A cappella groups make music for Make-a-Wish

A variety of performers showed off their unique talents for a worthy cause at Alpha Phi Omega’s “Geneseo Performs: Make Wishes Come True” benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Sturges Auditorium on Saturday Nov. 8. Juniors Nicole Peinkofer and Phoebe Phelps decided to plan a performance-based fundraiser and worked together to make the event happen. “People like to be entertained, so we thought putting on a benefit concert would draw a crowd and enable us to make as much money as possible for Make-A-Wish,” Peinkofer said.

Peinkofer and Phelps specifically chose Make-A-Wish Western New York because it benefits the local community. The organizers learned about the donation process through their contact with the foundation’s local representative. Peinkofer explained that their correspondence—her favorite part about organizing the event—truly inspired her.

The organization’s goal was to raise money to help fund a child’s wish––the Make-A-Wish website states that the average cost is $7,500. The fundraiser raised $100, falling short of APO’s goal. “Although it may not be nearly enough money to grant a wish, we brought a child just that much closer to their dream,” Peinkofer said.

The two-hour concert consisted of close to 20 acts. It started off with a series of a cappella performances. One of newest co-ed a cappella groups on campus Emmelodics was first to perform with Phil Collin’s “On My Way.” Hips ‘n Harmony brought the audience back to the early 2000s with an entertaining Brittany Spears medley, including the hit “Oops!...I Did It Again” and “Lucky.” Each group offered something different through their style and choice of song.

After five a cappella groups performed, it was time for other group and individual performances. Some students performed songs by popular artists such as Coldplay and Beyoncé. G-Steppas made their way on stage, creating rhythm with stomping feet and moving bodies. A majority of the show consisted of student songwriters who performed original pieces and played instruments, demonstrating great skill and creativity.

Some of the most unique acts included performances of slam poetry, beatboxing and live looping—a performance in which the artist creates music through repeating a section of sound material and continually overlapping it from a digital machine. The concert ended with Geneseo Bhangra taking the stage with coordinated Bollywood-inspired dances, lighting up the auditorium with energetic music and bright smiles.

The concert offered students an opportunity to perform in a comfortable setting while also helping raise money. Peinkofer explained that even though organizing the event was demanding, it was ultimately worth it.

“Knowing how we would be making someone’s life just a little bit better in some way really motivated me throughout the entire process,” she said.

Fall of Bronx Barnes & Noble spells trouble for bookstores

Now that online retailers are chipping away at physical book sales, the days of spending hours scanning aisles in search of a good read are fading. Barnes & Noble is the last major national bookstore chain, but competition from online stores is hurting business. The chain’s first and only retail bookstore in the Bronx plans to close at the end of the year, after opening in 1999.

The closing means the Bronx will no longer have its own full-service bookstore, leaving residents to wonder where they’ll meet to enjoy hot coffee and hear an informal reading while having access to a wide variety of books. The announcement of the store's closing was understandably met with outcry from the community.

Online shopping sites like Amazon may have some very reasonable deals on books, but many shoppers miss the sense of excitement they felt while perusing bookshelves. In a bookstore, consumers can flip through the pages of a book and decide if it’s the right fit for them. In contrast, online shoppers search for and purchase a book with just a few clicks. Amazon’s simplicity is ideal for college students buying textbooks, but people who read leisurely view shopping for books as a fun experience.

I have to admit that Amazon has been my go-to for buying books. It’s fast and simple while offering low prices—something all college students seek in such a hectic atmosphere. There’s really no comparison, however, to walking into a bookstore and stumbling upon books you would have never heard of otherwise. Whether it’s a book you need to buy or one you just won’t know until you see it, maybe what you’re looking for should determine how and where you shop.

Readers experience a community feeling visiting a bookstore that can’t be replicated from online shopping. There’s greater potential for meaningful social interaction with like-minded people in a store than sitting in front of a screen.

