Epoch Arts 8-28-2015

JAMES LEYNSE

When Truth Becomes a Question of Semantics People’s hopes and beliefs come up against a cold world of data in “Informed Consent.”

COURTESY OF IKE UDE

The Art and Poetry of Sartorial Dressing Style, above all, is the ultimate mode of an individual’s sovereignty, says Ike Ude.

See C4

See C8

C1 Aug. 28–Sept. 3, 2015

KIM SERGENT

Luxury Interior Designer

Geoffrey Bradfield on

Staying Relevant Interior designed by Geoffrey Bradfield.

By Milene Fernandez | Epoch Times Staff

NEW YORK—A gentleman in every sense of the word, Geoffrey Bradfield sported an immaculate white suit, striped shirt, and bow tie. His distinguished winged haircut hinted at the fact that here is a designer with a refined, yet playful signature.

“Well I’ve never been short of ideas and I don’t like a formula,” he said articulating his thoughts—gently intoned speech, with a posh accent.

He has a talent for creating daring juxtapositions with the objects he combines, in a perfectly balanced way that exudes elegance and a subtle glamour. If interior design sets the scene to reflect a person’s lifestyle, Bradfield just knows how to collaborate very well with his clients to highlight, and in some cases help form their identities.

See Bradfield on C2

SCOTT FRANCES

He has a talent for creating daring juxtapositions with the objects he combines.

Interior of a penthouse in Mexico City designed by Geoffrey Bradfield.

Arts

C2 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com H. DURSTON SAYLOR

KIM SERGENT

Interior designed by Geoffrey Bradfield.

H. DURSTON SAYLOR

Library of a penthouse in Jerusalem designed by Geoffrey Bradfield.

Luxury Interior Designer

Geoffrey Bradfield on

Staying Relevant A living room designed by Geoffrey Bradfield in New York. and a very successful interior design company.

At 28 he pulled the rug out from under his own feet. It was an inevitable, huge sacrifice moving to New York because he had to start from scratch like everyone else.

But it was worth it. “There’s nothing like it.

I think you can be, really, anything you want to be. I know it’s such an ill-used term but the energy here has no equal,” he said.

Bradfield continued from C1 “I believe that we as designers are only as good as our clients allow us to be,” he wrote in his book, “Artistic License.”

Everything that Bradfield designs is custommade for the interiors of his regal and Fortune 500 clients who span the globe. Most of his clients are collectors and his work is invariably predicated on the use of contemporary art. He has overhauled Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s Westbury, Long Island, estate, the late King Hussein’s mansion in Maryland, and Hollywood director Oliver Stone’s riverside New York apartment, to name a few.

He quoted a tried and true saying to explain his success. “You have to learn to bend to stand up straight,” he said, quoting Confucius.

Soon to turn 70 and looking younger than his age, he takes life as it comes. He has a keen sense of humor, which was highlighted by contrast to his perfect posture and apparent restraint, as he requested to keep several witty points “off the record.”

A Grateful New Yorker From the South African Riviera A New Yorker at heart since the ’70s, Bradfield was born in South Africa. He grew up on a farm in the Transkei part of Eastern Cape Province with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. He’s the fourth generation of farming families who immigrated on land grants that were given by the British Crown in 1820. That coastline of the Transkei is often referred to as the South African Riviera.

“I had a wonderful childhood growing up on the wild coast. It was very, very beautiful,” Bradfield said in his jewel of an apartment on Park Avenue.

His propensity to have everything in place comes through in his work. Many writers have described his style, how there’s such a sense of serenity about the spaces he has designed.

“I like order, I love serenity,” he affirmed.

Growing up he “drove his family to distraction” because he would constantly rearrange the furniture in the house, which he said was very large but “with no architectural merit to speak of.” His parents allowed him to turn the house into his formative design laboratory.

“The only chair I was not allowed to move was my father’s. That was the only one that was sacrosanct,” he said laughing. He also loved orchestrating parties. “I would have everyone up all night creating decorations, planning events …” he said.

After completing his army training, he left South Africa to travel around the world for two years. During his travels he came to New York for the first time at the age of 19 and instantly fell in love with the city.

“I just knew this is where I was going to live. It was as simple as that. The proverbial bell went off, ‘Bradfield this is where you are going to live one day,’” he said. After that initial trip, later he would visit New York, which he calls “the definitive 20th and 21st century city,” every year in June for seven years.

He had a very comfortable life in South Africa, where he enjoyed his dogs and horses,

No one wants to ride away into the sunset without leaving some imprint.

Geoffrey Bradfield

Place and Timeless Beauty Ultimately Bradfield draws his inspiration from art, from the past, and from a deeper source.

“There’s no more glorious, inspiration than nature,” he said. When asked how he would define beauty, Bradfield said it’s “very simple, timeless, and classic.”

He showed a custom-made carpet that he designed for a penthouse residence in the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem, which can be seen in his latest book, “A 21st Century Palace, Jerusalem”—the second one in a series of five. Location is crucial to his design choices. “It’s hardly likely that you get to do a Tutor style apartment in a high rise,” he said.

As the penthouse is located in the heart of Jerusalem he wanted to introduce biblical references. In addition to including ancient statues of the prophet Jonah and King David, the lilies on the lavish master bedroom carpet that blossom along a free-form vine reference Reuben’s Lily, or mandrake, in the Song of Solomon.

“We cannot ignore the past. The past is where we come from, it’s our reference,” he said in his Beekman drawing room that he designed with the ’30s in mind.

China Looking West Bradfield is honored to have been invited to judge the national Chinese design competition

in Shanghai for the past three years. He finds it exciting to work with his Chinese clients, whom he calls “the billionaires of our time,” and believes that we are looking at an emerging Chinese century.

“Up until recently my feeling was that China lacked, to some extent, an identity in a decorative sense. It was beaten out of them by Mao and their culture was almost completely obliterated for 60 years,” he said.

“It is not unnatural that they would look to the West culturally to fill a void,” he added.

Leaving His Imprint Bradfield is very proud of the publications he has produced and continues to produce. The third book in the “21st Century Palace” series is on a Washington residence, and will be published in November.

