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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 12, 1981)
Voice prof, former POW becomes wood sculptor By CHARLENE BELL Of lha Emaratd The first thing you notice is his animated face, the mustache, the blue eyes But it is the hands of Les Breidenthal you are drawn to, the strong hands of a sculptor Briedenthal, a voice professor at the University's music school, reflects soi^fe' of his own animation in riis “sideline" work — sculpting His artistic plans were decidedly altered with the outbreak of World War II, he says As a pilot in a bomber, shot down over France, Breidenthal was captured by the Germans and taken to Stalag Luft III prison camp Following an unusual turn of events, Breidenthal's captors allowed him a little free rein in his artistic ex pression “I was an escape attempt and so I was moved to other quarters with a few other men in a hush-hush opera tion," he says "The Germans felt that by en couraging activity in the new quarters they would discourage further escape attempts ” Taking advantage of "freedom1' with his illustra tions, Breidenthal says he succeeded in communicat ing with the world outside Germany His portraits of fellow pris oners, in Red Cross log books, later found their way into the hands of other pris oners After the war, some of Breidenthal's illustrations appeared in an exhibition called "War Out" at the Met Les Breidenthal Photo by Bob Baker ropolitan Museum of Art in New York City Breidenthal's wood sculp ture has attracted attention both locally and nationally “If the wood grain is beau tiful, I think it is worthy to bring out the surface," Breidenthal says "Sometimes it is a won derful coincidence that the grains add to characteristics of the finished piece, such as my human figures, particularly in the muscula ture of Prometheus,' which I think is one of my strongest works." "The wood is your master, you have to twist the finished piece out of it," Breidenthal says, recalling the bloody hands he suffered while chis eling the towering "Madonna" now gracing St Mary's church on Charnelton Street "I have a figurine at home, one of my earlier works, called Primordial Man,' ” Breidenthal says "It's a primitive man in a groping, searching posture that sug gests he is unsure of how to escape the darkness of his existence "I guess that's me and my work — searching and grop ing, wondering where it will take me." Budget cuts mean less service Due to a cut in funding and a roll back in staff, Off Campus Housing may not be able to meet increased demand for advice and in formation. says director Dave Lesser "What that means to the student is simply less ser vice," says Lesser It also means Off-Campus Housing will not have enough time to pursue further projects, he says, "We've been able to manage without any prob lem, though "Many times, when a student moves into an apartment or house, it's the first time they'll sign a contract," Lesser says He adds that more students are asking for landlord-tenant advice than are seeking rental units Lesser says the Lane County Housing Authority and Community Service Agency also helps students with rental problems, but that agency could also suffer cuts, which could make Off Campus Housing the only place students could get paralegal advice Peter Roberts, assistant director of the county hous ing agency, verified the agency is being cut back He says me agency s priority is to assist low-income people with housing problems Bud get cuts mean the agency might have to ask the help of Lane County Legal Aid Ser vice for legal advice and could no longer keep in formation on rental vacancies, Roberts says He adds the agency is trying to develop a self-help informa tion service The 1980 budget for Off Campus Housing was cut about 30 percent from I979, Lesser says The budget for I98I has actually been in FaifHair Specials Perms (includes haircut) 128.00 teg. $35“ Haircut $8°° reg $12“ Call Carol Hubbard 343-4813 at the Turning Point 2660 Oak Bring Coupon—expires Oct. 31 creased by about three per cent, says Lesser, adding that it is an insignificant in crease due to inflation On top of that, Lesser says, the off-campus staff has been cut by seven since 79 A property manager, who asked not to be identified, for the Income Property Management Co says some landlords are actually lower ing rent out of desperation He adds that potential renters have a greater choice of housing since the compe tition between landlords is a little stiffer. NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE - The Science of preventive care, Natural living, Natural healing. Dr. Daniel M. Hardt Dr. Elisabeth Heneage 981 Chambers Call 683-4404 for appointments Hours: Mon 8 am-8 pm Wed 8 am-5 pm Thurs-Frl 8 am- 8 pm Sat 9 am-2 pm Medical Scholarship We provide: ★ 4 full years tuition and fees ★ ★ all books and supplies if ★ $530 per month stipend if ★ Naval Commission if If you are a U.S. Citizen, have been accepted at an accredited medical school, and would like your educational cost paid, call: Larry DuFraine collect (503-294-5239). Rebate offered See the Jostens’ Display at UO Bookstore Mon. Oct. 12 Tues. Oct. 13
