THURSDAY,APRIL17,2003 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 9A New bookstore adds touch of culture By Cal Creek ccreek@kansan.com Kansan staff writer David Wilcox's distinctive folk music plays softly while customers quietly sip coffee and converse. A young man peruses theology books while a middle-aged bald man chats at the register with an employee — all in all a typical day at Signs of Life. "Art, books, music and coffee, these are our passions," said manager John McClain. The new bookstore opened three weeks ago at 722 Massachusetts St., the former home of Danish Inspirations. The store is home to a variety of books, an espresso bar and an art gallery. The gallery and coffee bar opened about five to six weeks ago, McClain said. McClain began work on opening the store about a year ago with store owner Clay Belcher and gallery curator James Schaefer. "We want people to think about important ideas," McClaim said. He said he left his job in advertising to be a resource to the Christian community and to be a positive role in culture. "We really don't think of ourselves as a Christian bookstore," McClain said. "We're a couple of Christian guys; we love good books, good art and good music." According to McClain, about 70 percent of the books in the store fall under the genre of Christian Theology. Their music selection, which is growing, includes work from Christian, jazz, folk and Americana styles. The store also features live musical performers, such as a bluegrass group from Americana Music Academy. The musicians either perform in front of the large store-front windows or on a stage in the back. "I just like the atmosphere," said Mindy Young, Wichita senior and first-time customer. "It's wholesome, it's comfortable." McClain's wife, Kristen, liked the concept of combining an art gallery with a bookstore. "I think it shows that Christians have an interest in art and culture," Kristen said. At the heart of all this activity, the espresso bar, several tables, chairs and couches are spread out in front of the coffee counter. "We want to bring culture to downtown," McClain said, "We want to be part of that culture." McClain puts in about 50 to 60 hours a week running Signs of Life with Schaefer and Belcher. The store is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Sunday. The gallery's first show, "Light and Shadow Never Stand Still", opened March 7, and featured landscape work from a variety of artists including photographer Edward C. Robinson III, abstract artist George Wingate and landscape painter James Winn. Winn described his art in a pre- pared statement for the show. "My intention, the real subject, is an attempt to present the Sublime, to give the viewer a glimpse of the Transcendent nature." The gallery's next show will feature the work of Bruce Herman. The show will open Friday. Herman will be available to speak with at the opening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and he will be speaking at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the store. Schaefer said a great deal of Herman's work dealt with suffering. "He has made me realize, I would avoid suffering at all costs," Schaefer said, "It definitely pierced some darkness in my life." Schaefer said he was working on a list of philosophy, theology and art books that inspired the artists the gallery featured. He said he wanted to make the list available to customers. Signs of Life's peer bookstores have been receptive to the idea of a new Christian bookstore in town. Michael Martell, owner of the Catholic bookstore Lumena Books, 2201 W 25th St. Suite G, said he had heard rumors of a store opening downtown. Martel said now that the rumor has been confirmed, he would pay his fellow Christian book slingers a visit. Edited by Brandon Gay Testimony begins in CU dismissal case The Associated Press DENVER — Testimony has begun in the court case the former chief of the University of Colorado medical school, who was forced out of his chairmanship last year, brought against the school. dismissal from the administrative position. Robert Schrier still is a professor at the medical school but has gone to court in Denver to try to force the university to rescind his Phillip Wolf is another professor at the medical school and on Tuesday told the court that Schrier covered himself and the school in glory during the years he was in leadership. Wolf said during the 26 years Schrier was in the post, he raised millions in grant money and other funding. The program attracted the brightest faculty and residents, said Michael D. Iseman, another professor of medicine. And the dismissal tainted Schrier's stellar reputation, said Thomas Eugene Andrelli, chairman of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences department of internal medicine. "When an event such as this occurs people say, 'My goodness, here is a man who has done a spectacular job. Why has he been dismissed? Is there some kind of impropriety on his part?" Andreoli said. Schrier is asking U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Boyd Boland to rescind the dismissal. Schrier alleged that school administrators dumped him because he was vocal in opposing relocation of CU's medical school and hospital to the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center site in Aurora. kansan.com We Buy, Sell Trade & Consign USED & New Sports Equipment 7th & Florida 7th & Formal NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2003 Studios, 1BR, 2BR, 3 BR w/ 2 baths & 4 BR w/ 2 baths - Furnished Apt. Available - Furnished Apt. 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