A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a lunch for a group of incoming freshman with merit scholarships. The two speakers focused (remarkably enough) on life after Rhodes. This was my second day of orientation and the administrators were already telling us to think about our careers after Rhodes. This didn't bother me too greatly as I am a forward thinking person, but at the same time, I did just spend a year filling out college applications and I find it mildly disturbing that the second day in college they're already advising us to plan for after undergraduate studies. The professors/deans informed us that we needed to begin planning for graduate school and fellowships etc. now. So I am.
The fellowship I found most intriguing was the Watson Fellowship. It's extremely difficult to get this particlar fellowship. What the scholarship entails is a very generous grant given to a student who wants to further study a particular subject. The only stipulation is that this student may not set foot in the US for a year. (This sounds like heaven, doesn't it?) Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to examine the possible decline of the arts audience globally? Before leaving, I could study Broadway audience statistics and compare them to West End statistics! I could chart age, numbers, and what subjects are most appealing to audiences. For example, musical theatre in France is entirely different. La Comedie Musicale is barely known (outside of Lion King/Beauty and the Beast translations.) I had the pleasure of travelling to Paris this summer, where I saw Cabaret in french. It was completely different. There is no fear of an audience finding t too risque/politically incorrect/raunchy. It never would have done well in America (that presentation at least.) WHat kind of productions are popular in Russia? Translations of big budget broadway shows? Local productions? What about Italy? Can all classes afford to attend? Do all classes want to attend? Australia? What about a study across english speaking countries? Anyway, I could study the numbers and speak to individual people (in English/French countries, anyway) and attempt to find what works, what doesn't, and then search for possible solutions or methods of improvement. What do you think?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Preliminary Thoughts: Part 1
I couldn’t wait more than 16 hours to write another post—I had about fifty things to discuss last night and due to horrendous blogging technical difficulties, I only discussed one issue. Fortunately, the issue discussed is the underlying one for all my posts/thoughts, so it was a good one with which to start.
I mentioned in my fist post that CODA meetings have the “uncanny ability to make me feel like I can conquer the world through the arts.” I figured I might expound upon that statement. The CODA program’s aim is to “graduate students with a life-long passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and world.” This goal is achieved over four years of undergraduate study. The first and second years learn the basics: skills for the professional arts world. By your third year, you’re in full swing with the CAP project (Senior arts project), and by your fourth, you execute a project outside campus walls in the city of Memphis.
I stumbled upon the CODA program in a funny manner. A representative from Rhodes College visited my school and I attended their info session. I spoke with the rep afterwards and mentioned my interests. Within a matter of seconds, she told me I needed to look into this CODA program. I looked it up online, and despite my intense desire to move hundreds of miles away from home and go to the chilly Northeast in a large university in a large city, I became enamored of this CODA concept. The CODA philosophy is what I have unintentionally preached throughout my middle and high school years. As far as I know, the CODA program is one of a kind. I love the value it brings to Rhodes, but I also believe that this should change. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if CODA-like programs were established in colleges/universities throughout the nation? A small legion of passionate, effervescent students collaborating to promote the arts—it sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
At any rate, I feel very much at home in our meetings. I’ve only been at Rhodes in the program for a couple of weeks, but we’re already planning out the year. The first and second years have the opportunity to execute a solo on campus project. I had no idea about this and of course when I found out, I was absolutely ecstatic. I can’t believe how much power and freedom we are allowed and how much responsibility is given to us, even as freshmen and sophomores. The two available projects at the moment are Juxtap’art (the arts festival in the Spring based on Wagner’s concept of Gesamtkunstwerk) and taking under my wing the lofty job of compiling an arts calendar to be published at the beginning of next year. Juxtap’art planning will begin in the middle of this term, whereas the Calendar planning will begin at the middle of next term. While both jobs are extremely appealing and involved, Juxtap’art sounds like it would take so much of my time and energy that it would nearly kill me. I love that. This is why, at this point, I’m thinking that Juxtap’art is what I desire to plan.
