University Daily Kansan / Friday, April 21, 1989
Arts/Entertainment
11
Museum exhibits Benton's paintings
Artist shows scenes of U.S. experience
Thomas Hart Benton's "Self-Portrait with Rita," painted in 1922, is displayed at the exhibit.
by Max Evans Kansan staff writer
KANSAS CITY, MO. - Painter, writer, musician and historian.
Thomas Hart Benton was all these things and more, and through an exhaustive effort by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City. Mo., the public is being offered a place of the man through his work.
Until June 18, the museum will present "Thomas Hart Benton: An American Original," an exhibit of the artist's paintings.
Of the 89 pieces in the show, 12 belong to the Nelson-Akbar Museum of Art, some belong to the Missouri-bent Benton's estate and the remainder are on loan from museums and private collections.
Overseeing the task of organizing the exhibition is Ellen Gheean, coordinator of the Thomas Hart Benton exhibit. Gheean, who has been working on the exhibit since September 1985, said that the undertaking, which also includes a documentary by the Public Information Society, Benton biography, was of a scope never before attempted at the museum.
"This was our first attempt at something like this," Goheen said. "We had to re-invent the wheel."
Gobeen said that response to the exhibit had been positive and that coverage by the media, which included stories in magazines such as Time and Newsweek, had been "tremendous."
"This is a feather in our cap."
Gheeen said. "The Smithsonian ran a 28-page article on the exhibit, but I was tood it was its largest ever."
Painter of history, romance
Painter of history, Romance
The exhibition opened Sunday to an audience of more than 5,000 people, said Robert Schwarz, night watchman for the museum on Tuesday and staff members on an average Sunday was around 500 but
that the museum anticipated in future weekends the number would grow beyond 5,000.
wnat usually happens on exhibits like this is that people keep putting off coming to it and then in turn giving up. "The body shows up," Schwarz said.
Wednesday morning, buses of anxious viewers were already lined up as the museum staff opened the doors.
Although none of Benton's written work is on display, his role as a U.S. historian is clear in many of his paintings. Often known as the leading U.S. muralist, his "American Historical Epic" represents his ability to seize the past with power and eloquence.
In this series of 18 murals, depicting what Benton called "The Explorers and Adventurers of Early America," settlers struggle against a hostile environment. For example, the woodworking firm is poised to plow the earth, and "The Axes" depicts them clearing a forest.
But, subtler moments of grace and romance are captured in other Benton works on display. In the paintings of his wife, Rita, his daughter, Jessie, and personal friends he chose to paint, one can sense the special relationship Benton shared with these people.
Bold display of works
Benton was born in 1898 in Neosho, Mo., the southwest corner of the state, and died in January 1975.
The exhibition contains works from all periods of the artist's life, from his early experimentation with impressionism and pointillism, to the development of a unique style forged from his desire to be an artist for the common man. Indeed, he would have been painting he would rather have his paintings hang in brothels and saloons where real people go, in museums.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is neither a brothel nor a saloon. However, this will be the public's only chance to view many of the paintings, and Gheen said the installation of the exhibition featured brightly-colored props and backgrounds,
"We tried to adventuresome." Gohen said. "Usually, you see paintings shown against a white wall; but here, we tried to capitalize on the artist's use of rich and sensuous colors."
A 90-minute documentary film about Benton, which is part of the "Thomas Hart Benton Centennial Exhibition 1899," was the work of Ken Burns, whose works include documentary features on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the history of the Statue of Liberty.
film is scheduled to air in the Kansas City area April 25 on KCPT, Gloheen said. The rest of the country has a chance to see it in November.
The Benton exhibit is sponsored by the United Missouri Bank of Kansas City and will close at the museum June 18. After Kansas City has closed, artists from other cities: the Detroit Institute of Arts from August to October; the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York from November to February; and the Los Angeles Museum of Art from April 1900 to July 1990.
Admission to the exhibit is $3 for the public and $1 for students and children ages 6 to 18. On weekends. Pay online and every hour to help control crops
Singer Guy Clark to perform tonight to promote album
by Candy Niemann Kansan staff writer
He's just a regular Guy
He just a regular Guy.
For singer/songwriter Guy Clark.
music has never come easily.
Growing up in Monahans, Texas,
he never had the urge to play until,
the age of 16, he met his father's law
partner, Lola Bonner. Bonner taught
Clark to play the guitar, and
to play singing or writing songs
since.
"It but it doesn't come naturally for me," Clark said. "It takes a lot of hard work and self-discipline. You have to be willing to fight for the words to come like magic."
But magic or not, the words have come.
Cark, who recently released his sixth album, "Old Friends," will be performing at 8 tonight at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St. Tickets
He is best known as a songwriter, having written hits like "Heartbroke" by Ricky Skaggs, "The Carpenter" by John Conlee, and "Desperados Waiting For A Train" by Jerry Jeff Walker.
