Month: September 2010

Chicken update: Part two

Even after seeing their sister snatched by a raptor, our two remaining hens continued to leave the relative safety of their run by flying over the electric fence. Many times each day we’d spot them strutting through the yard, half an acre from their coop. We’d herd them back in and they’d be out again within minutes. And really, we couldn’t blame them: an electric fence doesn’t mean much to a hawk, so they probably figured they might as well live it up while awaiting their untimely deaths!

We needed a multi-pronged solution. First, we wanted to add more hens to the flock. We couldn’t just replace the one we’d lost, because adding a single bird to an established flock will result in henpecking. So we returned to the farm where we’d gotten our original hens, asked for two more, and ended up coming home with three. (I was out-maneuvered in that discussion.)

Second, we needed to keep our girls inside the fence—for their own protection and that of our newly planted fall garden. (Seeds and seedlings are much more vulnerable to hens than the tough old tomato and pepper plants that make up our now-elderly summer garden.) My husband googled wing-clipping and found that it involves cutting only feathers; it’s bloodless and painless, and was surprisingly easy to accomplish. We clipped the wings only of our two original hens, giving the new girls a pass since they haven’t yet learned the bad habit of escaping. If they ever figure it out, they too will get the scissor treatment.

Third, we wanted to do our best to keep the hawks away. We bought some monofilament fishing line and strung it from the tops of the electric fence stakes in a 3-foot grid. And we tied CDs to the lines to create a shimmery effect in the sunlight. This is all supposed to repel hawks, without harming them.

So far, so good! And it’s pretty neat to look outside and see a flock of five. We named the big red one Joan.

 

UVA students approached by suspect asking for money near Corner

A few hours after UVA Dean of Students Allen Groves and Lieutenant Melissa Fielding of UVA Police talked to reporters about three recent assaults involving UVA students, two more incidents involving UVA students were reported to city police.

According to a news release, at 7pm last night, a female student was approached by a black male in his 20s wearing a grey hoody and jeans, in the 1200 block of Wertland Street near the Corner. The man placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder and told her not to move, but the release says that the woman was ultimately able to walk away.

At 9:50pm, another student walking on 15th Street was approached by a man who “put something to her back she believed to be a gun” and asked for money. The victim walked with the suspect to ATMs and, after securing “a small amount of money,” the man fled. 

According to city police, the suspect is likely the same in both incidents.
 

Albemarle Place to host IMAX theater, 13 additional screens

The 65-acre Albemarle Place development, a mixed-use project with a price tag of roughly $115 million or so, may not be picture perfect quite yet. (After all, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved zoning and proffer amendments for the development on August 4, including the widening of Route 29.) But, come 2012, the project (overseen by developers Edens & Avant) will offer nearly perfect pictures.

A press release from Regal Cinemas announced plans for a 14-screen movie theater, complete with an IMAX screen, at the site, located at the intersection of Seminole Trail and Hydraulic Road. In May 2009, Regal announced plans to expand the existing Cinema 4 theater. Remember the Seminole Trail Stadium 9? You could probably fit the previous movie theater design inside the latest one. See a floorplan below.

Virginia-Florida State Pre-Game Notes Kick-Off 12:00 Noon Saturday

Virginia gets their second real test of the Mike London era Saturday as Florida State comes to town for a Noon kickoff. Early Vegas lines give the edge to the Seminoles as they are about a seven-point favorite.

Florida State’s shiny new coach is Jimbo Fisher who became the head man at FSU after legendary coach Bobby Bowden was forced out by Florida State’s president T.K. Weatherell. According to his new book, Bowden was given two options at the end of the 2009 college football season, neither of which was acceptable to Bowden: One, stay on for one more year as a figure head, an ambassador with no real authority, and two, FSU would not renew his contract (which expired at the end of 2009), essentially firing him. Bowden won two National Championships at FSU, and was 377–129–4 with 12 wins vacated for an academic scandal.

