Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Friday, October 20, 1989
3
Stan Herd of Lawrence plows the letter 'D' in a Eudora field to start the name 'Dave.'
Kansas' amber waves debut on 'Late Night'
By Melanie Matthes
Kansan staff writer
It happened at a typical Kansas farm.
A combine sat in the corner of a sweeping field of soybeans. A black Labrador puppy ran through the field with his boy companions. The farmer wandered into the field, hooked in the straps of their overalls and looked across the vast land.
And waving in the crisp autumn
were "The Amber Waves of
Days."
The letters were plowed yesterday by Lawrence artist Stan Herd, who used the same field to create his famous "Sunflower Still Life" in 1986. Photos of the letters were here on newspapers and magazines across the country.
Although David Letterman is not a typical guest at Junior and Elizabeth Neis' farm in rural Eudora, the late-night talk show host yesterday paid the couple a visit from his New York studio by satellite and every "Late Night with David Letterman" addict caught a glimpse of the Neis' soybean field with the letters D-A-V-E carved in the field's surface.
The creation of "The Amber Waves of Dave" was one of the comedy acts that appeared last night on Late Night.
Herd said he was contacted by a writer for Letterman's show about two weeks ago. The writer learned about Herd's artwork from her grandparents, who live in central Kansas, and had seen Herd's environmental art.
The original idea for "The Amber
Waves of Dave" skit was to have a Midwestern farmer plow Letterman's name, Herd said, but when the producers saw samples of Herd's work, they decided they wanted the artist to do the plowing.
"This is really a pretty silly thing, and that's what David Letterman is about," Herd said. "I don't in any way consider this art. My only concern was that if they talked about me as an artist they show my artwork. This is not artwork. It's just a sign."
Herd said he would be paid a small amount for his work and would get a free trip to Letterman's studio in New York. He said he would be reimbursed for ruined crops.
Herd ruined about three-fourths of what he allowed will be his.
"I told them that even if I don't ruin an acre of crop, they ought to get more for everything they've done," he said.
The Late Night act was scheduled to be tape Wednesday but was delayed because of rain. Herd said.
Film crews from Action Four News in Kansas City filmed the skit with one camera on the ground and one that was hoisted into the air by a helicopter. The film was transmitted live via satellite to an audience in New York.
Letterman introduced Herd and the Neis family at the beginning of the show and cut back to them by using a show to check the artist's progress.
"It's the sort of thing that is pleasing and fun and that just makes you feel good." Letterman said during the show.
By the end of the show, Herd had completed his work, and Letterman and his audience applauded the final "Amber Waves of Dave."
Herd's wife, Jan, a University of Kansas student, said that Herd was hesitant to do the show, because he was not going to be able to do the kind of artwork of which he was capable. He also did not want a great deal of people showing up to watch the filming because he thought it would add to the confusion.
"If I had had my way about it, I would have billboards and signs up and 2,000 students nearby, but he said 'No.' " Jan Herd said.
Stan Herd said he started preparing for the show early yesterday by plotting points on the field to outline the letters.
There was a rehearsal with Letterman at 3 p.m. yesterday, and the filmed began at 4:30 p.m. CDT.
Junior Neis said that he took time off throughout the day to watch the filming and to help out.
Herd said the farmers work about 14 hours a day at this time of the year because they are harvesting the sovbean crops.
"If I hadn't asked them to come to the field, they would have kept on farming," he said.
As she snapped photos of her husband, the Neis family and the film crew, Jan Herd said, "He gets himself int some of the funniest things."
Stan Herd said, "David Letterman is on the cutting edge of bizarre. I knew he was going to take, but I had some assurance that I wouldn't be humiliated."
Party service supplies killer fun
Kansan staff writer
Tracy Conlin wants to redefine the concept of a killer party.
Conlin, an employee of the Burge Union Food Service, has started a business called the Party Conductor, in which she helps throw a party with a twist - the guests solve a murder mystery.
"My brother and I thought of the idea a few months ago," she said. "I have a Parks and Recreation degree and wanted to do something with my degree right now."
