Felner’s follies – Former U of L dean Robert Felner racked up grievances, not grants
When Robert Felner arrived at the University of Louisville in 2003, he brought with him a reputation as a “rainmaker.” University administrators praised the former dean as a change agent, citing him as the driving force behind a spike in grant money at the school. In fact, even after federal prosecutors began investigating Felner for…
Kentucky does Denver – Democratic delegates from the Bluegrass share thoughts on the convention and the future of the party
DENVER — On day one of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Kentuckians in attendance seemed eager to unite their party and move past recent rows over the delegate process. Even with the anointing of Barack Obama as leader of the Democratic ticket under way, Kentucky delegates who backed Sen. Hillary Clinton still were waiting…
Civil (rights) war – The civil rights community begins the post-Coleman era sharply divided
Before his unexpected death in July, the Rev. Louis Coleman had the people in his orbit believing they were each his essential sidekick. Because he was a quick decision-maker who enjoyed independence, Coleman utilized talent from whoever was at arm’s length. And he gave the impression that he needed you above everyone else. In his…
Eyesore
A fire last October destroyed 1246 S. First St., neighbor to these two dumps. The house at 1244 was purchased by Kimberly McQueen and is being rehabilitated. Its neighbor, however, shows little promise. Its owner, Karen Faulkner, has done jail time for ignoring numerous code violations. Before the fire, Faulkner owned all three houses.
What a Week
+3 It’s taken three years of huffing toxic fumes (cough), but it seems most of Louisville’s largest industrial plants finally are emitting fewer toxins. After learning certain pollutants were dangerously high (wheeze), city officials enacted the Strategic Toxic Air Reduction program in June 2005. Now, 30 of the city’s largest plants are in compliance. Although…
WorldFest 2008 – Rodriguez, Tarantino faves Del Castillo headline free gathering
Finding the FM dial in Brownsville, Texas, was tough for Albert Besteiro — there wasn’t one. His parents grew up on Spanish music in the Lone Star border town, but “our generation was more rock ’n’ roll,” says Besteiro, bassist for Austin’s preeminent success story Del Castillo. “I was an American Top 40 fanatic.” He…
Video TapeWorm
by David B. King and Bill Raker Releases on Tuesday, Sept. 2 THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS: MARRIED LIFE 2007; $28.95-$38.95, PG/PG-13 How to explain this? OK, Chris Cooper is married to, and very much in love with, Pat Clarkson, but he also loves his much-younger girlfriend, Rachel McAdams (don’t we all?). So he decides to…
Music Reviews
Youth Novels Lykke Li (LL/PHANTOM SOUND & VISION) I’m not sure what to think when “Melodies and Desires” opens Lykke Li’s Youth Novels. It’s a poetry reading over elevator music, and I find myself waiting on a room full of Beatniks to snap in approval from behind their cups of black coffee. It’s an off-putting…
Inbox — Aug. 27, 2008
CORRECTION Last week’s Book Smart section listed an incorrect publisher: “Louisville 2035” by Steve Wiser is published by WiserAIA Publications. LEO regrets the error. BACKGROUND CHECK, CHECK I have followed the Robert Felner story at U of L on the Internet, in The C-J and now in your paper (LEO Weekly, Aug. 13), and one…
Film Review – French thriller “Tell No One” is a solid import
(Starring François Cluzet, Marie-Josée Croze, Andre Dussollier, Kristin Scott Thomas and Francois Berléand. Directed by Guillaume Canet. UR; 2:05. LEO Report Card: B+) Maybe it’s just me, but have all the good non-action movies been outsourced? The Japanese and Koreans dominate horror movies. The Brits and Chinese give us the good gangster pictures. The latter…
Staffpicks
Thursday, Aug. 28 Women’s Equality Day Back in the day (the early 1900s, that is), a woman’s opinion was never taken into account in any important political decisions. My, how we’ve come a long way. The U of L Women’s Center, in cooperation with the Student Activities Office and Student Activities Board, is hosting the…
Gone Country – Why Rock The Water Tower lost out
This week, summer as we know it grinds to a humidity-induced halt. The kids go to back to school, most everyone’s blown their life savings on that vacation (or the gas it took to make it to that vacation) and we’re all running at half speed. This Labor Day Weekend, Bisig Impact Centre sticks a…
B-Sides – MUSIC & OTHER EPHEMERA – Just like heaven
They sing about booze and broads. They sing about drugs and their Southern roots, given by the grace of God. They sing about hurt, they sing about pain and they sing about things that drive them insane. Poetics aside, Heaven Hill keeps their music simple and Southern. Chuck Willis (vocals) and Teague Ridge (bass), formerly…
Behold the late-summer delicacy: eggplant
Eggplant. Could there be a more tragic misnomer in the vegetal lexicon? Not only does the woefully ill-suited term fail to describe the actual appearance of this delectable specimen (the standard 6-12-inch dark purple oblong fruits don’t resemble any egg I’ve ever seen, and to me, the complexity and personality of this creature conjure closer…
Aftertastes
BLUE NILE ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT, 558 S. Fifth St., 625-7400. If you’re looking for fair-priced, foreign food, the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The restaurant supplies its consumers with a choice of vegetarian dishes, chicken or beef stews, tips and wots. (Reviewed 6/25/08; Rating: 77) CORBETT’S “AN AMERICAN PLACE”, 5050 Norton Healthcare…
Message to the People – Nothing is inevitable: How”s McCain doing it?