At my school in Dallas, we participated in a Southwestern Arts festival. This was always the highlight of my year. The opportunity to plan a festival (completely student performed/run, mind you) is absolutely thrilling. Of course, I’m a big dreamer, so I’m probably envisioning something absolutely ridiculous. My philosophy with that is a) it never hurts to dream b) if it’s well organized enough with a group of people who are really invested, something ridiculously cool could happen and c) most likely, my crazy ideas will not come to fruition. However, dreaming big and falling back on a still very cool/well done plan is better than settling.
On a more ridiculous side note, I realized that my door is open to my room so people can hear me verbalizing the thoughts on this post out loud. In my hallway. Yes, I read aloud—it helps me think, even if it makes me feel like a young, less socially active, southern Carrie Bradshaw. Minus the “And then I had to wonder…” statements. Those always bothered me. Also, if you would like to know what music best accompanies a Starbucks peppermint mocha, it’s Joni Mitchell. The old, decrepit, smoker Joni Mitchell from 2000 on, not the young, peppy, warbly Joni Mitchell.
Anyway, as John (the director of the CODA program) was explaining these projects and what they entailed, I began a reverie of my senior project (while still listening to John, of course). I can attempt to decipher my scary scribble (as seen below) from yesterday, I can sort of explain my so-much-larger-than-life-that-even-Tim-Burton-would-fear-them ideas.
Essentially, my over-the-top idea is an enormous two day arts benefit in either mid fall or early spring of my senior year. It could either be at the Orpheum (which is obviously the more expensive route unless they did this out of the goodness of their hearts) or at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. The Gallery and Gardens would really be the coolest venue, I think. That is, unless the first afternoon/evening would be at the Gardens and the second night an assortment of performances at the Orpheum.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens Day 1
Afternoon:
Art workshops in the gardens or inside the actual museum
Storytelling/children’s actors in the gardens
Local artists work displayed in the Galleries or even some cool artwork outdoors (is this even a possibility in consideration of preservation of art?)
Evening:
Dinner/Performances on stage (soloists from Memphis Orchestra? Could we get a dance performance from New Ballet or Ballet Memphis, perhaps?)
Orpheum Performances Evening Day 2
Guest lecturers? Could we bring in people to speak from outside Memphis? Could we even do it in the new playhouse facility? Maybe a lecture about arts districts in civic planning?
Performances from various local theatres, ballets?, symphony?, display art in the lobby?
Sadly, my ideas get even crazier and more absurd, but I’m going to save you the even more ridiculous plans for the moment. If I have any hope of realizing them, I’ll be sure to let you know. The point of this would be to get as many arts enthusiasts/partrons/actual artist together in a two day period to support Memphis arts and the arts in general. The most pressing issue is that we need to raise awareness not only in Memphis but also nationally (and maybe even globally…though I haven’t really researched how arts audiences are abroad…wouldn’t that be an interesting study?) If we brought in performances or lecturers from outside Memphis as well as inside, this could become even larger than a local project. The admission money (tickets for workshops, one day ticket, two day pass…) could go to a specific project within Heart of the Arts. (For more info: www.heartoftheartsmemphis.org)
Clearly, my thoughts are primitive, far reaching, and scattered. That’s why I consider this brainstorming. It never hurts. Organizing juxtap’art could be small model trial run for this concept. I’d also need to think about advertising… Alright, I shall update if I have any further thoughts. Farewell.
I mentioned in my fist post that CODA meetings have the “uncanny ability to make me feel like I can conquer the world through the arts.” I figured I might expound upon that statement. The CODA program’s aim is to “graduate students with a life-long passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities and world.” This goal is achieved over four years of undergraduate study. The first and second years learn the basics: skills for the professional arts world. By your third year, you’re in full swing with the CAP project (Senior arts project), and by your fourth, you execute a project outside campus walls in the city of Memphis.
