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SPREADING: Sumo goes occidental.
Courtesy Caitlin McCaffrey/ITVS |
A documentary by two graduates of Stanford’s
film program, Ferne Pearlstein, MA ’94, and her
husband, Robert Edwards, MA ’96, will air on most PBS stations at 10 p.m. June 8 as part of the Independent Lens series. Sumo East and West looks
at how the sport’s increasing popularity among
Americans is affecting Japanese tradition. Pearlstein
recently won the 2004 Sundance award for excellence
in cinematography for her work on Imelda, directed
by alum Ramona Diaz, MA ’95.
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HOPE: “River Mend”
celebrates free-flowing water.
Courtesy Linda Gass |
Mindful of the old saw that honey draws more flies
than vinegar, Linda Gass uses lush, colorful works of
art to attract attention to conservation issues. At
first glance, Gass’s silk wall hangings, art quilts
and mixed-media collages are striking representations
of skies, rivers and deserts. Closer inspection reveals
panel edges that are unstitched and fraying or mended
with hand stitching, to symbolize the despoiling of
nature and the possibility of repair. As a Californian,
Gass, ’81, MS ’83, often focuses on the
use and abuse of natural waterways; a recent solo show
was titled “No Swimming.”
Textile art is her second career, launched a decade
ago. A math major with a master’s in computer
science —she also squeezed in fine arts courses—Gass
worked in software development for 10 years. She exhibits
regularly in juried shows and galleries across the country,
and her work has been featured in numerous books on
fiber art and quilting. The Los Altos resident also
designs clothing and accessories. For inspiration, she
frequents Western wilderness areas.
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