I’ve been accused of having an intellectual “God complex.” Some folks think I believe I’m smarter than everybody else. Well, that’s not totally untrue. I do know more than most people. I am a really freaking smart guy. I’m no god though. As Rush says, I just have “talent on loan from God.” My readers…
The Bar Belle – The Face Chug – Everybody”s doing it!
As Bar Belle, it is my duty to keep a blurry eye on trends in the Louisville bar scene. Often I call them out and advise that you steer clear — like drunken texting or Miller Chill. But there’s one activity spreading through the corner taverns in this city that must be addressed and applauded.…
EDITOR’S NOTE: A little too close to truth
Here’s something resplendent: After three years of coordinated assault on the idea that Louisville do something other than the $4.1 billion Ohio River Bridges Project* to address projected traffic concerns, it turns out that earlier this year, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet authorized $49,922.25 in taxpayer money to study 8664, an alternative to the “two-bridge solution”…
Suburban Turmoil – Spend Pals
You can’t live in the suburbs for long without realizing that not all of your friends are attracted to you because of your quirky charm or impeccable fashion sense. Some of them just want to sell you stuff. I learned this the hard way after joining a playgroup a few years ago. Drawn in by…
On Media – The C-J”s summer of discontent
Let’s face it — almost no one is happy with the corporatization of media. When corporations underperform, and boy has the Gannett Co. done that, they go into cost-cutting mode. And when tradition and quality try to stand in the way of profit, profit always wins. That means there’s been a lot more goings than…
Arts + Entertainment Guide
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Arty animals Not your average Jo Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings A+E Guide Listings – VENUES
Profile – Robert Christopher Woolley – Photographer
Submitted photo Robert Christopher Woolley is embarking upon his junior year at Ball State University. While most students his age are just emerging from the undecided realm, Woolley, 20, has a recklessly beautiful future. Robert is one of those kids who seems to love just everything. He bikes, he volleys, he Frisbees, and yet his…
Profile – Kirsten Stallings – Ballet Dancer
Photo by Jane Mattingly I first loved ballet for the same reason most 2-year-olds love ballet,” says Kirsten Stallings, 17, a senior at Floyd Central High School and reputable dancer at Debbie Endris’ Encore Performing Arts Studio in Clarksville. It’s about the glamour of the costumes and the beauty of the movements. “When I got…
Profile – Fong Choo – Tea Potter
Submitted photo Never ask potter Fong Choo how long it takes him to complete a piece unless you want a sarcastic answer, such as “20 years, two days and five minutes.” Truth is, his miniaturized teapots are created in a few minutes. After moving to the United States from his native Singapore in 1983, Choo,…
Profile – Mariam Williams – Actress/Playwright
Photo by Milton Nash I first met Mariam Williams, 28, last summer in a StageLab acting class. She could immerse herself completely in any character, as though she was born to perform. But Williams is more than an actor — she’s also an accomplished playwright and screenwriter. She pretty much grew up with the arts,…
Profile – Noah Church – Muralist
Photo by Jane Mattingly Whether you consider the Highlands a playground or a get-in-get-out- quick locale, you’ve seen Noah Church’s art. His intricate and colorful murals adorn the likes of Café 360 and Ray’s Monkey House. Maybe you’ve even seen him in person. Surely you’ve picked up takeout from Mark’s Feed Store or at least…
Profile – Matt Weir – Sculptor
Photo by Aaron Frank I’ve been an artist ever since I can remember,” says sculptor Matt Weir at his Germantown studio, the expansive back room of a dated warehouse. The 29-year-old Louisville native graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1999 and moved on to pursue a bachelor’s in fine arts at University of Louisville.…
Profile – Matt Payne – Opera Singer
Submitted Photo Matt Payne, 18, is usually wearing a button-down shirt, Wrangler jeans, a leather belt and, of course, his steel-toe boots. His accent reeks of a youth from the inner-depths of Indiana’s Floyd County. A country boy at heart, he enjoys fishing, helping his grandparents out on the farm and the most obvious of…
Profile – Avalon Sutherland – Irish Dancer
