Spotlight Iowa City: Following a winding journey to art

Originally published in The Daily Iowan 11/13/2009

Exposure is key.

It’s what UI senior Olivia Rendone believes about the world of art, at least.

That’s why the 22-year-old worked with students at Tate High for her Honors project in the UI School of Art and Art History, showing them the works they create have an outlet and that they are very much real artists. The project culminated with a reception for the students’ gallery at the Lindquist Center on Thursday.

“It was something they didn’t seem to be exposed to,” said Rendone, an art-education major. “I wanted to figure out a way they could see their work in a nice gallery.”

And she did. After working with students and administrators at the school, she set some deadlines and requirements and worked twice a week with the student-artists. The work will remain on display in Lindquist until Dec. 14.

Her path to art was probably as original as her work.

Starting on the nursing track, Rendone, who hails from the northwest Chicago suburb of Cary, Ill., found herself eyeing the art-class offerings.

She consulted her father.

“I said to my dad, ‘I really want to take these classes, but I don’t have room in my schedule.’ So he said he’d pay for a fifth year,” Rendone said.

While she started balancing the two, she eventually made the switch completely to art. “That’s where my heart was,” she said.

Though the shift may have been difficult for Rendone’s parents, it did keep with her desire to give back — just in a different way.

“When it came down to it, I didn’t think I would connect the best way in an emergency room,” Rendone said.

Her project is something UI art history and education Associate Professor Rachel Williams finds beneficial. Most high school freshmen don’t have a professional outlet for their work, she said.

“A lot of our students haven’t taken art classes since junior high,” Williams said. “Often they take their art classes early so they can take their AP classes.”

Stephanie Corlett, a UI senior also in art education, worked with Rendone on the project.
Corlett, who is also good friends with Rendone, said she will make a great art teacher.

“She works so hard and is really dedicated,” Corlett said. “She’s got some really ambitious goals.”

After finishing 16 weeks of student teaching back home, Rendone will spend eight more weeks in New Zealand this summer.

She’ll share this time with New Zealand’s indigenous population, the Maori, who are known for their stone cutting and using art as a way of life.

And Rendone won’t leave such an experience in the mountains and sea that dominate the country.

“I feel like that’s a great experience for me to bring to my students,” she said, noting the intimate relationship between the culture and art in the country.

Ultimately, Rendone said, she doesn’t know where her travels will take her career, but she’s open to whatever comes her way.

“I think the sky’s the limit. You’ve got to take your opportunities when you can get them.”

Corresponding video I shot and edited for The Daily Iowan website:

2 Cents to Play: Call of Duty controversy

Originally published on The Daily Iowa Arts Blog 11/13/2009

****While we already had an excellent post on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, or as I affectionately call it "COD", it is set to be the biggest entertainment release ever.. There is a specific part of the game that warrants discussion. I'll let you know where the spoilers start.****

Like seemingly every other red-blooded American male, I stood in line to get the newest COD game. When I got home and booted up the campaign to see what the story offered. I was alerted with a message saying that some missions might be offensive and I had the option to skip them.

These types of parental guard are now common place in most "M" Rated (17 and up) games. Assassin's Creed gave gamers and their parents the option to turn of blood. The recent Brutal Legend demo (and I'm guessing the game) gave the option to do the same as well as bleep all F-words. As a 22 year-old I dismissed the menu. Bring it on. Then I ran into this little mission early into the game.

***Spoilers Begin Now BTW***

[YouTube Video of "No Russian" level]

Anyone who's played the COD series knows each game is about immersion. Breaks between missions only exist to load the next level and any cut scene usually puts the player in someones shoes like in the mind blowing intro to the last game.

[YouTube video of opening cut-scene from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]

The "No Russian" mission in the latest COD game is the best example why violent games use to (and still do to some extent) garner so much controversy. It's all about engulfment - the player taking on the mentality of a character - that scared cable news pundits when the old Grand Theft Auto games came out. No one wants to think their kids have some taboo desire to be a criminal or terrorists but it's fine if they're Allied Soldiers or Athletes.

