February 25, 2014

CHRONICLE Richland

Also inside: Basketball playoffs

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Artist Thomas Lawson feature Pg. 7 Richlandchronicle.com

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Vol. XXXIX, Issue 7 February 25, 2014

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Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

CAMPUS

Marital harmony at Fannin Hall

Jazmine McGill, sociology major, reading her personal essay.

Staff photo Sayako Metoki

Veronica Jacob Staff Writer

Staff photo Melanie Brandow

The Kithara Duo, Fernand Vera and Olga Amelkina-Vera, play an exquisite performance from “Nanien Trauerlieder.”

Pete shannon Staff Writer

One way to leverage additional value from your hard-earned tuition money at Richland is to partake of some of our school’s many free outstanding artistic offerings. As an example, in the DFW Metroplex, admission to most professional concerts typically costs in the range of $15 to $20 just for seats in the peanut gallery. But at the door of Fannin Hall on Tuesdays you can walk in and relax in the comfort of the acoustically perfect, plush, center section and revel in an hour of incomparable aural pleasure for nothing but a smile.

The Feb. 18 performance brought plenty of those, even a few cheers, as the husbandand-wife team of Professors Fernand Vera and Olga Amelkina-Vera from Collin County Community College showed what superb classical guitar playing is all about. Their finely tuned precision was as if a single set of hands with 20 fingers was playing one instrument with 12 strings.

When one partner lightly dipped a shoulder from time to time to synchronize the beginning of a new phrase, or the other one glanced up to signal a subtle ritard, those watching could certainly appreciate that these fine people, married for 13 years, knew what they were doing. And if there was ever any doubt, all an observer had to notice was that the complete one-hour performance was strummed without written music. No stands or rattling paper marred the scene.

Leading off the program were the Hungarian Johann Kaspar Merz’ two German love songs,”Am Grabe der Geliebten,” (At the Tomb of the Beloved) and “Standchen” (Serenade). In these, the two artists demonstrated their flawless rhythmic technique and sensitive dynamics, especially in the turns and intricate passages of light triplets interspersed with delicate, staccato eighth-notes.

When they proceeded, moments later, with Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto in G Major” adopted for guitar from a larger orchestra piece, one could picture old Antonio himself

in baggy pants with a beret and a waving scarf, wandering down a dusty road between rows of olive trees on his way to meet some pals at a quaint village pub somewhere in 17th-century Italy.

That familiar three-movement number was then followed by a modern composition from Professor Amelkina-Vera’s own hand, a piece entitled, “Beings.” She introduced it as containing three distinct sections that envisioned three specific mythological creatures: a minotaur (half-man, half-bull), a group of billions of sylphs (imaginary small creatures of the air) and a fire-eating salamander or lizard.

As the work was played, despite the composer’s claim that the moods were intended to be minimalist, the audience could easily identify each beast by the unique sounds the two guitars emitted; ranging from snarls and groans to flutters and pats. It wasn’t exactly “Peter and the Wolf,” but it was sort of the same idea, equally stimulating, only much less overt.

For their last set, the Kithara Duo (as the two players are known professionally) played two well-recognized opera-orchestral pieces by Manuel de Falla arranged for guitar by GruberMaklar: “Miller’s Dance” and “The Ritual Fire Dance.” Because they were so recognizable, but in these arrangements also surprisingly delightful, the audience responded at the end with a tremendous burst of applause.

It’s always instructive, I think, for impressionable, career-minded music students, who may possibly become overtaken by a romantic call, to closely observe a pair of wedded professional musicians as they perform in public.

One can never quite get over wondering just what the real relationship between them is like. Do they argue over who gets to read the comics first in the morning paper? Or who squeezes the toothpaste in the middle of the tube? Or are things perhaps at their house the way one might like to imagine as being ideal?

Did one of them, one star-crossed night long ago, really whisper to the other, “Marry me, my darling, and we’ll steal away to Dallas and make beautiful music together for the rest of our lives?”

The overall theme at Richland’s annual African-American read-in was respecting each other for the spirit, not the color.

The 2014 read-in recognized and celebrated many moving, meaningful and artistic contributions of African-American writers, poets and artists who have enriched the body of literature, poetry, humanities and the arts.

The event included different readings from Richland students to guests’ speakers, performances and entertainment.

One student, Jazmine McGill, wrote a personal essay explaining that racism still exists and how it affects us. She also quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “ I have a Dream” speech, explaining that he set a goal for the global community and also for the AfricanAmerican community that to this day has not been achieved.