“No one wants to ride away into the sunset without leaving some imprint. In many ways my books have, quite by accident, become a record of my career,” he said.

Bradfield has been named a “Dean of American Design” by Architectural Digest, one of the top 10 in the world by the “Robb Report,” and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Still he’s rather modest about it. “I always feel ‘Wow is it me, are they talking about this farm boy?’ and they say these flattering things about me, and I think ‘Is this for real?’” he said.

One thing he’s definitely not shy about is his signature. “I think people will look at a project and say, ‘Oh that’s Geoffrey Bradfield,’ I’m absolutely confident of that,” he said smiling. ”This Is New York” is a feature series that delves into the lives of inspiring individuals in New York City. See all our TINYs here: epochtim.es/TINY or follow @milenefernandez on Twitter KIM SARGENT

KIM SARGENT

Lily carpet designed

by Geoffrey Bradfield.

Dinning area of a penthouse in Jerusalem designed by Geoffrey Bradfield.

Arts

C3 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com

Destiny and Enduring Mission Create the Crazy Horse Memorial

By Tim Gebhart

mid the rolling granite peaks of the Black Hills in South Dakota, the Crazy Horse Memorial stands regally, inviting visitors to gape at the sheer scale of the largest sculpture in the world. Caterpillars and the heavy machinery used to block out the shape of the steely figure hint at the enormity of the task, as they labor along the winding paths traveling up the mountain.

For those who conceived and oversaw the building of the Crazy Horse Memorial, it has been a calling for them. Their vision extended beyond their lives and across generations.

It extended beyond emotional and physical hardship.

There was really no option for the site of the memorial but the Black Hills; it was the most sacred place for many of the Plains tribes and would become a focal point for future generations to preserve Native American culture and honor its history through education.

In the 1940s, most Native Americans were forced to live on reservations in squalid conditions. The popular circus shows of Wild Bill Hickok of generations prior portrayed Native Americans as barbaric and uncompromising.

Their culture was misinterpreted, manipulated, and on the verge of extinction.

A letter written by a Native American leader to an upstart sculptor asked him to carve a statue. It states, “My fellow chiefs and I would like to know the red man has great heroes, also.”

The author of the letter was Standing Bear, the interpreter and educator for the Lakota tribe.

Standing Bear wanted Native Americans to know their own history and to know that it offered much to take pride in.

Standing Bear At a young age, Standing Bear had been taken to one of many off-reservation schools known as the Carlisle schools for Native American children. In the 19th century, children were often forcibly removed from their families in order to gain a Western education. Standing Bear, the future hereditary chief of the Brulé, which occupied the Teton area of Wyoming, was no exception.

While at the Carlisle school, Standing Bear was forbidden to speak his native language.

ALL PHOTOS FROM CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Korczak Ziolkowski (L) and Chief Standing Bear in front of a scale model of the Crazy Horse Memorial.

The mountain in the distance would become the site of the memorial.

(L) Korczak Ziolkowski endured incredible financial hardship and prejudice as he began carving the memorial. He had only $174 to his name, but had daunting determination.

(R) Concept of the finished Crazy Horse Memorial, complete with a university, medical center, and sports complex.

Standing Bear wanted Native Americans to know their own history and to know that it offered much to take pride in.

The children attending the schools were also forced to cut their hair short, change their native names, and were forbidden to display any kind of behavior associated with their origins.

It was at the Carlisle school, however, that Standing Bear gained insight into American culture and its way of viewing the world. He would use that education to work within the framework of modern America to preserve his own culture and advocate for Native Americans across North America.

Standing Bear conceived of a memorial to honor Native American culture in the form of a sculpture, a repository of Native American artifacts, and also as a means to award scholarships, as well as higher education for Native Americans.

After doing their homework, Chief Standing Bear and other tribal elders searched for a qualified candidate to bring this dream to life.

Standing Bear came across news of a sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, who won first prize at the 1939 World’s Fair. Ziolkowski told the humble chief that he would carve the statue. It would be of the great leader Crazy Horse.

Standing Bear and the tribal elders were convinced that Ziolkowski was destined to carve the Crazy Horse Memorial as he was born on Sept. 6, the same day that Crazy Horse had died 62 years earlier.

Crazy Horse Crazy Horse had often been a recluse as a child.

His wavy brown hair and light skin set him in sharp contrast to the other Lakota around him.

He was often taunted for his appearance, but to the amazement of the tribe adults, he was barely ruffled by the teasing from the other children.

As an adult, Crazy Horse became part of a society within the Lakota known as the Heyoka. They were often the medicine men.

With everything they did, they did it backward—the opposite of what would be normal.

Whatever they did, they strove for the highest virtue. For example, around the campfire after a battle, men would partake in a ritual, recounting their glories. Crazy Horse, however, was nowhere to be found.

Crazy Horse, as a Heyoka, did not try to pursue fame or wealth; instead, he often gave his

spoils of war and his possessions to those of his tribe in need.

He often preferred to be alone in the wilderness with his thoughts. When he was perplexed by a difficult situation, he would disappear for days at a time to brood.

There was much to brood about. The U.S. government broke one treaty after another as settlers poured into the Lakota lands, forever altering their way of life. The United States had proceeded to wage a genocidal campaign against the tribes of the Great Plains and shattered any hope of a peaceful coexistence between the two parties.

Sifting through battle with supernatural ease, Crazy Horse gained a following among the warriors of his tribe. He had many visions that guided him through his short life, which the elders took to be very significant. Some of the visions were about the future, beyond the lives of all who were there to hear Crazy Horse recount them.

Crazy Horse was destined to be a leader, and as an exemplary man, his humility inspired generations after him.

Before his death, Crazy Horse prophetically stated that he would return to his people in stone. It was naturally fitting that Crazy Horse would become the subject of the mountain carving.

The Carving Ziolkowski and Standing Bear had originally wanted to carve only the top portion of the mountain. A fissure in the granite on the prospective carving site altered their plans.

They thought “go big or go home.” The entire mountain would be utilized for the Crazy Horse Memorial in what might be the most ambitious and far-reaching monument of our time.

