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NOVA Series To Examine Sistine Chapel Restoration When the Vatican began in 1980 their 12-year project to clean and restore Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel, they uncovered something quite unexpected. Underneath centuries of ac cumulated dirt and grime were bright, vibrant colors, casting the Renaissance master and his most famous paintings in a new light. But some critics of the project contend that the restoration may be going too far, removing layers of paint which belong to Michelangelo’s own work. NOVA, the award-winning weekly science documentary series, looks at the controversial project and the techniques used by the Vatican to restore one of the world’s most revered masterpieces. “Can the Vatican Save the Sistine Chapel?” will air Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on PBS, WGTV, Channel 8. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the pope’s private chapel, between 1508 and 1512. But within a decade after he finished, Vatican experts believe, smoke from candles and oil lamps ac cumulated on the frescoes. The Vatican found that earlier restorers, in their at tempts to enhance and protect the paint ings, applied a glue-varnish, and in some places repainted the surface. The Vatican theorizes that as the glue-varnish aged it darkened, giving the paintings their familiar somber quality. As part of the restoration, this glue-varnish is being removed because the Vatican believes it is causing damage to Michelangelo’s original paintings. After months of negotiations NOVA cameras were allowed to observe the techniques being employed by the Vatican’s team of restorers in this am bitious undertaking. Taking viewers within inches of the celebrated frescoes — the technique of painting on fresh plaster used by Michelangelo — NOVA shows how restorers are applying scientific tech niques to evaluate and preserve the fragile artwork. Before each panel is cleaned, the restorers typically spend one month taking samples — often no larger than the size of the head of a pin — from the surface of the paintings. NOVA observes as the Vatican’s Conservation Laboratory uses ultraviolet light and chemical analysis in an effort to distinguish Michelangelo’s brushstrokes from the repairs made by earlier restorers. As restorers proceeded to clean the sur face, vivid colors began to emerge — blues, greens, yellows, reds — colors that had never before been associated with Michelangelo’s work. “Nobody expected those colors,” said Dr. Walter Persegati, secretary general of the Vatican Museums. “We knew that there must have been good colors there but not to such an extent.” Excited by the results, the Vatican began releasing photos comparing the uncleaned and the cleaned frescoes, spark ing a controversial response from a few prominent members of the art community. “It disturbed me,” said New York art dealer Ronald Feldman. It was “too bright, too cartoon-like.” Feldman initiated a petition signed by a group of American artists calling for a pause in the restoration until more research could be done. But the Vatican stood by its approach. Microscopic analysis of tiny cross-sections of the ceiling showed that almost everything above the initial layer of plaster and pigment was applied long after the frescoes were completed, and hence presumably not by Michelangelo. Ironically, the glue-varnish layer now being removed by restorers may have served as a protective layer, keeping moisture and pollutants from attacking the frescoes directly. To prevent damage to the now-exposed surfaces, the Vatican is taking measures to ensure their safety, in cluding the installation of a special air con ditioning and filtration system. Cold War Origins, Prospects Focus Of New PBS Series BY HENRY HERX NEW YORK (NC) - The origins, development and prospects of the Cold War conflict between U.S. and Soviet governments in their struggle for world leadership is the subject of a new four-part series, “Global Rivals.” The premier program, “Beyond the Cold War,” airs Tuesday, Sept. 20, 10-11 p.m. EDT on PBS, WPBA, Channel 30. The first half of the program centers on the history of the Cold War which began, according to spokesmen from both the United States and the Soviet Union, because of the suspicion and mistrust of the former World War II allies. Documentary footage highlights the growing standoff between the two super powers whose growing nuclear ar maments increased the chance of mutual catastrophic annihilation. The possibilities for detente were crippled by the ideological differences undermining com mon sense