I stumbled upon the CODA program in a funny manner. A representative from Rhodes College visited my school and I attended their info session. I spoke with the rep afterwards and mentioned my interests. Within a matter of seconds, she told me I needed to look into this CODA program. I looked it up online, and despite my intense desire to move hundreds of miles away from home and go to the chilly Northeast in a large university in a large city, I became enamored of this CODA concept. The CODA philosophy is what I have unintentionally preached throughout my middle and high school years. As far as I know, the CODA program is one of a kind. I love the value it brings to Rhodes, but I also believe that this should change. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if CODA-like programs were established in colleges/universities throughout the nation? A small legion of passionate, effervescent students collaborating to promote the arts—it sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
At any rate, I feel very much at home in our meetings. I’ve only been at Rhodes in the program for a couple of weeks, but we’re already planning out the year. The first and second years have the opportunity to execute a solo on campus project. I had no idea about this and of course when I found out, I was absolutely ecstatic. I can’t believe how much power and freedom we are allowed and how much responsibility is given to us, even as freshmen and sophomores. The two available projects at the moment are Juxtap’art (the arts festival in the Spring based on Wagner’s concept of Gesamtkunstwerk) and taking under my wing the lofty job of compiling an arts calendar to be published at the beginning of next year. Juxtap’art planning will begin in the middle of this term, whereas the Calendar planning will begin at the middle of next term. While both jobs are extremely appealing and involved, Juxtap’art sounds like it would take so much of my time and energy that it would nearly kill me. I love that. This is why, at this point, I’m thinking that Juxtap’art is what I desire to plan.
At my school in Dallas, we participated in a Southwestern Arts festival. This was always the highlight of my year. The opportunity to plan a festival (completely student performed/run, mind you) is absolutely thrilling. Of course, I’m a big dreamer, so I’m probably envisioning something absolutely ridiculous. My philosophy with that is a) it never hurts to dream b) if it’s well organized enough with a group of people who are really invested, something ridiculously cool could happen and c) most likely, my crazy ideas will not come to fruition. However, dreaming big and falling back on a still very cool/well done plan is better than settling.
On a more ridiculous side note, I realized that my door is open to my room so people can hear me verbalizing the thoughts on this post out loud. In my hallway. Yes, I read aloud—it helps me think, even if it makes me feel like a young, less socially active, southern Carrie Bradshaw. Minus the “And then I had to wonder…” statements. Those always bothered me. Also, if you would like to know what music best accompanies a Starbucks peppermint mocha, it’s Joni Mitchell. The old, decrepit, smoker Joni Mitchell from 2000 on, not the young, peppy, warbly Joni Mitchell.
Anyway, as John (the director of the CODA program) was explaining these projects and what they entailed, I began a reverie of my senior project (while still listening to John, of course). I can attempt to decipher my scary scribble (as seen below) from yesterday, I can sort of explain my so-much-larger-than-life-that-even-Tim-Burton-would-fear-them ideas.
Essentially, my over-the-top idea is an enormous two day arts benefit in either mid fall or early spring of my senior year. It could either be at the Orpheum (which is obviously the more expensive route unless they did this out of the goodness of their hearts) or at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. The Gallery and Gardens would really be the coolest venue, I think. That is, unless the first afternoon/evening would be at the Gardens and the second night an assortment of performances at the Orpheum.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens Day 1
Afternoon:
Art workshops in the gardens or inside the actual museum
Storytelling/children’s actors in the gardens
Local artists work displayed in the Galleries or even some cool artwork outdoors (is this even a possibility in consideration of preservation of art?)
Evening:
Dinner/Performances on stage (soloists from Memphis Orchestra? Could we get a dance performance from New Ballet or Ballet Memphis, perhaps?)
Orpheum Performances Evening Day 2
Guest lecturers? Could we bring in people to speak from outside Memphis? Could we even do it in the new playhouse facility? Maybe a lecture about arts districts in civic planning?
Performances from various local theatres, ballets?, symphony?, display art in the lobby?
