1995_03 Insight March 1995

              '    ■: ••• "
Generation
Fights Back
Page 2
X
No.1 Outfield
in Nation?
Page 8
lifestyleH
Thrashin'
U| Campus?
Page 5
MARCH 1,1995
INSIGHT
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
VOL. 26, NO. 14
"Its kind of like a trade show where you get to see shows. "
USU talent search fun, educational
■f NACA convention in Anaheim draws
talent and students from around the
United States
By Manny Fernandez
Staff Writer
Sean Corey and his staff at USU Productions always
search for talent.
Last weekend, lhat search hrought them to Anaheim
for thc National Association for Campus Activiiies
(NACA) convention. NACX is an education and cmcr-
rit organization made up of 1.200 colleges across
the United Slates.
The annual convention gives entertainers — magicians, stand-up comics, speakers — a chance to show
off their talents to thousands of college activity directors and students.
Many of the stand-up comedians and musical groups
who have appeared on campus were signed up after USU
Productions saw them perform at regional NACA con-
"It's kind of like a trade show where you get to see
shows and leam leadership techniques." said Corey, a
USU programming manager.
For the first time since the organization's creation, the
national convention was held in California.
Corey and four USU Productions studenls attended thc
convention, held at thc Anaheim Hilton Feb. 15-19.
Concert-style performances of selected artists — everything from jazz singers to solo musicians — were
held each day of the convention.
F.xhihit booths at the Anaheim Convention Center gave
other performers a chance to show off. More than 100
exhibit booths featuring comedians, musicians and circus-freak performers lined the floor of the center.
For the students, the convention offers the best of both
See CONVENTION, page 4
Photo by Lilian Meza/lnslght
Freak Show owner Turbo Tom puts a skewer
through his cheek at the NACA convention.
Artworks always cool for Clovis sculptor
+ Local "iceman" has crafted for everything from museums to TV talk shows
By Stephen Walsh
Staff Writer
It covers both ends of the Earth and places in between. It is
crystal clear but can be seen. It can bum the skin but makes us
shiver.
It's ice.
But for Paul Germain, ice docs more than cool a drink or soothe
a muscle.
For Germain, the mystical world of ice is a creative outlet, one
that he has mastered for more than 20 years.
Germain studied English and an at Howard Payne University
in Brownwood. Texas, then decided to fine-tune his talents into
ice-sculpting.
"I've always been fascinated wilh crystals and diamonds,"
Germain said. "It's a natural carry over."
That carry over brought him to Clovis in 1988. He opened Art
In Ice. a small workshop in Old Town Clovis, about three-and-a-
half years later.
Since then, Germain has crafted sculptures for everything from
museum exhibits to television talk shows. He even sculpted a
bust of talk show host Rush Limbaugh that KJEO incorporated
into a feature on the conservative celebrity.
A picture of the bust made it to Limbaugh. Germain, a "Ditto
Head" of sorts, said Limbaugh acknowledged the artist on his
show and was impressed with the final product.
Germain said he prefers sculpting human figures. 'That will
bemy claim to fame," he said.
Germain boasts that he can sculpt anything, giving him ihe
competitive edge. "There are only a couple others (locally] who
do ice sculpting," he said. "One is a large company. They don't
specialize in art. It's more mass production. My goals are artis-
Arriving at an intricately-detailed work from such elementary
beginnings as a chunk of ice is no small venture. Germain's "artistic" process usually begins with a 300 pound block of crystal-
clear ice. From there, he has completed a sculpture in as little as
a day-and-a-half and as long as two weeks.
The two weeks of work, his longest to-dale for a single piece,
evolved inlo a 1,200 pound, 8-foot wide tribute to Botticelli's
"The Birth Of Venus." The piece, a replica of the shelled goddess, was displayed in the Fresno Metropolitan Museum.
Germain docs not divulge trade secrets. To him, the behind-
the-scenes process is as unique as the finished product. Upon
entering his studio, all that is visible are stacks of photo albums
of his work and a few tools hanging from the walls.
Besides the tools, several full-scale renderings of past sculptures are posted. They are the only visible clues as to how he
works his magic.
Everything has its price, and ice sculptures are no exception.
"The price range for my work is all over the spectrum. They
come up with a budget and I design within that budget," Germain
said.
Most of his customers are planners of corporate parties and
weddings, but Germain said his clientele is a mixed bag. "I've
had clients on welfare to all the way up. I've made something
that is very classy and accessible to everyone."
Most events call for original work, but Germain sculpts some
See SCULPTOR, page 7
Courtesy photo
Able to sculpt tall buildings from a single block,
Paul Germain shows mastery of lea sculpting
learned over 20 years. Germain operates Art In >
Ice In Old Town Clovis. He usually begins a sculpture with a 300 pound block of Ice.
'Village'
future
remains
unsure
+Advisory committee
oversees proposed
university development
By Michael Yparrea
Staff Writer
An ice-skating rink, high-tech busi-
park and golf course are the most
recent suggestions for the area once
designated for the ill-fated "University Village."
CSUF and Clovis officials have
formed an advisory committee to hear
commercial ideas and study the area
to determine how best to develop the
controversial CSUF-owned farm
acreage cast of campus.
The original $130 million, 69-acre
parcel of land at Willow and Bullard
avenues, formerly called "University
Village," was to be extensively developed and include a basketball arena,
hotel, retail stores, conference center
and performing arts center.
Differing opinions as to how the site
should be developed resulted in a
heated debate between the City of
Clovis, CSUF and neighboring residents. The debates ended in a lawsuit
and the university pulling out of the
project.
At a recent meeting of the advisory
committee, Mike Dozier, project manager for the Clovis Economic Development Department, presented ideas to
the committee that he said would benefit the community.
Based on what he called the top
growth industries in California —
foreign trade, professional services,
manufacturing, tourism and entertainment — Dozier said the city envisions
more business parks, hotels and motels.
"Different commercial ideas include
an automotive dealership, department
stores such as Macy's and Sears and
electronic specialist stores such as
Circuit City or the Good Guys,"
Dozier said.
"The city would also like to see the
development of a hotel or motel. I
think the one that is in existence now
is only 10 or so units."
Hugh Willoughby, member of the
advisory committee, said it's still too
early to see where the ideas will go.
"This is all news to us," Willoughby
said. This is our first meeting and
ideas are just being tossed around at
the moment."
Willoughby said that although there
have been differences about how the
site will be used, all parties involved
seem to agree on two elements.
"We are pleased about plans for a
Shakespearean theater and a 'think-
tank' busincss^ark," Willoughby
said.
Benjamin Quillian, vice president of
: See VILLAGE, pags 7