Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 42

ARTS Sunday, February 15, 1998 Poet takes on disguise to politicize work D2 Albuquerque Journal ,4 By Anthony DellaFlora Journal Staff Writer p.m., Ill Tulane SE. Sister Spit and Friends, 6 p.m., Fred's Bread, 3009 E. Central, a gay and lesbian showcase. $5. Grammar Rodeo and Sharpening, 9 p.m., Launchpad, 618 W.

Central, featuring such events as Naughty Sentence Deconstruction and Tag Team Haiku. Open to APS English teachers, copy editors and brave souls. Shappening features Chicago poets. $5. Eileen Myles and Ellen Maybe, midnight at the Outpost Performance Space, 112 Morn-ingside SE, featuring the convergence of N.Y.

and L.A. poets. $5. FRIDAY Eileen Myles Book Party, 4 p.m. at Full Circle Books, 2205 Silver SE.

TV ('' mi i Albuquerque Poetry Festival The third annual festival stretches over seven days. Call 260-1935 for general Information. Passes for the whole week are $25, available by calling Mitch Rayes at 839-9171. MONDAY Jaguar Hearts, noon, Mexican Consulate, 400 Gold SW. A drum ceremony and poetry vigil in solidarity with the people of Chiapas.

Albuquerque All-Stars, 6 p.m., R.B. Winning Coffee Ill Harvard SE, featuring the Albuquerque Slam Poetry team and other local poets. $5. TUESDAY Poets Living Room, 4 p.m., Best Price Books, 1800 E. Central.

An open mic for everyone. It runs each day through Friday. Young Voices Poetry Slam, 6 p.m., R.B. Winning Coffee Ill Harvard SE, slam open to high school writers $2. Firestorm, 9 p.m., Dingo Bar, 313 Gold SW, featuring an all-female lineup with locals Traci Paris and Lisa Gill, plus poets from Seattle and Santa Cruz.

$5. Dead Poets Tribute, midnight, Dingo Bar, 313 Gold SW, costume party and reading of works by Dorothy Parker, Charles Bukowski, Walt Whit-. man and others. Open to everyone. $1.

WEDNESDAY Feral House Book Party, 4 p.m., Wavy Brain, 3108 E. Central, with the publisher of the best in sex, satanismand true crime. PHOTO BY DARA MCADAMS A Poet and one-time presidential candidate Eileen Myles Is one of the guests at this week's Albuquerque Poetry Festival. Nl "ew York poet Eileen Myles has always had an eye for America's underclass, but it wasn't until she took on the persona of an upper-crust East Coast scion that it seemed to matter. i In fact, Myles' 1987 work, "An American Poem," would transform what had already become a successful career as the thinking woman's Charles Bukowski.

rr stopped drinking in the '80s, and that's when I started really spotting the homeless," said Myles, who lives in the New York's East "I saw them and I saw their pain when I first stopped drinking, in a very intense way, and I started feeling sort of politicized." One result would be "An American Poem," said Myles, who will read Thursday night as part of the Albuquerque Poetry Festival. "This person starts to describe a life in which she ran away from her rich, upper-class Boston background to be a poet in New York and be a lesbian, and the character talks about the conditions that she's surrounded by in her life," Myles explained. "Slowly, she reveals that she's a Kennedy and it's a kind of coming-out poem as a famous person," she added. "I wrote the same old Eileen Myles poem, but I wrote it as if I was suddenly confessing this secret identity. "It was really an important poem for me, because in the midst of doing that, I realized that if I said that's who I was, that legitimized Jvhat I saw.

Instead of being an Average, poor schmuck looking at kn average poor life in lyrical poetry, I was a member of a privileged family, of a privileged plass, who had taken on the guise of poverty in order to see." Her performance was recorded pn film, where it took on a life of its bwn. It was rejected from some film festivals because "they didn't want film by some pretentious Kennedy. People were actually believing that I was a Kennedy and ejected me on thfi basis of being oo privileged. It really cut both ways," Myles said. Myles had always performed poetry readings, but by the '90s, she was improvising monologues.