The dream of the Crazy Horse Memorial is slowly taking shape. When you visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, know that it is a living memorial and focal point of Native American culture. It aims to preserve the rich history and the future of America’s first people.

For more information, visit crazyhorsememorial.org Tim Gebhart is an artist living in Clackamas, Oregon.

Arts

C4 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com

Theater Review

When Truth Becomes a Question of Semantics JAMES LEYNSE

‘Informed Consent’

By Judd Hollander NEW YORK—During the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, former President Bill Clinton said it all came down to the question of what “is” is. Such hairsplitting of words and the intent behind them is one of the underlying issues in Deborah Zoe Laufer’s thought-provoking drama “Informed Consent.” Based on actual events, the work is being presented by Primary Stages and Ensemble Studio Theatre at the Duke on 42nd Street.

Jillian (Tina Benko), a genetic anthropologist, has been tasked with trying to figure out why a Native American tribe, living on the floor of the Grand Canyon, has such a high rate of diabetes. According to the tribe’s history, they have lived there for all time, something they take quite seriously.

They also believe their blood to be sacred, which is why they have never allowed it to be collected by outsiders for any reason.

Social biologist Ken (Jesse J. Perez), who is quite familiar with the tribe’s culture, advises Jillian to take a slow approach. However, Jillian, who continually feels she has no time to waste—for anything—instead charges blindly ahead, not even taking the time to read Ken’s book on the tribe and its customs.

Eventually, Jillian is able to convince Arella (DeLanna Studi), one of the tribe members, of the importance of the study. Arella, in turn, convinces the rest of the tribe to allow their blood to be collected.

Unbeknown to the tribe, Jillian goes a lot further in her research than simply looking into diabetes. She also looks into incidents of tribal inbreeding, and even more significantly, the tribe’s migratory patterns. She’s interested in what groups their ancestors came from before settling in the Grand Canyon, or indeed in the United States.

This line of research, however, calls into question the tribe’s essential belief system, something they are definitely not happy about.

While in her defense, Jillian points out the tribe did give their informed consent for the study, the issue comes down to exactly what kind

The Duke at 42nd Street 229 W. 42nd St. Tickets: 646-223-3010, PrimaryStages.org, or Dukeon42.org Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes (no intermission) Closes: Sept. 13

Informed consent acts as a safety valve to prevent science from running amok.

JAMES LEYNSE

Graham (Pun Bandhu) is at odds with his wife, Jillian (Tina Benko), about whether to test their young daughter to determine if she’s genetically predisposed to early-onset Alzheimer’s.

permission was given and what that permission did and did not implicitly allow.

As with the Clinton incident, a lot turns on specific wording, even down to one word, which may or may not have been said.

This is why the idea of informed consent looms so large. It acts as a safety valve to prevent science from running amok; it gives those participating knowledge of exactly what is to take place before actually beginning a process, whatever it happens to be.

The idea is to avoid situations such as what happened with the infamous Tuskegee Study involving African Americans and the effects of syphilis.

More pragmatically, informed consent acts as a way to cover the collective rears of those administering such programs. The establishment, any establishment actually, seeks to protect itself from possible litigation.

When one disregards informed consent guidelines, no matter how well-intentioned the goals happen to be, it can lead to accusations of betrayal, the destruction of relationships, and in the case of the tribe, the continuing of a pattern of mistreatment that has gone on for hundreds of years.

Jillian’s efforts to help the tribe threaten to take away their very identity—one of the few things they have left to call their own.

Also present is the question of whether one person has the right to tell the truth to someone who either doesn’t want to hear it, or, as in the tribe’s case, are perfectly happy with their own truth.

This difference of perspective is a very real one for Jillian. She has a nearly 100 percent chance of getting early-onset Alzheimer’s; her mother died from the condition at age 36. There’s a chance her 4-year-old daughter, Natalie (Studi), will suffer the same malady.

Jillian is at odds with her husband, Graham (Pun Bandhu), who does not want Natalie

to be tested. He’s determined their daughter should have as normal a life as possible and not be defined by this illness, as Jillian has let it define her.

Jillian, on the other hand, believes any control she has in her personal and professional life is quickly running out. She has a desperate need to do and to learn as much as she can for as long as she’s able.

Laufer and director Liesl Tommy do a great job blending all these elements into the show’s relatively short running time without making any of the scenes feel rushed. They’re even able to add some moments of levity, such as when Jillian and Graham meet for the first time.

Benko is excellent as the hard-driving Jillian.

She’s a woman who can never let up, as when telling Natalie a bedtime story or taking her to a birthday party, a party where Jillian ends up unexpectedly bonding with some of the other mothers for perhaps the wrong reasons.

From the beginning, Jillian makes almost no attempt to understand the tribe’s point of view. She takes refuge in the facts, figures, and possibilities of genetics, not allowing room for any other way of thinking.

Perez is good as Ken, whose first priority is the tribe. But in trusting Jillian, he fails to take into account that her priorities might be different than his own.

Studi nicely gives voice to Arella and through her, the beliefs of the tribe, its history, and the situations that have made them ironically now so dependent on those they mistrust. It was their desperate situation that caused Arella agree to trust Jillian in the first place.

“Informed Consent” takes a hard look at a tough ethical issue and is not found wanting in what it presents.

Also in the cast is Myra Lucretia Taylor.

Tina Benko (L), Myra Lucretia Taylor (C), and Jesse J. Perez in a scene from “Informed Consent,” a play in which people’s hopes and beliefs come up against the cold data of science.

Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.

CD Review

Singer-Guitarist John Pizzarelli Plays ‘Midnight McCartney’

By Barry Bassis About a year ago, singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli received an offer he couldn’t refuse. A letter came in the mail from Sir Paul McCartney suggesting that Pizzarelli make an album of his post-Beatles songs, including some of his lesser known tunes, in a mellow jazz style. He even came up with the title—“Midnight McCartney.”

