ARTS IN REVIEW: THE BEST OF 1998

Southeast Missouri State University's purchase of Old St. Vincent's Seminary was the big cultural news of 1998 locally. The university plans to build a performing arts center at the site and to locate its performing and visual arts departments there along with the University Museum.

Other highlights of the year were Willie Nelson's concert at the SEMO District Fair in the fall and residencies at Southeast by the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, the London-based Shakespearean troupe ACTER and children's author/artist Gary Bowen.

The City of Roses Festival returned for a second year, this time at a warmer date in August. There were no headliners this time but music-lovers turned out to hear local and regional performers. The festival's lifetime achievement award went to singer Lou Hobbs.

Cape Girardeau voters OKed extending the city's restaurant tax and increasing its hotel-motel tax to help pay for the $35.6 million renovation that would transform the seminary into the River Campus. But the accompanying bond issue was defeated.

The university since has announced plans to use a state bonding authority, so the project is very much alive. The acquisition of the long-vacant but historic seminary was made possible by a gift from B.W. Harrison.

Christian rock 'n' rollers Jars of Clay made 1998's only Show Me Center appearance by a rock 'n' roll band. Country music was completely shut out at the venue.

But the Red Haired Stranger, who had been sought as a performer at the district fair for five years, sold out the grandstand.

Cape Girardeau County native John Ramey struck country music gold by co-writing Ty Herndon's hit, "A Man Holdin' On." Ramey was scheduled to perform at a Cape Girardeau Municipal Band concert marking the retirement of his grandfather, Homer Gilbert, from the band after 72 years. Rain washed out the performance.

Other kinds of musicians also came calling. Jazz trumpet legend Clark Terry performed at Academic Auditorium with the Jim Widner Big Band. Folk musicians performing benefits for KRCU-FM included Bill Staines, Paul and Win Grace, autoharpist Brian Bowers and Tom May, host of the nationally syndicated folk music program "River City Folk."

Norwegian wind music composer Geir Knutson visited to teach Cape Girardeau elementary school students about Norwegian folk tales.

Local musicians also traveled elsewhere as Southeast's Dr. Robert Gifford led the 172 members of the Missouri Ambassadors of Music abroad for 16 days to perform in London, Paris, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy. The group is composed of the state's top young musicians.

The Irish dance phenomenon finally washed up in Cape Girardeau in a Show Me Center show called "Spirit of the Dance."

The legendary Motown group The Temptations entertained at Southeast's Family Weekend.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri found what appears to be a permanent home at 119 Independence St. after years of moves and occupying inappropriate spaces. This building formerly housed John Boardman's gallery.

Executive Director Greg Jones immediately established a second gallery to regularly spotlight local artists. And Leland "Freck" Shivelbine received the organization's Otto Dingeldein Award.

The council also sponsored a workshop that enabled people with disabilities to create art through the use of specialized tools.

Black poet Nikki Giovanni spoke at Southeast, criticizing intolerance toward gays and pointing out that blacks at one time were forbidden to marry.

The highlight of the year at the University Museum was a show by celebrated New York painter Lucia Autorino Salemme. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and the University Museum, among others.

The second annual SEMO Powwow brought Native American performers here from across the West and Midwest and drew a large crowd to the Show Me Center. A concert the night before at Academic Auditorium spotlighted Native American recording artists Bill Miller and Tommy Wildcat.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast, was honored by the Missouri Humanities Council in October. Nickell received the Acorn Award for the series of book and discussion groups he has led and for his lectures on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution's's "Barn Again" traveling exhibit.