Sadly, my ideas get even crazier and more absurd, but I’m going to save you the even more ridiculous plans for the moment. If I have any hope of realizing them, I’ll be sure to let you know. The point of this would be to get as many arts enthusiasts/partrons/actual artist together in a two day period to support Memphis arts and the arts in general. The most pressing issue is that we need to raise awareness not only in Memphis but also nationally (and maybe even globally…though I haven’t really researched how arts audiences are abroad…wouldn’t that be an interesting study?) If we brought in performances or lecturers from outside Memphis as well as inside, this could become even larger than a local project. The admission money (tickets for workshops, one day ticket, two day pass…) could go to a specific project within Heart of the Arts. (For more info: www.heartoftheartsmemphis.org)
Clearly, my thoughts are primitive, far reaching, and scattered. That’s why I consider this brainstorming. It never hurts. Organizing juxtap’art could be small model trial run for this concept. I’d also need to think about advertising… Alright, I shall update if I have any further thoughts. Farewell.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Mission
My roommate is a wonderful person. Her name is Leah, she is athletic, she is very intellectual, she has a brilliant dry sarcasm that few notice, she is very comfortable with her beliefs, and she has no interest in art. And when I say she has no interest in art, I mean none. Not only is she entirely apathetic about visual and performing art (the most blatant art forms), but she also is indifferent to culinary art, fashion as art, film as art, and makeup as art. Yes, I consider all of the aforentioned expressions art forms. Art, according to Merriam Webster dictionary, is defined as:
1: skill acquired by experience, study, or observation2 a: a branch of learning: (1): one of the humanities (2)plural : liberal arts barchaic : learning, scholarship3: an occupation requiring knowledge or skill 4 a: the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1): fine arts (2): one of the fine arts (3): a graphic art5 aarchaic : a skillful plan b: the quality or state of being artful6: decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter
In short, art is a skill, a form of learning, one of the humanities, an occupation, the use of imagination (particularly in aesthetics), a skillful plan, or an illustrative element. Clearly, the definition is a broad one. It encompasses many expressions and outlets of creativity. This is why I believe anyone can love art.
People are turned off by the idea of art--it makes people think of gray haired, upperclass people in symphonies, freezing music halls, stuffy museums, and maybe even a boring art history class in high school or college. Fortunately, I happen to love older arts patrons. I find them to be far more knowledgeable and passionate about the arts than most people my age. Even more fortunately, I was raised in a musical family. I was brought up on movie musicals as well as musical theatre, grew up listening to my dad play the piano, and attended birthday/major holiday gatherings with my close-knit extended family which almost always included a musical performance by some cousin/grandchild/aunt/grandparent. But maybe I was just lucky. Not everyone grows up on musicals. Not everyone took a fortunate art history class. (I happened to have the most wonderfully enticing "History of Art and Music" class in my high school, the Hockaday School, in Dallas--I now cite it as one of the predominant catalysts for my decision to pursue the arts as a career.)
All arts are communicative. In some form or another, the arts convey messages to people via direct or abstract ways. However, if no one is getting away from the computer/gamecube long enough to go to the gallery, see the symphony, or go to the musical, no one will get an artist’s message. The sad, blatant truth is: art audiences are fading out. Most arts organizations are run by older generations and most audiences are comprised or the same older generations. (Don't get me wrong; I am thrilled that people are engaged in the arts regardless of age.) But something is wrong. The arts will fade out with these older generations unless we generate some interest in younger audiences. The arts need to find new ways to engage such audiences. This type of development research is a necessity in all communities. It can be done. Through outreach, advertising, and education, I believe that younger audiences can be captivated by the arts.
You’re probably wondering where Leah (my roommate) comes back into this story. That would be right about now. I came back from my CODA meeting (an arts outreach program at Rhodes Colleg--for more information visit http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/1117.asp) completely enthralled and invigorated about the arts. CODA meetings have the uncanny ability to make me believe I can conquer the world through the arts and that I may better people’s lives because of it. Leah is not quite the absurdly spunky human being I am, and therefore questioned my zealous pep. After a brief, five minute conversation about the organization of an arts festival that is taking place here at Rhodes in the spring, Leah had this funny grin on her face. I had been babbling nonstop (very energetically, I might add) and I stopped for a second and asked her why she was grinning at me. "It’s just that I’ve literally never been excited about the arts before," she stated. "Are you at all now?" I asked. "Yeah, actually. I am. And I’m not even being sarcastic." I could have died from sublime euphoria. This is basically the perfect ending to the perfect day. All it took for Leah to be slightly excited about art (or this art festival, more specifically) was energy, enthusiasm, and persuasive argument. Clearly, this is a very small, very primitive model for what I intend to do with my life. However, it’s the minor moments like these that give me hope and passion for the arts and what the arts can do.
Leah has less interest in the arts than nearly everyone I know. If she has reason to be excited about the arts, anyone should. What we have to do is figure out how to translate the energies of the younger and older generations who are vehemently passionate about the arts to those who haven’t experienced it, and then get those people to pay it forward.