Photo by Jane Mattingly If you’ve ever attended the annual Irish Festival, you’ve surely seen the girls with the exquisitely embroidered purple dresses and impossibly curly hair, doing fancy footwork while keeping their upper bodies completely still. And no, they aren’t a part of a miniature River Dance: They’re students from Louisville’s McClanahan School of…
Profile – Justin Kamerer – Graphic Designer
Submitted Photo Justin Kamerer likes rock ’n’ roll. Give him the hard stuff: Metallica, Slayer, Korn. Give him the hard stuff, and he’ll make a T-shirt out of it. The 28-year-old Louisville native and Manual grad makes his living designing merch for rock stars; during a phone interview, Kamerer notes that he’s working on new…
Profile – Yong Ma – Flutist
Photo by O’Neil Arnold Yong Ma picked up the flute at age 9 by accident — a bike accident. His leg was broken, so he wasn’t able to do much else but sit around. His father, a high school music teacher, decided to teach young Yong an instrument. After his wounds healed, the flute stuck.…
Profile – Adam Brown – Actor
Submitted Photo Adam Brown’s already had a day named for him. He’s also played Hamlet, studied Shakespeare in Oxford, England, and performed at the Lincoln Center. He has dozens of commercial credits, just recently appeared nationally on comedian Tom Mabe’s new CMT show “Mabe in America,” and has reprised a role in Actors Theatre’s perennial…
Profile – Valerie C. White – Quilter
Photo by Jane Mattingly The first thing people notice are the colors,” quilt artist Valerie C. White says. “My palette is a hot palette, warm colors, not cool colors. My favorite color? Like my favorite child, I say I don’t have one. But I now notice I have orange in all my quilts, as if…
Profile – Shana Lincoln – Costume Designer
Photo by Aaron Frank Southern Indiana native Shana Lincoln has been a “theater fiend” since she began acting in plays in middle school, and now at 30, working behind the scenes has become her lifestyle. Lincoln does costume design and draping for various theater companies and plays across the country. It was through Lincoln’s high…
Profiles РCh̩ Rhodes Glass Artist
Photo by David Harpe Heated to about 2,100 degrees, glass stays moldable for 10 to 30 seconds after it’s removed from the oven. Similar to his labor-intensive material, glass artist Ché Rhodes took time to develop. Born in Cincinnati, Rhodes, who (at the time) enjoyed partying more than school, found a living in glasswork after…
Profiles – Jen Pellerin & Samantha Griffith – Sculptors/Gallery Owners
Submitted Photo Sculpture was a natural endpoint for artists Jen Pellerin, 31, and Samantha Griffith, 37, co-owners of Steelskin Gallery (312 W. Main St., www.steelskinstudio.com). “I feel like I’ve always been creative and have always taken things apart and put them back together,” Griffith says. “Sculpture was a natural route.” And Pellerin’s attraction to the…
Profile – Beth Rodriguez – Postmodern Dancer
Submitted Photo If necessity is the mother of invention, then where does innovation lie on the spectrum? For postmodern dancer Beth Rodriguez, 31, it’s in cooking dinner, turning on the shower or simply fooling around. “I dance probably every day around the house,” says Rodriguez, who started as a youngster at the University of…
Profiles – Neil Brewer – Actor
Submitted Photo Neil Brewer is one of those natural actors, and he’s serious about his art. The 19-year-old, who resembles a young Jimmy Stewart, grew up in Lanesville, Ind., where his classmates considered him the “creepy kid.” But he who laughs last laughs loudest, and Brewer’s laughter can be heard ’round the world. He admires…
Profiles – Braylyn Stewart – Graffiti Artist
Submitted Photo Braylyn Stewart, 24, wasn’t born in Louisville, but he credits the street-energy here for his distinct brand of art, a blend of graffiti and traditional painting. Stewart became immersed in calligraphy and lettering while in middle school and studied traditional painting in Manual’s visual arts program in high school. His first encounter with…
Profiles – Thaniel Ion Lee – Photographer
Submitted Photo Thaniel Ion Lee of New Albany, Ind., has enjoyed critical success here and abroad, and has showcased his photography and paintings numerous times around the region and on either coast. But he says he doesn’t sell many pieces. “I am the worst artist when it comes to sales. I guess mostly it’s the…
Profiles – Emily Newton – Clown
