Arts & Life

Margaret grew up in the arctic regions of Northern Canada. Her childhood was happy. She played with caribou hide balls and snacked on dried beluga whale skin. Her family slept together in a one room tent, surrounded by icebergs and kept warm with polar bear fur blankets. 

At night, her sister would read her stories in a foreign tongue. The sister had picked up English in a Christian boarding school. Margaret wanted to learn to speak this way, too. So she signed up for school. Unfortunately, she didn't realize she was agreeing to be torn from her family and her culture and to spend her days doing unending chores at an isolated boarding school.

She had to let her parents know. But how? Listen to find out.

Full list of stories from KUOW Presents, May 29:

  When a homicide detective retires or is promoted, the unsolved cases are marked “cold.” Currently the Seattle Police Department works on about ten cold cases at a time. The majority of that work is done by a single cold case detective, Mike Ciesynski, who has been been working on cold cases for almost 10 years. Ross Reynolds interviews Ciesynski about the job.

 Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada. Also, why is Hollywood releasing “Fast and Furious 6” and “The Hangover 3?” Are these true sequels or film franchises? Film critic Robert Horton muses. Then, Michael Parks brings us the latest business news and reveals which Northwest workers are paid best.

News From Congress: Rep. Jim McDermott
Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington's 7th District in Congress joins us to discuss how congressmen and woman have become essential advocates for safer infrastructure after a crisis hits their district. McDermott is calling for more resources to avoid disasters like the Skagit River bridge collapse. Also, the latest on the IRS, the Affordable Care Act and the Alaska Pebble Mine. 

Rite Of Spring
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Paris premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring,” with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky.  The performance provoked a riot.  Critics and audience members wrote afterwards there was so much noise that the dancers couldn’t hear the music over the audience boos.  What made "Rite of Spring" so provocative?  Why has its centennial been marked by contemporary artists and academics around the world? Marcie Sillman and Dave Beck explore the history and legacy of "The Rite of Spring."

One hundred years ago on May 29, 1913; art sparked a riot.

Well, "riot" might be too strong a word. But when the audience in Paris' Theater des Champs Elysees heard the first notes of Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring," the catcalls began. They got even louder when the dancers of Ballets Russes appeared on stage, clad in heavy wool costumes, their legs bandaged in thick stockings that were secured, peasant-style, with wide dark ribbons. And as soon as the classically trained ballet dancers began to stomp, to jump up and down on two feet, to stand with toes pointed inward rather than the more traditional ballet pose, by all accounts the audience went crazy.

The Smithsonian Institution held a contest recently to see who could create the best portrait. The competition drew lots of engaging photos and paintings. But contest winner Bo Gehring took a completely different approach. A video camera pans slowly over his subject, almost like an MRI machine, with the lens only inches above her body. It begins with her feet and ends with her face. The portrait's soundtrack is a piece of music chosen by the subject.

Above you can see Gehring's winning entry, a portrait of Jessica Wickham. Her chosen music was Arvo Pärt's “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten.”

Full list of stories from KUOW Presents, May 28:

 Do Americans feel that the proper measures are in place to deal with economic inequality in the United States? Ross Reynolds sits down with author Leslie McCall for a conversation about economics in America and her new book, "The Undeserving Rich: American Beliefs About Inequality, Opportunity, And Redistribution."

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Washington’s 5th Congressional District Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers joins us to talk about transportation priorities following the Skagit River Bridge collapse, federal budget talks, immigration reform and more.

Scatter, Adapt And Remember: How Humans Will Survive A Mass Extinction
Science writer Annalee Newitz’s new book is about hope. Hope that human kind will be able to survive the impending doom that threatens to send us into another mass extinction. Newitz outlines the current scientific discoveries that might help humans survive the next big disaster.

Greendays Gardening Panel
Our panel of gardening experts knows flowers, native plants and vegetables. They join us with garden guidance every Tuesday. Have a question? Send an email to weekday@kuow.org.

This Week In Olympia
State lawmakers begin week three of the special legislative session today. Everett Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield joins us with a look at what to expect.

Comic Actress Kate Hess Parodies Masterpiece Theater
Everyone loves “Downton Abbey” these days and Hollywood is paying attention by hiring British actors for American roles. Are American actors hired in Britain?  Not really. Katy Sewall talks with writer and actress Kate Hess about the British invasion in her costume-drama parody, “Murder Abbey.”

How Should Doctors Navigate The Various Beliefs Of Dying Patients?
Doctors treat a wide variety of patients. How well versed in world cultures and religion should doctors be?  And how do encounters with dying patients change doctors' views of death? Katy Sewall talks with retired pulmonary/critical care doctor Jim deMaine.

The Weather And Hike Of The Week
Michael Fagin suggests a hike that matches the week’s weather forecast.