8
Friday, September 22, 1978
University Daily Kansan
working on recovery
Since an accident in early August, bluegrass fiddler Billy Sparrow has been forced to tie lie on his hospital bed in Kansas City Mio.
As his feeling improves, his fears of being permanently paralyzed are slowly fading and the thoughts of playing his cherished fiddle are never far from his mind.
Diversified artists come together in new showing at local gallery
Rv SARAH ILES JOHNSTON
Reviewer
What does the art of Mike Otto, John Tallure, Raymond Eastwood, Colette Bangert, Barbara Frets, Evehnne Barber, Barbara Coffman and Helm and Judy Howell have common?
Nothing. But that's the point.
It was all collected earlier this month for a display by Kellas and Plat Bair, co-owners of the 72 Gallery, 7 East Seventh St. The first of the season, the show is an excellent opportunity for new students to become artists in the form of nine area artists. The show ends Sept. 27.
It's also a good opportunity for local connoisseurs to catch up with their favorite artists. All the work in the show is new, and in one case, O.K., departs quite a bit of our usual work.
Roberts, of Shawnee Mission, produced two small water-jewels for the show.
Anyone who has collected shells on the beach knows the shock of recognition that the eyes receive when they spot a cowry or scallop hidden in the sand.
Roberts' painting gluts the sheller's
KANSAN Review
acquisitiveness with a closely packed array of perfectly formed, perfectly rendered examples, each complete to the gleam of sun on its wet surface. They are displayed against a sandy background. It's difficult to force watercolor to a realistic point of optical resolution, but Roberts' sand is gritty enough to make your feet itch.
Ott, KU associate professor of art, is also displaying watercolors. They represent familiar Lawrence scenes, such as the Catfish Bar and Grill.
These paintings may surprise OT's followers, who are used to his purposely kitchy approach. But a viewer breaks the habit of searching the pictures for hidden visual jokes, he'll appreciate the works for what they offer—vivid, vivid, vivid—reverent examples of town landmarks.
Frets, Raytown, Mo., presents large acrylic "naphthals" of underwater scenes. Scuba-clad men swim awkwardly in water, while the children against ghostly backgrounds of azure blue, sprinkled with spit-like air bubbles. The puffed cheeks and floating hair of their faces, turned candeliity to the painter, make them look as if they're teetering between life and death.
Other works in the show are the prints of Tallure, KU professor of art, which have a vital and primitive style; the large acrylic close-ups of flowers by Kellas, which are the work of Peter Rudolph; the work of English's prints, creating space on a two-dimensional surface; landscapes by Helm of Lawrence; and the computer-based ink and wash abstracts of Bangert, another well-known artist, on an extent, cold and pandemonious, although every interesting in their uniqueness.
Of special note are the oil landscapes of Eastwood, KU professor emeritus of painting and drawing. The yellow skies, red clouds, and white hills reflect an awareness of Kansas's vigorous health.
Spears battles paralysis
"I still can't touch that little finger," he said with a sigh. "The doctor said my hands would be last."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. --Bluegrass fiddler Blair Spears was lying flat on his back Tuesday, toying with a small yellow block in his hand. A smile spread easily across his thin face as the wooden block shifted between his fingers.
Bv BRUCE A. WELLS
Staff Writer
A week ago he couldn't even hold it.
Lawrence's popular fiddle player has been paralyzed for a month and a half. In early August Spears was at a small country pond in Oklahoma with some friends. He casually played some tunes as the rest of the group swam in the pond's cool, muddy waters. As they prepared to leave the tranquil scene, Spears decided to take a quick dio.
"I knew I'd be paralyzed when I hit it," he said, reflecting on the short dive that resulted in 24 stitches to his head and a fractured knee.
A log hidden beneath the pond's surface almost ended what had been a successful and satisfying career for the Lawrence musician.
Declined in his bed in room 518 of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Spears was just recently injured of a metal clamp that was attached to his skull so that his neck would not move. The clamp was replaced by a ponderous neck-brace that he will wear at least six more weeks. But the fears of permanent paralysis are slowly fading.
"Each day it gets a little better," he said, a recently used whelcamirt just outside his door testifying to his improved condition. "It has been a bit better."
Although thankful for the feeling that has gradually returned to his feet and legs, Spears spends much of his time working on his hands. Thoughts of replacing the yellow block with her cherished fiddle are never far from his mind.
but are going is not easy, Spears said. Twice-a-day physical therapy sessions help but are difficult and slow to show results, he added.
**keep in a white I think, 'Gilt, it can't going to happen,' but I keep at it.'** he said. "One morning I woke up and myoes felt like they were in hell."
"I lay around at night and try to get my fingers to work," he said. "I have some nuts to work with to give them strength."
But Spears remains a bluegrass musician.
Doris Sperls is indeed hopeful. She said that she hoped to bring her husband's fiddle to the hospital in the next couple of weeks and to have him home soon in Lawrence on weekends. She visits him daily.
"It's been harder on her than on me, I think," he said with a smile.
Despite the slow recovery in his hands, Spears' attitude remains positive. He attributes much of this to his wife, Doris.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Although the friends, therapy and positive frame of mind add to the optimistic atmosphere in Spears' hospital room, neither he nor his wife are overly confident about his physical condition. Once a patient is X-rayed and the possibility of surgery materializes with each test.