Sir Paul met Pizzarelli when they worked together on the 2012 album, “Kisses on the Bottom,” made up of songs from the 1930s and 1940s. Pizzarelli subsequently played guitar at some of McCartney’s high-profile appearances, such as the Grammy Awards. “Midnight McCartney” is now completed and Pizzarelli appeared at Birdland to celebrate the release.

With Pizzarelli, music is always a family affair.

His brother Martin plays bass (both on the album and at the show) and his wife, Jessica Molaskey, sings background vocals and co-produced the album. Their daughter arranged one of the tracks and contributed vocals and guitar playing to one number at Birdland. Bucky Pizzarelli, John’s father and a jazz luminary, plays rhythm guitar on some songs.

Birdland managed to squeeze quite a few

musicians onto the stage: The group included three background singers, a string quartet, and four horns along with the rhythm section.

Pizzarelli works with top jazz men. Some of the arrangements were worked out with keyboard player Larry Goldings, and Don Sebesky handled horn arrangements.

The opening piece, “Silly Love Songs,” is done with a bossa nova style, in which Pizzarelli always feels at home. The song expresses McCartney’s credo that there’s nothing wrong with love songs that have lyrics that are less than profound. This is logically followed by another 1970s’ hit, “My Love.” Pizzarelli’s light voice is engaging; he knows how to use his limited vocal resources effectively.

Pizzarelli’s guitar playing, on the other hand, is virtuosic. As is clear to anyone who has seen him live knows, he is also very funny.

“Heart of the Country” is a swinger in which Pizzarelli scats along with his guitar playing. The song, about the pleasures of bucolic life, sounds like a first cousin of Rodgers and Hart’s “Mountain Greenery.”

“Coming Up” is done in a soul arrangement; on the album, a duet with an impassioned Michael McDonald is spiced up by some impressive gui-

CONCORD RECORDS

tar licks by Pizzarelli.

“No More Lonely Nights” is perhaps the most affecting of the ballads on the album, with the singer promising permanent allegiance to his lover.

“Warm and Beautiful” was transcribed his Pizzarelli’s teenage daughter Madeline, who joined him for a duet at the show.

“Hi, Hi, Hi” is performed as a bluesy instrumental with horns. Pizzarelli plays in an unchar-

acteristic B.B. King style.

“Junk,” with lovely work by sax player Harry Allen, is an overlooked gem. The song has an attractive melody and an evocative lyric.

“My Valentine” is done in a samba version, while “Let ‘Em In” is a driving gospel-style piece with some wild singing and scatting by John Pizzarelli and strong playing by Goldings and Martin Pizzarelli.

“Some People Never Know” is another affirmation of the existence of love despite the deniers.

On “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Pizzarelli plays a Sondheimian figure.

“Wonderful Christmastime,” a bonus track, deserves to be a seasonal classic, and Pizzarelli even works in a Jobim quote at the end.

“Midnight McCartney” fits in with Pizzarelli’s other theme albums, his tributes to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and others.

The CD achieves what McCartney had in mind, a presentation of his mellow post-Beatles’ work that demonstrates the value of even his lesser-known compositions.

Barry Bassis has been a music, theater, and travel writer for over a decade for various publications.

Arts

C5 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING LTD

JASIN BOLAND/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

TIBERIUS FILMS

1 Simon Pegg in a scene from the new movie “Absolutely Anything.”

2

TAKASHI SEIDA/BLEEKER STREET MEDIA

Dakota Johnson (L) and Brandon Boyd as an unnamed singer in “Chloe and Theo.”

ALCHEMY

4

3

5

Liev Schreiber (L) stars as Boris Spassky and Tobey Maguire stars as Bobby Fischer in Edward Zwick’s “Pawn Sacrifice,” a Bleecker Street release.

(L–R) Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal), Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly), and Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin) in “Everest.”

(L–R) Ravi Patel, Geeta Patel, Champa V. Patel, and Vasant K. Patel in “Meet the Patels.”

Next on the Big Screen: September 2015 Opening Sept. 4

By Mark Jackson | Epoch Times Staff The Epoch Times film critic picks five films, next on the big screen in September, that appear to have potential.

Opening Sept. 4

1) ‘Absolutely Anything’ It’s a science fiction comedy featuring the concept of “what if you could have absolutely anything you wanted?” It’s got nearly the entire cast of Monty Python together for the first time since 1983, as well as a Python (Terry Jones) directing. And funny man Simon Pegg. And funny man Robin Williams in his final film role. If anything ought to be funny, it would have to be this film—the funny pedigree is staggering.

2) ‘Chloe and Theo’ I pick this for its good idea. A young woman, Chloe (“It girl” Dakota Johnson of “Fifty Shades of Grey”) is homeless in New York City, and has a thing for Bruce Lee. She becomes friends with Theo, an Arctic Inuit man. Theo’s come south, looking for the Elders of the South, so as to bring them a message from the sun—to warn them of the planet’s imminent demise due to global warming. Chloe helps him in his quest.

Opening Sept. 11

3) ‘Meet the Patels’ “Meet the Patels” is a comedic documentary, following one Ravi Patel (a 20-something firstgeneration Indian-American) in his attempt to seek a mate, using the time-honored Indian KNOP

Book Review

methods and procedures. He’d hidden his Waspy girlfriend from his parents for two years.

That didn’t work so well. Now maybe it’s time to try the traditional Indian arranged marriage.

Very funny. It’s got some animated sequences, and some sequences of Ravi and sibling Geeta’s very animated parents. Think—Indian version of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”

Opening Sept. 16

4) ‘Pawn Sacrifice’ The year 1972 was an electrifying year for sports. Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in the summer Olympics, some 40 years before Michael Phelps got eight. Also that year, sportsman-of-the-mind and fellow American chess genius Bobby Fischer went up against scary Soviet Grandmaster Boris Spassky. It was a

cold war between the Soviets and the Americans indeed, and it heated up the nation with its intensity and suspense. Starring Tobey Maguire as Fischer and Liev Schreiber as Spassky, this should be some fun storytelling.