Christian Ponder is the unquestioned team leader at quarterback, and he is backed up one of the top second string QB’s in the country, E.J. Manuel. Manuel, who hails from Virginia Beach, is 6-4 226 pounds. Manuel would be the starter at most schools in the country. Ponder, who earned his B.S. in Finance in 2 1/2 years and also has an MBA, is working towards another graduate degree in sports management and has thrown for over 5,500 yards at Florida State. In three games this season. Ponder has a cannon for an arm, but can also beat you with his legs. He’s rushed for 50 yards in a game four times while at FSU, and his top rushing performance came against Miami where he gained 144 yards in a 41-39 victory.

Virginia’s defense has only been tested once this young football season and that was against USC. Playing two FCS schools makes things a bit difficult for us to know what coach Reid has, but the Wahoos’ defense has been pretty stout so far. Cam Johnson has played very well at defensive end after his move from linebacker. He leads Virginia in tackles (17) and sacks (3.5). Ras-I Dowling missed the first two games of the season, and did return for the VMI game, but looked rusty. If Virginia is going to win this game Ras-I must shake off the cobwebs.

In the first three games, Virginia has outscored their opponents 44-6 in the second half. They are also converting 44% of their third-downs. The Wahoos have had a very balanced attack offensively. They are averaging 431 yards a game offensively.

Look for the Hoos to mix things up defensively. The Hoos have not rushed the quarterback hardly at all with the defensive backs, but keep an eye out Saturday for a whole new blitz package from defensive coach Jim Reid. Virginia has been very physical so far this season, and if they have a chance to beat the favored Seminoles, the physical play must be ratcheted up another notch.

Virginia’s mix at tailback has been very effective so far in 2010. Both Perry Jones and the bruising Keith Payne can move the chains. The tight end position, of limited use so far, will be very important Saturday.

Prediction: Virginia 31 Florida State 30. Go Hoos, beat the Hokies! 

Martha Jefferson Hospital to merge with Sentara Healthcare

This morning, Martha Jefferson Hospital (MJH) publicly announced plans to merge with not-for-profit Sentara Healthcare, founded and based in Norfolk, Virginia.

"Sentara Healthcare has never had a layoff and there are no plans to do so with this merger," reads a post on the MJH website. "The merger will provide staff at Martha Jefferson Hospital with personal and professional growth opportunities." Read the press release here.

In an interview this afternoon, MJH President and CEO Jim Haden told C-VILLE that the two operations share a "very similar culture."

"They’re eight community hospitals now," said Haden—referring to Sentara’s facilities in  Norfolk and Williamsburg, among others. "We’re a community hospital. So we relate pretty darn well."

Peter Brooks, vice chair of the MJH Health Services Board, told C-VILLE that the financial component of the merger "has really not been dealt with." However, he said Sentara will commit capital to help MJH pursue advances in areas like electronic medical records (EMR). Sentara has received recognition for its EMR system, Sentara eCare—and, according to a 2009 article in the Washington Post, the system was an incentive for Potomac Hospital’s merger with Sentara in July of last year.

The merger, which ultimately requires the approval of the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General, is expected to take six months. MJH plans to open its new facility on Pantops Mountain on August 28, 2011. Stay tuned to c-ville.com for more details.

Preliminary trial date for George Huguely moved to January 21

The preliminary trial date for George Huguely, the former fourth-year student and UVA lacrosse player charged with the homicide of fellow student Yeardley Love, has been moved from October 7 to January 21 at 1pm. Cameras have been banned from the trial by Charlottesville General District Court Judge Robert Downer, Jr., so as not to influence jurors. This is the third time Huguely’s trial date has been moved; the date was originally set for June 10.

This afternoon, a news release announced the creation of the One Love Foundation, in memory of Yeardley Love.

"The mission of the foundation is to encourage and develop in children and young adults four qualities of character that Yeardley exemplified…service, kindness, humility and sportsmanship…that together add up to One Love," says Sharon Love, Yeardley’s mother, in the release. "The foundation would like to ‘bring out the Yeardley’ in everyone by igniting the spirit of One Love in children and young adults, encouraging them to choose a path of goodness."