McGill also quoted Malcolm X, who said, “Always keep in mind that the dream is bigger than black and white or the color of the eye or the skin of the man. What matters is the character of a man.”

She also compared hourly wages of whites to those of blacks or Latinos, and conveyed the message to the community that as people of color, they have fought many battles, but it is not possible to fight alone. The community needs to take it to the front line to create a lasting change.

She added that people of color are still

facing racism and pressure, and the responsibility is moving on to youngsters for mending broken ways from the past.

McGill said she is not undermining the progress in racial relations, as all the causes have come a long way but we have not come far enough.

“We have to keep pushing forward the uncomfortable truth so we can confront and continue the progress which had been laid by the people who came before us. There will be unpleasant times for everyone involved.”

McGill also said that this is the generation of black, brown and white.

She quoted Malcom X who said, “You are living at a time of extremism, a time of revolution.”

“Our people don’t have access to good food and nutrition.” McGill also said that people of the African American community need to use extreme limits - not violence, but self-sacrifice.

She said, “Today we need to reach out to someone because united we stand and divided we fall.’’

There was also a touching poem recital by a guest entertainer, Ashley Wilkerson, who is an activist, poet and actress.

Wilkerson said, through her poetry, we are still not a post-racial society that people are envious of your brown skin and they will always knock you down and run, as life is not always fair. She also said that today some people get killed but it never makes it to the news and we live in fear. We deserve to shine without fear.

Upcoming events Friday, Feb. 28: 12:30 p.m.

Remembering “The Little Rock Nine” Sabine Hall, Room SH-118 This presentation will be the closing discussion of Black History month.

Tuesday, March 4: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mardi Gras celebration Student Lounge Join in on the fun, festivities and some good Cajun cooking, along with the music of the Richland Jazz Fusion. The event is free and open to everyone.

Tuesday: March 4: 12:30 p.m.

Scenes from Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd” will give the audience a preview of the upcoming play.

March 6 - 8: 7:30 p.m.

Fannin Peformance Hall, Room F-108 Everyone is welcome to enjoy this delightful comedy involving an architect and a guy from his past who once saved his life. The fun begins when the guest moves in but won’t move out? The play is free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary.

Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

Honoring Black American history

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SPORTS

T-Ducks close to national tournament invitation blanca reyes Sports Editor

Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

The Thunderducks lost a close one to Eastfield College Friday evening, by a score of 66-60.

Since the Thunderducks lost the Eastfield game, they have to play an extra game for a chance to go to New York. That game is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24.

Even with that loss, a national tournamentberth remains a real possibility.

The Thunderducks demonstrated Thursday night the competitiveness that they have shown all season.

In that exciting game, the T-Ducks defeated Cedar Valley College, 70-67.

Although Richland dominated in the first half, the second half was a different story.

Cedar Valley began to close the margin.

They came back from a deficit of 10 points to make it a close game.

“The game was so exciting, but we can’t have mental lapses, and we are going to correct them,” interim coach Michael Gross said.

Even though this victory was important to advance in the conference tournament, Richland players and coaches want to improve their game even more to be ready for the next step.

“We have to finish better,” forward Trevon Jeffery said.

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“It was a good game for us. I believe that we had to play a little better,” guard Mister Carroll said.

“We have to learn from this game and continue getting better,” assistant coach Allen Morill said.

Despite the pressure of the clock and the competitiveness of Cedar Valley, the T-Ducks never gave up and added to a great season, playing 31 games and losing only six.

“We know that we should win by more. It was a close game, so we are going to be hungry tomorrow,” Gross said Thursday.

The national championship tournament will be held in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., March 13-15.

Despite all the victories and the many dominant performances this season, the Thunderducks are still working hard.

Morill said they are working on their defense to make it more consistent. He knows, however, that the team has all the pieces to be a stronger opponent.

“I try to keep my players grounded. I’m trying to let them know that we haven’t done anything yet,” Gross said.

“We are ready to go,” Carroll said.

“Day by day, we get closer and closer,” Jeffery said.

For more information visit richlandcollege. edu/basketball or stop by Guadalupe Hall, Room G-120.

Staff photo Blanca Reyes

Forward Chris Runnels blocks a shot against a Cedar Valley College player in the second game of the conference tournament.

