Arts@Entertainment
Author’s sequel
fails to achieve
adequate pace
Book bogs down reader
with mundane descriptions
“Children of the Earth”
Catherine Wells
Staff Reporter__
The theme of mankind returning to a more
simple, pastoral existence is nothing new in
science fiction.
The idea that people would revert to living
like the American Indians is also familiar —
Paul O. Williams’ seven-book “Pclbar Cycle”
explored the possibility in absorbing detail.
For the ’90s, with the threat of nuclear
destruction fading, new ways have to be found
to wipe out humanity. With “new sensitivity,”
writers are using real American Indians, not
whitcs-tumcd-noblc-savage.
“Children of the Earth,” Catherine Wells’
sequel to “The Earth is All That Lasts,” is an
example. Earth was destroyed a half-millenium
ago by ecological plunder and was evacuated.
Or so was thought.
loii ocnina were a lew Danas ot hardy
Mexicans and American Indians, eking out a
precarious living in the desert. Also left behind
was a small enclave of technologically ad
vanced people who were white. All were per
fectly content to be left alone.
The first book ended with the destruction of
a survey ship sent to Earth that discovered the
survivors’ existence. The remaining Terrans
feared a return of humanity would mean a
return of the evils that destroyed Earth in the
first place.
In the process, Coconino, a young warrior,
was hurled forward 150 years and parted from
the largely unrequited love of one of the tech
nologically advanced South People, Phoenix.
“Children of the Earth” details Coconino’s
efforts to adjust to being a living legend and the
pain of the loss he and Phoenix feel. Efforts also
are underway on Earth to unravel the mystery
of the lost ship and to mounta return expedition
— a sure sequel warning.
The book is intriguing in concept, but execu
tion is another matter.
It is much too long in places and drags the
reader down with long, mundane descriptions
of life, shot through with who is sleeping with
whom in the native village.
The efforts to show the heartache felt by the
two separated lovers ring shallow, maybe more
for their constant repetition.
Wells ’ sty lc is good, but the book could have
been done in half the number of pages. One
hopes the possible sequel will fare better.
Robin Trimarchi/DN
Artist Alvin Harper frequently uses house paint as a medium for his paintings. His work will be featured beginning
Tuesday at The Coffee House.
Inner Visions
Artist uses paint to illustrate the pictures in his mind
By Jill O’Brien
Senior Reporter_
Multi-talented artist Alvin D. Harper brings
inner visions to life and awakens the dead
dreams of mankind.
His paintings and drawings, poems and por
traits reflect his “Inner Visions.”
“Inner Vision is things I sec in my mind and
the way I feel about the world,” he said. “It’s art
with a deeper feeling, a deeper meaning.”
Several of his paintings arc displayed at the
Surya Gallery and the Red and Black Cafe.
Beginning Tuesday and running through Jan.
10, the Coffee House also will be exhibiting
Harper’s paintings.
When Harper paints, he paints with every
thing from varnish to one of his favorite medi
ums, house paint An unstirred can of house
paint can be worked at different depths to
achieve different consistencies.
His paintings sometimes require 18 layersof
paint, he said. While waiting for layers to dry,
he will usually begin a new painting, so it’s not
unusual for him to work on 18 paintings at one
time in his studio.
Harper is a hard man to define — at limes a
collage of complexity, other times a shield of
simplicity. After talking with him, you get the
feeling he’s layered, like his paintings, except
Harper is layered with 37 years of life experi
ences.
Besides having attended the University of
Nebraska at Omaha and colleges in Michigan,
he attended government “think-tank” schools,
he said.
He once worked for the U.S. Army Corp of
Engineers in Vicksburg, Miss., where he was
taught to build small parts to big machines. The
government didn’t tell him that the parts he was
building sometimes went against the laws of
physics, he said. Because he didn’t know the
limitations, he said, he was able to build what
the government wanted.
“I made a lot of things that were totally
impossible, but they didn’t tell me, so I didn’t
know. Now that we did it, it’s possible,” he said.
Harper admits he’s a method maniac. He
thrives on learning the technique of a task,
whether the task is cooking, building or paint
ing.
“Whenever 1 sec an artist doing something 1
can’t do, I’ll go spy on them,” he said jokingly.
“I’ll copy or imitate them over and over until 1
can do it.”
He will copy their technique right down to
their facial gestures or sitting positions, even
their breathing or humming. Copying move
ments, he said, allows him a glimpse into the
spiritual side of an artist.
Currently, the inner vision artist is nursing
another vision — to represent and encourage
local artists to compete on an international
level.
“(Overseas) more people are interested in
art in Nebraska than any other area,” he said.
The international market has been saturated
with artwork from New York and San Fran
cisco. His research revealed a demand for
Midwest art, he said.
“And why wouldn’t there be?” he asked,
adding that Nebraskans would likely buy a
wood carving from a person who had just
arrived from the Congo.
“It works in reverse,” he said. “The work of
a Nebraskan artist would be considered unique.”
See ARTIST on 10
Voodoo Gearshift
to hit The Edge
with heavy, loud,
melodic music
From Staff Reports
Des Moines, Iowa, refugees Voo
doo Gearshifjt will return to the Mid
west Thursday when they perform at
The Edge, 227 N. 9th St., along with
Sludge Plow.
Voodoo Gearshift’s music has been
described as “a large weight falling
into a 100-gallon bucket of that coo
you find in lava lamps, but not before
it crashes through at least a couple of
window panes... heavy, melodic and
loud.”
The band moved from Iowa to
Seattle after being signed to the C/Z
Records label. The band members arc
Jim Roth, guitar and vocals, Paul
Sorrells, bass guitar and Mark
Bruggeman, drums.
Thursday’s show will begin at
about 10 p.m. There will be a $3 cover
charge at 9 p.m.
r 5 J>-aBHIMe
Courtesy of C/Z Records
Seattle band Voodoo Gearshift will perform Thursday at The Edge, 227 N. 9th St.
1. “I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t
Know Why),” Alabama
2. “Watch Me,” Lorrie Morgan
3. “If There Hadn’t Been You,”
Billy Dean
4. “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” Mark
Chesnutt
5. “Who Needs It,” Clinton Gre
gory
6. ‘Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,”
Tanya Tucker
7. “Even the Man in the Moon Is
Cryin’,” Mark Collie
8. “I Cross My Heart,” George
Strait
9. “Don’t Let Our Love Start
Slippin’ Away,” Vince Gill
10. “Now Thai’s Country,” Marty
Stuart
Source: Cashbox magazine