Does this mean that literary conversation is in decline? At the very least, this type of discussion is changing—people are sharing opinions on Internet forums and comment sections instead of making recommendations to strangers in a bookstore.

We may be living in the digital age, but there is still a place for bookstores. They can be a welcome escape for those who want a little time away from our technology-driven environment.

Correction: The article states that the Barnes & Noble in the Bronx will close at the end of the year. However, it will remain open for at least another two years after an agreement was reached between the landlord, Prestige Properties, and Barnes & Noble. The store’s decision to stay will retain 50 jobs in the community. The decision was made after the article was written.

One-woman show brings civil rights history to stage

The intimate space of the Robert E. Sinclair Black Box Theatre was well-suited for the one-woman show “Selma ‘65” staged on Saturday Oct. 18. The play portrays the intersection of white civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo and Federal Bureau of Investigation informant Tommy Rowe, who goes undercover with the Ku Klux Klan members that fatally shoot Liuzzo following a demonstration in Selma, Alabama.

Audience members first see a shadow moving slowly across a colorless screen of twisted trees. Eerie music sets a serious tone as the figure, Liuzzo, emerges holding a cigarette.

The play revolves around the Selma to Montgomery, Alabama marches in which thousands of activists protested for voting reform. These marches were an integral catalyst in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In just 70 minutes, the play thoroughly explored complicated characters through juxtaposition. Actress Marietta Hedges assumes the roles of both Liuzzo and Rowe. She transitions seamlessly between the two characters, leaving no room for confusion.

Physicality helps clarify the character who is speaking. Hedges assumes a Southern drawl as Rowe, occupying more space with broader shoulders and a widened stance. Because Hedges acts beside an invisible scene partner, audience members must imagine responses from Hedges’s characters.

Liuzzo leaves her five children and husband to attend the voting march, a decision widely criticized for a woman at that time. It’s clear she desires a just society, but her execution seems reckless––she drives in a car with a black man named Leroy Moton in the front seat. Liuzzo’s storyline doesn’t shy away from her flaws. Rather, it presents a multifaceted protagonist who is conflicted about how society says she should behave and extremely passionate about working toward improved equality.

Although the storyline required extensive research, playwright Catherine Filloux took creative liberties by incorporating rocks as a recurring symbol. Additionally, she had to recreate dialogue between characters since there is no concrete evidence of the content.

Immediately following the performance, Filloux and Hedges joined the audience to answer any questions. The team explained their goal of creating “Selma '65” was to recount a historical event that tackled issues of voting rights and discrimination. The concern of voting rights seems even more relevant now that the rights of minority voters remain at risk.

Both women spoke candidly about the struggles they encountered while working on the play. Filloux stated that she wanted to avoid writing too much exposition, but also wanted audience members to clearly understand scenes with Hedges as the only actress. Hedges explained the challenging feat of perfecting the physicality of both diverse characters.

After three years of working on the play, it was performed in New York City at the end of September through October. Geneseo is the first location where it was performed after its time in New York City. In the near future, the team will travel to several colleges and other locations around the United States.

The play brings a widely unfamiliar event of the past to the forefront, an important occurrence that relates to present issues.

As artists, mimes speak louder than words

Contrary to popular belief, the art form of miming is more than a lighthearted performance that brings smiles to entertained viewers. These underappreciated artists connect with audience members through their exaggerated facial expressions and animated movements. Over the past two decades, Garrett has taught miming to people from vulnerable communities. He views it as an opportunity to foster artistic abilities in a welcoming environment. Such communities include women’s shelters and working with children with Down syndrome. Without a simple means of expression, these people often feel detached from others.

People spend all day talking, but how much weight do their words truly carry? Often, words don’t match body language and facial expressions—people say they’re fine when their facial expression indicates the opposite. A slouched posture, a frown or furrowed eyebrows can all be clues into a person’s genuine emotions.

Garrett performed at one of Szego’s lectures and learned of people’s willingness to express painful topics through movement rather than discussing them in a medical environment. Miming offers a creative outlet and a means to communicate that differs from traditional verbal conversation.

Words can more easily mask feelings but it’s difficult to hide body language; most people don’t practice altering this type of communication. The idea of expression through body movement is miming’s central component. This unique art form decreases discrepancy in messages, allowing viewers to better understand the emotions a mime seeks to convey.

Scientific studies are becoming increasingly interested in the notion that specific movements stimulate different parts of the brain. Although many people have trouble believing that art forms are more than just entertainment, science is providing tangible evidence of the neurological impacts of alternative forms of communication including miming.

A recent article in The Atlantic describes influential people in the miming community and their mission to help others through the art form. Julithe Garrett has worked around the world with his now ex-wife Eva Szego, a licensed art therapist and psychotherapist in pursuit of providing a cathartic outlet.

Miming as a type of therapy certainly proves that alternative art forms can be more than just something fun to watch. As science sheds more light onto art’s significance within our society, people will better understand the beneficial effects of creative expression.

Movie Review: Bears

In most nature films, bears are often portrayed as ferocious animals; eager to tear apart campsites and let out startling roars. The animals in Disneynature’s new film Bears depicts a new perspective, one of a mother’s care for her vulnerable cubs in a dangerous environment. The film, directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, follows the life of an Alaskan grizzly bear and her two cubs on an adventure to find safety and food. The breathtaking cinematography places viewers in the wild terrains of falling avalanches and changing tides. Lush greenery and vibrant flowers emerge with the coming of spring. Clear water exposes aquatic life as the mother bear dives in to catch salmon while they leap and splash around her.

The two young cubs, Amber and Scout, show off their playful and curious nature as they trail their mother, Sky, and learn how to behave in the “real” world.

The film opens with a close-up shot of the two furry cubs nestled with their mother.  They slowly and awkwardly take their first steps on the thick snow after a long hibernation. The camera zooms out to reveal the snow-covered mountains, slowly panning over the vast landscape to give viewers a better grasp of the monumental excursion ahead.

Despite the adorable affection from mother bear to cubs, the film doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of life in a survival-of-the-fittest environment. Sky, a first-time mother, struggles to keep a watchful eye on her cubs at all times. At one point, Scout grows so tired that he falls asleep while the tides rise and frigid water begins to wash over him. Sky fails to notice, and Scout must swim to shore to avoid drowning. At other times, predators follow close behind and Sky must either stand her ground or find another place to reside.

John C. Reilly, who starred in Step Brothers and Boogie Nights, narrates the movie. He effectively adds humor to avoid dullness that can sometimes accompany nature films. He inserts personality to a voiceless film by assigning anthropomorphic characteristics to each bear.  His lines offer light-heartedness against the more suspenseful moments.

The film lets the scenery speak for itself without scientific facts overshadowing the voyage. Since it’s a Disney movie, it makes sense that the filmmakers chose not to explain everything. The film focuses on providing more minimal background details; the film is aimed toward younger kids who are usually accustomed to simplicity.

The film follows a cohesive plot structure, an important element that provides viewers with more accessibility to retain attention. The family of bears travels from their hibernation spot to various locations, encountering other animals along the way in hopes of finding much-needed salmon to sustain their lives.

The journey becomes more miraculous when the film explains that only half of bear cubs survive their first year. Hazards like predators, rising tides and starvation all appear in the movie, but the bears overcome all these obstacles.

If you’re in the mood for a film with stunning scenery that realistically depicts wildlife, you’ll really enjoy watching Bears. Although the film leaves out a decent amount of scientific information, the colorful images are sufficient to satiate viewer’s curiosity of a world widely unfamiliar. Bears truly captures the beauty and determination of these fascinating animals that most people don’t have the opportunity to experience in such an intimate way.

WGSU show revives campus jazz culture

Many people see jazz as an antiquated music genre, but freshman Alex McGrath sees it as an art form that’s still evolving. His passion for jazz resulted in the production of a jazz show on WGSU called “Point of Departure” this semester with a goal of making the genre more accessible.

“I wanted to do a show that was not only jazz, but also explanations about the songs,” McGrath said.

McGrath is a jazz musician himself, playing both piano and guitar.  He slowly moved away from rock music to jazz during middle school.

“I like its ability to be political and abrasive. The idiom itself is open to so much. It’s defined by its freedom,” he said.

McGrath’s music teachers and general experience as a jazz musician shape the show. His familiarity with the genre provides him with a deep understanding that he strives to share with listeners.

“For a lot of the stuff I play, I have a long history with them since I was a kid.  I’ve picked out a lot of songs I love,” McGrath said.

“Point of Departure” lasts an hour with a mix of contemporary and older songs from various artists. They are grounded on the basis of content and tone rather than a particular era. McGrath approaches the music as a genre that’s still developing rather than from a historical standpoint.

The show airs about 10 to 12 songs, with McGrath talking about either a specific track or a certain group of songs directly after. He delves into the artists’ backgrounds along with placing music in a timeframe so listeners can better understand the context of each song. He also works to provide a better framework for the actual music by explaining the songs with his understanding of music theory.

“I try to make [jazz] more accessible because there’s definitely some stuff that can be intimidating,” McGrath said.

He enjoys going through jazz music and finding connections between different eras, something that he didn’t think about as much before he produced the show. Some artists you’ll hear are John Zorn, Derek Bailey and Thelonious Monk. Even if you’re not familiar with jazz, McGrath does his best to ensure that listeners aren’t overwhelmed by such a rich genre.

“Point of Departure” airs Saturdays at 6 p.m.

Correction: The original version of this article stated that "Point of Departure" airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. The show airs Saturdays from 6-7 p.m.

Budget cuts spark student art movement

The pending discontinuation of Geneseo’s studio art department ignited students’ interest in starting Art Club, a new organization that hopes to provide Geneseo with a creative outlet starting next semester. According to some of the organization’s founders, sophomores Amy Liang, Sarah Alfonso and Rose Lipton, Art Club will be a way for students to come together and develop their artistic skills now that academic classes will no longer be available.

“We thought it was really unfair that students who wanted to express themselves through art mediums didn’t have the chance to do so anymore,” Liang said.

Art Club plans to switch between workshops and independent study on alternating weeks.  The workshops will include speakers and advanced student artists teaching general members about a specific kind of art.

Art Club’s idea is to dive into all different kinds of arts ranging from traditional mediums like sketching, painting and drawing to more modern ones including digital photography, graphic design and web design.  The founders stress that Art Club is open to everyone from beginning to advanced artists, allowing students to learn and practice skills in a relaxed environment even if art isn’t something they plan to pursue as a career.

“Anything can be art, especially nowadays since technology is so powerful. People don’t realize that you need artistic knowledge to know how to create a website or know how to design an app,” Liang said. “The way you think when you’re making art could really help a lot in whatever career.”

The founders also emphasized art’s practical side for those who don’t think it’s necessarily right for them.

“It’s still important to have a way to express your ideas and develop your creativity in ways that reading a bio textbook or doing a physics lab really can’t,” Liang said.

“Art is very therapeutic to a lot of people,” Lipton added.

Although it’s not yet official, Liang, Alfonso and Lipton have several ideas they are eager to put into action for next semester, including visiting nearby art museums. They have completed the majority of the paperwork, had their one permitted meeting of the semester and decided to ask for Student Association funding to provide art supplies. Students have already expressed their interest through joining Art Club’s Facebook page.

With the disappearance of the studio art department, it’s apparent that many students still want to express their creativity.

“We’re trying to bring arts back to this campus,” Lipton said.