"I Realized that if I ran for president, i could do that performance as a Campaign be a poor candidate, be a lesbian candidate, be a working- flass candidate, be a poet candidate. "So I did that for a couple years fcnd I used the Kennedy poem again," she added. "I knew Allen fcinsberg growing up as a poet, too, pmd he always seemed to be the only poet who could stand there and talk about politics as if it were his right. I didn't know how to do it except by directly running for president." i i Film studio case I got too terrified to do it." In fact, her stage fright was so bad that it was suggested that someone else read her work, just for the exposure. But at an open-microphone poetry night in 1988, she finally succumbed to the praise of her fellow poets and read her work.

"It just sort of happened," she said in an interview this week. "It was pretty terrifying." Besides forming a mutual admiration society, Myles and Maybe share a conversational style in their poetry, and a pop sensibility. Maybe, once described as the "love child of Jack Kerouac and Gracie Allen," also shares an interest in politics. Though born in 1964, Maybe said, she feels a kinship with the culture and music of the 1960s. In her rsum6, she refers to the protest songs of Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs and to Mario Savio, a leader of the Vietnam war protests in Berkeley.

Maybe said she can't really pinpoint when she fell in love with the '60s. "There were times when it just sort of accumulated all this incredible stuff that seemed to meet my heart." She can't always pinpoint where her poetry comes from either. "Stuff just comes," Maybe said. "Kind of stream of consciousness." "I love her work," said Myles. "It's simple and it's complicated and I think she really piles on the culture.

I think she's got a really wide-angle lens that she writes with." sing with Poker Night, 6 p.m., Fred's Bread, 3009 E. Central, an all-male reading with the best of the West. $5. On the Road, 9 p.m., Launch-pad, 618 W. Central, featuring favorites from the slam poetry circuit, including Wammo, Lisa Martinovich and Ray McNiece.

$5. Highway 666, midnight, Launchpad, 618 W. Central, with true crime author John -Gilmore, Feral House publisher Adam Parfrey and spoken word dominatrix Monique M. de la Magdalena. $3.

THURSDAY Manic Press Book Party, Nob Hill Books and Music, 4 IN PERFORMANCE AND IN SCHOOL: The Borromeo String Quartet Is truly an International ensemble. Quartet's music is -j education Journal Staff Report I music is a language that outs across borders, the Borromeo String Quartet is an example of true that statement is. The Borromeo is an ensemble whose members come from four countries. First violinist Kitchen is American, second Hi. violinist Ruggero Allifranchini from Italy, violist Hsin-Yun Huang is from Taiwan and cellist Yeesun; Kim is from Korea.

"We keep working at blending our differences into the mix of music," Kitchen Three members Kitchen, Allifranchini and Kim met while students at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute; Huang joined in 1994. They began playing together as an unnamed ensemble. In 1989 they formed but not with the notion of making their professional relationship permanent. Borromeo String Quartet' WHEN: 3 p.m. 1 Feb.

22 f. WHERE: bimms Auanon- 1 urn, Albuquerque--! a A rin. nuauemy, owu Wyoming NE HOW MUCH: $8 reserved, $5 i What solidified the idea was general. Call 268-1990 taking second prize in a competition in 'm Evian, France. They named the quartet after a prominent family in Northern Italy if The Borromeo performs Feb.

22 at Simms Auditorium at the Albuquerque Academy. Their program includes Haydn's Quarte in major Ravel's Quartet in major and Beethoven's. Quartet in E-flat major I4 The Borromeo is participating iij a two-year-long outreach program through the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Through the i program they do school residencies and present interactive concerts for? a variety of audiences. While in Albuquerque, the group will take part in two days of Ji residencies, each lasting 45 minutes.

