Section A • Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, January 20,1998
Museum curator goes fishing
Ichthyologist explores fish in Cuban waters during monthlong trip
Scientists and filmmakers use a diving rig to explore the waters off the coast of Cuba. The 41-member crew investigated the previously unexplored region for a Discovery Channel documentary, which is planned to air early next year. Contributed photo.
By Carl Kaminski
Kansan staff writer
A University of Kansas ichthyologist returned last week from the expedition of a lifetime.
"They're going to make a film of it like they did for the Galápagos. Robins said
Richard Robins, curator emeritus at the Natural History Museum, joined a team of scientists and filmmakers on a month-long trip to Cuba. The team, which was sponsored by the Discovery Channel, investigated coastal waters that had been relatively unexplored.
The Discovery Channel, which plans to air the documentary early next year, assembled an award-winning film crew. Members have been responsible for several projects, including underwater photography in the film The Abyss and documentaries like Galapagos: Beyond Darwin and Carrier: Fortress at Sea.
Robins joined 41 crew members and scientists aboard the research vessel Seward Johnson after he was invited by his friend, Grant Gilmore, the mission's chief scientist. Robins, who had sailed with Gilmore during previous trips, was listed as a consultant to the group.
It was the first time Robins had been on an oceanographic trip since he retired from the University of Miami and moved to Lawrence in 1994.
"KU has given me a place to hang my hat," he said.
The trip allowed Robins to confirm his theories about aquatic life off the coast of Cuba, life that had not been studied with modern Western technology.
The Soviet Union explored the waters in 1985, but lacked the sophisticated technology scientists on this expedition had at their disposal.
Robins said that the submarine, which was used to explore the waters at depths of
up to 2,000 feet, had equipment that could drug the fish and could suck them into buckets of seawater in the submarine. The fish then could be studied and released.
In addition to the aquatic life around Cuba, the crew encountered the diving rig of a French diver while at a depth of more than 700 feet. The diver had tried to set a deep sea diving record there three years ago. Robins said.
"He was long gone." Robins said.
Now that there has been some initial exploration, Robins said that he thought Gilmore would like another opportunity to go back when the weather was better.
Robins, on the other hand, is not so sure if he wants to go back.
"I'm getting on in the years,"Robins,69. said. "I don't know how many more trips like this one I can take."
He also said that getting permission from Cuba for another trip also may pose a problem.
"With the situation with Cuba you never know," he said. "With Cuba you live with that uncertainty."
While docked on Jan. 2, the crew did receive a visit from Cuba's dictator, Fidel Castro, Robins said.
"The visit was not a political visit," he said.
Robins said that he did not get to talk to Castro. But Robins listened to what Castro had to say while he was aboard the ship.
Robins said Castro was very interested in the technology aboard the ship during his for two-hour visit.
Ancient art of calligraphy gets modern look in show
By Chris Horton
horton@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Making its third stop on a five-city tour of the country, "Abstract Expression in Chinese Calligraphy" opened at the Spencer Museum of Art this weekend in conjunction with the museum's 20th anniversary.
The exhibit, drawn from the personal collection of H. Christopher Luce, opened at the China Institute in New York in October 1995 and also stopped in Seattle before arriving in Lawrence. Luce said that because he had made several acquisitions since the exhibit's opening, each show was bigger than the last.
"This is the most complete collection vet." he said.
Luce majored in philosophy and history at Yale, where his passion for art was nurtured by classes in Italian Renaissance and Chinese art. Luce attended graduate school at Harvard, where he studied Chinese and Japanese language.
The exhibit features calligraphy written upon scrolls, wall hangings and albums, which Luce said were small, folding pads used by calligraphers because of their portability.
A freelance photographer from 1973-1987, Luce had a brief hint at the Topeka Capital-Journal. He also has worked as a contract photographer for Time magazine.
Luce has been collecting Chinese calligraphy from the 16th-through 20th-centuries since his graduation from Yale about 20 years ago, he said.
At his presentation "Looking at Chinese Calligraphy through Western Eyes," Luce used familiar modern Western art to illustrate the timeless qualities of Chinese calligraphy.
Luce used works by Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, among others, to depict the similarities he sees between Chinese calligraphy and 20th century Western art.
The exhibit, which runs until March 8. is intentionally different from any previous exhibits of Asian calligraphy, he said.
"This is the first exhibit in the United States in which there is no English translation," he said. "I didn't want people to read the
"This is the first exhibit in the United States in which there is no English translation." H.Christopher
translation and walk to the next piece without appreciating the individual characters."
Luce said he did not want to provide a lengthy historical analysis or chronology of Chinese calligraphy because it would detract from the focus of the collection.
"The point is that this is art," he said. During a question-and-answer session, Luce was asked to explain what was needed to be an art connoisseur.
"Experience is most important. If you look at anything for 20 years, you should hopefully figure out what you like," he said, "A little education doesn't hurt, either."
Alex Tunstall, Bethesda, Md., graduate student in Chinese art history, attended Luce's presentation.
"I liked the show a lot,"she said, "He did a nice comparison of Chinese calligraphy and modern Western views."
John Teramoto, curator of Asian art at the museum, said Luce's approach injected a freshness into appreciating Chinese calligraphy.
"I think it's great to have Christopher come speak to us about his collection because he knows it so intimately," Teramoto said. "The quality of the pieces and calligraphers represented in the exhibit is very fine."
Photo screen by Roger Nomer
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SUA Spring Orientation Spike Lee Sonny Cher DAY ON THE HILL
Jim Carrey
After 60 years of quality programming, Student Union Activities continues to bring superb movies, comedians, lectures and music to campus. Come be part of an organization for students, run by students.
When: Tues., January 20, 7:30p.m.
Where: Kansas Union Ballroom
Free Food & Drinks