Entertainment

A cornucopia of Black History Month titles RICKY MILLER Entertainment Editor

Image courtesy movies.film-cine.com

Gene Hackman, left, and Willem Dafoe investigate the murders in “Mississippi Burning.”

Last year, I focused on some of my favorite movies for Black History Month.

This time I delved more into my library and searched for more titles to include and recommend. These are just a few choice selections.

“Lean On Me” (1989) — Morgan Freeman was all over the place this particular year, having starred in the Best Picture winner, “Driving Miss Daisy” as well as joining the ranks in Edward Zwick’s “Glory,” which nabbed a Best Supporting Actor win for Denzel Washington.

In “Lean On Me,” he’s Joe Clark, the loudmouthed principal of East Side High in New Jersey.

This by-the-numbers drama came courtesy of “Rocky” and “The Karate Kid” director John G. Avildsen. Grade B“I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988) — After dabbling on TV screens with “In Living Color,” creator Keenen Ivory Wayans delved into his first feature, a send-up of blaxploitation from the 1970s.

One of the funniest bits involves a thenunknown Chris Rock placing an order for ribs, when all along he had the money to splurge. B-

“Malcolm X” (1992) — Denzel Washington embodied the political leader from the 1960s through and through. Director Spike Lee continued on his political ways a la Oliver Stone in having a controversy surrounding his topic. Angela Bassett starred as Dr. Betty Shabazz. B+ “Mississippi Burning” (1988) — Intense fact-based drama about two FBI agents examining what happened to some civil rights workers in rural Mississippi. Both Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe give it their all, in terms of both performance and characters.

Frances McDormand has a significant role as Mrs. Pell. A“Blue Collar” (1978) — Significant drama because it had the usually comic Richard Pryor in a straightforward drama. His character along with Yaphet Kotto (“Alien”) and Harvey Keitel (“Reservoir Dogs”) seek revenge against their employer and stage some kind of heist. Significant because it was the directorial debut of “Taxi Driver” screenwriter Paul Schrader. B+ “Moving” (1988) — Dumb, but a lot of fun. Richard Pryor is an engineer who gets transferred to Boise, Idaho. Amusing, because we have Randy Quaid as two brothers each with their own quirks and Dana Carvey as Brad Williams, a cross-dressing guy who drives Pryor’s Saab across the country. C+

From space – to slaves – to the seas : Who will win?

Entertainment Editor

A desperate woman in space; 1970s grit; an unjustly enslaved free man; a woman looking for her long-lost son; a befuddled elderly man; a hotshot Wall Street player; a female operating system; a ship stranded at sea, and a man with an incurable disease.

In order, up for the Best Picture race are “Gravity,” “American Hustle,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Philomena,” “Nebraska,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Her,” “Captain Phillips” and “Dallas Buyers Club.”

This is one of those years where all the actors and actresses seem like surefire bets. The trouble is, however, the Academy is a fickle beast.

The first shoo-in win looks to be Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club.” Also nominated in the Supporting Actor race are Jonah Hill for “Wolf of Wall Street,” Michael Fassbender for “12 Years a Slave,” Bradley Cooper for “American Hustle” and newcomer Barkhad Abdi for “Captain Phillips.”

The Supporting Actress race has what I think will be another close call in the face-off between June Squibb as a well-spoken elderly matriarch in “Nebraska” and Jennifer Lawrence as the wife of a con artist in “American

Hustle.” Also nominated are Sally Hawkins for “Blue Jasmine,” Lupita Nyong’o for “12 Years a Slave” and Julia Roberts for “August: Osage County.”

The Actor race seems to be geared for another sure-fire win with Matthew McConaughey’s turn as Ron Woodruff, the first known heterosexual male to get the AIDS virus. Also nominated are Chiwetel Ejifor for “12 Years a Slave,” Bruce Dern for “Nebraska,” Christian Bale for “American Hustle” and Leonardo DiCaprio for “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

The Actress race comes down to a showdown between an astronaut and a schizophrenic woman. I, of course, am talking about Sandra Bullock as a distressed woman in space in “Gravity” and Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen’s comedy-drama “Blue Jasmine.” Also nominated are Meryl Streep for “August: Osage County,” Amy Adams for “American Hustle” and Judi Dench for “Philomena.”

The Director race is a lock as well, because Alfonso Cauron has received nothing but praise and awards for his direction of “Gravity.” Also nominated are Alexander Payne for “Nebraska,” Martin Scorsese for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Steve McQueen for “12 Years a Slave” and David O. Russell for “American Hustle.”

