Arts 2008 Archive

arts 2008 archive

KBIA News brings you a look at arts and entertainment this week in mid-Missouri in Off the Clock, with host Maureen McCollum.

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12/26/08 Christmas moments in Columbia; and how local artists are handling the economic slump With host Janet Saidi.

12/12/08 An interview with the star of the one-man show, The Santaland Diaries and KBIA's Janet Saidi sits down with Scott Swafford to talk about his punk band and the group's reunion concert in Columbia. Hosted by KBIA's Maureen McCollum.

12/5/08 Mother Electirc is a rock band from Chicago playing in Columbia. KBIA’s Brian Lewis spoke with lead singer and song-writer Jason Ehwers, who shared some of the stories behind his songs. And, folk singer Shannon Murray was on MU’s campus this week. Murray is a member of the music group Riot Folk. The group seeks to promote change through folk music. KBIA’s Samantha Liss reports. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

11/28/08 We challenged our student reporters at KBIA to compile audio postcards – a montage of sights and sounds put together in a radio story. In this week's Off the Clock, we kick back and enjoy some of the sights and sounds of mid-Missouri. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

11/21/08 Author William Least Heat-Moon has made a body of work out of hitting the road and writing down the stories he finds. He has returned to the little-known roads of America with a new book, Roads to Quoz. Heat-Moon visited the KBIA studios and spoke with us about his latest book. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

11/14/08 Dr. Sami Al-Arian was arrested in February 2003 by federal agents, and accused by the U.S. government of aiding terrorism. Norwegian filmmaker Line Halvorsen's new documentary The USA vs. Sami Al-Arian tells of the effects of the case on Al-Arian’s wife Nahla, and on the four Al-Arian children. Halvorsen joined us in the KBIA studios this week to talk about her documentary. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi. Pictured above: Dr. Sami Al-Arian (second from right) with his four of his children.

11/07/08 PostSecret founder, Frank Warren, visits the MU campus. KBIA's Maureen McCollum talks with Warren about the importance of sharing secrets. Also, KBIA's Chad Mira reports that students are having a hard time getting tickets to Mizzou football games. Hosted by KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer.

10/31/08 It’s also the final stretch into election day, this Tuesday … An exhibit at the state historical society of Missouri is showcasing cartoons from the past century. And KBIA’s Ken Boehlke has this story about a haunted house in Columbia that sounds … truly scary.

10/24/08 Members of organizations like the American Kite-Fliers Association gathered at Bethel-Cosmo Park in Columbia recently to show off their kites. They were promoting world peace and equality. And, KBIA’s Brian Lewis reports on a poetry slam at Wrong Daddy’s Nightclub in Kirksville. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

10/17/08 Stephens College hosts its annual Citizen Jane film festival. KBIA’s Carolina Astrain caught up with a local film-maker and Stephens College professor Kerri Yost. And, comics gather at the Columbia Art League on 9th Street to make a 24-page comic in 24 hours. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

10/10/08 In this Off the Clock, we have three stories about image. A children’s theatre gets a big facelift. A local group looks at ways to beautify the city of Columbia. And Betty Winfield of the Missouri School of Journalism talks with us about how the first lady's image has a strong influence on the public’s opinion of the President throughout his term. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

10/3/08 Much of downtown Columbia is transformed into a concert stage, and a barbeque pit, for the Roots N Blues N Barbeque festival. One of the festival's singers is Bettye Lavette, who got her start in the Motor City music scene back in the early 1960s. KBIA’s Laura Parkinson spoke with Lavette about what’s gone into her music over the past four decades, and what it’s like to suddenly be – after four decades in the business – a big sensation. The Bel Airs are an eclectic bluesy band led by two brothers, Dick and Dave Pruitt. They’e been making music together for 20 years. Laura Parkinson caught up with Dick Pruitt, and began the conversation by asking what goes into the band’s sound. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

9/26/08 Columbia comes to life with more than 40 live performances, literary readings and visual arts displays at the Columbia Festival of the Arts. The literary arts stage features readings and dramatizations including Betty Cook Rottmann's “Girl of the Depression.” KBIA’s Laura Parkinson spoke with Rottman to find out what “Girl of the Depression” is about. Also, KBIA's Daryl Kirkland Morgan reports about how the Downtown 8 cinema in Kirksville is being transformed into a haven for international film. And KBIA's Laura Parkinson brings back sounds from the Heritage Festival. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

