 hit came from his movie of the same name

1990’s/Early 2000’s Favorites (Shelby Raines, SAU Alum 1996)

The now Christmas classic kicked off the 90s

1990 also brought another campus favorite

Many other now classic movies were enjoyed by 90s SAU students

By Alexa Matthews

Date Auction

Around this time of year, the entire campus hears a silent call. This call is urgent, as the students know that soon spring will come, which means rings will follow. If you don’t have someone picked out yet, here’s an event for you.

The Puerto Rico mission trip team wants nothing more than to raise the money for their trip to serve God and His people, while also ending your quest for the one. This is exactly why they host the Date Auction every year. The event will take place in the Cougar Den on Wednesday, February 25th at 9:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. There you will be able to bid on friends or potential soul mates.

The event will bring a mood of merriment with the MC/DJ styling of both Camille Hunter and Matt Burger. There will be banter, there wlll be bidding, and there will be dates set. Members of SAU faculty like our Chaplin Ron Kopicko will take a group to the Wooden Spoon for breakfast to no doubt start pre-martial counseling. You and your group or one-on-one date could travel to the neighboring town of Jackson to embark on a night out at a local business or kick it with Steve and Heather Castle for a game night. We will provide the date options and dates all we ask is that you bring your A game. But in all seriousness, this is a night of pure fun. The music is set, the dates are excited, and you will feel good about helping promote missions.

By Sarah Beardslee

The Sun Also Rises: Pulse Sparknotes Edition

This classic Hemingway story is set in the post-World War I and Prohibition era. It is the age of cynics and booze. The men and women not involved in the war have a romanticized view of life while the war vets are much more cynical. The characters encountered can be found in small clubs and bars drowning themselves in booze and hooking up with various men and women. They have a dependence upon the physical elements of life in order to escape the effects of the war.

The novel follows the story of Robert Cohn, Lady Brett Ashley, Bill Gorton and Mike Campbell, and is told from the perspective of Jake Barnes. Jake is an American World War I vet who, during the war, had a terrible accident where his genitals were removed. Jake struggles throughout the book with his loss of masculinity and his love for Lady Brett Ashley, but at least he has room in his jockey shorts. When we meet Jake he is working as a journalist in Paris where he and his friends drink heavily together and attend parties.

Lady Brett Ashley is married to Lord Ashley mainly for the title and his money. As the novel opens, Brett is separated from her husband and awaiting a divorce. She loves Jake, but doesn’t commit to a relationship with him because of his accident. She has a long strand of lovers whom she never fully commits to but has affairs with. The pleasure she attempts to find in men leaves her unhappy, but even in her independence she finds herself alone and unfulfilled.

Robert Cohn is a writer in Paris and a quasi friend of Jake’s. Because Cohn had no direct experience of the war and he is Jewish, he is often ostracized and mocked by the other characters in the book, especially by Jake. They find his values on the romanticism of life before the war absurd. His girlfriend, Frances Clyne, is manipulative and domineering; in their relationship, she wears the pants. She is frequently possessive of Cohn and jealous of any other female interests he may have.

Bill Gorton is one of Jake’s war veteran pals who is a heavy drinker like Jake. His humor is a coping mechanism to deal with the emotional and psychological ramifications of the war. Bill and Jake’s friendship is one of the only genuine examples of an emotional bond in the novel.

Mike Campbell is a Scottish war veteran with a terrible temper manifesting during his frequent bouts of drunkenness. Mike becomes Brett’s fiancé for a while, until she decides she doesn’t want to commit to him. He is frequently insecure about Brett’s infidelity and his lack of finances.

In the second half of the book Jake, Cohn, Brett, Bill and Mike take a trip to Spain to see the bullfights. They are all quite taken with the beautiful performance of nineteen-year-old bullfighter, Pedro Romero. He serves as a foil for Jake and his friends because of his dignity and confidence. Romero’s purity and strength is in direct contrast to Jake’s corrupted masculinity as well as the immoral actions of the group.
Brett ends up hooking up with Romero and then leaving him for fear that she’ll ruin his career and because she wants to return to Mike. Jake picks her up in a taxi and he and Brett share their feelings that they could have had such a great time together but it could never have happened between them referenced in Jake’s last line, “Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?

By Carly Thompson

Save

Fall Poetry Reading

The Fall Poetry Reading will be held on November 19^th at 8:30 PM in the Prop Shop. This event is presented by the Oak Tree Review and will feature poetry readings from Dr. Bilbro’s poetry class as well as selected students and faculty members. Coffee and tea will be provided.

The Fall Poetry Reading is a way for students to enjoy a night of poetry and learn more about the Oak Tree Review, a Spring publication featuring Spring Arbor students’ own writing.

Stoked For Dracula

DSC_0143ed — John Broda, Logan Hurtado, and Tessa Horon

Spring Arbor University’s (SAU) “Dracula” production was not the typical fangs
and blood rendition some might have been expecting, according to director Trevor
Tracy.

The small cast, regarded as “delightful” by Tracy, auditioned in early
September and had a short amount of time to prepare for the shows that took place on October 23,
24, and 25.

While this was SAU’s third show around Dracula, Tracy said this interpretation was
different because it was strongly based on Bram Stoker’s novel and journal entries.
He described the performance as enticing. Representing several forms of sin,
Dracula’s pride and appeal conveyed an attitude similar to that of the devil.
“Dracula is the embodiment of the biblical perspective of the nature of evil,” said
executive producer Dr. Paul Patton.

Sophomore Zach Barber played the role of Dracula. Barber said the role was the darkest he had ever attempted, so the challenge was exciting.

Sophomore Rachel Gerrild took on the lead of the sweet and innocent Mina Harker. Gerrild said the role stretched her as an actress because she had to portray a deep amount of terror.

“The story shows how evil can be appealing, but in the end, it will use whatever it can to
destroy,” said Gerrild

Written specifically for this show, the score departed from the traditionally gothic
version. It focused on the biblical symbols seen through the righteous doctor,
Abraham Van Helsing. Tracy said he took the underlying theme of redemption very
seriously when directing the cast.

Tracy graduated from SAU two years ago with a bachelor’s degree in theater. This
was his third time directing an SAU show. His favorite part of directing “Dracula”
was the challenge to remain convincing even in the melodrama. He also found it
appropriate for “Dracula” to be shown on the weekend before Halloween because of
its chilling plot.

“The suspense will kill you; it will send you home un-eased,” said Tracy.

By Sarah Dean