As part of the foundation’s effort to honor Love, another organization, the Charles T. Bauer Foundation, will offer  matching funds to donors up to $500,000 to fund a four-year scholarship to be awarded every fourth year to a student of Love’s former school, Notre Dame Preparatory Academy.

Aretha Franklin’s Friday concert at the Paramount Theater has been postponed

Aretha Franklin’s concert, scheduled for this Friday at the Paramount Theater, has been postponed. According to a release, "Details on a resheduled date are pending and will be made available as soon as a new performance date is confirmed.  Refunds are available at the place of purchase." "The Paramount Theater is pleased to announce that the Aretha Franklin performance has been rescheduled to Wednesday, October 27th. Refunds for tickets purchased for the October 1st show date are available at the place of purchase."

The Paramount didn’t say why, which leaves us to wonder whether the Queen of Soul is busy attending to and defending her son, Eddie Franklin, 52, who was recently injured in an attack at a Detroit gas station.

Though the sold out gig has been pushed back, the Carter Woodson Institute will still host "Respecting Aretha Franklin: The Music and Performance of ‘The Queen of Soul,’ " from 3:30-5pm in the Paramount’s balcony lounge. Read more about that event here.

Franklin’s is the latest in a long line of high-profile postponements since this summer, with the Black Keys, Jimmy Cliff and Neko Case all pushing back Charlottesville dates. Of those three, two made good on their promise to return; here’s hoping Soul Sister #1 makes it soon.

 

UVA investigation of Virginia Quarterly Review remains ongoing

According to UVA’s Office of Public Affairs, an internal examination of the Virginia Quarterly Review—launched following the July 30 suicide of managing editor Kevin Morrissey, allegations of workplace bullying leveled at editor Ted Genoways and reports of staff complaints to UVA human resources—remains ongoing.

The review of VQR had a tentative deadline of September 30; however, UVA spokeswoman Carol Wood says the University is not certain when the review will be complete. When UVA President Teresa Sullivan announced the review of VQR, she said in a news release that the timetable of the review "will be subject to change if unanticipated complexities are discovered. It is more important that this review be done well than that it be done quickly."

For more, read C-VILLE’s current cover story.

Categories
Arts

Checking in with Avery Lawrence

 Tell us about your day job. 

My day job is my studio called The POMP, located in Random Row Books. I call it a studio and print shop. I will have screen printing equipment and hopefully other stuff soon, but right now there’s a screen print station, a computer, lots of drawing and painting materials, and lots of other material with which I can make other objects. 

What are you working on right now? 

Avery Lawrence, an illustrator, printer and performance artist, is pictured at Lower Sherwood Farm, which provides the llama dung he uses to make some of the paper he incorporates in his projects at The POMP.

I’ve been working on masks for performance pieces. I just did an “endurance performance” piece on the Downtown Mall, entited “Grrr vol. 2.0.” I created a large, animal-like mask—some called it a pinecone, others thought it was an owl’s head—and I went shirtless with a mask and had a rowing machine that I retrofitted, so that it functioned as a fan. I set up a chair across from the fan and rowed for two hours on the Downtown Mall to provide some relief from the heat for pedestrians walking by.

I’m also preparing for a trip to New York, to meet with some more clients for my studio. I’m meeting with people from Penguin Books and also some independent book and arts consultant people. One is a woman from the Onassis Foundation, a cultural foundation that connects Greeks and Americans, sharing information for Americans interested in Greece, and Greeks interested in the United States. She’s interested in the prints I did for a book of The Iliad and The Odyssey, published by Chester River Press. I did 50 large illustrations for that.  

What’s your favorite building? 

Jeanne-Claude just passed away, but Christo is still around. He’s got a plan to make this massive pyramid of oil barrels. I just saw a plan of that recently, and if that were to exist, it would be my favorite building/structure. I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to go up in the United Arab Emirates.

What’s your first artistic memory? 