Me Me Me Me

Me

Me Me

Best Picture is a very tight race this year. I think this year will be a safe winner since the Academy wants to keep moviegoers back in their treasured seats. The quartet of “Philomena,” “Her,” “Captain Phillips” and “Dallas Buyers Club” go home with nothing because their votes were just for their prestige. The

same goes for “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “12 Years a Slave,” It’s going to be a showdown between ‘70s grit and a damsel without a ship. I want “American Hustle” to win, but I have a feeling “Gravity” will take home the granddaddy of all awards.

Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

RICKY MILLER

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Feature

Campus evangelist lifting spirits Melanie Brandow Staff Writer

After getting permission from Director of Student Life Carter Bedford, Stephen Obregon was outside by Lake Thunderduck on a gloomy day last Wednesday, preaching the gospel for all those who wanted to hear.

Obregon is not a Richland student, but plans to enroll next semester in the law enforcement program.

Obregon was breaking the gospel into two parts, the bad and the good. According to Obregon, every time we sin we sin against God and that is the bad news.

But, according to Obregon, the good news is that God, because he loves us, has provided a way for us to be forgiven through Jesus Christ.

“So now on the day of judgment, when I stand before God, I can stand in the righteousness of Christ. Stand confident before the God who I now love and who now has saved me.” Obregon said. This is what Obregon wants to offer to everyone.

Obregon mentioned that other religious faiths such as Roman Catholicism or Islam believe the world should “do, do, do good works, and maybe you’ll get to heaven.” Obregon shared that the Bible says all the work has been done by Jesus Christ on the cross. He noted that Jesus said, “It is finished. Come to me to find rest and find salvation.”

The core of Obregon’s beliefs about religion is that the bad news is we all have sinned.

Staff photo Melanie Brandow

Stephen Obregon preaches the gospel near Lake Thunderduck.

And the good news is that Jesus Christ came to die for sin, to seek and save the lost. He said that by putting trust in Jesus Christ, we can have absolute full forgiveness for sins and absolute assurance that we can go be with Jesus Christ again in heaven and forget he died for us. Obregon now loves God for his grace.

When asked why he chose to preach at Richland College, Obregon said, “A lot of my friends come here and recommended that I come here.”

Obregon travels to different college campuses on his days off such as Sam Houston State, the University of Oklahom and the University of North Texas in Denton. Obregon

wants to try to reach out to Tyler Junior College as well.

Obregon works full time as a security guard, and is just building up for his law enforcement training. Obregon has been preaching since 2010. And ever since he was “reborn” in 2006, he watched Ray Comfort’s “The Way of the Master,” a gospel program on TV. As Obregon watched the program he had never seen anything like it before. He did not know the “true” reason why Jesus Christ died.

Obregon believes that Comfort saved him through God, and that is why he has been wanting to emulate the same message. One of the aspects of being in the ministry is spreading the gospel, whether it’s a one-on-one or in a congregation. Obregon went through a training academy at his church, Calvary Hill Baptist Church. There, Obregon’s church confirmed his call and he was commissioned to preach the gospel in 2010.

“There are a lot of ‘cowboy’ Christians out there, who love to do it, but they don’t have a local church that can keep them accountable,” Obregon said.

Obregon feels strongly about keeping true to the gospel, “I want a local church to keep me accountable, so I don’t go one way or the other into heresy. There are a lot of preachers in the circuit who because they are not accountable to a local church, they’ll go and preach something that’s real crazy!”

Obregon wants to thank the faculty and staff at Richland for understanding and being supportive. He just wanted to go through the proper channels to preach on campus.

STUDENT MEDIA LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Layout Editor Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Radio News Director Copy Editor

Kisten S. Chetty Lora Advincula Blanca Reyes Ricky Miller Carla Davis Joyce Jackson

ON THE COVER Clockwise from top left: Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers player), W.E.B Du Bois (civil rights activist), President Barack Obama, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

COVER AND FONTS Cover illustration by Lora Advincula Certain fonts are provided by the following: http://www.nymfont.com - http://www.bvfonts.com

STUDENT MEDIA STAFF Melanie Brandow Jonathan Lee Doris Brogan Sayako Metoki Veronica Jacob

Raymond Thomas Pronk Pete Shannon Gabriel Flores Majid Abdel-Raziq Ben Siebel

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISERS Terry Blend Erica Edwards Jack Fletcher David Goodloe

