Celebration of Genius

The work of Duke Ellington was celebrated at a Sept. 30 opening at Love Library of the traveling exhibition "Beyond Category: The Musical Genius of Duke Ellington." The free exhibit, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the American Libraries Association, explores the life and music of one of the most important figures in the history of American music. The exhibit traces Duke Ellington's life from his roots in the rich African-American musical culture to his successes in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, as well as his worldwide travels with the Ellington Orchestra. The exhibit runs through Nov. 2.

A is for A Festival

Young visitors to the "A" Festival last Friday explore one of the "constructed environments" created by UNL architecture students for the two-day festival, which was designed to showcase UNL's "Arts Quadrangle," the southwest corner of campus that includes the College of Architecture and the College of Fine and Performing Arts. The event was sponsored by the alumni groups of those two colleges.

'Bandit Queen' a Graphic Tale of Vengeance

Probably the finest film to emerge form India in recent years, Bandit Queen is the fact-based biography of Phoolan Devi, the famed outlaw whose murderous, vengeful rampage nearly brought down the Indian government prior to her surrender in 1983.

Opening at the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater Oct. 12, Bandit Queen is a graphic, brutal, violent and hypnotically compelling portrait of a woman driven to an obsessive quest for vengeance by an outdated and corrupt caste system. The film is a devastating indictment of India's societal customs and an extraordinary showcase for director Shekhar Kapur.

Bandit Queen shows Oct. 12-15. Screenings are at 7 and 9:15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 1, 3:15, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30, 4:45 and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Lundeen 'Classics' Sculpture to Honor Teaching

by Robert Sheldon, News & Information

A sculpture by Nebraska native and internationally renowned sculptor George Lundeen will be unveiled Oct. 14 on the UNL campus.

Lundeen will be on hand to dedicate the statue at a 9:30 a.m. public ceremony at the statue's location, 14th and Vine streets between Henzlik and Mabel Lee halls. Also scheduled to provide brief remarks at the dedication are Interim Chancellor Joan Leitzel and regents Nancy O'Brien and Charles Wilson.

The sculpture, titled "The Classics," portrays three young people - a teen-ager with an open book on his lap and a younger boy and girl looking over his shoulder. Lundeen said the statue expresses "concern for the well-being and education of all of our children. I sincerely hope I have captured the idea of this young man and his capacity to educate others."

The idea for a sculpture on the UNL campus to symbolize learning was proposed by the Teachers College Internal Advisory committee for Fund Development and Public Relations headed by Ruth Randall, now interim dean of the Division of Continuing Studies. The committee formed about two years ago to seek ways to obtain extra dollars for Teachers College scholarships and equipment.

Cliff Hollestelle, administrative assistant for the Barkley Memorial Center and a committee member, said the sculpture is one of 20 nearly identical sculptures produced by Lundeen.

"Several features will make the UNL piece distinctive from the other sculptures, however," Hollestelle said. "The baseball cap worn by the young man will have an 'N' on it, and the book will bear two inscriptions."

The cover of the open book will be inscribed "Teachers College Founded 1908 University of Nebraska."

"Jim O'Hanlon, dean of Teachers College, came up with the inscription on the open pages of the book," Hollestelle said. "The words are a phrase of the 19th century scholar Henry Adams: 'A teacher affects eternity.'"

Hollestelle said that Teachers College hopes to make available miniatures of the 48- by 70- by 46-inch statue. The miniatures will be sold to raise money for the college.

"We think the Lundeen sculpture is a piece of art for all to enjoy. By producing miniatures we feel that we would be making available to individuals a work of art that they would be proud to own while making a contribution to the Teachers College fund."

For questions regarding these Scarlet pages, contact:
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(402) 472-8518, Fax: (402) 472-7825