"Singing and songwriting are inextricably linked for me," Clark said. "I don't have any reason to sing without songwriting, and I don't have any reason to write songs without singing."
Before 1832, Clark had been touring with a band. But he soon came to realize that solo work was what he really enjoyed.
Until recently, Clark, who considers his music closer to folk than country, had not released an album since 1983.
"That is what I originally learned to do," he said. "I wanted to go back to my roots."
"I wanted to take some time out and look at what I was doing." Clark said. "There was no pressure on me to produce."
Guy Clark
Friends," Clark has done just that.
clark wrote seven of the 10 songs on the album, with one song written by his wife, Susanna, and Richard Baldwin, and one written by Jole Ely. and one written by Joe Ely.
Clark recently toured Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. His current U.S. tour will continue into May with stops in Arizona, Tennessee, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut.
And with his new album, "Old
"He is the songwriter's songwriter," said Lawrence concert promoter Rick Frydman. "He is the dean of the Texas school of songwriting."
His big break in songwriting came in 1970 when he was working in a local band, Beach Calif., playing for Los Angeles publishers executives in his spare time.
Growing up in southern Texas. Clark said he was influenced by the mixture of blues, country, Cajun Mexican and Irish music in the area.
There he met publishing executive Jerry Teifer, who signed Clark to Sunbury Music after listening to him play four songs.
But for Clark, songwriting will always be a challenge.
His advice to aspiring songwriters?
"Write what you know about. And write with a pencil that has a big eraser."
--margaret hashinger hall residence center for the creative arts 1632 engel road lawrence, kansas 66045 913/864-4390
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--margaret hashinger hall residence center for the creative arts 1632 engel road lawrence, kansas 66045 913/864-4390
A PlaceToDiscover:
738 Massachusetts
Mon.- Sat.
Thurs.
Sun.
9:30 - 5:30
9:30 - 8:30
1 5
We've Expanded!
Sunday 23
Open House
8th Floor Lobby
5th Floor
KJU Kairi
Hashinger Theatre
7:00 pm
Saturday 22
Special edition
Sneaky Pete's
coffee house
8:00 pm
Hashinger Theatre
Tuesday 25
Dale Eidred
sculptor
4th floor dance floor
7:30 pm
Don Carlton
Doensby cartoonsia
4th floor dance floor
8:00 pm
Monday 24
schedule of events for spring arts week, April 1989
Wednesday 26
Wednesday 2b
Korean Floor Dancers
4th floor dance floor
7:30 pm
Thursday 27
Ticket to
Tienda Party with
KJHK
Hashinger front porch
3-6 pm
Poetry Reading
4th floor dance floor
7:30 pm
Fri/Sat/Sun
the musical
Gospel
6:00pm
Hashtaw Park
Friday and Saturday
and Sunday
PANEL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:
BUSINESS ETHICS SEMINAR Friday, April 21 1:30-3:30 Big 8 Room, Kansas Union
ALMINA KELLIIS, Training Specialist & Project Manager for Arthur Andersen & Co.'s (Chicago) Business Ethics Program
JUDGE DEANELL TACHA, Federal Judge for the United States Court System in Denver. Co.
YOU DON'T NEED A COUPON!
Legal Services Available Free With Valid KU ID
LARRY MONTGOMERY, Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery.
This Undergraduate Lecture Seminar is open to the public and is sponsored by Arthur Andersen & Co. & Delta Sigma Pi.
Appointment Necessary
148 Burae Union (913) 864-5665
18 Burge Union (913) 864-5665
Legal Services for Students
The University of Kansas Theatre Announces Auditions for the
KS $ ^{2} \mathrm{T} $
KANSAS SUMMER SHAKEPEARE THEATRE
THE ELMS SUMMER THEATRE
Saturday & Sunday, April 22-23, 1989 Room 209/Murphy Hall
Open Call:
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 22
to be engage for the company, you must have been enrolled during the spring semester 1989 or plan to enroll during the summer 1989.
Sign up for specific audition time from 1-5 p.m.
Thursday & Friday, April 20-21 in the
Murphy Hall Lobby.
Prepare a 2-minute audition piece (or cold reading material will be provided).
Callbacks
Callack hacks will be posted in the Green Room Sunday morning
1:30 p.m. ---completion Sunday, April 23
KANSAS SUMMER SHAKEPEARE THEATRE, KU
(May 29 July 26)
Two Gentlemen of Verona (all female cast)
The Taming of the Shrew (all male cast)
THE ELMS SUMMER THEATRE, EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO
(June 18-July 30)
The Odd Couple (Male and Female Versions)
We will be selecting a 21-member paid acting company for $KS^2T$.
Applications for paid technical positions are available in 317 Murphy Hall.
For further information, contact:
University Theatre
317 Murphy Hall
864-3381