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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 1978)
page 12 daily nebraskan friday, September 15, 1 978 arts and entertainment Band weakens Ravan's album, spirit 1 'III ' iS ) ff Photo courtesy 20th Century -Fox Records Genya Ravan's release, 'Urban Desire,' is in the New Wave style of Patti Smith arid Lou Reed. Art gallery's demise By Mary Jane Winquest Determination alone just wasn't enough to provide a showcase for local artists. Although Frank Kamenicky put a lot of time, money and interest into the Flight Art Gallery and head shop, 118 N. 14th, he said a lack of money forced its closing a few weeks ago. In addition to insufficient funds, Kamenicky said Lincoln's artistic conservatism was probably another source of the gallery's failure. Although Kamenicky said he won't reopen a similar shop soon, he said he hopes to provide an alternative for local artists in the future. "I'm going to pay some debts, go back to school, then hopefully open another shop," Kamenicky said. Advertising needed Kamenicky explained that his shop would have been more successful if he had elaborately advertised its open ing last November. "I should have had more money to start with," he said. But students and local artists displayed and sold their artwork at Flight and, according to Kamenicky, liked its interior bamwood walls because prints could be hung without frames. He said customers were primarily 25 to 30-year-old By JeffTaebel Genya Ravan, former lead singer for Ten Wheel Drive, has built herself a strong reputation as being one of the most dynamic female vocalists in rock. Ravan's explosive voice can cut through even the hardest heavy metal back ground with an air of intensity that rivals Pattf Smith. Unfortunately her talents are, for the most part, wasted on her new solo effort, Urban Desire. The album cover shows a trashed-out looking Ravan leaning against a white brick wall and suggests that there might be a certain New Wave influence to the music within. However, this is far from being the case. While Ra van is a much more coherent vocalist than Patti Smith and other New Wave artists, she seems constrained by a cer tain obligation to a commercial vocal style, which causes a loss of energy on many of the songs. Music nondescript This problem extends to the backup band that Ravan has assembled for this album, which features Charlie Giordano on keybords, Conrad Taylor and Ritchie Flieger on guitars, Don Nossov on bass and Bobby Chen on from lack of funds Lincolnites looking for artwork for their homes. An artist himself, preferring sculpture, Kamenicky said his shop included oils, acrylics and sculptures. Although volunteer artists helped Kamenicky hang prints, he said the rising rent and abundance of lookers, not buyers, was too much of a financial burden. Profits divided He said he sold the artwork on a commission basis, 20 percent going to the shop and 80 percent to the artists. The artists set their own prices. "I tried to open up a gallery so artists would have a place to hang things," Kamenicky said, explaining his disappointment. He said he was also disappointed with the head shop. "I hoped the head shop could help support the gallery but business slowed down in the summer," Kamenicky explained: Opened six months before the art gallery, the head shop was moved downstairs to make room for the art work. Kamenicky said artists who had not claimed their work since Flight's closing in August should contact him at 475-5560. As an alternative for local artists who want their work displayed, Kamenicky recommended the "D" Street and Haymarket Art galleries. drums. While all of the musicians are competent, their playing is nondescript and doesn't challenge Ravan for the lead. Perhaps if there was more going on musically with her band, Ravan would have to push herself a little harder. Another major drawback of Urban Desire stems from the fact that an artist, particularily a vocalist, can only be as good as his or her material, which is, in the case of this album, pretty lackluster. Plodding rock Side one opens with a song that Ravan co-wrote, called "Jerry's Pigeons," which is nothing more than an exercise in plodding, uninventive rock. Aside from a brief quote from Shaun Cassidy near the end, the song has little to recommend it. album review The second song on the side, entitled "The Knight Ain't Long Enough," is even worse. This slow rocker is sadly reminiscent of some of Rod Stewart's filler material. The side is almost redeemed by the next two songs, "Do It Just For Me" and "Shot In The Heart." "Do It Just For Me" is a poignant slow song that has some of the album's best lyrics: 'K)h that manGot me on a stringHe leads me around like a deaf, dumb clownWith his come on, come on, come on." Song a scorcher "Shot In The Heart," on the other hand, is a scorching rock n' roll statement which shows that Ravan really can be a monster when she has a good tune to work with. Lou Reed makes a guest appearance on the next number, "Aye Colorado," and it is a shame that some of his influence did not show up elsewhere on this ablum. Were Ravan accompanied by the same kind of band that backed Reed on his class, Rock N' Roll Animal, Urban Desire would have been a powerful album. Instead, it is a frustrating work, full of good intentions and mis directed exuberance. There also are discreet tinges of "art statement" as on the thoroughly hideous "Shadow Boxing," which is yet another painful elegy about life in the big city, with plenty of New York references thrown in for authenticity. Reed and Smith can't match Ravan's native vocal talents, yet they each sound more believable when they undertake an endeavor such as this. Discipline, self denial theme of Sheldon dance film By Alexander Germaine Live theater always has more to offer an audience as a communicative, temporal expression. It cannot only be seen but it can be felt and one can smell the work of the performers as they reach out to touch the emotions of the public. Yet film is a vital part of our society today and it is a pleasure when a film does more than entertain. Showing at the Sheldon Film Theater, through Satur day is a film with the power and excitement of the classical dance as we never really see it in this country. theater review "The Children Of Theatre Street" combines the dreams of children, the beauty of the classic dance, and the time less music that has created for generations the inspiration to lift up ones' spirit and dance. The film is a story of the ballet school in Leningrad. Here the children are auditioned at an early age and if they have the potential they are admitted to the school. Then the slow process of creating an artist begins. A dancer's life, like that of most artists, is one of self denial and discipline. These children have given up, for the most part, the childhood of play and innocence to become, hopefully, a dancer for the state ballet. Here they touch us through the film to bring to us the warmth and dreams they share with each other. And we can empathize with their aspirations to rise above the ordinary and iCCinC SCTHS thing that is almost bigger than themselves. For anyone who has the slightest interest in dance this film will live for you and make you love the children. They are the next Baiyihmkovs and Pavlovas. They are "The QtliitM of Theatre Street", and a must for young ltd mill &3ar Photo courtesy of Ppprcorn4Wormser The Children of Theatre Street, a film tracing the rigors faced by young Russian dancers, narrated by Princess Grace of Monaco, will be shown at Sheldon through Saturday. Muscles replace music at Little Bo's By Mike Schmoldt People used to go to Little Bo's Center to work up a sweat on the dance floor. Before long, they will be achiev ing the same effect by lifting weights and doing calisthen ics. A new health club is opening at Little Bo's Center, tentatively on November 15. Mike Osborne, a program consultant for the future club, said about 38 people already have signed up for membership after looking at plans for the club. Osborne, a muscular man, who played on UNL's championship football teams, said the night club at Little Bo's Center was in financial trouble and closed about two months ago, having lost much of its clientele to a nearby disco. Little Bo's East. Good plans He said he and a friend of his, Scott Avery, suggested to owner Peggy Vanous that the idle space might profit ably be converted to a health club. Osborne drew up plans, computed costs and presented his ideas to Vanous, who liked them, according to Osborne. Remodeling began soon after Vanous gave her approval. Osborne said about $40,000 will be spent on the club before opening day. He claims with 7 ,000 square feet of area, the new health club will be the biggest in the state. Plans call for a sauna, a dry saunda, weight machines, locker rooms, a lounge with a 48-inch color television screen, a bar selling alcoholic beverages and another with juices, a whirlpool and locker rooms. A health food store may open later. Continued on Page 13