Game companies always point to their games rating and some of the aforementioned in game options. Popular Chains have now even begun to respect the ratings and the controversy has appeared to die down. However its just like getting booze, all you need is an older friend - sometimes a stranger will do.

If you want to try (and likely succeed) at beating the DI Video Game Guy on Xbox Live Ill be around: Docholliday8706

Playing Now: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, NHL 10

Wish I Was Playing: Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 2

"Clear Eyes Full Hearts Can't Lose" Friday Night Lights changes things up and succeeds

Originally published on The Daily Iowan Arts Blog 11/1/2009

The fall brings two of my favorite past times to the fore front: Football and the fall TV season. While many viewers are going to work at a northeast paper company, grabbing a pint at their favorite Philly bar, or singing infectious pop songs with their hip Spanish teacher a select few are putting on their shoulder pads to enjoy the drama under the Friday Night Lights and every night in between.

The reason I use the words “select few” is because the fourth season of the once hit show is back on DirectTV channel 101. Unfortunately for myself and all the others in Panther (or should I say Lion) nation, we don’t have the satellite service and are left in the dark until spring, when the season airs on NBC.

However, fans have no reason to complain; in fact they should rejoice and praise DirecTV for taking a chance on one of the best shows on TV. After a lackluster second season, there was no reason for either the satellite provider or NBC to pick up a third season. And while last season was strong and harkened back to season one – one of the best seasons of any show ever – DirecTV picked up not one but two more seasons!

Like many Friday Night fanatics I had to find an alternative means to see last Wednesday’s premiere and while I know this means I will be one less viewer come spring, my excitement consumed me as this last season lived up to my expectations ten-fold.

To state the obvious, Coach Eric Taylor is a stallion. Any self-respecting guy is lucky to grow up to be half the man he is. He takes anything that comes his way and meets it head on and is the perfect lead character to have in case a show needs to shake up its formula. The same can be said of Tami Taylor (Connie Britton). Her quick tongue and Coach’s stubborn will make for TV’s best couple. Period.

It’s a true testament the actors and the writing that a show is able to stay fresh for so long. Sure season two's infamous rape plotline went on longer than it should have but other than that, the show remains strong even with character’s graduating from Dillion High and this season is the best example of that.

While I don’t want to give anything away for those waiting for the NBC season, the lines in Dillion, Texas have been clearly drawn and I can’t wait to see where they lead.

Geeks unite at Prairie Lights

Originally published in The Daily Iowan 10/16/2009

Whether it’s Dungeons & Dragons, the Choose Your Own Adventure series, or simply sword fights in the backyard, role-playing games have been steadily changing since the ’70s.

Author and Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast Ethan Gilsdorf explores this evolution of role playing in his first book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, from which he will read today at 7 p.m., at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St.

As with many of his fantasy-loving counterparts, Gilsdorf said he originally picked up the polyhedral dice (the Dungeons and Dragons weapon of choice ) to escape into a world without the problems of reality during his childhood.

“What makes the fantasy realm so compelling is that it’s backward looking and much more romantic,” he said. “You just had your sword, the village you lived in, and the creatures that endangered your little corner of the shire.”

The weekends he spent scouring dungeons for gold, fighting orcs, and rescuing princesses — all in the comfort of a friend’s basement — eventually gave way to new adventures. He said he felt he couldn’t pursue his desires to develop new friendships under the social stigma associated with the game.

“I forcefully had to say this was something I didn’t want to be a part of,” Gilsdorf said. “I wanted to get the girlfriend, go to parties, and drink beer.”

Many years and a marriage later, he said the success of The Lord of The Rings movies rekindled his interest in fantasy role playing even while he lived in Paris.

“When those movies came out, it was very hard not to think of that time in my life,” the writer said.

After digging up his old Dungeons & Dragons gear, Gilsdorf embarked on a quest to discover the new forms gaming and fantasy life had taken on. A lot had become part of the mainstream.

Robin Johnson, a UI graduate student in media studies, said mainstream acceptance of role-playing societies could leave it in danger of losing its appeal among its ardent fans.

