| Summary: | PHOTO BY OLIVIA GEAR Dr. Greg Carlson teaches in the Communication Studies and Theatre Arts Department on campus. He is deeply involved in finding ways to use media inside and outside the classroom, whether that means showing films to demonstrate class concepts or using Facebook for discussion. CONCORDIAK1 PULSE FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2012 7 `Art on the Plains' puts adventurous spin on midwestern life BY REGAN WHITNEY Pulse Writer In the middle of a room, eight televisions and other electronics sit stacked on the steps of a ladder. A pair of lips fill each TV screen, mesmerizing the viewer. Seven feet away, a vintage rocking chair stares back at the TVs. When the rocking chair moves, different pairs of lips sing notes, producing chords based on the position of the rocking chair and causing viewers to laugh and exclaim in surprise. This is art. In fact this piece, entitled "The Music Within My Head," received first place honors in the Plains Art Museums new exhibit, "Art on the Plains: XI: A Regional Juried Exhibition." "It's really different," said Savanna Sauvageau, employee of Plains Art Museum visitor services. "I've never seen anything like that before." Artist Jamie Burmeister of Grenta, Neb., was awarded first place out of 232 submissions. This year Hesse McGraw served as the juror for the exhibition. McGraw works as the chief curator of exhibition and projects at Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Neb. "[These artists] have rejected cynicism to celebrate the authentic absurdities of life in the Midwest," McGraw wrote, referring to the exhibit. The "Art on the Plains" exhibit, now in its eleventh year, features artists from North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska that present the newest trends of art in the region. This year, McGraw chose the art of 48 contemporary artists to be represented. Throughout the museum, visitors can be on the lookout for Burmeister's project involving four-inch ceramic figures called "vermin." These figurines can be found inside the museum's art galleries, hanging out in stairwells, congregating in the elevator and staring out the windows. Visitor Services encourages viewers to find as many as they can. According to Burmeister's website, http://vermin.me , he wanted to recognize that life forms such as bugs and mice do the same things as humans to survive. He hopes to install vermin in public places across the globe. Since 2010, vermin had been placed in 800 eries and museums across the world, including 20 states and 19 countries. Other interesting art pieces in the exhibit include "Ukiyo" by Mayumi Amada of Minneapolis. Translated from Japanese, Ukiyo means "Floating." In the piece, plastic bottles shaped into blue flowers hang from monofilament fishing line. The art piece `Woven Prism," by Randy Walker of Minneapolis, hangs from the ceiling and creates hundreds of shapes with its intertwining steel and nylon. The colored strings seem to represent the interconnectedness of life and how it may seem beautifully complicated. As a whole, this gallery defies common dull stereotypes of the Midwest and instead puts an adventurous spin on the life and culture found here. "Art on the Plains" can be seen at the Great Plains Art Museum until May 20. Admission is free for students with a college ID. PHOTO BY REGAN WHITNEY These figurines, fashioned by artist Jamie Burmeister of Grenta, Neb., are called vermin•They can be found in the Plains Art Museum's art galler-ies, stairwells, elevators and windows.They are part of an exhibit titled "Art on the Plains XI: A Regional Juried Exhibit." More than just a professor Carlson's focus on media helps connect with students BY LANA GYAMERA Pulse Contributor Greg Carlson could be deemed a patriot of the Fargo- Moorhead area. Carlson, director of media activities and assistant professor of the communications studies and theatre arts department, was born in Fargo and grew up in Moorhead. His educational history includes high school at Moorhead High, undergraduate studies at Minnesota State University- Moorhead and doctoral degree at North Dakota State University. It is, therefore, not surprising that he would title a movie about his life "Flat Land, Big Sky," because he loves the flat land of North Dakota. His teaching career has also kept him in the Fargo- Moorhead community. He taught for four years at MSUM before joining Concordia's faculty in 2001. Carlson credits his parents, who were school teachers, for his decision to become an educator. "Teaching was in my DNA," he said. "It chose me." What keeps him going as an educator, however, are his students. "1 love to interact and talk to students," he said. "I am interested in what students are interested in." Carlson's teaching is not done the conventional way. Junior Berney Leon, a communications major who has taken "Media Production I: Video, Analyzing Film & New Media" with Carlson attested to this. "His teaching style is very different," she said. "For example, he would use Facebook as a means of communication and networking rather than Moodie. We've submitted our discussions on Facebook. It's a great platform to know other students, to socialize, and also, it's very informal, which works for me." For Carlson, his biggest anxiety is feeling like he is overscheduled. He equates this problem with wanting the best from his students and wanting to be able to communicate with them more effectively. Communication does not appear to be a problem though, according to his students. Carlson appears to be an effective communicator, which can be seen through his lectures. "Greg's classes are set up to be open, inviting and accepting learning environments in which he facilitates thoughtful discussion and also lecture," senior Christopher Damlo said. Similarly, Leon describes him as a "great communicator, and someone you can always reach out to discuss anything and everything." When he is not busy as a professor, Carlson indulges in his guilty pleasure: movies. He is a self-confessed cinephile who manages to see a feature film once a day. He admits to have already watched 70 movies so far this year, his conquests kept in a computer file. Even though he endorses "Casablanca" as his favorite movie as a true movie junkie, Carlson does not discriminate. He likes all movie genres and believes that "one can learn a lot, even more, from a bad movie." His passion for the culture of cinema has led him to he the associate film editor for the High Plains Reader, covering film related activities such as film reviews and critiques. Additionally, he has a blog, Southpaw Filmworks, http://13 , with many film reviews and interviews with members of the film industry. His blog contains an interview with artist Allison Schulnik, whose latest piece, "Mound," is receiving a lot of praise for the 2012 Fargo Film Festival. Carlson is familiar with this, as he is currently on the Animation and Experimental Jury of the festival. His life, however, does not only revolve around film. Posted on his office door are various pictures of his wife, their four-year-old son and their two-year-old daughter. He chooses them as the thing he is most grateful for and proud of in his life. "Other than watching a movie, I cannot see myself doing anything else than being with my family," he said. Like most fathers, his day begins with his. family: helping his children brush their teeth, eating breakfast together and dropping kids off at daycare. His days also end with them: making sure they brush their teeth and preparing them for bed. His wife, who he describes as an "amazing wife and mother," is not just a social worker but also a well-travelled woman. According to Carlson, she has been to every continent except Australia and Antarctica. It is their hope to continue travelling with their kids when they get older. In the near future, Carlson sees himself still with the attributes of an educator, artist and family man that he possesses. "In ten years, I see myself here at Concordia but as a father of teenage children," he said. "I hope to be a better artist and teacher."
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