Maybe some staff training could be put on their agenda before they go completely out of business.
Linda Sonier
via Internet
Personal Observations
Shaila Dewan is a talented writer who should know how to analyze without exposing her personal history. Her reviews are littered with irrelevancies like childhood memories, personal affiliations and references to her own bodily functions.
In her review of "Other Narratives" ["Too Much for Words," June 10] the word I appears 19 times. The words me and my appear a total of six times. A recent Artforum magazine contained none of these pronouns.
There are some astute observations in her review, but the quality and credibility of the writing is compromised by a self-obsessed point of view. Not one word is spent discussing the work of David McGee or Annette Lawrence, two artists from Houston included in this national survey.
Dewan is a keen writer, but it will be difficult to take her seriously unless she realizes that art exhibitions are not all about her, and the reviews need not be, either.
Esther Shane
Houston
IBP (I Be Peeved)
Having recently seen Tamalalia 4: The Camp-Out, I must agree with Lee Williams's assertion that it is a very entertaining show ["Out of the Woods," June 10]. And it's nice to see the Houston Press is reviewing every single show that Infernal Bridegroom produces, even if it means totally ignoring other productions of more interesting shows at other venues. But isn't there some way you could give your readers even more IBP coverage? Can't you drop some of your other features so we can have up-to-the-minute coverage of all things pretentious?
Karl McHale
Houston
Appreciate the Past
Reviews, including those of Lee Williams, are by their very nature subjective. The opinions of playgoers are, of course, also subjective. Though it's a good production, I agree with Williams that The Last Session ["Light but Likable," May 20] was "absolute fluff" (and I'm gay).
But Williams is apparently incapable of viewing an America gone by, judging from her reaction to The Moon Is Blue ["Mooning the '50s," May 20]. It was an evening of live theater I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. Regardless, thank goodness for the Houston Press!
Jim Swindell
Houston
Hip-hopless in Houston
Good job on the "Rap Space" article [by Craig D. Lindsey, June 3]. Houston might improve the hip-hop scene if marketers, radio stations, DJs and businesses promoted an actual local scene that supports hip-hop music and culture, not just rap artists.
Where is Houston's hip-hop district? Which venues truly sell hip-hop to their patrons? Booking megastar artists at the Woodlands Pavilion or the Compaq Center does not make Houston a haven for a real hip-hop aficionados. So what if the bottom line is the buck? Paying attention to your audience brings the dollars.
Jill A. Rock
via Internet
Awash-out
Having just recently moved here from Boulder, Colorado, my husband and I decided to try the Ethiopian restaurant Awash, based on your glowing review ["Wot More Could You Ask?" by Dennis Abrams, April 22].
Awash had no diners other than us at our early dinner time. The waitress, though charming, had difficulty communicating and helping us make our selections. While we were more than glad to be guided by her suggestion of vegetarian Combo I and II, we were disappointed.
Injera is usually warm, moist and soft, but this was cold and dry. Even the vegetarian dishes were cold. No asked us about the meal, and no warm napkins were brought to us until after we had made a trip to the restroom to rinse our hands.
All in all, we were terribly disappointed. We understand that you cannot be held responsible for what goes on at restaurants that you review, but we thought you might be interested in knowing of our experience.
Mary J. McWilliams
Houston