Tim Jones Steve Noviello Larry Ratliff Marshall Siegel

Spring 2014 ISSUES January 14 January 21 January 28 February 4 February 11 February 18 February 25

March 4 March 25 April 8 April 22 April 29 May 6 May 13

AWARDS

Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

ACP Pacemaker Winner, 2000, 2001, 2007 ACP Pacemaker Finalist, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007 ACP Online Pacemaker Finalist, 2007, 2008 1st Place - TIPA Sweepstakes, 2005 3rd Place - TIPA Online, 2005 & 2006 Over 150 Texas college journalism awards since 2000

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

American historian Carter G. Woodson originated Black History Week as a celebration on Feb. 12, 1926. It was first part of the nation’s bicentennial. Then, for many years, the second week of February was set aside to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln.

In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. All events commemorate the contributions to our country by people of African descent.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton proclaimed February as National African-American History Month.

The 2014 theme for Black History Month

Image courtesy clker.com

is “Civil Rights in America,” which marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. The law prohibited discrimination in public places and provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities. It also made employment discrimination illegal.

According to the U.S. Census, as of July 1, 2006, there was an estimated population of 40.2 million black residents in the United States. Approximately 13.4 percent of the total U. S. population. There were 2.4 million black military veterans in the U.S. in 2006.

In addition, there were 129,329 black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states.

According to a future projection, there are expected to be 77.4 million blacks in the United States in 2060, including those of more than one race. They will constitute 18.4 percent of the nation’s total population.

El Paso Hall, Room E-020, 12800 Abrams Rd. Dallas, 75243 Newsroom: 972-238-6079 E-mail: chronicle@dcccd.edu Advertising: 972-238-6068 E-mail: advertise@dcccd.edu Fax: 972-238-6037

MEETINGS & POLICIES Staff meetings: Monday and Wednesday 3 p.m. in E-020

------Letter Policy Letters to the editor may be edited for space. They will be edited for spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements.

Letters must be the work of the writer and must be signed. For identification and verification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s classification (grade level), full name, address and telephone number, although address and telephone number will not be published.

Editorial Policy The Chronicle is the official student-produced newspaper of Richland College. Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisers or the college administration. © Richland Chronicle 2013

Campus

Party + co-workers = R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T Joyce Jackson Copy Editor

After being an administrative assistant in Richland’s LEAD Division for 19 years, Debbie Nowakowski was ready for retirement. Her party last month was festive and fun.

It included her favorite people who were all there to wish her well: friends, co-workers and family.

Nowakowski’s last day on the job was Jan. 31.

She said one of the things she loved about her job was coming in contact with people every day, especially those with whom she worked.

That would include Executive Dean Mary Darin and Instructional Dean Thales Georgiou, among others, who are part of the School of Learning, Enrichment and Academic Development (LEAD) Division, who Nowakowski said were always so nice.

Darin said she was there the day Nowakowski got the job and even helped her get hired.

The LEAD Division includes all developmental classes, as well as sociology, psychology, anthropology and journalism, among others.

Nowakowski had just one main wish for the first day of her retirement.

Staff photos Joyce Jackson

Debbie Nowakowski has retired.

“I’m going to go to a movie in the middle of the day,” she said.

Another reason she’s glad to be retiring has to do with the hassle of getting to Richland from her home.

“I’m retiring because I don’t want to wake up anymore with an alarm clock,” Nowakowski said. “The traffic is horrible. I live in

Rockwall. It’s like an island when you live in Rockwall.”

But she has other long-term plans for the future as well.

“I’m glad to be retiring, to spend time at home, to spend time with my kids and to get a little traveling in,” Nowakowski said.

Nowakowski’s daughter, Jennifer Faletto, said at the party that her mother’s retirement is exciting.

“She can spend a lot of time at Angel Fire in New Mexico. It’s a ski town,” Faletto said.

“She will help with the kids and will spend time with them.”

Faletto has two children, and her brother, Jay, 35, has two as well.

Nowakowski said she and her husband, who is an engineer, have a condo in New Mexico and plan to travel there, to Yellowstone and Hawaii.

In addition, she enjoys refinishing furniture as a hobby and loves to search for antiques.

When Nowakowski first began her job at age 45, she hadn’t worked before. She said her job has completely changed since she began working in the LEAD Division.

