C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCT 31 - NOV 6, 2013

Sinbad returns to St. Louis

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By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Steve McQueen’s film 12 Years a Slave has been pegged as a must-see, but the truth is the film is hard to watch.

McQueen’s adaptation of Solomon Northup’s memoir dramatizes the horrors of slavery through the eyes of a free black man kidnapped and held in captivity for more than a decade.

In 1841, Northup and his family were enjoying a comfortable life in

upstate New York. As a classically trained violinist, his talent and prestige earned the Northup family dignity and respect.

Then, a chance encounter and an offer too good to refuse resulted in Northup being lured to Washington, D.C. and illegally sold into slavery.

Northup’s experience bore a striking resemblance to that of the Africans who were forced from their homeland and sold in America. He was stripped of his identity, torn from his family and subjected to brutality and inhumane living

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PARTYLINE

Page C8

Must-see that’s hard to watch

In Steve McQueen’s film 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free black man in upstate New York duped and sold into slavery in the South.

“Man Child/Voodum Child,” 48 x 24 inches, mixed media on paper mounted on fiber panel, 1999-2012, by John E. Rozelle

John E. Rozelle hosts show for North St. Louis

Arts Council at RAC

By Chris KingOf The St. Louis American

Award-winning contemporary artist and St. Louis native John E. Rozelle is offering his paintings and collages in a two-day art sale to benefit North St. Louis Arts Council.

On Friday, November 1 from 4-8 p.m. and again Saturday, November 2 from 12-4 p.m., Rozelle is hosting the sale of his work at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar in conference room B on the second floor. The original artwork ranges in price from $25 to $1,000.

Rozelle is associate professor emeritus in the drawing and painting department in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He received his bachelor of fine arts from Washington University, after defecting to visual art from his initial interest in engineering.

“The painter Manuel Hughes introduced me to the work of Romare Bearden in a class titled ‘Black Art’ when I was an engineering student,” Rozelle said. “Later, as I switched to visual arts, I became more acquainted with this wonderful work, and the drawings and watercolors were useful in digesting Picasso and other cubists.”

He went on to earn an a M.F.A.

New film portrays free black

man sold into slavery

conditions.Upon arrival in the South, he

was renamed Platt and came to be known as an illiterate slave from Georgia with a knack for playing the

fiddle. He quickly understood that being compliant was his only means for survival.

See FILM, C5

Comic staple Sinbad will bring his classic brand of clean comedy to St. Louis when he takes the stage at the Peabody Opera House Saturday night.

See ART, C4

Will Robinson and The Soul Experience take on R&B masters

at The Kranzberg

By Kenya VaughnOf The St. Louis American

“It’s not necessarily a competition thing, but it’s about us showcasing them as two of the greatest singer songwriters in the world of R&B,” Will Robinson said.

As singer and front man for The Soul Experience, Robinson will perform the music of Stevie Wonder and St. Louis native Donny Hathaway at the Kranzberg Arts Center on Friday, November 8.

“I want them to be able to sing along to their favorite songs that they don’t get a chance to hear live very often,” Robinson said. “I’m bringing out a lot of material that I haven’t touched yet. We’re jumping in the crates.”

Wonder is one of the most prolific artists in contemporary music with a career that has spanned five decades since he burst on the scene

Will Robinson and The Soul Experience will perform the songs of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway Friday, November 8 at The Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand.

in 1963 at the tender age of 13 with “Fingertips: Part II,” thanks to Motown.

Hathaway had a much briefer journey. Although he only recorded five albums (two with Howard University classmate and friend

Roberta Flack) before mental illness cut his career and life tragically short, Hathaway’s influence is still felt in soul music nearly 35 years

Stevie vs. Donny

See ROBINSON, C5

Fine art sale to benefit

community

Season of understated styles By Danie Rae, Style BrokerFor The St. Louis American

It’s no secret that fall is in full effect. Being my favorite season, I am hyped about wearing layers and experimenting with different fabric textures.

This fall season, it’s all about having understated style. I know that can be a little vague, but basically, less is more.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Bling will never go out of style. But this season, it’s all about letting the clothing speak for itself.

I’m dishing on the most popular styles to look out for this season and giving a glimpse at the hottest ready-to-wear pieces from The Limited (Galleria location) paired with the illest fall ambiance to showcase how to stay fly for fall.

It doesn’t matter if it’s black or white. Black and white will forever be a style staple. One could never go wrong. If I had a penny for every time I’ve said, “Black looks good on everybody,” I would be Oprah ballin’.

But it’s the truth. Black does a body good.

And being that no one follows old-school fashion rules anymore, white can be worn all year. This season some of the industry’s top designers, like Givenchy, Saint Laurent and Chanel, are keeping the color palette simple and chic with the use of these understated colors.

The ‘90s are back. The 1990s were a prosperous time for our country, so it’s only natural for us to want to return to the good times when everything that was big was better. Girls would rock oversized clothing, like their dad’s jeans, flannels and even boxers, to achieve that “gangsta boo” style.

Well, it’s time to raid a guy’s closet again for the oversized gear to get fresh. Or if that’s taking the trend too far, try incorporating simple style cues like tying a coordinating jacket around the waist or wearing a thick, chunky belt as your

See FASHION, C4

Photos: Lawrence Bryant

Hair: Kristopher Wilkerson

Makeup: Joy Loveless

Styling: Danie Rae, Style Broker

Models: Brittney Mckinnes and Leiko Mai