9/19/08 Writer, essayist and journalist David Foster Wallace died by suicide in September at age 46. Wallace's writing became popular in the 1990s, during the grunge scene. We talk with MU English Professor Sam Cohen about Wallace's life and writings. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

9/12/08 The play “The Front Page” is on stage at the Missouri Theatre in the Maplewood Barn’s production. The play is about reporter Hildy Johnson, who is trying to quit his job to literally catch a train that will take him to the rest of his life. The play is part of the Missouri School of Journalism's centennial celebrations. We talk with Charlie Wilkerson, who plays Hildy Johnson, and director Byron Scott. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

9/05/08 The sounds of jazz music return to Columbia with the kick off of the We Always Swing jazz series. This year’s jazz comes in with a bang with the band Son Venezuala at the Blue Note. The concert’s being billed as the Party of the Century - celebrating the Missouri School of Journalism's 100th birthday. We talk with We Always Swing director Jon Poses about the J-school party. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

8/29/08 The gender wars and general mayhem are taking the stage this weekend at the Maplewood Barn Community Theatre. It’s presenting a contemporary production of Lysistrata. Two of the actors in the play stopped by the KBIA studio this week to read some lines and talk about what it’s like presenting this classic sex farce for a contemporary audience.

8/22/08 Palestinian writer Ibtisam Barakat shares her reflections on Darwish, poetry and politics, and what she calls the “M” generation. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

8/15/08 An inteview with the co-chairs of Boone County’s one-read program: Doyne McKenzie and Sally Abromovich. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

8/01/08 An interview with the makers of “The Singing Revolution” – a film playing this month at RagTag CinemaCafe. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

7/25/08 A report from the Columbia chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild...and an audio postcard from the Boone County Fair. Hosted by KBIA's Sara Wittmeyer.

Click the arrow below for video of the pig races at the Boone County Fair.

7/18/08 "Plan Nine from Outer Space" opens at The Maplewood Barn Community Theatre and an audio postcard with the MU Summer Singers. Hosted by KBIA's Janet Saidi.

Exene 7/11/08 Catching up with Exene Cervenka (pictured, left), formerly of the band X, on her farm in central Missouri. Hosted by Janet Saidi.

Janet also spoke with John Doe, former bandmate of Cervenka's in X and in the seminal alt-country band The Knitters. Hear the complete conversation in streaming audio here.

7/4/08 A visit to an alpaca camp in Rocheport and a preview of MU's Summer Repertory’s Cabaret. Hosted by KBIA's Krysten Chambrot.

6/27/08 An audio postcard from the High School Rodeo Competition and The ClassiCrawl.

6/20/08 MU journalists remember Tim Russert, and weigh in on the tone and volume of media coverage of his death ... and, Columbia's Videologist works to keep the art of music video alive.

6/13/08 Stephens College Theatre's busy summer continues ... and, an audio postcard from the Twilight Festival.

6/6/08 A Columbia native makes a documentary about a Seattle music legend ... and, ragtime comes to the Missouri Theatre.

5/30/08 Art in the Park celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

5/23/08 The Kansas City area celebrates the latest American Idol, David Cook ... and the wonders of "Mr. Stinky Feet," a highlight of the "Jiggle Jam" family music festival.

5/16/08 Shakespeare's tragic play "King Lear" is one of those classic texts – like so many of Shakespeare's - that seem to be about something that happened in the 17th century, but always applies to today. It's about a King whose biggest fault is not being able to see – to the loyalty and the hypocrisy that's right in front of him, in his family and in politics. As with many great tragedies, our protagonist Lear does come to understand, but only when it's too late.

The play is currently in production at Columbia’s Maplewood Barn Community Theatre. Here's the conversation with two Maplewood regulars involved with "Lear," Byron Scott and Charlie Wilkerson.

5/9/08 St. Louis and Kansas City may be in the same state ... but when it comes to the history and culture of the two cities they're farther apart than their miles suggest. Marc Wilson is the director of Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He visited the studio recently to talk about the arts in Missouri's two major cities, particularly what Wilson calls a vibrant arts scene in Kansas City. Wilson grew up on a tobacco farm overlooking the Mississippi River, and was educated largely at east-coast schools. But after attending Yale University, where he studied Asian art, Wilson returned to Kansas City because he says it’s the "greatest center for Chinese art" in the United States. We also spoke about an exhibit running though June 15 at Nelson-Atkins entitled "In the Public Eye: Photography and Fame." Here’s the conversation.