Opening Sept. 18

5) ‘Everest’ A scintillating cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Josh Brolin, Emily Watson, and John Hawkes. “Everest” is essentially Jon Krakauer’s story “Into Thin Air,” which took place in 1996; two teams with competitive leaders were trying to summit Mount Everest and were hit by a devastating snowstorm. It’s a thrilling tale of survival, drama, one tragic phone call, and a record eight deaths in a single day on Everest.

F

’The Quartet’

By Joseph J. Ellis Knopf 320 pgs; $27.95

Stone lithographic advertising poster detail, China, Ca. 1920

Washington, Hamilton, Jay, and Madison as Visionaries

By Chelsea Scarnegie or so many of us, our knowledge of the American Revolution stops on the Fourth of July. After all, what better way to conclude America’s history than with the freedominfused Declaration of Independence? In “The Quartet,” author Joseph J. Ellis challenges his readers to expand their classroom knowledge of America’s founding and to take a critical look at the eternally debated United States Constitution. He strives to pick up where our schoolteachers have left off.

Imagine the weeks following the Revolutionary War. After the celebration of victory died down, it would be assumed that the 13 states would have forged a solid bond of unity and nationhood. This was not the case. Rather, the states were prepared to separate and govern themselves on a strictly local level. Virginia would be Virginia, and New York would be New York. The United States, if spoken of at all, would remain a plural noun.

This individualistic political ideology acts as the antagonist to the book’s four main heroes: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. These men make up the titular quartet, and it is difficult to resist seeing them as the champions of democracy.

For as often as Ellis asserts that the founding of the United States was not a supernatural occurrence, it is clear that there is a special reverence between author and subjects. Washington is his undisputed favorite. A chapter titled “The Courting” is almost entirely devoted to Washington’s importance as a political leader. “The Quartet” repeatedly claims that Washington was the mortar that held the United States together.

Washington had gained his fame by serving as the commander of the Continental Army. In each of the 13 colonies, the name “Washington” evoked thoughts of heroism, freedom, and honor.

Because he was so recognized and so loved, his hand in the Constitution’s creation meant that this was a document to be taken seriously. The public would be much more open to the idea of national unity if it was endorsed by its cherished leader.

This is not to say that the other three men were not just as important. Hamilton, Jay, and Madison brought their own skillsets and experiences to the table, making sure that the Constitution

addressed each of the diverse needs of the American people. Hamilton had a firm understanding of finances and used his knowledge to help develop a stable monetary policy. Jay served as diplomat to Spain and Great Britain, and he stepped in when he recognized any constitutional weaknesses in foreign policy. Madison’s preparedness, dedication, and foresight led him to the creation of the Bill of Rights, a deed that earned him the title “Father of the Constitution.”

Ellis certainly takes his 21st century perspective into account when looking at this historic period. He frequently reminds his audience that they are living in the structured nation that his four heroes could only hope for. And sometimes, this “futuristic” knowledge makes us unable to see the budding nation from the revolutionaries’ perspective.

He writes, “Over two hundred years later, when paintings, films, and histories remind us of the deplorable conditions endured by ordinary men to win American independence—and most of the images and words are utterly accurate—it is difficult to recover the combination of abuse and neglect directed at the Continental Army by most of the American citizenry at the time.” This refers to the states’ reluctance to offer aid to the same soldiers fighting for their independence, a revelation that might prove surprising to the modern reader. Requests for money, supplies, or more manpower were ignored, as states were too focused on their individual militias.

“The Quartet” comes to us at a time when the Founding Fathers and their deeds are so highly revered that we forget their flaws. Although Ellis occasionally gets caught up in “the miracle” of the United States’ founding, he reminds readers that these men were no gods and that their words were not infallible. Washington, Hamilton, Jay, and Madison had a vision of ongoing change.

They valued fresh perspectives and desired an ever-evolving United States. Perhaps this is the most important lesson that Ellis offers his audience—that the Founding Fathers hoped future generations would not “regard their political prescriptions as sacred script.” “The Quartet” proves that even America’s most precious documents are not the nation’s final words.

Chelsea Scarnegie, with a degree in writing, lives and writes in the Chicago area.

Look into the East At the gallery of Michael Ayervais

Where Asian art comes to life in a magical setting 40 West 25th St. New York #228-229 | 917-623-2571

Travel

C6 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com COURTESY OF NICOLE1173

ERIC WU/WACOWTRAVEL

A Japanese-style room in Wu Zhai minsu of Tainan, Taiwan.

ERIC WU/WACOWTRAVEL

Qimei Island, Penghu County, Taiwan.

A Japanese-style room in Wu Zhai minsu of Tainan, Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Unique Take on the Bed and Breakfast

Over 300 designated towns and villages boast unique architecture, natural environments, and people.

Yilan in the Northeast Meihua Lake resort farm of northern Taiwan’s Yilan County was once used to raise deer. Now a guesthouse with comfortable accommodations, the resort is a great place for those looking for a distinct rustic experience.

Meihua Lake itself offers good biking trails circling the water and splendid natural scenery by night. Yilan County in general is known for its seafood and cold springs, as well as dozens of other leisure farms aside from that at Meihua Lake.

In eastern Taiwan’s Hualian County, there is a visitors’ home built to look like it came straight out of a fairytale. Just have a look at the pictures, taken by three-time visitor and blogger who goes by the name Cline1413.

Despite being an island country the size of Maryland, Taiwan is home to many landscapes and vibrant local cultures. Over 300 designated towns and villages boast unique architecture, natural environments, and people. It is a great place for backpackers and lovers of nature or rural life. The country’s small size and high level of development makes it perfect for bike trips. Along the coast, police stations, also dubbed “cyclists’ rest stops,” are stocked with snacks, restrooms, and even places to shower, and information for the weary or lost traveler.

Indigenous South Adding to the native aboriginal tribes, people from all parts of mainland China brought with them their regional customs and of course, cuisine. This is especially true further to the south, in the city of Tainan, known as the “city of snacks.”

There are thousands of restaurants to choose from. While the ubiquitous sit-down affair isn’t unheard of in Tainan, more common, and in keeping with the local spirit, are traditional street vendors concentrated in the bustling night markets and spilling out into the rest of the city.