I love arts outreach and education because I love seeing people who previously did not care about the arts catch the same bug I caught when I first watched the film "Hello, Dolly!" at age five in Galveston during a hurricane. I love the arts because it can play whatever role in your life you wish for it to. It can be your entertainment, your pick me up, your therapy, your career, your guilty pleasure, your night out, your relaxation, or your constant companion. It's our mission let people know what their missing, and then to get them excited about it and share it with someone else.
Katharine
For further reading/information:
http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/1117.asp
http://www.heartoftheartsmemphis.org/
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
1: skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
In short, art is a skill, a form of learning, one of the humanities, an occupation, the use of imagination (particularly in aesthetics), a skillful plan, or an illustrative element. Clearly, the definition is a broad one. It encompasses many expressions and outlets of creativity. This is why I believe anyone can love art.
People are turned off by the idea of art--it makes people think of gray haired, upperclass people in symphonies, freezing music halls, stuffy museums, and maybe even a boring art history class in high school or college. Fortunately, I happen to love older arts patrons. I find them to be far more knowledgeable and passionate about the arts than most people my age. Even more fortunately, I was raised in a musical family. I was brought up on movie musicals as well as musical theatre, grew up listening to my dad play the piano, and attended birthday/major holiday gatherings with my close-knit extended family which almost always included a musical performance by some cousin/grandchild/aunt/grandparent. But maybe I was just lucky. Not everyone grows up on musicals. Not everyone took a fortunate art history class. (I happened to have the most wonderfully enticing "History of Art and Music" class in my high school, the Hockaday School, in Dallas--I now cite it as one of the predominant catalysts for my decision to pursue the arts as a career.)
All arts are communicative. In some form or another, the arts convey messages to people via direct or abstract ways. However, if no one is getting away from the computer/gamecube long enough to go to the gallery, see the symphony, or go to the musical, no one will get an artist’s message. The sad, blatant truth is: art audiences are fading out. Most arts organizations are run by older generations and most audiences are comprised or the same older generations. (Don't get me wrong; I am thrilled that people are engaged in the arts regardless of age.) But something is wrong. The arts will fade out with these older generations unless we generate some interest in younger audiences. The arts need to find new ways to engage such audiences. This type of development research is a necessity in all communities. It can be done. Through outreach, advertising, and education, I believe that younger audiences can be captivated by the arts.
You’re probably wondering where Leah (my roommate) comes back into this story. That would be right about now. I came back from my CODA meeting (an arts outreach program at Rhodes Colleg--for more information visit http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/1117.asp) completely enthralled and invigorated about the arts. CODA meetings have the uncanny ability to make me believe I can conquer the world through the arts and that I may better people’s lives because of it. Leah is not quite the absurdly spunky human being I am, and therefore questioned my zealous pep. After a brief, five minute conversation about the organization of an arts festival that is taking place here at Rhodes in the spring, Leah had this funny grin on her face. I had been babbling nonstop (very energetically, I might add) and I stopped for a second and asked her why she was grinning at me. "It’s just that I’ve literally never been excited about the arts before," she stated. "Are you at all now?" I asked. "Yeah, actually. I am. And I’m not even being sarcastic." I could have died from sublime euphoria. This is basically the perfect ending to the perfect day. All it took for Leah to be slightly excited about art (or this art festival, more specifically) was energy, enthusiasm, and persuasive argument. Clearly, this is a very small, very primitive model for what I intend to do with my life. However, it’s the minor moments like these that give me hope and passion for the arts and what the arts can do.
Leah has less interest in the arts than nearly everyone I know. If she has reason to be excited about the arts, anyone should. What we have to do is figure out how to translate the energies of the younger and older generations who are vehemently passionate about the arts to those who haven’t experienced it, and then get those people to pay it forward.
I love arts outreach and education because I love seeing people who previously did not care about the arts catch the same bug I caught when I first watched the film "Hello, Dolly!" at age five in Galveston during a hurricane. I love the arts because it can play whatever role in your life you wish for it to. It can be your entertainment, your pick me up, your therapy, your career, your guilty pleasure, your night out, your relaxation, or your constant companion. It's our mission let people know what their missing, and then to get them excited about it and share it with someone else.
Katharine
For further reading/information:
http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/1117.asp
http://www.heartoftheartsmemphis.org/
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
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