Submitted Photo Emily Newton has been clowning around ever since she graduated high school. Professionally. Newton, 19, a Brown School and Walden Theatre Alum, was an avid performing artist from a young age, and when she graduated high school, a teacher from Walden passed her a brochure for a school in Southern California called the…
Profiles – Terry Tapp – Tattoo Artist
Submitted Photo What do you get when you mix philosophy, tattooing and the fine arts? Terry Tapp. We’ll let somebody else say it first: Tim Faulkner, owner of the self-titled gallery in Louisville, has an eye for art and artists. “I first saw Terry’s work when I stopped by his shop (Electric Devil) to get…
Profiles – Ashley Brossart – Painter
Submitted Photo The studio is simple. Afternoon sunlight pours in through the large windows, flooding the paint-splattered tarp and leftover salsa jars full of liquid color. Brushes and tools are scattered, though the room has a sense of order and organization, perhaps in a way that has meaning only to the artist. Taped to the…
Profile – Angela Bartley – Dancer/Performance Artist
Submitted Photo What do Mary Todd Lincoln, Rosie the Riveter, Gonzo, Salsa Dance Louisville and “The Call to the Post” have in common? Angela Bartley. This woman is a Jill-of-all-trades. And being a musician, actress and dancer has taken her many places. The 38-year-old got her start at University of Louisville, where she earned a…
Profile – Shermia Love – Actress
Submitted Photo Good things come in small packages. At 5-foot-2 and 120 pounds, actor Shermia Love fits the cliché. A relative newcomer to theater, Love, 20, has already captured notice here, appearing in film, television and several plays. A member of the Catclaw Theatre Company, she just finished performing in “Toulouse-inations.” Playing Marie, one of…
Profile – Scott Caris – Graphic Designer
Submitted Photo Fear is a great motivator” for graphic designer Scott Caris. And what scares him most is being called an artist. It’s difficult to believe, though, that the wacky man behind CircleOne Design is not, indeed, such a person. Caris’ resume extends from Michigan to California to New York and Texas — and, naturally,…
A+E Guide Listings – VENUES
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Arty animals Not your average Jo Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings Guide to local galleries and performance houses 21C Museum Hotel 700 W. Main St. 589-4690 www.21cmuseumhotel.com The 930 Gallery 930 Mary St. 494-7042 www.the930.org About Art Gallery 12902 Shelbyville Road 244-4848…
Arty animals – Are digging art and getting drunk mutually exclusive at the Trolley Hop?
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Not your average Jo Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings A+E Guide Listings – VENUES The difference between East Market Street on any given night and the first Friday of the month is the difference between looking at a postcard and being there.…
Not your average Jo – Posing for a Shayne Hull portrait
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Arty animals Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings A+E Guide Listings – VENUES If I ever need a mug shot, I’m calling Shayne Hull. The 47-year-old artist is behind those faces hanging in Proof on Main, the restaurant inside 21c Museum Hotel. You…
Classic venues, classical music – The best places to hear that crazy long-hair sound
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Arty animals Not your average Jo Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings A+E Guide Listings – VENUES Musical experience is enhanced by its setting in many ways — especially for un-amplified classical music, where the walls, floors and even the atmosphere of concert halls become sounding boards.…
When I spray-paint my masterpiece – After recent false starts, is there a future for public art in Louisville?
Arty animals Not your average Jo Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings A+E Guide Listings – VENUES Two years ago, graphic designer Jeral Tidwell was elated with the city’s decision to establish a wall where graffiti art could be practiced legally. After traveling across Europe — where legal…
A+E Guide Listings
When I spray-paint my masterpiece Arty animals Not your average Jo Classic venues, classical music Faces to name – Artist Profiles A+E Guide Listings – VENUES DANCE BETH RODRIGUEZ DANCE PROJECTS • “Point of Contact” — Aug. 29, Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center. • “Point of Contact” — Sept. 5, Louisville Glassworks. • “Point of…