Tainan is also something like minsu central, with websites dedicated to documenting and enabling searches of them. There are children-themed minsu, like the Zhuang Parent-Child BnB, complete with a plastic ball pit; then there’s Wu Residence, drawing from

Japanese Zen minimalism; and dozens of others for every preference.

Southeast Joy Yujoy House (the name in Chinese includes the words “Know Joy”) is located in Taidong County in the southeast of the country. Amid cascading rice paddies, next to mountains covered in vegetation, you’ll stay at a small, family-run establishment and experience life like countless rural Taiwanese. Yujoy House maintains close ties with the people in of the surrounding area, some of whom serve as staff.

Go for nature walks, read books, and spend time with the locals.

Another southeastern minsu is Jiliyalan Villa (it translates to something like the “Solitary Elegant Mist Villa”) taking its name from its resemblance of the sorts of villas one would expect to find on the coasts of Spain. Going directly inland (the villa is indeed right on the coast), one will encounter Yushan National Park, one of Taiwan’s nine national parks.

There, one can camp, go bushwalking, or take the sorts of photographs that end up on postcards.

Seafood on Penghu Island Aside from Taiwan’s main island, most of the smaller islands that lie between it and mainland China are also administered by Taipei, capital of the Republic of China, as Taiwan is officially known. Some 90 islands and islets, most of them uninhabited, form Penghu County, home to some of the nation’s best seafood and marine attractions.

The biggest city is Magong. Though its population is only about 60,000, as a famous tourist destination it has hundreds of homestay options. One of the most well-known minsu is called simply “Summer Bluesky,” located near both the beaches and the mountains.

Seafood, of course, is also avaialble from the restaurants and markets on the island—

Rural landscape in Taidong County, Taiwan. given the generally dry climate, there is not much rice farming on Penghu, making seafood a staple.

There are also geological parks in Penghu.

For instance, you’ll be able to wander through what many think of as a modern version of Moses dividing the sea—between Red Island and Kui Bishan there is an intertidal zone which, during low tide, forms an S-shaped basalt trail under the sea, allowing you to walk to Red Island.

Penghu is also known for its cactus ice cream—which tastes better than it sounds, according to locals. Vegetables are generally more expensive here, though.

The Penghu islands are home to a unique type of Chinese fish trap, many of which are preserved from ancient times and have a centuries-old history. The earliest records of these stone constructions are from 1720.

Visitors to the archipelago also have the opportunity to stay at the Central Hotel, built in 1923 when the area was a colony of the Japanese empire. Brought up to date with a recent remodel, the hotel offers modern accommodations perfect for rest after a day of scuba diving and island-hopping.

Sponsored Content

Planning a trip to Taiwan? You’ll find no shortage of places happy to host you. Locally run guesthouses of all varieties have been rising in popularity in this growing Asian tourist destination.

Small inns and hostels are so common that a Taiwanese website has been launched that lets travelers pick from exhaustive lists when planning their journeys.

Different locales are home to different styles.

In the mountainous area of Miaoli for instance, there are humble establishments with simple furnishings; Yilan has dedicated getaways offering both luxury and experiences.

Such hostels are particularly convenient for those visiting the more rural parts of Taiwan, home to much of the island’s varied cultures and natural scenery.

LORD KOXINGA/CC BY-SA 3.0

THE ‘MINSU’

PADAI/CC BY-SA 3.0

Double Heart fish trap in Penghu County, Taiwan.

Things to Do

C7 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS NEW IN MANHATTAN Summer Stage Through Sept. 24 Various locations Summer Stage is celebrating its 30th season.

It’s a free performing arts festival with shows in Central Park and 16 neighborhood parks across the city.

CityParksFoundation.org Bryant Park Moves Saturdays through Sept. 26 This modern dance class, now in its fifth year, is led by dancers from the world-renowned Limón Dance Company. Free. BryantPark.org The Unseen Holocaust: Recent Polish Films Oct. 25 at 2 p.m., Oct. 27–28 at 7 p.m., Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.

Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place The fall of communism ushered in a new era of candid and artistically accomplished Polish filmmaking about the Holocaust. This weeklong series presents features, documentaries, and short films rarely seen in the United States. Discussions with experts will follow the screenings. $15 public, $12 members.

MJHnyc.org Free Kayaking Through October Various locations along Hudson River This event offers free sit-on-top kayaks for public use in protected Hudson River embayments. Brief instruction and all necessary safety equipment will be provided as well as changing rooms, lockers, and locks, bike locks, sun block, and first aid equipment. Free.

DowntownBoathouse.org

NEW ELSEWHERE Kite Festival Sept. 19 at 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Harbor View Lawn, Brooklyn Kites will be available for purchase or you can bring your own. Free.

BrooklynBridgePark.org

VISUAL ARTS ONGOING IN MANHATTAN Sinatra: An American Icon Through Sept. 4 NYPL, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center Frank Sinatra, an artist of such uncommon talent, was known simply as “The Voice.”

The exhibition will feature never-beforeseen photos, family mementos, rare correspondence, personal items, artwork, and recordings.

NYPL.org Far, Far Away…

Through Sept. 6 Children’s Museum of the Arts (103 Charlton St.) An exhibition that considers the possibility of alternate worlds, dreamscapes, and imagined landscapes—places where adventures occur and fantasy takes over. Free–$11.

CMANY.org Leighton’s Flaming June Through Sept. 6 The Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St. Frederic Leighton’s painting “Flaming June” is on view in New York for the first time.

