An imaginative, collaborative response to ‘Physica Sacra’

Artist Pat Kellogg used an emu egg and mixed media to mimic an engraving from “Physica Sacra” and its corresponding Biblical verse from Genesis 2: 12. Published in the 1730s, “Physica Sacra” explored the correlation between the natural world and their Biblical explanations.

By Allison Reitz

What do you get when you combine a 17th century scholar’s scientific masterpiece, which referenced passages from the King James Bible, and the responsive artwork of 16 New Bedford-area artists? The answer is “Science, Religion, Art,” the newest exhibition to grace the Star Store’s University Art Gallery.

In his sensational work, “Physica Sacra” (1731-35), Swiss scholar Johann Jacob Scheuchzer explored recent discoveries in the area of natural science by incorporating Biblically-themed copper plate engravings by well-known artists of the time. This fusion of science, religion and art may seem peculiar now, but as curator Lasse Antonsen notes, “Like Many scientists of the late 17th and early 18th century, Scheuchzer held to the belief that the Old Testament was a factual account of the history of the earth.”

So how do modern, local artists come into the mix? Antonsen invited the artists to review Scheuchzer’s work and respond to whatever aspect interested them the most. And the results are astoundingly different and marvelously breathtaking.

Some artists took their inspiration directly from the original engravings in “Physica Sacra.” The best example is Roger Kizik’s towering acrylic-and-ink painting “Wiggle Room.” The work manipulates the engraving “Opus quartae Diei” and adds whimsical imagery (such as a curious chipmunk) with vibrant colors. However, the most ingenious part of the work is how it extends beyond the two-dimensional canvas, as the star-filled sky literally spills out from the frame, into a pool on the floor (stars included!).

Other artists use multiple engravings and corresponding Biblical passages to create their response. “The Lord’s Rain” by Jane Tuckerman references both Kings 23: 5 and Genesis 19: 24-25, passages showing the Lord’s vengeance on idolatrous priests and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. The work is visually and emotionally jarring: graffitied human forms fall into a pool of dark hands reaching up from the floor.

Joyce Utting Schutter also drew inspiration from the text (Genesis 1: 21, in this case). For “Opus quintae Diei,” Schutter combines the Biblical creation of the sea and air with the natural scientists Ernst Haeckel’s and D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson’s studies of marine life and birds. Her work seems to be a taxidermist’s crowning achievement, but with a beautiful preserved-and-displayed naturalist look.

However, some of the most beautiful works on display are those which infuse the most of the artist’s own interpretation. For instance, Dianne Reilly’s delicate and ethereal “Triptych?” derives not so much from the “Iacobus aromate conditus” engraving displayed with her work, but from her own views of “Physica Sacra” as a whole.

In her statement she writes that the “institutionalized, internalized and fragmented” (religion, science and art) are the “trilogy of knowledge” and the center of Scheuchzer’s life work. Her own work reflects this, as she combines metal, dried intestine paraffin and thread to create three separate pieces to symbolize this trilogy. As a whole, “Triptych?” is eerily beautiful, thus reminiscent of Genesis 50: 2-3’s reference to the embalming and mourning process and its combination of history, science and religion.

The work of a dozen other artists is on display in “Science, Religion, Art.” The approach, methods and materials of each artist are starkly different from one another, but the exhibition avoids a hodge-podge feeling. Scheuchzer’s “Physica Sacra” binds each piece together strongly and makes “Science, Religion, Art” an exhibition that’s not to be missed.

The University Art Gallery is located in the Star Store at 715 Purchase St., New Bedford. “Science, Religion, Art” will be on display through January 10, 2008. The gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.umassd.edu/cvpa/universityartgallery/.

Curator Lasse Antonsen and various guests review the large format painting “Wiggle Room,” by local artist Roger Kizik. The work is a playful adaptation of a copper plate engraving from the scientific and religious text “Physica Sacra.”

Lasse Antonsen invited 16 local artists to submit their interpretations of Swiss scholar Johann Jakob Scheuchzer’s work for the exhibition “Science, Religion, Art.” The show combines art made from various media, written responses and copper plate engravings from Scheuchzer’s “Physica Sacra.”

