Somersworth Presents 21st Annual Winterfest

SOMERSWORTH—
The 21st Annual Winterfest, which is presented by the Somersworth Festival Association, will be held on February 4 and 5, sponsored by DF Richard Energy.
On Friday, February 4 from 7 to 9 p.m., there will be a Somersworth Middle School Dance for grades 6, 7 and 8. The event will be held at Somersworth High School Cafetorium. The cost is $6 per student and light refreshments will be available. If there is a snow day there will not be a dance.
On February 5, the Somersworth Festival Association will be holding Breakfast with Frosty and Frosty’s Funfest. The breakfast cost is $3 per meal and breakfast sandwiches will also be available. The event is held at the Somersworth High School Cafetorium from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Also in conjunction with the breakfast, the festival will be hosting Frosty’s Funfest. Admission is free and the price per ticket for games is 25 cents each. They will offer lots of games, face painting, crafts and lots of prizes! The Somersworth Library will also be there and offer a craft to do.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Rec Department will be hosting free sledding at the Oaks Golf Links on Route 108 in Somersworth. The Somersworth Lions Club will be hosting Open Skating from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Lions Club skating rink on W. High Street in Somersworth. Light refreshments will be available. The high school will be holding a Prom Fashion Show at 2 p.m. in the High School Cafetorium.
A new event this year will be a Pizza Tasting contest. For $5 you can taste the pizzas from the many local pizza restaurants in the area. After you have tasted the pizzas, you will then be asked to vote for the best. That pizza establishment will be presented the award: “Voted the Best Pizza of Winterfest 2011.”
To end the festival weekend, the high school will be holding the Mr. Somersworth contest from 7 to 9 p.m. in the high school cafetorium.
For more information about the Winterfest events, call the Somersworth Festival Association at 692-5869.
Photo caption: The 21st Annual Winterfest will be held on February 4 and 5, and includes free sledding, a pizza tasting contest, the Somersworth Middle School Dance, Breakfast with Frosty, Frosty’s Funfest, a Mr. Somersworth contest, and more. (MetroCreative photo)

‘iIMAGE: The Uncommon Portrait’ at Museum of Art

PORTSMOUTH—
“iIMAGE: The Uncommon Portrait” opened on January 26 at the Portsmouth Museum of Art. The show, curated by Stephanie Holt, takes a fresh look at the once traditional concept of portraiture. This 21st–century perspective explores constantly evolving ideas of self, unexpected interpretations of the notion of portrait, unusual materials and techniques including the use of technology.
A new generation of artists, supported by the wide possibilities of the Internet and arts organizations like Eyebeam Art and Technology Center and Bitforms Gallery, are expanding the horizons where art is made. Artists Evan Roth and Aram Bartholl create interactive online portraits using QR codes and Google searches. Daniel Rozin creates interactive installations and sculptures that have the ability to respond to the viewer. His work brings art, technology, and the viewer together to create the interactive experience. The work of more than a dozen artists is represented in this show, including Laylah Ali, whose small figurative works are meticulously planned in advance and take months to complete. She considers her portraits to be “distilled narratives” and “a kind of storytelling”. “Uniform/s: Self-Portrait/s: My 39 Years” by Korean sculptor and installation artist Do Ho Suh is a display of all the uniforms the artist has worn in his life, from childhood through compulsive military service. It challenges viewers to think about the whole versus the self and different ways that various cultures perceive them.
From artwork created using digital media to interactive video installations and sculpture, “iIMAGE” stretches the bounds of traditional portraiture. “iIMAGE” offers wholly 21st-century views around the ideas of self, identity and the wide range of ways in which we perceive one another. The artists in this exhibition have found their own unique ways to address these ideas with a modern toolbox, incorporating contemporary influences directly into what is often thought of as a very traditional art form.
“iIMAGE: The Uncommon Portrait” opened on January 26, 2011 and runs through April 24, 2011. The Portsmouth Museum of Art is located at One Harbour Place in downtown Portsmouth. Admission is free. Hours of operation for the Portsmouth Museum of Art are Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00-5:00. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Guided group tours are available by appointment by contacting the museum at 603-436-0332 or by email at info@portsmouthmfa.org.
Photo caption: “Uniform/s: Self-Portrait/s: My 39 Years” by Korean sculptor and installation artist Do Ho Suh is on display at the Portsmouth Museum of Art as part of the ongoing exhibition, “iIMAGE: The Uncommon Portrait.” (Courtesy photo)

Opening Scenes: ‘Black Swan’

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“Black Swan” begins with a ballerina in a white, feathered costume, a spotlight cast above her from an unknown source as she is surrounded by black. She begins to gracefully dance, the camera following her every step. As she turns, a beast in black feathers appears and they thrash together as the feathers fly off of her costume. The next scene opens with the dancer awake, discussing this dream with her mother as she cracks the bones in her feet, stretches and prepares for her rehearsal.
This ballerina is Nina, played by Natalie Portman. Under the director of “Swan Lake,” she and other hopefuls vie for his attention and approval to land that coveted spot. The director is shrewdly portrayed by Vincent Cassel as he manipulates and seduces the dancers to not only perform at their best, but perhaps to seduce them for his own personal gratification.
Portman nails becoming physically and emotionally tortured Nina. She is caught in the envy of the other dancers and goaded into discovering her dark side to veer away from trying to be perfect, and becoming a believable black swan, as her portrayal of the white swan comes naturally. But, with a controlling mother, played by a weathered Barbara Hershey, who tries to keep her young and innocent, her quest for perfection splits her between what her mother wants, and what her director wants. It seemed to never cross her mind what she wants for herself.
Mila Kunis’ supporting role as Lily is equally convincing, however, the role of Nina requires a deeper study of character and transformation, making Portman a runaway Oscar favorite. The writing has multiple layers that establish a visual vocabulary where Nina’s physical beatings and lacerations resemble the molting of a swan whose feathers are about to change from white to black. She is faced with the rebellion, growing pains, and the psychological cost of perfection.
The metaphors and dream sequences coupled with a color palate that revolves around the color gray, dark and light, and cinematography where the camera appears as a dance partner makes this film a very tightly conceived motion picture. Not once does the director lose the audience, as they are continually clued in on what is happening.
The only fault with the cinematography is the lack of panoramic shots to exploit the settings, at times it seems a little claustrophobic, although this technique does fit the theme of the movie. Also, the storyline has some predictability, but the way the scenes and acting colors it all in, it doesn’t matter.
The best way to describe Portman’s portrayal, and on screen transformation, of Nina is fierce. By the end, she has the audience gripping the arms of their seats cringing, gasping, and rejoicing as if it were a live stage performance. This is a far cry from her monotone portrayal of Queen Amidala/Padme in the Star Wars prequels, and is likely the role of her lifetime.
With scenes of frank sensuality, demonic visions, blood and pain, this is not a film for everyone. For those who can cringe through a few brief graphic scenes, this will prove to be the most rewarding cinematic experience of the season. A must-see, and well-deserving Oscar contender. 4.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy image of “Black Swan” movie poster)