Complimentary portraits by James McNeill Whistler will also be presented. $10-$20. Frick.org Warriors and Mothers: Epic Mbembe Art Through Sept. 7 The Metropolitan Museum of Art Dramatic wood sculptures created by Mbembe master carvers from southeastern Nigeria. $12–$25 suggested. MetMuseum.org

KEN HOWARD/METROPOLITAN OPERA

Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Fritz Henle, and Dora Maar. ThrockMorton-NYC.com Trajectories Art Exhibition Through Sept. 26 Friedman & Vallois, 27 E 67th St. French Art Deco gallery Friedman & Vallois presents Vladimir Montufar’s fanciful artwork that pays a homage to the Mayan culture and expresses different aspects of man’s universal condition. Vallois.com

ONGOING ELSEWHERE Samara Golden: The Flat Side of the Knife Through Aug. 31 MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City Los Angeles-based artist Samara Golden (American, b. 1973) creates immersive installations that explore what she calls the sixth dimension, where a multitude of pasts, presents, and futures exist concurrently. $5-$10. MOMAPS1.org Mapping Brooklyn Through Sept. 6 Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St. Contemporary artists exhibit works with historic maps, with examples of maps themselves, suggesting the myriad ways that maps can represent, on the one hand, such practical matters as way finding, property ownership, population shifts, and war strategy, and on the other, the terrain of the metaphorical, psychological, and personal.

Suggested admission of $10.

BrooklynHistory.org

PERFORMING ARTS NEW IN MANHATTAN Central Park Conservancy Film Festival Aug. 25–29. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., movies begin at 8:00 p.m.

Landscape btw. Sheep Meadow and 72nd St. Cross Dr. On the eve of their 35th Anniversary, the the Central Park Conservancy is screening classic films from the year 1980. Free.

CentralParkNYC.org Shakespeare in the Park: The Odyssey Sept. 4–7 The Delacorte Theater in Central Park Inspired by the historical pageantry movement of the early 1900s—known for blending mass spectacle with community engagement—this final work in deBessonet and Almond’s grand trilogy reimagines the Greek epic with Public Works’ signature blend of professional actors, community members and special guests. Free.

PublicTheater.org

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2015 Summer HD Festival autobiographical play “Hollywood Arms.” $45–$75. KaufmanMusicCenter.org

MUSIC NEW IN MANHATTAN YMusic Come Around Part I: Qasim Naqvi World Premiere Commission + Repertory Sept. 11 at 8 p.m.

New York Live Arts 219 W 19th St. New York Live Arts’ debut music series features yMusic, a genre defying, indieclassical ensemble comprised of six New York City instrumentalists flourishing in the overlap between the pop and classical worlds. Tickets start at $15. NewYorkLiveArts.org Dine and Dance With Sinatra Sept. 26 at 5 p.m.–11 p.m.

‘21’ Club 21 West 52nd St. Hosted in the sophisticated Puncheon Room and Gallery, crooner Nick Drakides and his band will play for your dining and dancing pleasure. $165. 21club.com TeRra Han, Kayageum Sept. 29, 8 p.m.

Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall

57th St. and Seventh Ave. Korean musician TeRra Han plays the kayageum, or 12-string zither. $50.

CarnegieHall.org The Big Picture Oct 14 at 7 p.m., Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.

Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place In this cinematic concert, Grammy-nominated clarinetist David Krakauer explores the intersection of music and Jewish identity in iconic movies of the last 50 years. Krakauer adds his contemporary style to beloved songs from films ranging from Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof to Sophie’s Choice and The Pianist. $35 general admission, $30 for seniors and students, $25 for members and groups of ten or more. MJHnyc.org

ONGOING IN MANHATTAN Spiral Music Every Wednesday Rubin Museum Spiral Music presents acoustic music every Wednesday evening at the base of the museum’s spiral staircase. Artists who specialize in music from the Himalayas and South Asia are invited to forge a connection between their music and the art in the galleries.

Free. RubinMuseum.org

SPECIALIZING IN FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS & WORKS OF ART

Dream Up Festival Aug. 30–Sept. 20 Monday–Friday at 6:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and Saturdays–Sundays 2 p.m., 5 .m., 8 p.m.

Theater for the New City at 155 1st Avenue A three week long anthology of wide-ranging and original theatrical visions embracing drama, poetry, music, and dance from performing artists representing theater and performance companies in our theater complex in downtown New York. The motto of the festival is “Dream Up: Invent, Concoct.” $12, $15, $18, $20. DreamupFestival.org HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival Through Aug. 24 lawn opens on Mondays at 5 p.m. and films start rolling 30 minutes after sunset.

The 23rd year of the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival presented by Bank of America with Time Out New York and in association with Bryant Park Corporation. Free. HBO.com

Art with Benefits: The Drigung Tradition Through Sept. 7 Rubin Museum of Art Across all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism is the notion that a work of art has the power to transform and bestow a variety of benefits upon the beholder. $10–$15. RubinMuseum.org

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2015 Summer HD Festival Aug. 29–Sept. 7 Lincoln Center Plaza This annual festival returns with 10 outdoor screenings of performances featuring the company’s leading artists in a varied selection of operas by Bartók, Bizet, Gounod, Mozart, Offenbach, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Verdi. The opening night will screen “West Side Story” on Aug. 28th at 8 p.m. Free. MetOpera.org

Life Lines: Portrait Drawings from Dürer to Picasso Through Sept. 8 Morgan Library & Museum The drawings in this exhibition are organized into four sections: Self-Portraits; Family and Friends; Formal Portraits; and a final grouping, entitled Portraits?, that explores the boundaries of this type of work. $12–$18. TheMorgan.org

Resonant Bodies Sept. 9 Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W 67th St. Sopranos Dawn Upshaw, Lucy Shelton and Tony Arnold share the stage for the first time at this one-night-only performance highlighting each artist’s most distinctive repertoire, including new pieces written specifically for them. $35. KaufmanMusicCenter.org

Mirror, Mirror: Frida Kahlo Photographs Through Sept. 12 Throckmorton’s New York Gallery (145 E. 57th St.) Photographs of Frida Kahlo by 20 renowned artists including Gisele Freund, Nickolas Muray, Juan Guzman, Diego Rivera, Edward Weston,

Hollywood Arms Sept. 21 Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W 67th St. The incomparable Carol Burnett teams up with Tony winners Tyne Daly and Michele Pawk and 2015 Tony nominee Emily Skeggs (Fun Home) for an anniversary reading of Burnett’s

Chinese antiques wanted, especially painting, porcelain, jade, bronze, furniture etc.

Collections purchased.

