AN EXPLOSION OF TALENT : CALARTS UNLEASHES NEW GRADUATES.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer They came by horse, by ambulance and on foot. One was dressed as a Civil War Union soldier, another was a contemporary bride and still another was a Scottish warrior clad in traditional kilt kilt Knee-length, skirtlike garment worn by men as part of the traditional national garb, or Highland dress, of Scotland. It is made of permanently pleated wool and wrapped around the wearer's waist so that the pleats are in the back and the flat ends overlap in front. . A costume party A costume party (American English) or a fancy dress party (British English), mainly in contemporary Western culture, is a type of party where guests dress up in a costume. ? Nope. CalArts' largest graduating class celebrated its final day Friday with beach balls and impromptu performances by jazz percussionist Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (9 September 1927–18 May 2004) was one of the most influential jazz drummers of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan. and performance artist Laurie Anderson For the author, see . Laurie Anderson (born Laura Phillips Anderson, on June 5 1947, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois) is an American experimental performance artist and musician. . ``There's so much creative talent that it spills over into everything we do,'' said Jonathon St. Onge, who received a bachelor's degree in scenic design Scenic design (also known as stage design, set design or production design) is the creation of theatrical scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A. . To the intoxicating in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. rhythm of African and Balinese drums, the 295 graduates whooped, whistled and cheered as they accepted degrees in art, film, video, dance, music and theater. School President Steven Lavine urged the graduates to find their own artistic medium in an increasingly high-tech society. ``I hope these are not your best years,'' said Lavine, wearing a red-and-white top hat in honor of the graduation's Dr. Seuss-inspired theme. ``I hope they were demanding and exhausting and that you leave strong and willing to bend the world to your way. It's now up to you to reach through the world and find out what it's all about. That's what art is about.'' Anderson and Jones, who both received honorary degrees from the school, bade farewell to the graduates with spontaneous performances. Placing a tiny speaker into her mouth, Anderson emitted a series of high-pitched electronic wails that brought the students to their feet, cheering and clapping. She also advised the students to question society's eager embrace of technology. ``As content providers, we need to raise a few questions, a few suspicions toward the rush toward anything absolutely new,'' she said. Jones, scheduled to perform after the graduation, got an early start when he began playing a set of drums on stage. ``It is a gift to meet so many enthusiastic, bright, challenging, wholesome and healthy people,'' he told the students before his impromptu gig. Like past CalArts graduations, Friday's ceremony was an irreverent one with beach balloons, glitter and, of course, the students themselves. One woman flitted across stage in a purple and yellow purple and yellow traditional colors seen in churches during Easter season. [Christian Color Symbolism: Jobes, 487] See : Easter butterfly costume complete with a matching parasol. Another released actual butterflies from gauzy nets while four men, dressed as one in a red blazer and white shirt, crossed the stage four separate times. And not to be outdone out·do tr.v. out·did , out·done , out·do·ing, out·does To do more or better than in performance or action. See Synonyms at excel. , the School of Dance arrived in an ambulance to the theme song from the movie, ``2001: Space Odyssey.'' ``This is what all our education went to,'' said Jill Hunter, one of four costume design graduates dressed in silver sequined se·quin n. 1. A small shiny ornamental disk, often sewn on cloth; a spangle. 2. A gold coin of the Venetian Republic. Also called zecchino. tr.v. caps and gowns. The group made the costumes the day before graduation. ``It was assembly design,'' Hunter said. Tiffany Meador, a vocal performance major dressed in a Civil War-era black and emerald gown summed up the graduation: ``You can just be yourself or whatever twisted part of yourself.'' CAPTION(S): 4 Photos Photo: (1--color) Jazz musician Elvin Jones performs animpromptu drum solo after receiving an honorary degree at the CalArts graduation. (2--color) Fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to - by her boyfriend - explode as Pei-Fen Liao receives her diploma. (3) Laurie Anderson performs using a computerized mouth organ. (4) Beach balls - a CalArts tradition - floated in abundance. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News |
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