‘Nip/Tuck’ gets a face-lift for its new season

By Shara Sarnelli

Old fans and new fans alike counted down the days until October 30 would arrive. FX’s hit, medical drama television show, “Nip/Tuck” reached its fifth season that Tuesday at 10 p.m. During the season finale last winter, plastic surgeons Christian and Sean relocated their practice from Miami to Los Angeles, giving the show an entirely new setting.

Because of the big move, “Nip/Tuck” has lost some of its regular characters, but six still remain including Dylan Walsh (Sean), Julian McMahon (Christian), Joely Richardson (Julia). John Hensley (Matt), Roma Maffia (Liz) and Kelley Carlson (Kimber). Many guest stars will be featured throughout this season like Oliver Platt, Lauren Hutton, Tia Carrere, Jennifer Coolidge, Bradley Cooper, Paula Marshall, Portia de Rossi and, of course, Rosie O’Donnell.

Christian wanted a fresh start, but he couldn’t be without his surgical partner of fifteen years. The team is used to clients appreciating them for their talents alone, causing them to run a highly successful business. So they thought moving to LA would be no problem and everything would simply fall into place. What LA has in store for them was never expected.

Being new to the city, the team has to start off from scratch in the business world, practically disregarding their last fifteen years of incredible work. As Christian says in the first episode of the season, selling the talents of their plastic surgery work is “like selling semen at a whorehouse.”

Luckily, some people in Hollywood give Christian and Sean a lift, whether it’s out of desperateness or maliciousness. Oliver Platt, who plays the role of a nearly hopeless television director, recruits Christian and Sean to add a sense of reality to his unrealistic medical show, “Hearts & Scalpels.” The pair also hires Lauren Hutton, who becomes their publicist for the pricey cost of $5,000 a month.

Relocating cities and starting over is not the biggest twist and challenge these two will face. Somehow, the spotlight that has been hovering above Christian for the past four seasons has faded. Sean becomes the center of attention, enjoying the fame for once, causing Christian to shockingly betray a client of his.

The new season has not yet lost some of the qualities fans have come to love about the show. “Nip/Tuck” continues to embrace comedic charm, intense drama and, most importantly, all aspects of sex.

Watch as Christian and Sean learn all about the glamorous side to fame and just how much people are willing to pay for it every Tuesday at 10 p.m. on FX. Their scalpels are cutting through a different kind of skin this season and it’s bound to be thick.

MATT'S UNKNOWN MUSIC CORNER

Free-for-all music fest: Part 1

By Matt Meylikhov

By Matt Meylikhov

So as I said, there are big plans this week. The thing is — I have so much music I want to share, I’ll never be able to get all of it out. So I have decided to compile a bunch of bands into several articles for your perusing pleasure, and I have split everything up by different categories to help you decide what you want to hear.

Men, Women, and Children — Disco revival. Very energetic and super fun. The opening track to their CD, “Dance in My Blood,” is sure to get everyone moving and it is a lot of fun to sing along to. I saw them live two summers ago and if you’re into this, they’re a great show. Their self titled CD is in stores now.

Nightmare Of You — Brandon Reilly left the Movielife to start this band that mixes elements of the Cure and the Smiths to create an insanely catchy dance rock band. They always make me tap my feet. Brandon has a good way with words too, so the lyrics, while usually fairly dirty, are relatable and well written. They just released a 5 song EP, “Bang!” in stores now.

The Enemy — Think of these guys as a better version of The Killers. From England, these guys write incredibly catchy and toe-tapping good songs. See if you can hear the song “Away From Here.” This is a song to sway to and sing along with. Their new album, “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” is out now. The Enemy is also good for pop-punk fans.

Captain Ahab — Excessively crude, ridiculously lewd, but if you want to dance, they are a perfect band for it. If you liked The Bloodhound Gang in high school, think those types of lyrics, but pushed to a whole new level. Their album, “After the Rain My Heart Still Dreams,” is available on the Internet now.

Motion City Soundtrack — A pop-punk synth band, and one of the best out there now. So incredibly catchy and fun, you have to go buy their albums now. Their new album, “Even If It Kills Me,” is out now. But I’d really recommend getting their first CD, “I Am The Movie.”

The Appreciation Post — This band is a local band from our very own Boston, MA. They’ve been making some splashes recently. They’re very similar to Motion City Soundtrack in the synth-pop punk category. And hey, if you’re into the underground scene, then this is the band for you. If you want to hear them, go to their MySpace.

