Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1997)
Passion portrays persona ■ For this visual artist, keeping an enthusiastic attitude has helped her achieve her many goals. By Julie Abrahamson Staff Reporter Waking up and anticipating the work day may seem like a fantasy, but with an enjoyable career, that fantasy actu ally may exist. And Linda Anfuso, a visual artist, jewelry ^designer, paper maker, musician, AnfllSO writer and poet, proves it with an intense passion for her career. “You should be passionate about what you do,” Anfuso said. “If you have passion for your work, everything will invigorate you.” Anfuso, originally from Af^esasne, the St. R^ia Mohawk tr Reservation in upstate New York, now lives in Wilton, N.H., and vis ited Lincoln two weeks ago by means of the Artist Diversity Residency Program, sponsored by the University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Fine and Performing Arts. The program aims to emphasize an appreciation for diversity on campus and in the community by bringing artists to Lincoln. g During her four-week visit, Anfuso kept a hectic schedule, giv ing demonstrations at local ele mentary and high schools and lec turing at UNL .• Anfuso radiates enthusiasm when speaking about and working on her projects and accomplish ments. .. ‘ - At Hawthorne Elementary School, 300 S. 48th St., Anfuso recently completed a 2-by-8 foot mural, depicting an 800-year peri od of culture in the Mohawk Valley. While she painted, students asked questions. Anfuso said inter acting with students inspired her. “Children see the world with new eyes,” she said. “They suggest things to do in my paintings I’d never have thought of. They make connections I wouldn’t have thought of.” During Anfuso’s classroom discussions, she shares her person al history to accompany her work. When students ask questions, Anfuso often answers by reading one of her poems. Ann Jablonlski, a Hawthorne Elementary School coordinator who assists the principal by orga nizing specialized student pro grams and curriculum issues, observed Anfuso’s ability to listen and respond to the students and to take their suggestions for the _i mural. “She’s into her work,'yet she’s really into kids,” Jablonski said. “It’s so good these kids didn’t just Please see ANFUSO on 14 < v. : '¥• a Swine Song r? •' • ? % *.=r* t - M . ———^ - — Pigs will bring swing to confines of Zoo Bar Forbidden Pigs still know how to swing. With the resur gence of the 1930s dance craze, lead After Lincoln and before Thanksgiving, they have only one stop: Lawrence, Kan. “Lawrence is nice... but it’s not like Lincoln,” Bacon said. Bacon groggily waxed fondly about the memories the Zoo Bar evoked dur ing a phone interview Wednesday from his Lincoln hotel room. “Some (memories) were kind of fuzzy,” Bacon said. “Those were Old Style-induced.” Billy Bacon has traveled to the Zoo Bar many times since his band formed in 1984. While the group was playing on the San Diego circuit, members struck up a friendship with Mojo Nixon, who helped get the band signed with Triple XXX records. Constant touring, band changes and the simple evolution of the group’s music over 13 years comes through with its latest live release, “13 Years of Bad Road.” Guitarist Jerry “Hot Rod” DeMinx and drummer Randy Willert round out the traveling trio. Tim “Steelbone” Cook lends his skills on steel guitar and trombone and Chris Gaffney plays acoustic guitar and, yes, the accordion for studio releases. Other recordings include “The Other White Meat,” “Dressed to Swill” and “Una Mas Cerveza.” Bacon said his personal influences include Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway. The Beach Boys classic, “Pet Sounds” ranks at the top of his favorite album list Bacon’s eclectic taste in music refuses to settle for a certain format. The next time the band finds time to record an album, Bacon said he would incor porate the music he recently saw in a documentary. “I’d really like to try Armenian Goat Herding music,” Bacon said. Bacon and the Pigs will perform tonight for $4 and Friday and Saturday for $5. All shows start at 9 p.m. “Bring a designated driver, and have a ball,” Bacon said.