Category: Reviews
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Review: Semaj Brown at the FIA a poet, a priestess, a force of nature borne of anger and love
By Jan Worth-Nelson In the opening of Semaj Brown’s Jan. 26 performance at the Flint Institute of Arts, FIA director John Henry described Brown, Flint’s first poet laureate, as a “science-driven author, dramatist, playwright, and educator who builds inter-disciplinary curriculum.” And since Brown’s appointment as poet laureate by former Mayor Karen Weaver last year, she…
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Review: MCC’s Fine Arts Gallery presents “Japan Rediscovered: Photographs by Hideki Kihata.
By Paul Rozycki This past month the Mott Community College Fine Arts Gallery presented an exhibition of photographs, titled “Japan Rediscovered: Photographs by Hideki Kihata.” Japanese-born photographer Hideki Kihata wrapped up the event Jan. 27 with a gallery talk to a room full of students, faculty and the public. Kihata, a Saginaw area photographer, is…
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Hearing difficulties give young Flint artist a vision of inclusion
By Paul Rozycki Art historians say that Pablo Picasso began drawing at age seven, and produced his first painting at age nine. But Picasso may have nothing on Flint’s Karina Brown. The energetic, self-taught, fifteen- year-old artist who displayed her work at the Flint Public Library Jan. 25, started to draw at age three, and…
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Russ Dotson turns abandoned wood into Flint’s “found beauty”
By Jan Worth-Nelson After 22 years in the Navy, including tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and finally, Ethiopia, in 2015 Flint native Russ Dotson came home. Casting about for things to do, he found himself watching a YouTube series called “Strangely Satisfying Videos” — described as “mesmerizing and hypnotizing” clips of the actions of…
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Review: Local actor, director, poet, activist reflects on recent “Passing Strange”
By Patsy Isenberg Her name’s Harvey. Just Harvey. She’s been in numerous Flint area theatre productions. She was in “The Wolves” at Flint Repertory Theatre last season and played The Orator in their recent “The Chairs” show. And she’s been studying theater arts since elementary school here in Flint and has a B.A. in both…
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Review: One more weekend to see “outstanding” Flint Rep’s “Into the Woods”
By Patsy Isenberg “Into the Woods” is an outstanding blend of talents that came together just right. The musical opened at Flint Repertory Theatre (The Rep) Friday, Dec. 6 to a sold out audience. Rumor had it the rest of that weekend’s performances were also sold out. The blend of talents includes the direction of…
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Review: “Hatred, Inc.” and “Why We Hate” cast light on today’s quagmires
By Robert Thomas Matt Taibbi’s book Hate Inc. and the Discovery Channel’s six-episode series Why We Hate makes for an informative multi-media journey along the trail of human hatred. Hate Inc. examines why today’s media makes us despise one another. Why We Hate examines causes of hatred using scientific tools like evolutionary anthropology, cognitive science,…
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Poet Laureate Semaj Brown launches literacy project in compelling UM – Flint performance
By Patsy Isenberg “Say Her Name.” Semaj Brown. Flint’s first-ever poet laureate, made that powerful line one of her central refrains at a performance, discussion and launch of a literacy initiative at the University of Michigan – Flint’s Kiva Auditorium Nov. 13. Brown had received a proclamation from then-Mayor Karen Weaver announcing her as Flint’s…
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Review: Absurdist “The Chairs” delivers much more than nothingness
By Patsy Isenberg “The Chairs” opened at Flint Repertory Theatre’s Bower Black Box Friday Nov. 1 to a sold-out house. Artistic Director Michael Lluberes could be seen helping late arrivals search for seats. [The production continues next weekend through Sunday, Nov. 10–details below.] It’s a good bet that most of the audience expected a simple…
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Review: Spirited “Memphis the Musical” dancing up a storm through Oct. 19 at McCree
By Patsy Isenberg The Tony Award winning musical, “Memphis,” at The New McCree Theatre, running through Saturday, Oct. 19, has a huge cast of talented local singers, dancers, and actors and is directed by Cathye Johnson. The musical tries to take the audience back to the 50s. And it does, using music to illustrate the…
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