“When any kind of subcultural practice becomes mainstream, it becomes less intimate,” Johnson said. “The hard-core [fantasy players] will find their culture has been robbed because they have no control of what mainstream does with it.”

Gilsdorf said another big reason for fantasy’s mainstream success is the popularity of massive multiplayer online role playing games, such as World of Warcraft.

“Online gaming can be absorbing because it’s acceptable to spend so much time in front of your computer,” he said. “[But] I think it is largely good as long as it brings people together. It’s as healthy as playing cards on a Friday night or other social activities.”

Whatever the next step, Gilsdorf said role playing and cyberspace will continue to interweave, but neither are a replacement for the real thing.

“One of the reasons there is resurgence in live action [role playing games] is because of the more time people are in front of screen,” he said. “There’s a tactile face-to-face element that is impossible to re-create.”

Capture any stray light

Originally published in The Daily Iowan 10/09/2009

The steep climb to the Picador’s second floor is no longer as precarious as it was when the venue was known as Gabe’s.

That news will make Straylight Run drummer Will Noon very happy. The musician said he remembers hauling gear up Gabe’s metal mass of stairs when his former band, the now defunct Breaking Pangaea, played at the venue years ago.

Noon will return to Iowa City to ascend those remodeled stairs tonight and will bring new company this time around — John Nolan and Shaun Cooper, formerly of Taking Back Sunday. Together, the three musicians make up Straylight Run. At 6 p.m. today, the alt-rock threesome will overtake the Picador, 330 E. Washington St. Admission is $12.

Because of a contract with Nolan’s and Cooper’s former group, Chicago-based label Victory Records released Straylight Run’s self-titled first album. After the band recorded a second full-length album (The Needles The Space) and an EP, the band joined Universal Republic Records. Noon said the label led the band to believe it knew how to support the album, which he called its “least radio-friendly record.”

“They pushed one song on the radio, and they said they didn’t know what to do,” he said.

With such little support for its album, he said, Straylight Run left Universal Republic Records. Cooper now splits time between Straylight Run and Nolan’s sister Michelle DaRossa’s band Destry.

Since its fallout with Universal Republic, Straylight Run runs independent of any big labels. Noon said the three are responsible for organizing tours, new music releases, and music videos, and he prefers the extra work.

“It’s nice to have a bunch of people working for you,” Noon said. “But there are times when they are distracted on other things. I’d rather have three of us working really hard than 300 not working hard.”

The band is on tour promoting its new EP, About Time. As was the band’s last release, the new tracks are only available through download.

“EPs aren’t a huge commitment,” Noon said. “If we put something out and we can’t tour, we can get right back in the studio and record new songs.”

The new sound the band explores is less melodic and more folk-oriented, therefore setting it apart from Nolan’s and Cooper’s previous bands and records.

“It’s hard to step out of that,” Noon said. “We’ve always been the odd man out.”

Emo stalwart The Academy Is... returns to Iowa City

Originally published in The Daily Iowan 10/01/2009

The Academy Is … bassist Adam Siska’s last visit to Iowa City was painful.

Literally.

He cut his right index finger on a broken glass bottle last spring while at the Picador, 330 E. Washington St. The accident put him in the hospital, and forced him to rent a car and go home for four months while the rest of the band continued the tour.

Siska and the band will return for a show at the Picador at 6 p.m. today, with You Me at Six and the Secret Handshake opening. Tickets are $17.

Siska said he is excited about coming back to Iowa City, partially because of the residents.

“I was surprised at how many beautiful women are walking around Iowa City,” he said.

The group played an all-acoustic set in April that showcased Siska’s talent on two songs. He admits that although acoustic shows allow the band to showcase its music in a different way, he looks forward to performing an electric set.

“I prefer the energy of electric shows,” he said. “An acoustic bass doesn’t sound as good.”

Siska — a native of Barrington, Ill. — said his fans’ energy helped the band rise above other pop-punk groups that came out of the Chicago suburbs, such as the Audition and the Junior Varsity.