5/2/08 The protest song has a long history in America dating back to Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and more recently hip-hop artists like Tupac Shakur. In Columbia, a rap group made up of Hickman High School students is making the rounds. They're inspired by current issues. KBIA's Sean Powers met up with "Disrupted Perceptionz" at Mojo's recently, and talked with them about what's on their mind.

Click to hear any of the following three cuts from Disrupted Perceptionz' recent Mojo's performance:
El Diablo
Relative Feelings
Dark Places

The MU Silver Screen Film Festival attracted talented students showcasing their original films before a live audience. KBIA's Drew Lincoln caught up with some of the film-makers, the producers, the editors, and these were student films so often all those titles belonged to one guy.

4/25/08 Grammy Award-winning double bassist Ray Brown was an inspiration to many artists in the jazz world. And three of those artists are coming through Columbia this weekend...Benny Green, Christian McBride and Greg Hutchinson play Murry's this Sunday as the Ray Brown Tribute band. For Green, McBride and Hutchinson the project is personal: all three musicians knew and were inspired by Brown. KBIA's Michel Moreau dug up some of the music and got some of the memories from pianist Benny Green. Here's their conversation.

Shhhh...it's a library. That's not something you're likely to be told at the Columbia Public library. Patrons are more likely to be bombarded with the club music of DDR, or the riffs of guitar hero, the laughs of preschoolers... And that was the case recently as KBIA's Jacqueline Lampert found out. She went to hear storyteller Eeenee Ferrano. Ferrano was performing for a group of preschoolers this week as part of this year's mid-Missouri Storytelling Festival. Not a quiet affair. Here's the story.

4/18/08 The sounds of steel drums and instruments from around the world filled Jesse Hall in Columbia recently, as the World Percussion Ensemble took the stage. KBIA's Ken Boehlke was there and gathered some of the night's sounds into this audio postcard.

Whoever it was that said kids don't enjoy old-fashion values hasn't been to see "Falcon Tor." It's a medieval role-playing organization in central Missouri that offers re-enactments, sword and sorcery fantasy games, and "boffer fights" – for ogres, elves and fairy princesses ...or, as their website says, anyone who wants to live in a Tolkien novel. KBIA's Matt Jeffries got into the role-playing medieval fantasy action recently ...and brought back this audio postcard.

Click here to visit "Falcon Tor's" website.

4/11/08 "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music" is the title of a national exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum. The exhibit uses photographs, old recordings and instruments to celebrate the nation's musical heritage. Next year the exhibit comes to Missouri, and the Kirksville Arts Center has been chosen as the exhibit's first stop to launch the Missouri tour of the exhibit. KBIA's Ryan Spencer has this report on why Missouri arts organizers are already excited about this exhibit.

For more information arts in Kirksville, visit the Kirksville Arts Association website.
For more information on the exhibit, visit the Museum on Main Street Smithsonian site.

Also on Off the Clock...

On the first Thursday night of every month, blues musicians and neighborhood people grab instruments and head to Boonville's historic Turner Hall for a monthly Blues Jam. It's hosted by the Turner Hall River Rats for the Arts, who clear the stage each month for anyone who wants to perform. KBIA's Akiko Oda went to this month's jam session. It was hosted by guitarist Rick Aiken and the Temporary Blues Band. They dedicated the jam to the memory of a friend, musician, who passed away earlier this year.

4/4/08 If you're in a book club you already know that getting people together to choose one book to read is a complicated process. And what's it like when an entire community gets together to choose a book? Well, that's what the Daniel Boone Regional Library and the surrounding community does every year – we choose a book to read. Together. It's called the "One Read" program and this year's choice was recently narrowed down to two books. KBIA's Jashin Lin got the scoop on this year's choices and the process so far.

At a recent art exhibit featuring the work of MU faculty members, the exhibit became more about the museum-goers than about the art. The exhibit "Other/Self" uses hidden cameras and television monitors to explore themes like narcissism, voyeurism, self-image and other good stuff. KBIA's Martin Winkler caught up with artist J.J. Higgins at the George Caleb Bingham Gallery on the MU campus, and got a tour.

Top: Higgins' clear tent represents one's feeling of isolation.

Bottom: Higgins' "Kissing Booth" displays a mirror, lipstick, clean wipes, and an eye lash curler: objects showing how people create themselves at the start of each day.