considerations. The second half of the program centers on the economic problems of the Soviets which have forced them to concentrate on internal reforms rather than military ex pansionism. Party chief Mikhail Gor bachev has his hands full trying to rectify the errors of dictatorial Soviet leadership that began with Stalin. Hosted by journalist Bernard Kalb and assisted by Columbia University professor Serewyn Bialer, the program scores both as history and primer for present developments. In repudiating the past, Gorbachev is shown to be battling a long- entrenched hierarchy of Soviet bureaucrats. The program suggests that his chances of success are limited. According to the program, however, change in the Soviet Union is inevitable because the system isn’t working. The series will help the American public understand how these momentous changes affect the world. ***** Thursday, Sept. 22, 9-11 p.m. EDT (CBS) WAGA, Channel 5 “Kidis Like These.” Rebroadcast of the Christopher Award winning drama about the family of a child with Down syndrome. 'Tyne Daly (“Cag ney and Lacey”) plays the child’s mother, a woman who, determined to meet the challenge of rearing the child, has a hard time accepting his limitations. This fine drama also features Richard Crenna and Martin Balsam. ' THE NEXT GENERATION — The High Museum of Art will present a film tribute to new and emerging directors of outstanding foreign films this fall beginning Oct. 7. The seven-part series includes director Mark Lewis’“Cane toads: An Unnatural History,” a portrait of the ecologically disastrous cane toad that is overrunning Australia. The film will be shown at 8 p.m., Fri., Oct. 21 in the Rich Auditorium of the Woodruff Arts Center. — The Georgia Bulletin, September 15,1988 PAGE 9 "Tucker" Lacks Dimension “TUCKER: THE MAN AND HIS DREAM” (PARAMOUNT) NEW YORK (NC) - Dramatized portrait of the maverick inventor (Jeff Bridges) who bucked the top three car manufac turers of his time (postwar 1940s) to create a visionary automobile that featured innovative design, speed and safety factors that threatened the lackluster products of his com petitors. Director Francis Ford Coppola has a hard time blending the docu mentary and dramatic aspects of his scenario and ends up portraying his sub ject too one-dimensionally. Moral issues (good guys vs. bad guys) evoked in black and white terms as well. Mild rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Associ ation of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. “HOT TO TROT” (WARNER BROS.) Upon the death of his mother, a loony young man (Bob Goldthwait) inherits a talking horse named Don (with the voice of John Candy) and half of his family’s brokerage firm. The horse provides some hair-raising moments, but also some stock tips and a winning racing form that get his dimwitted owner out of hot water. A knuckle headed insult to Mr. Ed fans, this unfunny comedy directed by Michael Dinner features some embarrass ing performances by good actors (Dabney Coleman, Virginia Madsen and Cindy Pickett) and much rough language laced with sexual vulgarities. The U.S. Cath olic Conference classifica tion is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance sug gested. “STEALING HOME” (WARNER BROS.) Flashbacks detail a washed-up baseball play er’s (Mark Harmon) life long infatuation with an older family friend (Jodie Foster) who served as his babysitter and life and love adviser. Upon her suicide, he returns home to bury her ashes and ultimately put the pieces of his life back together with the help of his boyhood friend (Harold Ramis) and mother (Blair Brown). Writer-directors Steven Kampmann and Will Aldis get distracted and fail to develop the girl’s charac ter beyond that of an unat tainable fantasy figure. Brief nudity and several in cidents of explicit sexual promiscuity, one including a minor and an adult. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rat ing is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned that some material may be in appropriate for children under 13. f ■—•> Mass Televised SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 THE CATHOLIC MASS — The Mass will be tele vised at the following times: 8:30 a.m. on WOR-TV (Channel 14 on Prime Cable). 9 a.m. on WGN-TV (Channel 15 on Prime Cable). 10 a.m. on WVEU-TV (Channel 69). The Mass for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time will be celebrated by Father Larry Carroll. The program is produced by Passionist Communications. To receive a missalette for the Mass, write Passionist Communications, Inc., The Sunday Mass, P.O. Box 440, Pelham, N.Y. 10803. V >