Spears has received more than 300 cards from well-wishing friends all over the country. On August 30th, the Lawrence Opera House, a local nightclub, held a benefit concert for him that met not only the fans but also his family andilly's friends and fans have been a great comfort since the accident.
Nightlife
"I probably won't be getting up again until next spring or summer," he said, with a mysterious twinkle in his faded blue eyes.
"Well, the next time I go swimming, I'm going to wade in and check it out. I'll tell you that."
Lawrence Opera House, 644 Massachusetts St.
- Cole Tuckey, Sept. 22-23, 9 p.m. to
12:30 a.m.$1.50
- South of the Tract Band, Sept. 27, 9 p. to 12am, afree until 10 p.m and 5 p.
*Echo Cliff*, Sept. 29, 9 p.m. to 12:30
a.m. *12*, general admission and
ticket sales.
out-the-Wall Hall, 737 New Hampshire St.
*Marmota Street, Sept. 2015, 9 p.m.*
Off-The-Wall '757 New Haven, St SR
Merging Traffic, Sept 22, 9 p.m. to midm
noon
midnight. $1.50.
* North Fork Express, Sept. 28, 9 p.m. to
Spare Time
- North Fork Express, Sept. 28, 9 p.m. to midnight; $150.
- Nairobi Trio, Sept. 23, 9 p.m. to midnight,*
**$5**
- Mike Beisner Quartet, Sept. 27, 9 p.m. to midnight. $3
- Jam session, Sept. 28, 9 p.m. to midnight
- Pentimont CoffeeHouse-Cafe, 611 Vermont St.
- A Al Biles and Ralph Nicol, jazz duo, Sept. 22, no cover charge.
David Leach, folksinger, Sept. 27, no cover charge.
Al Brune, ragtime piano, Sept. 24, no cover charge.
- Judy Kreeger, folk singer, Sept. 24, no cover charge.
- K. C. Heylin, mellow folk and country,
Seet, 23 no cover charge.
- Dave Larkin, folk and pop singer, Sept.
23, no cover charge.
- Scott Stuewe, original instrumental,
Sept. 23, on cover song
- Dreamland Swing Band, Sept 25, no cover charge.
- Elliot Golden, Sept. 25, no cover charge.
* Allen Cook, piano, Sept. 28, no cover charge.
- David Charrand, progressive folk, Sept.
28, no cover charge.
Bulwinkle's, 806 W. 24th St. Private Club.
Disco.
G. P. Loyd's, Seventh and Massachusetts streets.
The Sanctuary, 1401 West Seventh St. Private Club.
Shenanigans, 901 Mississippi St. Bar, Dicco.
J. Watson's, II. Hurlest School. Cluttered Center.
Movies
SUA
Car Wash, with Richard Pratt and George
Carpin, Sept. 22, 2330, 7:30 p.m. or
1:30 p.m.
Cleopatra, with Claudia Colbert, Sept. 25,
7:30 p.m. $1.
No Lies, Fear and Rape Prevention: No Pat Answer, Sept, 26; 7:30 pm $1.
Citizen Kane, with Orson Welles, Sept. 27,
7:30 and 9:30 p.m., $1
Medium Cool, with Robert Foster and Vern Bloom, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m. $1.
The Last Remake of Beau Geste, with Annie and Marty Feldman, 29-30, 3/4 to 7 ft.
Tommy, dr. by Ken Russell, with Ann Margaret, Sept 29-30, midnight; $1.50.
Recitals
Student Recital Series
- Sharon Learned, flute, Sept. 23, 8 p.m.
Swarthout, free.
- Joe Utterbak, jazz piano, Sept. 26, 8 o.m. Saworth, free.
Faculty Recital Series
- Larry Maxey,琴判 and Linda Maxey,
marmiba, Sept 25 m.8, w.Sawhout, free.
- Leon Fleischer, piano, Sept 29, 9:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
Concerts
Kansas City Philarmac, Mozart, I Love You Madly, Sept. 22, 23, 8 p.m., Grace Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th Street and Broadway, $7.
Exhibits
The Gallery, 745 New Hampshire, pottery, painting and sculpture by Dornsey Newman
Lands' Gallery, 918 Massachusetts. Mrs. Kiefer and Mary Jane Gracehrough through images.
Valley West Gallery, Holiday Plaza at 23rd and Iowa streets, fabric, silk screens, prints and Kansas watercolors by Charles Sanderson through September.
76 Gallery, 7 East 17th street, New Works, Colette Bangert, Raymond Eastwood, Evonne English, Barbara Frets, David Helm, Judy Mike, Liane Qt, Barbara Johns and John
Spencer Museum
Kansas Union Gallery, Hermann Zapf and Modern Calligraphy, Sept. 6-Oct. 2.
- Reproductive Print-making, until Oct. 1.
- The Dyer's Art: Ikat, Barik, Pliang, Sept
3-Oct. 8.
Theater
Wooman, by Paul Stephen Lim. Sept. 28.
Oloom, in Iguane Theater, 8 p.m., free lot; KU
Toronto, at 1200 St. James's Place.