40 W 25th St. Gallery 205 New York, NY 10010 museumofasianart@gmail.com www.TonyDaiChineseArt.com For Appointment Please Call 646-539-0523

Scholar Under Under Pine Pine Tree Tree Scholar

Arts

C8 August 28–September 3, 2015

www.TheEpochTimes.com

Ike Ude on the Art and Poetry of Sartorial Dressing

By Sibylle Eschapasse

Ike Ude: Harmony in juxtaposition of varied sartorial elements— past and present; a Janus-like attitude and sympathy.

she

Ms. Eschapasse: What is the wildest thing you ever wore?

Mr. Ude: I don’t wear anything that I’ll consider wild. Perhaps, some of my sartorial composi-

COURTESY OF IKÉ UDÉ

Sibylle Eschapasse: Describe your style?

Mr. Ude: My older brother was rather popular in school and dressed very smart, and so was my father and maternal grandfather; and of course my boarding school uniform, which was chiefly British.

tions may appear wild to untrained eyes, but absolutely not to those with a discerning sartorial sensibility.

Ms. Eschapasse: How do you dress on workdays versus weekends?

Ms. Eschapasse: How did your style evolve since you were a teenager?

Frequently listed on Vanity Fair’s International Best-Dressed List, Nigerian-born Ike Ude is a style icon and an acclaimed artist who lives and works in New York City. To view his portfolio, visit ikeude.com.

at usic h ony m the m p nce m/sy e i r e co Exp yu n.

COURTESY OF IKÉ UDÉ

SIBYLLE’S STYLE DIARY

Mr. Ude: I treat each and every day the same way, including national and/or religious holidays. Hence, my-mood-of-the-day and fancies—be it romantic, nostalgic, wry humored, wickedly mischievous, etcetera—inform how I chose to dress my nakedness. I never dress for the workdays or weekends, such distinctions do not apply to lifestyle at all.

Ms. Eschapasse: What are three accessories you can’t live without, and what’s one item that makes you instantly more confident?

Mr. Ude: I find that ties, bowties, and neckwear in general, no less boutonnière, play subtle but exquisite protagonist roles in the overall art and poetry of dressing. These elements may enhance confidence; however, one’s core confidence is within, not without.

Ms. Eschapasse: Who have been your greatest fashion influences? Who is your style icon?

Presented by Shen Yun Promotions International

n

Mr. Ude: My older brother, maternal grandfather, my dad—and of course, the likes of Count Robert de Montesquiou, Edward the VIII, Emperor Haile-Selassie, and even some fictional characters from novels, paintings, and movies.

Ms. Eschapasse: What does having style mean to you? In other words, please define style.

AN ENCHANTING SOUND RETURNS TO CARNEGIE HALL

Mr. Ude: Style, above all, is the ultimate mode of an individual’s sovereignty.

Ms. Eschapasse: What is one purchase you’re most proud of? What would you pay a lot of money for, and what would you never pay much money for?

Mr. Ude: I will never pay, even a farthing, for anything over-priced, or very trendy, or shrilly fashionable.

Ms. Eschapasse: When you go on the red carpet, how do you want your outfit to make you feel?

Mr. Ude: For such occasions, I have an anti-red carpet disposition, and therefore, I endeavor to look normal, so as to appear perfectly bored and disinterested. At any rate, I don’t know as to whether or not I succeed with such attempts at willful normal.

Ms. Eschapasse: Which designers can achieve that?

Mr. Ude: No comment!

Ms. Eschapasse: What do you think of how others dress, and what’s your advice to people who would like to develop their personal style?

Mr. Ude: In general, people’s effort in dressing is, at best south of elegance, and at worst insufferably trendy. I won’t venture forth an advice; but if I must, I suggest that it is always better to wear a smart uniform at all times than to be an insatiable, pitiful fashion victim of brand name designers.

Ike’s Favorites Favorite perfume: Violetta by Penhaligon; Violetta Di Parma, Borsari

Concertmaster ASTRID MARTIG

Conductor

MILEN NACHEV

MUSIC FROM 5,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION EXQUISITE CHINESE INSTRUMENTS in a grand Western orchestra. Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra blends Eastern and Western musical traditions in a concert experience unlike any other. Majestic movements convey tales of divine beings descending to Earth. Lilting notes evoke the elegance of ladies at imperial court. Traditional dance rhythms from Tibetan plateaus reverberate through the concert hall. Shen Yun performs soulstirring original works, with solos by the world’s top Chinese tenors and sopranos.

Concert highlights also include Western masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, RimskyKorsakov, Sarasate and more.

Soprano HAOLAN GENG

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at

Carnegie Hall

Saturday, October 10 2PM & 8PM

Tickets: $118, $108, $98, $78, $58, $38 Online: shenyun.com/symphony/nyc (presenter) carnegiehall.org (concert hall) Phone: Presenter: 800-818-2393, 888-974-3698 CarnegieCharge: 212-247-7800 Box Office: 57th Street and 7th Avenue

Favorite restaurant in NYC : I’m not a restaurant enthusiast, and above all, I find food—from chewing to its process through and out the body rather disgusting; hence one must keep food consumption to a bone minimum and eat like a bird; for certain crucial nourishment, I frequent the Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Frick Collection, Strand bookshop, and such.

Favorite drink: Varied teas and black coffee drank at very hot temperatures, regardless of the time of year.

Favorite movie: To name a few, l love most of Luchino Visconti’s movies, except his “Rocco and His Brothers,” and mostly because I dislike boxing and bloody, violent sports; I love, love Alain Resnais’s “Last Year at Marienbad,” Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Conformist”; Yimou Zhang, “Ju Dou.” Favorite book: I’ll name a few: “Studies in the History of the Renaissance,” by Walter Pater; “The Lamp of Beauty” by John Ruskin; “(A Rebours) Against Nature,” by Joris-Karl Huysmans.

Favorite quote: Onward and upward with the arts!

Experience the power of Shen Yun music

shenyun.com/symphony

Sibylle Eschapasse is from Paris and now lives in Manhattan. She is a journalist and a contributing writer to various publications. Sibylle is also the author of a children’s book, “Argy Boy a New York Dog Tale.” She may be reached at sibylle.eschapasse@gmail.com