“We had a typewriter and a computer. We were just transitioning,” Nowakowski said. “I typed contracts on the typewriter.

Now my job entails budgeting and syllabi and posting them. It’s a huge job. I do the travel for employees.” Those at Nowakowski’s party helped her celebrate by sharing their thoughts about her years at Richland.

Sociology professor Kay Coder said she has known Nowakowski through line dancing classes that she teaches on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Coder said about her retirement that “I wish it was me. I wish I could retire. We’ll miss her a lot. She fixes all my problems.”

Dr. Kay Eggleston, Richland president, said, “We are sad to have her leave after 19 years of service, but we are excited about this new chapter of her life with her family, children and grandchildren doing all the things she enjoys. We wish her the best.”

Physical education professor Bill Neal said at the party that “We’re going to miss her daily. Kudos to her that she has some time.

The rest of us are on the Richland-to-Restland tour.”

doris brogan Staff Writer

Thomas Lawson, a writer and contemporary artist originally from Scotland, and dean of the School of Art at California Institute for the Arts, treated Richland students and faculty to a nearly two hour retrospective of his work on Feb. 13.

His slide show encompassed over 30 years of individual and group paintings by Lawson that have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Metro Pictures Gallery in New York City, Anthony Reynolds and Battersea Arts Centre in London, the CCA in Glasgow, Scotland and LAXART in Los Angeles.

Lawson began his presentation by explaining that he became interested in art because he “wanted to make culture.” Though his talk could have used an audio system, it was a thoughtfully compiled, chronological presentation of his work. Lawson presented a carefully created slide show of works that spoke to the awareness of social issues in the U.S., Ireland and around the world; stereotypical images of right-wing politics currently dominating American culture, and the “troubles” in Ireland over the past few decades, as well as beheadings in Iraq.

A native of Scotland, Lawson moved to the U.S. at a young age. He moved to New York City in his early 20s and began an intense self-learning curve about art and theories of minimalism and conceptualization. His assertion of the prevailing thought at the time, “If seniors were for something, we should be against it,” drew a laugh from the audience.

The prevailing attitude in art and theater at that time, the mid-‘70s, was one of experimentalism; random elements smashed together to make something new, such as old archival pictures mixed with new play handbills.

Lawson explored art’s connection to media and origins in media. He developed an interest in mass media circulation connected to art.

He wanted to prove the validity of painting in the modern world and to show art’s meaning constructs in his work. Lawson created a series on child abuse, his “Don’t Hit Her Again” series, paintings from images among sensational headlines in the New York Post.

While in New York, Lawson developed an interest in the urban environment. He theorized that urban environments lead to urban landscapes, a banality of photos matched with a banality of urban architectural buildings in depressed areas.

Throughout his career, Lawson has used a series of paintings to explore intellectual subjects.

Photo courtesy of Lawson Gallery

An example of Thomas Lawson’s art.

Uncertainties about faces and their accessibilities led him to solve his dilemma with imagery of masks we wear. He went on to explore the human figure as it emerged from the constraints of the 19th century into the freedom of subsequent centuries.

In addition to painting, Lawson is a prolific writer who lives and works in Los Angeles.

He has published essays in Artforum, Art in America, Flash Art, frieze and October. An

anthology of his writings, “Mining for Gold,” was published in 2005 by JRP/Ringier. Since 2010, he has been editor-in-chief of East of Borneo, an online magazine.

Michael Mazurek, artist and current director of the Richland gallery, was instrumental in bringing Lawson to the campus. Lawson’s visit coincided with the showing of his work at the Goff-Michael Foundation, 1405 Turtle Creek Blvd. in Dallas. The Thomas Lawson Retrospective will be showing as part of a larger exhibition of British contemporary art through April 19.

Vicki Mayhan, dean of arts at Richland, enjoyed his talk. She said, “Lawson had an interesting chronological presentation that showed his obvious willingness to evolve in his work that has enabled him to stay contemporary.”

Diago Loya, a 23-year-old art major who is interested in studio art, considered Lawson’s talk very interesting. He said, “I really enjoyed his usage of color. I liked the combination of traditional with his own style.”

Adolfo Hernandez, a 20-year-old art major who is interested in studio art and wants to teach high school art, thought Lawson had “a good, refreshing way to express the idea that art is not dead. There are still artists out there that help remind us that art is ever-changing, not stationary.”

Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014

Artist focuses on many of the world’s social issues

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Richlandchronicle.com February 25, 2014