The Color Fred — If you were a fan of Taking Back Sunday, then you’ll absolutely adore this CD. It’s all the good elements of TBS, with better vocals and lyrics. There’s less back and forth play in the vocals because there is only one singer, but regardless, Fred has a great voice. “Bend To Break” is now out for your listening pleasure.

Gallows — Gallows is a heavy and wild storm of riffs, chords, and screams. For fans of Every Time I Die and the Bronx. Gallows is probably one of the more rising bands in this scene with their recently imported album, “Orchestra of Wolves.” If you just want something heavy to rock out to, Gallows is great.

The American Black Lung — These guys are a little bit less violent in sound than Gallows, but still very heavy and very good. Lots of scream-singing. Good for all ages and races. Their new album, “Sudden Departure of Vultures,” is available now.

Crime In Stereo — This is a fairly accessible band. Their most recent album, “Is Dead,” was produced by the same guy who did Brand New’s new album and some of those elements shine through. It is in no way slow like Brand New, so don’t worry. Very fast, very energetic and very good. Less screaming than the other bands though with mostly singing. If you go to their MySpace and listen to “XXXX (The First 1000 Years Of Solitude),” you’ll find how easily accessible they are to most people.

Ambitions — I love Ambitions. Checked them out on a whim and was so rewarded for it. They have a very good mix of hardcore and other genres. You’d be surprised at some of the stuff you can hear, to edgy guitars and heavy bass. Not a lot of screaming in this band either, so if that’s not your thing, then don’t worry. You’ve got a new friend. Their latest album, “Stranger,” is available soon.

A Wilhelm Scream — Close to hardcore, they are another local band, but they’ve made it fairly big now. Absolutely furious riffing by dual guitars. Very punkish. Not screaming vocals, but very aggressive, kind of like Dropkick Murphys. Great lyrics and great artwork on their albums to go along with it. Their new album, “Career Suicide,” is out now, but be sure to check out their previous release, “Ruiner.” The opening track of that is amazing.

Next week, I will be discussing instrumental bands, metal bands, and hip-hop/rap artists/groups. So look forward to it. Keep sending in any bands you’d like to see talked about to mmeylikhov@umassd.edu and I’ll be sure to give it all a listen.

Sculpture students are defining ‘Beauty’

By Allison Reitz

The group exhibition “Beauty” is located on two floors in the Star Store. The third floor installment includes a plaster hand bearing a special message. The work by Joe Moynihan is entitled, “Lucky Numbers,” and will be on display with the rest of “Beauty” through November 10.

The work of the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ sculpture department fills two separate galleries at the Star Store in New Bedford. The first floor’s Gallery 244 and a smaller gallery space on the third floor house the mixed media works of over a dozen students. The group’s theme and title for the exhibition is “Beauty.”

Upon walking into Gallery 244, a whirring sound fills the air, generated by a strange, unlabeled contraption in one of the gallery’s corners. Nearby is Kevin Arruda’s work, “In the Eye of the Beholder.” The diamond-shaped mirror has the appearance of a pupil and iris. If you check out the exhibition, be sure to get up close to the mirror and look into the center of the “pupil” for a stunning reflection.

On the other side of the room, Kate Frazer’s “my memories are the most beautiful” explores the splendor of remembrance with three shadow-box structures that are filled with found objects. In her artist’s statement, Frazer quotes “Sonnet XLIII” by Edna St. Vincent Millay: “i cannot say what loves have come and gone,/ i only know what summer sang in me/ a little while, that in me sings no more.”

The exhibition continues on the third floor in a small space located two rooms down the hall and to the right of the elevators. Joe Moynihan’s glass-and-plaster creation, “Lucky Numbers,” nicely summarizes the premise of the whole show. Clenched between the fingers of a plaster hand is a fortune cookie mantra that reads: “There is no reference for beauty.”

“Beauty” is on view through November 10; it is free and open to the public. A special reception will be held for the exhibition during AHA! on November 8. The Star Store is located at 715 Purchase St., New Bedford, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gallery 244 of the Star Store holds the majority of the work from the themed exhibition, “Beauty.” However, don’t forget to head up to the third floor for the rest of the UMass Dartmouth sculpture department’s group exhibit.