Conlin said that the parties were designed for eight, 16 or 24 people. When contacted by someone for the party service, Conlin said, shemaled invitations to the guests that include clues about the murder, information about the character they would play and costume suggestions. "Doug is what the party is, in a theme party," he
By Steve Buckner
"Basically what the party is, is a theme party," she said.
Collin offers three themes for a party — a 1950s "Malt Shoppe Murder," a 1920s crime that centers on a yacht and an ancient Chinese setting in a mansion. The cost, she said, is the equivalent of a KU football game or dinner for two for a couple, or four times that amount if the host were to pay for the entire event.
Conlin said that the parties were divided into five rounds. Appetizers are served between rounds, she said, and more clues about the murder and information on the characters are handed out. Players also reveal some facts about others, Conlin said, making it possible for one player to know more about another character than did that character himself.
"It was a ball." Norman said. "It kept you occupied the whole time. It was like acting; you're playing all the time. You really had to think.
The parties last about three hours, she said, but could go longer if a meal were catered as part of the deal.
Linda Norman, rural Lawrence, said that she enjoyed her party conducted by Conlin.
"It wasn't like a party where you sit around thinking of things to say. It got people together and was an ice breaker."
"The first party was a real hit," Conlin said. "I got a lot of pointers. The guests said, for one thing, to drink alcohol in moderation because you have to have your wits about you."
Conlin, who works at the business by herself, thinks she has hit on an idea that is different and convenient.
Haskell students publish after 6 months of silence
"I think it's unique," she said. "A lot of people don't have time to plan a party, and I do all the work."
One month ago, Haskell Indian Junior College journalists were informed of the settlement that guarantees them freedom of expression without censorship in their newspaper, the Indian Leader.
Students at Haskell will be able to pick up the Indian Leader today for the first time since April, said Steven, editor of the paper.
By Jennifer Metz Kansan staff writer
Approximately 1,000 copies of the four-page, tabloid-size Indian Leader will be printed for distribution today.
Stevens said that she wished the paper had more content but that it was a relief to get the paper going on its feet.
She said that the past month had been a struggle because she was the only remaining staff member left who had supported the freedom of expression settlement. Other members of the Indian Leader's staff who had been involved in the settlement had quit or resigned from the newspaper during this semester's publication process.
"It's sort of a shame after all of the settlement," Stevens said.
The task of putting out a paper is frustrating, she said, and people buckle under pressure.
"If they mean it, they should see it through." Stevens said.
Typesetting for the Indian Leader took longer than expected because the college has an older form of a typesetting system, she said. The staff is inquiring about obtaining a grant from Apple Computers Inc. to make the production of the paper easier.
Cecil Dawes Sr., printing production coordinator at Haskell, helped the students with technical aspects of laying out the newspaper.
He said that students were struggling but that he would be happy to see the paper finally printed.
"I're like the birth of a new baby," Dawes said. "They have very little experience with journals and didn't know what it all involved."
Stevens said that before she was elected editor, she was vice president of the Indian Leader Association. The association includes students who have submitted work to the yearbook or to the newsman.
Last March, Stevens said that she was elected, not selected, to the position of editor. She said that she had not taken any journalism courses before being elected to the editor's position.
Richard Freeman, Haskell sophomore, was appointed executive editor about two weeks ago, Stevens' said. Freeman said that he had submitted a poem to the newspaper and that Stevens asked him if he was interested in the position.
Stevens and Freeman are the only editors on the newspaper staff. Both editors contributed articles to the newspaper and there were only two other writers who helped out this time.
Freeman said that the staff occasionally asked for advice and opinions from their faculty adviser, Hannes Combes.
"Right now I get the feeling that Hannes won't do anything until it gets out," he said. "Then she'll critique it."
A Sept. 20 settlement gave Haskell journalists freedom to write, edit and publish without faculty censorship.
Richard Freeman looks at the layout for the Indian Leader.
Stacey Gore/KANSAN
Distribution of the first edition of the Indian Leader for the 1989-90 school year begins today.
University of Kansas Presents:
Saturday, October 21st 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 22nd 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
at 23rd & Iowa
Championship Game Sunday, October 22nd 12:30 Memorial Stadium
Please come support the KU Lacrosse Team!