My dad would do these basic outlines of military vehicles and have me color them in, which guided the rest of my drawing in my early youth. I tended to create fantastical, military hovercrafts, snow machines and things like that. My dad is not in the military—he’s a lawyer in town—so I don’t know why he did that. 

Tell us about a piece of art that you wish was in your private collection.

I would really like a Chuck Close portrait, those monumental portraits, but really any of his work from any medium, to hang in my studio’s foyer. I saw him speak when I was in school at UPenn, and I was very impressed with how he described his art and carried himself. He had specific ideas and a system that drove his work and I was impressed when I was in college to see a professional artist and his reasons and love for production.

Locally, who would you like to collaborate with? 

Patrick Costello. He’s a community activist, he’s involved with C’ville Foodscapes, and he’s a puppet maker. We have been making plans to collaborate based around mask-making and interaction of characters we make. We talked about doing a garden installation with performances to go along with it. It’s going to be in Charlottesville, definitely.

Item you’d splurge on? 

Well, I just did. I bought a 20′ long, 1989, former USPS mail truck from a guy in Syracuse, New York. I’m going to use it for a mobile print studio. There’s a national printmaking conference every year, and next year it’s in St. Louis. A friend and I proposed to do a demonstration, and our proposal was accepted. We’re going to set up the retro-fitted mail truck in front of an art museum in St. Louis, create a station from which we’ll make prints and then receive telephone calls to take and deliver orders around town using the mail truck.

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? 

I would be in a band and be up on stage. It would definitely involve costumes. I don’t know if it would fall in the vein of Lady Gaga but it would be a Lady Gaga, Blue Man Group and David Bowie hybrid.

Categories
Arts

Mao's Last Dancer; PG, 117 minutes; Vinegar Hill Theatre

Come to think of it, Mao’s Last Dancer is just the movie you’d expect from seeing ballet star Cunxin Li’s memoir adapted for the director of Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford) by the writer of Shine (Jan Sardi). Not that it would ever occur to you to expect such a movie. But here it is, arty and awkward, convoluted and obvious. 

The reason it seems like a misstep to concentrate less on dance than on the inherent drama

Screenwriter Jan Sardi and director Bruce Beresford play to the simplest emotions.

of Li’s defection from China to the United States, in 1981, is that Beresford’s big-screen machine has an almost automatic way of converting drama into melodrama. You see a sweet little boy recruited from his provincial peasant village into Mao Tse Tung’s vision of dancing as soldiering. You see the strenuous, communist Beijing Dance Academy, where emotion and physical limitations are disregarded. 

And yet young Li determinedly grows into his gifts. He is inspired by a sneak peek at video of Mikhail Baryshnikov, whose most beautiful move, of course, was to defect from Russia to live in Canada. And when Li eventually becomes an honored guest at the Houston Ballet during the last days of disco, well, you see where this is going. Cue the virginal, available blonde (Amanda Schull), the green-card marriage, the international incident.

As the adult Li, Chi Cao inhabits his space very elegantly, mitigating the movie’s tendency to infuse its choreography with disruptive reaction-shot cutaways and slo-mo accents. He also has the advantage of Joan Chen as his suffering mother, Bruce Greenwood as his mincing American teacher and Kyle MacLachlan as his sensible lawyer. They give off great moments of lucidity and connection here and there, but again the lumbering apparatus of the movie seems to intrude, bogging them down with its formidable gravity.

Communists may be relieved to know that the agenda here is not directly political. Or if it is, the commentary on capitalism is just as clunky. It is a mixed blessing that Mao’s Last Dancer is just sensitive enough to maintain, without any irony, that hackneyed effusions transcend all political differences. It amounts to an equal-opportunity reductionism, applied to Texans and provincial Chinese alike. A charitable view would read it as a nice gesture, but even still, the gestures in a movie about ballet should be more than nice.

Sardi and Beresford share the propagandist’s penchant for playing to the simplest emotions. But their commonness of purpose inevitably cancels out to mere commonness. “I dance better here because I feel more free,” Li says of his adoptive home, and it’s easy enough to believe him. What’s harder, unfortunately, is to feel genuinely inspired.