Ricky Sayer

July 8, 2014July 10, 2014

Stand out pieces at the AU Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

WASHINGTON—Pieces of artwork at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center are all special in their own light but some may just have another dimension to them. Literally.

Two pieces of work by Hadieh Shafie especially stand out because they actually stand out.

Both pieces feature paper handwritten and printed with the word “love” or “passion” in Farsi. The first piece titled “26000” pages was created in 2011 and features colored paper rolled up to make circles of various different sizes, and colors from all across the color spectrum. The piece is part of Shafie’s Katab Series and is owned by Shafie.

The second piece stands out even more than the first. Handcrafted in 2014 the work named “Spike 6” is made out of both acrylic and paper and features the acrylic and paper in a seemingly random arrangement that pops forward toward the center of each circle.

When standing at just the right location, a few steps away from the piece, the work seems to drift closer to the viewer as they focus and stare into the many mesmerizing spikes.

“It feels like it is coming at you,” said Melanie Pincus, 15.

The work is in a private collection.

On the second floor of the building lies a piece of work by Jess, named “The Enamord Mage: Translation #6.”

In the work, a man looks at a book, but when further inspected the painting reveals that it may be more as this painting has been built up in unlikely places such as a glop of paint that intrudes toward the viewer between two books. The piece of art does not have a flat surface and instead is jagged and rough.

“When you back up it is normal but when you get closer it pops out at you,” said Halle Jefferson, 16.

The two pieces by Shafie will be on display until Aug. 17 in The Franz and Virginia Bader Fund: Second Act exhibition at the Katzen Arts Center at American University in Washington D.C. The painting by Jess will also be on display until Aug. 17 at the Katzen Arts Center. It is in the An Opening of the Field: Jess, Robert Duncan, & Their Circle exhibition.

For more information visit Katzen Art Center’s website.

July 8, 2014

Tenleytown location benefits local smoothie shop

The Tenleytown Robeks store is still going strong after nine years despite the closings of several other Robeks stores in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, according to a store official.

Pedro Lazo, manager of the Tenleytown store, credited location as the reason the store is doing so well.

Located in the heart of Tenleytown–on Wisconsin Avenue by the entrance to the Whole Foods parking garage–the store gets its business from what Lazo calls a “very diverse crowd,” including college students, residents, area employees and Metro users.

“We do really well,” Lazo said. “We’re always busy. I think we might be one of the best stores in the district, if not the best store.”

In fact, the Tenleytown store is doing so well that many customers were unaware that other locations had closed.

Over the past two to four years, four stores have closed due to lack of business in the D.C. metropolitan area, including the Cabin John, College Park, Rockville Town Square, and Fairfax locations, which according to Lazo is easily attributed to bad locations.

“Robeks does pretty well but it depends on location,” Lazo said.

Tenleytown allows small businesses to thrive because of its proximity to public transportation, schools, and big box stores that draw customers in, according to a Tenleytown Retail Submarket Strategic Assessment.

The report also stated that retail businesses in Tenleytown benefit from a large and wealthy daytime population, who can afford Robeks’ smoothies ranging from $4 to $8 dollars.

With a great retail location comes competition from other stores nearby including Starbucks but that doesn’t concern Lazo or the business’ bottom line.

“In the winter they are really busy and we are really slow, and in the summer we’re a little bit busier,” Lazo said.

Despite this, Robeks still has major competition from other smoothie stores like Jamba Juice, but it’s closest location is three miles away in Dupont Circle.

“If anyone is going to be our competition it’s really them,” Lazo said.

Lazo believes that Robeks will remain in Tenleytown for years to come and continue to integrate onto social media with new promotions. The manager, who is very passionate about his work, also sees himself moving up the ladder.

“I see myself being owner,” Lazo said of his hopes for his future at Robeks.

July 3, 2014July 3, 2014

Students and staff in D.C. are without hometown Independence Day traditions for first time

WASHINGTON—Teenagers at American University’s summer programs are looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July in the city but some are missing the traditions of the holiday from their hometowns.

For many, July Fourth is not about the birth of the country but rather being around family and celebrating American freedom. For those interviewed on campus this week, including students and staff in the National Student Leadership Conference program, they’re away from those traditions for the first time but still get to celebrate patriotism.

Spencer Cox, 18, from Los Angeles, said Independence Day has become “an overwhelming symbol of American patriotism.”

In Cox’s hometown, he has gone to the local high school to watch the fireworks. A few times Cox would use party poppers to have his own mini fireworks.

“I would have fun with it,” said Cox, who noted the poppers aren’t dangerous.

Cox continued of the holiday, “It isn’t celebrated for what it actually is, which is the founding of our country.”

Rachael Packard’s mother is in the United States Air Force band and gets to sing the National Anthem in their hometown.

“It is kind of weird to see her up there, but it is cool to see her sing up there year after year,” Packard said.

She continued, “It is neat to see everyone so patriotic especially after the big World Cup loss.”

Chris Black’s, 17, household has a big celebration. Black’s family likes to think of it as a birthday party for the birth of the nation.

“We have a party like a birthday party,” Black said. “We eat cake, watch Independence Day.”

Recently Black traveled to the Philippines and witnessed firsthand the differences in terms of freedom, liberty, and democracy.

“We saw how different life is there, they don’t have the same freedoms that we in the United States have,” Black said.

He said that as the Fourth of July nears that we have to value our independence and celebrate our country as it is not like this everywhere and that we are lucky to live in such a great country.

“We have to remember our founding fathers for standing up for what they believed in and founding our great country,” Black said.