“There was something really special happening in the Chicago suburbs from 2001 to 2004,” he said. “It was like Seattle in the ’90s or San Francisco in the ’60s.”

The perceived lack of music opportunities in the Midwest — as opposed to larger coastal markets — played a large part in attracting fans who were “really behind the bands,” he said, and the majority of those fans were teenagers.

“It’s an age where you look to music to get away,” he said. “When you’re trapped in the Midwest, music takes you somewhere else.”

However, as the Academy attracts older fans, the 21-year-old Siska said his band has to work harder to connect with new audiences while still keeping original fans interested.

“As you grow, things change, and it’s hard to relate to where you were in high school,” he said. “As you get older, music becomes secondary.”

The band tries to move forward through evolution in its music. The band’s second album, Santi, featured a more alternative-rock style as opposed to the straightforward pop-punk sound of the first album, Almost Here.

“They’ve been collecting pieces of a puzzle,” Siska said, “We still haven’t made our best record.”

The band members plan to do a lot of writing for a new album while on the road. In the meantime, fans can enjoy their new EP Lost in Pacific Time. The disc has five brand-new tracks and is available only through digital distribution. It was recorded on the band’s tour bus, and its release was a surprise for fans. The title is taken from a line in the band’s song “New York (Saint in the City),” which refers to the effects from touring across the country.

“It’s become a daily part of touring to be in a new time zone,” Siska said.

A version of the EP is also available on the band’s website as well as at its shows, but not in stores. Siska said he and his bandmates decided the record was better suited for a digital release.

“It wasn’t something we needed to put in stores,” he said. “We didn’t want it to feel like you’ve seen months of advertising.”

2 Cents to play: Sports games & male bonding

Originally published on The Daily Iowan Arts Blog 9/20/2009

My earliest video game memory comes from when I found an old Intellivision in my grandparents basement. Despite its archaic graphics, I was able to convince my parents to let me take it home with us. There were only two games left with the system; a space invaders rip-off and a baseball game. The latter of which lived in the system. My dad and I spent hours in our den adding to the bitter rivalry between the Red Team and the Blue Team. It became more about the bonding experience than anything else.

Sports and video games are a perfect marriage. Both feature competition and add to the traditional gamer demographic – the adolescent male. Furthermore, they allow sports fans to live out fantasies beyond their skill level which makes it a no brainer that the Madden series is not only the most popular sports game series but also one of the most popular franchises period. If you don't believe me check out this brilliant piece of marketing:

[Video: Madden 08 "Field Generals Ad."]

It's amazing these games cause players to look past any socio-economic differences. Unfortunately, other sports games get left under the radar, namely EA Sports’ NHL series. Some of this is due to Hockey’s status as one of the least popular sports in the U.S., behind only soccer. However, there isn’t one gamer over 18 who doesn’t have fond memories of late night marathon sessions of NHL ’94-’97. The series is a staple in guy culture, it’s even made appearances in male oriented comedies like Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Swingers.

Last year’s NHL 09 is one of, if not the, best sports game ever made. It is the one game I can say I played with my roommates from the its release last year, to last Monday night, less than 8 before the 2010 version came out. This is just subjective experience either. The game garnered twelve “Sports Game of the Year” awards, according the NHL 10 box; a feat any current generation Madden entry has yet to accomplish.

What’s more is these games are a great way to introduce gamers to sports they wouldn’t seek out otherwise. During the 2006 World Cup, my friends and I started playing FIFA World Cup 2006. We then followed the real life tournament with more interest as we knew at least one player from all the major countries. On the same note, I wouldn’t be able to name more than two Chicago Blackhawks if it wasn’t for NHL 10.

If football wasn’t as popular as it is, the Madden series wouldn’t be the pop culture phenomenon that it is. Football games make for a slower experience than hockey, and if you’ve ever gone back to a Madden entry on the Sega Genesis or Super Nintendo, you’ll see what I mean. On the other hand, any NHL game from the same era still holds up as well today as it did upon its release.

As the new Madden 10 faces less than spectacular sales, gamers are clearly looking for new sports to fix the twitch in their thumbs.

-Tyler Lyon