".7 On Feb. 23 the musicians will be5 at Bernalillo Middle School and Corrales Elementary, and on Feb j4 they will be at Rio Rancho High School and Meadowlark Senior Center in Rio Rancho. With younger audiences, Kitchen said, "We try to get the kids into the fun of the music. We find that the young ones, the faster music isj more involving. ALL YOU CAN EAT laickWoYfislieiS Oft EVERY jbA'r OViW SUPER SPECIAL TOP SIRLOIN STEAK MA $5.99 12 Oz CHOICE WHILE QUANTITIES LAST ALL YOU CAN EAT SUKDAY BUFFET (SENIORS $6.95) $7.50 Senal wm Fnndi Frits.

ColesUm tnd Qtrtc BnmL PLEASE NO SUBSTITUTIONS Restaurant Delicatessen Dinrw Mrved nightly Sun 1 1 30'. tie K6nic Sandia 3 mjtos north of MO i North 14 Reservations 281-3914 or 281-3if. JL.J Chamber Orchestra Night of the Chihuahua, 6 p.m., Fred's Bread, 3009 E. Central, a Latino poets showcase. $5.

Rice-A-Roni, 9 p.m., Dingo Bar, featuring the best of the San Francisco spoken-word scene, including Beth Lisick and Bucky Sinister. $5. Word, midnight, Dingo Bar, 313 Gold SW, featuring erotic poetry. SATURDAY Poets Brunch, 10 a.m., R.B. Winning Coffee Ill Harvard SE.

Herlanders, 2 p.m., Full Circle Books, 2205 Silver SE, women's open mic. Fiction Showcase, 6 p.m., R.B. Winning Coffee Ill Harvard SE, with Maisha Baton, Lisa Gill and Jason Flo- res. $5. Superslam, 9 p.m., El Rey, 620 W.

Central, the big enchilada, featuring slam poets from around the country, vying for a $200 prize. $5. SUNDAY New Mexico Small Press Book Party, 3 p.m., Nob Hill Books and Music, 111 Tulane SE. Western Union, 6 p.m., R.B. Winning Coffee Ill Harvard SE, with Larry Goodell, E.A.

Mares, Richard Bodner and others. $5. Poetry in the Back Room, 8 p.m., Best Price Books, 1800 E. Central, with Kenn Rodriguez. Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque with Las Cantantes WHEN: 8 p.m.

Friday WHERE: St. John's United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona NE HOW MUCH: $15 to $24 in advance by calling 881-0844 or at the door. Student discounts for students and seniors. The concert is a benefit for the COA. In this case, Oberg said, all of the artistic personnel, including the soloists, are playing for free, so all proceeds of ticket sales go to the organization, Las Cantantes is receiving an honorarium.

"Every musical organization needs money, and this way the orchestra participates in raising funds," Oberg said. A $33,000 deficit has been nagging the COA for the past four years. "And now we have a severe but hopefully short-term cash flow problem," Oberg said. Best Legs In Town We've Made You A Deal You Can't Refuse "Oh Mama Ir The BesT ALL YOU CAN EAT SPAGHETTI EVERY SUNDAY 5PM 8PM AU You Can Eat Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, and Froggy's Own Garlic Bread Adults $4.95 Seniors Children Under- $4.35 NEW DAILY LUNCH 2509 San Mateo 889-0800 Additional parking at our sag As well known as she had become as a poet, it was nothing compared with being a presidential candidate. The transition was difficult.

"The first thing I realized was I wasn't getting as much attention once the campaign was over. I never got so much attention as a poet as when I ran for office," she said. "I had lots of opportunities, lots of exposure. Afterwards, it was really kind of hollow being just me again." But don't cry for Myles, Argentina. She has responded with an acclaimed collection of short stories, "Chelsea Girls," and two poetry books, including last year's "School of Fish." And the Kennedy poem still works in wonderful ways.

Myles recounted doing a rendition of it in Hamburg, Germany. The refrain is "I am a Kennedy." "In Germany, I realized I could say 'Ich bin ein a reference to John F. Kennedy's famous line, "Ich bin ein Berliner," spoken in West Berlin in 1963. "The first time I did it, I just brought the house down." Myles said she'll read her "greatest hits" at the Outpost Performance Space, where she'll share the stage with Los Angeles poet Ellyn Maybe. Maybe will read for sure.