3/28/08 Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood is the first book by Ibtisam Barakat, a Columbia writer whose memoir is a rare look into the experience of growing up in Palestine's occupied territories. In the book Barakat recounts her early childhood. She was three years old when the Six Day War between Israel and Arab countries ended with Israel occupying the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Two hundred thousand Palestinians fled their homes during the Six Day War – Barakat's family was one of them. The three-year-old Barakat lost her family during the chaos, while tying on one of her shoes. It's one of many details in this memoir that brings out everyday aspects of growing up Palestinian.

We spoke with Barakat last year when Tasting the Sky was first published, and replay the conversation now in an archive edition of "Off the Clock."

Encore broadcast from 04/06/07.

3/21/08 The latest project of The Missouri Contemporary Ballet, a dance company based in Columbia, is called "ROCK," and presumably it does just that. The program combines ballet choreography with rock songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s. KBIA's Matt Jeffries caught up with the company at a recent rehearsal, and he has this story...with a little help from Sting, and Mick Jagger.

MU Journalism Professor Steve Weinberg says he loves reading novels about the lives and work of journalists. He started collecting journalism novels more than two decades ago, and since then he's added thousands to his collection, which is held at Ellis Library. KBIA's Sean Powers invited Weinberg into the studio where they spoke about what journalists can get out of journalism fiction. Here's the conversation.

3/14/08 Treasure hunting usually conjures images of pirates and gold and sunken ships. In fact, because of a new hobby known as letter-boxing, treasure hunting is alive and well in central Missouri and the rest of the country. People who call themselves "Letter boxers" are making their own intricately-crafted rubber stamps, and hiding them, with notepads, for other people to find. They leave clues on the internet. And the result is a new national past-time. Letter boxers are reportedly a secretive lot, but KBIA's Austin Coates recently caught up with one and went...hunting.

MC Lyte Hip Hop artist MC Lyte has been a force in the music industry for nearly two decades. The rapper, actor, and author recently came through Columbia to speak with students at Stephens College. KBIA's Mike Moreau used the occasion to call her up and find out what's on her mind. Here's their conversation.

Visit MC Lyte's official website by clicking here. (Photo from official website.)

3/7/08 Columbia got its huge fix for independent films last week when the popular True/False Film Festival swept through downtown, featuring nearly 40 films and drawing record crowds. But as KBIA's Tyson Sprick found with this story, college students in Columbia have created a sort of spin-off festival. Here's the story.

On the heels of the True/False festival, a film called "Box Elder" premiered. It's an independent movie, it's made in Columbia ... and it shows through the weekend at RagTag CinemaCafe before going on tour to cities throughout the South and Midwest. With KBIA reporter Mu Li, Sara Wittmeyer has this story.

2/29/08 If you live in Mid-Missouri and love film, this weekend is Christmas for you. It's the weekend of the annual documentary film festival known as True/False. This year's festival showcases dozens of films shown to hundreds of film-goers, over four days at venues throughout downtown Columbia.

The band "They Might Be Giants" has been making music for 25 years – since capturing the college crowd in the 1980s. Partners John Linnell and John Flansburgh make up the band – they're performing the closing party for True/False. They're in the middle of a big national tour so we talked about what it's like on the road, and getting old. Here's the conversation.

Cherry Street Artisan is a major True/False venue – it's hosting some parties, some music, and also serves as a box office for the festival. KBIA's Sean Powers was at the Artisan last night – he met up with a throat-singing pirate named Baby Gramps, who has quite a fan base in Columbia.

2/22/08 The RagTag Theatre, a vestibule for all things cinema, moved to its new location earlier this week. KBIA's Sean Powers got a tour of the new, two-screen theatre.

And, the Moberly Community College auditorium was alive with classical music during a recent performance there by The Roadkill Clarinet Quintet. The five musicians that make up the quintet have a passion for classical music that has lasted throughout their partnership...unfortunately, so has their unconventional name. KBIA's Matt Jeffries caught up with the guys in Moberly and has this story.

2/15/08 The True/False Film Festival returns to Columbia Leap Day Weekend. It's non-stop with movies, Q-and-A sessions, debates, and parties. Preparations are underway now for the annual festival, and passes are sold out. This week's Off the Clock checks in with the festival's co-director Paul Sturtz, as well as an area artist who's showcasing her work during the event.

And, the main gallery at the Missouri Historical Society is currently dedicated to a Native American lithograph exhibit. The prints date back to the mid-1800s. KBIA's Catherine Wolf reports.

To access archives of Off the Clock features in streaming audio, click on year: