6A
Friday, February 17, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU Weekend
University Daily Salamand from
Feb. 17, 1972, showing a story on the February Sisters.
Left: Portion of a show commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the Sisters. The event will be held from 7 to 9 tonight at the Lawrence Arte Center, 200 W. Ninth St.
Art for Sisters'sake
Tonight is the 23rd annual commemoration of the February Sisters' occupation.
Video still courtesy of Janet Davidson-Hues
By Susanna Lööf
W Women's studies majors at the University of Kansas have an incident that happened 23 years ago to thank. The incident, which was initiated by a group
of women known as The February Sisters, led to the formation of the women's studies program.
Every year since the incident, the women's studies program has arranged forums to honor the mothers of the program. This year's forum will be from 7 to 9 tonight at the Lawrence Arts Center, 200 W. Ninth St. The event is free.
In February 1972, several women at KU decided that they had had enough. No longer could they accept not getting promoted as rapidly as their male colleagues. No longer could they accept the lack of child care on campus. No longer could they accept having their voices silenced and their demands
They had to do something.
They occupied the East Asian Studies building.
"We had been talking to the administration for almost a year," said Carolie Brune, budget analyst at KU. "But no progress had been made."
In 1972, Brune was a graduate student, staff member and divorced mother of two young children. She was one of the occupants.
The inspiration for the occupation came from a speech given by feminist poet Robin Morgan, said Pat Henry, clinical social worker in Topeka and one of the occupants.
Brune said they chose the East Asian Studies building because it was small and because it had a kitchen. The building, which no longer exists, was located a block and a half from Corbin Hall.
About 200 women stayed outside, Henry said. Some of the nearly 25 occupants, who were all either KU students or employees, brought their children.
Henry said the occupation had been planned in secrecy for two days. It began in the early evening, and shortly thereafter press releases were sent to the local media.
"The children were excited," she said. "They experienced the occupation as a big slumber party."
"I think it is amazing that what we did is still remembered."
The women were both afraid and excited, Henry said.
"We felt very powerful as a group," she said. Out of fear of consequences, the women covered the windows of the building to protect their anonymity.
"I was very scared, because I could have lost my job, and I could have been kicked out of the University." Brune said.
Brune said the supportive atmosphere in the building made her feel safe during the occupation.
CarolJean Brune
Member of February Sisters
"But I was worried abo-
what was going to happen
when we got out of the
building," she said.
The Sisters made several demands of the University that they said had to be met before they would agree to leave the building. Some of their demands, in addition to a women's studies program, included a woman's health program and child care on campus.
After 13 hours of peaceful occupation and a night of negotiation between representatives of the February Sisters and the University, the Sisters' demands had been partially met.
With their identities protected by a large group of women outside the building, the occu pants left the building. Because of the crowd, nobody could tell which of the women had been inside.
"Nobody knew," Brune said. "We left the building at 7.30 a.m., and I was at work at 8.30 a.m."
The women kept their identities secret for several years.
Both Brune and Henry said they thought the occupation was effective.
"Over time, all of those changes we demanded would have happened," Henry said. "But it would have taken a longer time, possibly 10 years."
"I think it is amazing that what we did still is remembered," she said. "The occupation was only one of many things that happened at that time on campus."
Brune said she would attend the forum tonight.
The theme of this year's forum is "Women's Art as Political Resistance."
"Art communicates issues powerfully," said Kae Chatman, head of the 1995 February Sisters committee. "It can help people who aren't familiar with women's issues to get a brand new shocking look at the issues."
Janet Davidson-Hues, multi-media artist and professor of art at Indiana State University, will give the keynote address of the forum. She will speak about art and feminist political resistance and show slides of her art, Chatman said.
The forum also will feature poetry readings by local poets, a multi-media performance and an art exhibition displaying work of several Lawrence artists.
In addition, a group of students will perform a choreographic interpretation of the February Sisters' occupation and the development of women's issues on campus.
Eileen Force, Chicago junior, is one of the seven students performing the choreographic interpretation.
"The February Sisters are important because they marked the beginning of the women's movement at KU." she said.
In the dance-performance, the students, who are women's studies majors, bring up issues they feel are important at KU today, such as safety on campus and the prejudices connected to feminists and women's studies majors.
"It upsets me that I can't feel safe walking to the library when it's dark," Regan Cowan, Scottsdale, Ariz., freshman, said.
The performance also stresses the notion that there is nothing wrong with feminism.
"When I tell people I'm a feminist, they
Some of the art that will be displayed tonight duri-
nage the commemoration of the February Sisters.
assume that I'm a lesbian or a hardcore woman," said Valerie Kelly, Lawrence senior.
Caroljean Brune said she feared that changes the Sisters fought for were in danger.
"I think the battles we won 20 years ago are going to have to be fought again," Brune said.
High-tech museums make art accessible
By Barbara Haugen Associated Press Writer
Exhibitions
Since 1990, multimedia wizards on the museum's staff have created five interactive video stations within galleries. Visitors can poke a computer screen to summon film clips, animation and narration about nearby works of art.
Other art museums, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, are installing interactive computer programs or already have them. But the Minneapolis Institute of Arts was the first to put its kiosks right in the galleries, encouraging people to connect what they learn from the programs with the actual artworks, said Scott Sayre, manager of interactive media for the museum.
MINNEAPOLIS—At the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, some works in progress could be titled "Pixels at an Exhibition."
The newest kiosk opened in November in the "Art of the Americas" gallery; others are nestled in the African, Asian, European painting and photography areas. More are in the works. They're among several computer projects the museum has on its palette to help demystify art so more visitors can enjoy it.
Created with $1.5 million in grants from General Mills, the interactive kiosks are meant to reach out to people who like art but have no background in it. Savre said.
The museum's programs, which have won several national awards, contain a wealth of information but are easy enough for a child to use.
On a recent Sunday, 7-year-old Sonja Crockett was engrossed in the photography gallery program. An animated sequence, directed by onscreen buttons she pressed, demonstrated how cameras work and how photographs are developed. Other sequences described various photographers and showed examples of their work.
Sonja's father, David Crockett, a self-professed photography buff, said he was impressed by how the program discussed how photographers choose their subject matter.
Sayre and his colleagues turn artworks into pixels — the little dots that make up a picture on a computer monitor — by scanning images of the works. They work closely with curators, educators and other outside cultural experts to arrive at the final display.
"It's really fun, especially for kids her age," said Sue Crockett, Sonja's mother. "They work with computers at school, so there's a comfort level."
In the past 25 years, museums have recognized the need to increase their intellectual accessibility by becoming educational centers for their communities, said Edward Able, executive director of the American Association of Museums in Washington, D.C.
"It's not the issue of attracting new audiences. It's the issue of being better institutions," Able said.
Interactive technology has been used for years in science and children's museums, he said. But
applying the same technology to art museums is more challenging, and MIA's work in the field is on the leading edge in the art museum community. Able said.
In the past, museum visitors with no background in art history sometimes found art intimidating and unfamiliar, said Louise Lincoln, curator for African, Oceanic and New World cultures.
"It itse very remote from their own experiences," Lincoln said. ("The kiosks) change how you look at an object completely."
The latest digital project at MIA will allow home computer users to visit the institute on line. Beginning this month, anyone with Internet access will be able to take a "virtual tour" of the museum through the Minnesota Telecommunications Network's River service, said Tamara Blaschko, MTN's development specialist.
"It makes (the Institute) available to people in Duluth, Mankato, Papua New Guinea — anywhere in the world," Savry said.
Users would make local calls to their Internet gateway providers and then contact MTN's "home page" at http://www.mtn.org to reach MIA's section, he said. Other American art museums already offer images, discussion forums or bulletin boards on the global computer network.
Sayre said several other Minnesota museums, including the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Walker Art Center, were preparing to join MIA on the Internet.
Preppy profs?
The kansai is continuing to take nominations for best-dressed professors. So if your Latin teacher is a looker in linen or your sociology teacher shines in satin, let us know at B64-4B10.
Events
Tonight
Mercy Showcase, featuring Salty Iguanas, Slack-jaw and Walking on Einstein, 10 p.m., cover charge, At The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St.
The Blue Racers, 9 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St.
Indigo Groove, 9 p.m., #2, at Johnnie's Tavern, 401 N. Second St.
Aces and Eights: 9:30 p.m.
$3, at Cadillac Ranch, 2515 W.
slth Xt.
Lonesome Hounddog, 10 p.m., $3, at The Jazwus of Lawrence, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
Tomorrow
Jimmy Thacker and the Drivers, 9:30 p.m. cover charge, at The Grand Emporium, 3832 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
Showertrick and Happy Teryllyk 6, 9 p.m. $2 for non-students, at the Frontier Room in the Burge Union.
House of Large Sizes with Boy's Life and Frog Pond, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck
Single White Males, 7;9:30 and midnight, $4, at The Renegade Theatre, 518E. Eighth St.
Blue Museum, 9 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe.
Common Ground, 10 p.m. $4, at The Jazzhaus.
Indigo Groove, 9 p.m., $2, at Johnnie's Tavern.
Sunday
Jimmy Thackeray and the Drivers, 9:30 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Molly McGuire with Shiner, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Blue Museum with Starkweatherts, 9:30 p.m., covercharge, at The Grand Emporium.
Monday
Open Mike Night, 10 p.m. cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Panel Donor with Black Calvin and Amputator, 9 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Tuesday
The Authority with Blueshadow Beggars, 10 p.m. cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Allen Macfarlane, 7 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe.
Nnenna Freelon with Lonnie McFadden, 8.p.m. cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Wednesday
WTCS Benefit, featuring Mountain Clyde, Ricky Dean Sinatra and Showert trick, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Shane's Private Earthquake, 8.p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe
Lonnie Ray's blues Jam, 10 p.m., $2, at The Jazzhaus.
Lee Milo and Tishan, 9:30 p.m., cover charge, at The Grand Emporium.
Thursday
Danger Bob, 10 p.m., cover charge, at The Bottleneck.
Tim Cross and Ben Graham, 8 p.m., no cover charge, at Full Moon Cafe.
Heifer with Toe Truck, 10 p.m., $2, at The Jazzhaus.
Bottle Rockets with Lawn Jockey, 9 p.m., cover charge, At The Grand Emporium.