That wasn't always the case. "I got my nickname because I was so shy about reading in front of people," Maybe explains in her r6sum6, a rambling, poetic distillation of her life. "I put in parentheses (Maybe I'll read) in Women to By David Steinberg Journal Staff Writer Gi iovanni Pergolesi's sacred work Stabat Mater is just right for Las Cantantes, the University of New Mexico's 16-voice women's ensemble. "The kind of tone that's called for in Baroque music is what we specialize in," said Brad Ellingboe, chorus director. "By that I mean music where there's an absence of vibrato and uses more of the upper formats of the voices, so it's more of the brighter, more-forward timbre of the voice." COA music director David Oberg invited Las Cantantes to sing the piece at its all-Italian Baroque concert Friday evening.

"Las Cantantes performed with us several years ago, and they did a great job at that concert. I've been following the group's progress," Oberg said. He heard them at last spring's UNM Composer's Symposium, where, he said, they did well on a difficult Libby Larsen work. Right after that performance, Oberg told Ellingboe he wanted the chorus back with the COA to do what he termed "a really substantial work. I wanted to do the Pergolesi and use them." COUPON" SPAGHETTI I SUNDAY I I "FnthPtsfUtdeDtiy ANY SPAGHETTI DINNER I Red Sauce Only Today Only Dine In or Take Out 2401 San Pedro NE (at Uptown) 883-4414 Not Valid with any other offer Hours: 11 am-IOom Sun Must present coupon Expires a CHORUS GOES BAROQUE: Us Cantantes, UNM's women's chorus, sings Giovanni Pergolesi's Stabat Mater with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque In a concert of Baroque music Friday night.

jsettles suit bii sculpture the Associated Press WASHINGTON A copyright dispute that had pitted Warner Bros, against a sculptor and the Washington National Cathedral vas resolved Friday, the church announced in a joint statement Jvith the film company. 'Sculptor Frederick Hart and the cathedral had filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros, over the use 6f his copyright artwork, "Ex Nihi-lo," in the film "Devil's Advocate." The movie stars Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. I In the. settlement, Warner Bros, insisted it had not used Hart's wprk but would agree "to make changes to certain portions of the film to eliminate any perceived confusion in future' distribution of the movie," referring to its upcoming release on video. The bas-relief sculpture, found at the cathedral's main entrance, depicts the creation of mankind from chaos as told in the book of Genesis.

In the film, an image of the sculpture comes to life and writhes erotically in the apartment of the deviL Hart and the cathedral claimed confusion about the work and the sculpture in the film had damaged both their reputations. Warner Bros, conceded that the artist who designed the sculpture in the movie had reviewed several works of art, including "Ex Nihi-lo." However, the studio claimed it had the right to use that image under the protection of the First Amendment. Seals to play Caravan Dan Seals, 70s hitmaker, performs Monday, 9 p.m. at the Caravan East Tickets for the show are $6 in advance, $8 at the door. I Ellingboe said he is honored that professional organization like the COA has asked Las Cantantes to be part of its subscription series.

"That reflects well on the standards of our group," he said. Pergolesi, who lived to be only 26, wrote the 30-mimite Stabat Mater in the last years of his life. It was either commissioned by a religions fraternity of noblemen or by a noble patron. Originally written as a duet for alto and soprano, the work was later sung by choirs with soprano "Wun Hlisn and alto sections. "This version will be more in keeping with what people are doing nowadays," Ellingboe said.

"It will have some movements with soloists and some by the full choir." Soloists include sopranos Esther Moses and Jomarie Griego and altos Sharon O'Connell and Angelyn Hirai. The other work on the program is Antonio Vivaldi's Double Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon. Soloists are oboist Elaine Heltman and bassoonist Denise Reig Turner. Ill 7 sgl 823 4444 iTVTi A rvil 30 I THURSDAY nam it ProTtx In Purr's Supsrmsrtob rt.W1 tr uqusrqus, Rio FUncho aid Swta Ft. r.TARCH 5, wew i- AD-VISOR.