Look down or you might miss it: Keith Borges’ “Locked Boxes” is mere inches away from the floor in a corner of Gallery 244. However, these miniature safes are so charming that you shouldn’t overlook them!

Photoshop’s layer features

Last Wednesday, Photoshop Part 3, sponsored by CITS, was held in the Dion building. This was the final piece in the three part series, which covered the use of Photoshop’s layer features. Photoshop users assemble layers from different documents, which are used to define and organize a final image. Adjustment layers were discussed as well, as they are used to perform color correction. Text layers and layer styles can be used if desired. Cropping and image size changes were also covered.

THE BEER BARON

Harpoon Winter Warmer

By Gary Albert

Right around the beginning of November is when the Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers start coming off the shelves and the winter styles are starting to fill their places. While I think it is too early in the winter to review a pure winter brew, like Sam Adams Old Fezziwig or one of the many Imperial Stouts I plan on reviewing, this week I’ve chosen a near perfect November brew, Harpoon Winter Warmer.

From Harpoon Brewery in Boston (also brewed in Vermont), the Winter Warmer is their winter selection, replacing the fall Oktoberfest the first week in November. Harpoon is a very good microbrew alternative to Sam Adams or Blue Moon for people interested in easing themselves into more quality beers, especially given the locality and high availability. You can often find Harpoon even at stores that don’t have a large craft beer section, as well as on tap at many restaurants.

Winter Warmer pours a reddish copper color, with a light head that after dissipating leaves a thin, foam film on top of the beer. Before even trying to smell the beer, the cinnamon scent is noticeable. After agitating the liquid a bit, I am able to detect nutmeg and caramel underneath the cinnamon.

The first sip is pure cinnamon. The second sip has nutmeg and a light caramel in the taste, backing up the cinnamon, making for a very pumpkin-like beer, without being a pumpkin beer. There are hints of malts in the background, as the caramel flavor would imply, but the spice is the dominant flavor in the beer, without question. This is not a bad thing, as this is really how it is meant to taste.

There’s no distinguishable hop taste in the beer. I would have preferred it to have some hop character, but according to the brewery, aromatic hops would have overpowered the spices. This is not to say that the beer isn’t bitter, because it is more bitter than sweet. The only sweetness in the flavor seems to come from the cinnamon nutmeg combination.

The feel is easy on the mouth, slightly dry, well carbonated; more so than what you’d expect from a winter beer, but not from a late autumn spiced beer, as this really is. I would really enjoy drinking this beer with my Thanksgiving dinner and it probably fits that holiday more than the others, given its flavor.

At 5.5% alcohol, it is lower than the typical winter warmer style beer and it actually tastes more of pumpkin spice ale than a winter warmer. This also makes it very drinkable and the taste makes it something that you probably wouldn’t mind drinking all night, especially this time of year.

Appearance: 3.5/5

Smell: 4/5

Taste: 4/5

Mouthfeel: 3/5

Drinkability: 4.5/5

Overall: 4/5. This beer is a solid choice and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an alternative to the usual.

If you have a recommendation for a beer for me to review (anything goes), want to comment on or criticize my article, or just have questions regarding beer, send me an email at UMDBeerBaron@gmail.com

RECOMMENDING RHONDA

NCFTA inspires open mic nights and concerts

By Rhonda

If you grew up on the Southcoast, you are probably familiar with the area in Fall River known as Battleship Cove. Battleship Cove, located on Water Street, conveniently adjacent to the water, boasts an array of eateries, such as The Regatta Bar, which has a large patio for outdoor, water-side drinking in the summer, and the artsy Carousel Café, as well as the historic navy warship, the USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. and the World War II submarine, Lionfish.

The area is also home to the Lizzie Borden Museum (located on 92 Second Street), the Marine Museum (located on 70 Water Street), the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum (located on 2 Water Street) and the Narrows Center for the Arts (NCFTA), located on the top floor of an old mill building, directly across from the Water Street Café and the battleships. For more information on the historic sites and attractions in the Battleship Cove portion of Fall River, visit

http://www.fallriverma.org/tourism/tourism_attractions.asp.

If you’re looking to add a little art and music to your life, I highly recommend that you visit the non-profit, volunteer-run Narrows Center for the Arts. The Narrows is located on 16 Anawan Street and boasts a concert space of over 280 seats. The Narrows has hosted such musical artists as Ani DiFranco and Rasputina, as well as hundreds of local and national artists.

