2008 Woodie Awards
Have you ever seen a painting so abstract that you could not help but become one with it? Just to view one of the paintings by Leslie Vansen, who was the featured artist and lecturer at last Friday's opening at the Wriston Art Center, you find yourself completely invading the painting's space -- walking back and forth, trying to peer into her intense networks of lines and layers.
There is a new dean in town, and he is going to make sure Lawrence never looks the same. Just kidding; he is not quite that radical, but the new Dean of the Conservatory, Brian Pertl, is looking to make a few small but vital changes to increase the visibility of both the Conservatory and the university in general.
After a long three years consisting of orchestra tours, soundtrack work and a stunning reunion show with his old bandmates, Ben Folds has finally made the wait for a new album worthwhile. "Way to Normal" shows a stark transition from the subdued, introspective effort of "Songs for Silverman" to a more lighthearted album of meticulously crafted pop songs.