Concerts almost always begin at 8 p.m. and tickets range from $10 to $50.

Upcoming artists include Mary Ann Rossini (Thursday, November 8), Iris Dement (Friday, November 9), Crooked Still (Saturday, November 10), Donna Jean and the Tricksters (Friday, November 16), The Greencards (Saturday, November 17), Sarah Borges and the Broken (Saturday, November 23) and icon Richie Havens (Friday, December 7), as well as over 20 additional musical acts. For a full listing of ticket prices and contact information, please visit: http://www.ncfta.org/music.php.

Aside from the predetermined musical acts, the NCFTA also holds open mic performances every Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6:45 p.m., but the lists fill up quickly, so if you are interested in performing, I would advise you to arrive early. If you are interested in participating merely as a spectator, the admission is $3 and admission tickets are raffled once monthly for free concert tickets. For more information regarding the Open Mic nights, feel free to email openmic@ncfta.org.

The Narrows offers a broad variety of different mediums of art appreciation. Every month, the gallery outside of the reception area displays the work of various local and featured artists. Local artisans also hold classes at the center.

Sharon Owens, renowned basket weaver, is currently offering classes to all interested parties. Her fine crafted work is displayed in the collections of John Hammonds, Simon Nichols, Jerry Douglas, Glen Bell of Taco Bell and others. She will teach students the different techniques of traditional, antler, pine needle, gourd and Nantucket basket weaving. For more information, call Owens at 508-678-3662.

The Narrows is located about 15 minutes from campus. This Center, devoted to promoting and developing an appreciation of the visual and performing arts, is certainly worth a visit. To contact the Narrows Center for the Arts, call 508-32401926. For more information on the Center and its offerings, visit www.ncfta.org.

To get to the Center, take 195 West to Exit 5 and stay left at the split. Immediately merge right several lanes and take the Exit for 138 South. Go to the first light and turn left onto Columbia Street. Then take the first left on Ponta Delgada. Stay right at the fork to continue on to Water Street. Go one quarter of a mile and then turn right onto Anawan Street. Signs for the Narrows will be located on the left, and the parking lot will be on your right.

Support the arts, take in the local history and have a visually and audibly exciting night on the waterfront!

Backstreet’s back, all right!

By Jeff Bogosian

The Backstreet Boys released their first album in the United States in 1997 and since then have become the highest selling pop group of all time with over 100 million sales. After their last CD was released in 2005 to mixed reviews, it seemed like the Backstreet Boys were finished.

This misconception was ended however when they announced that this past October they would release a brand new, fresh CD. Although they are missing former member Kevin Richardson, the Backstreet Boys do not seem to have missed a beat.

The new album, “Unbreakable,” displays a new version of the Backstreet Boys who have a more edgy sound now with energetic songs. It seems that they have found the perfect mixture of their classic style while reinventing themselves. They manage to keep their old, devoted fans loyal along with attracting many new fans. Although nobody expects this album to be as successful as “Millennium,” they are still staying recent and are the only “boy band” that is still around.

Many of the songs on “Unbreakable” such as “Any Other Way,” have the classic love song lyrics that listeners would expect from a Backstreet Boys album, but have the rhythm and sound that would be expected from a punk rock band.

Being a fan of the classic Backstreet Boys’ songs, they are not at all what would be expected from the album. They are still catchy and have made their way onto many iPods, including my own.

Other songs like “Helpless When She Smiles,” use catchy lyrics and metaphors such as “I’m a house of cards in a hurricane, a reckless ride in the pouring rain.” This is the type of song that you would anticipate hearing in any Backstreet Boys CD from the boy band golden age. These new songs will be playing over and over in the mind all day, even if only a few seconds of it are heard.

Throughout the whole CD, the Backstreet Boys use a wide range of music types with almost every song using a mix of the piano and the guitar as the main instruments, a technique that they introduced in their last album, “Never Gone.”

They cover almost every aspect of love — their favorite topic to sing about — from having a crush on a girl to being in love to heartbreak.

Although this album is by no means their best work to a boy band addict like myself, it is pure gold. It has songs that you can listen to over and over again, with catchy beats and down-to- earth lyrics. In a society where rap and R&B artists dominate the charts, the Backstreet Boys have proved that they are never out of the picture.