Creators and festival attendees took to the red carpet and were greeted by paparazzi as they arrived at the second annual Black Bird Film Festival last Friday. The festival consisted of the 336 Hour Film Competition, a special showing of alumni Julia Barnett-Tracy’s film “Chasing Grace” and five short films made by artists in the Department of Communication and Design Arts. Cinema and media arts professor Jack Lugar started this event last year to give students an opportunity to celebrate … [Read more...]
Open mic night brings community through vulnerability
The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the dimly lit room as students gathered to listen to their peers read their original work for the Open Mic Night hosted in the Fair Commons lobby. The Open Mic Night, held on March 22, was planned by the apartments' resident director Dillon Lockwood and the apartment RAs. Many different forms of art were shared at the mic, from poetry to rap and from music to stand-up comedy. The idea for the event came about in the Bottom of Decker when … [Read more...]
Arts and worship collide during Vision Revision week
It’s Vision Revision week on AU’s campus. Vision Revision, which has been part of AU’s spiritual life since at least 1980, is “an intentional week to focus on faith through the arts,” said Becca Palmer, director of spiritual formation. This year, Vision Revision planning has been led by senior family science major Payton Lantz. Lantz said that she had “had no idea how much planning, collaborating, scheduling and emailing it would take in order to pull off a good service for … [Read more...]
Recital celebrates women through music performance
On Thursday, March 8, Professor Mary Beth Coolidge, Dr. Mary Kathryn Brewer, Dr. Karri York and Professor Diana Huntoon are coming together for a night of celebrating women through music. They are the only four women’s voice professors in AU’s School of Music. The four collectively shared that they’re excited to have the opportunity to perform with their colleagues because they’ve never had a recital like this before. Their passion for music and teaching shows in their excitement for the … [Read more...]
Student creators impress jurors at art exhibition
On Friday, March 2, the Student Juried Exhibition opened in the Wilson Galleries, featuring work from selected visual communication design majors. The students featured in the gallery were Sara Alabdi, Morgan Binkerd, Shania Bishop, April Bowen, Jenna Drake, Logan Hensley, Jackie Grondahl, Alena Nead, Sarah Rozzi and Caroline States. Among those featured were award winners Peyton Bennett, Sarah Rozzi, Allison Armstrong, Preston Magsig, Stephen Orban, Sloan Pederson, and Cassidy … [Read more...]
Black History Month has grown, flourished at AU in recent years
The United States has recognized February as Black History Month since 1976. This year, AU’s Black Student Association and Cultural Resource Center planned a month packed with activities for the entire campus and community to get involved with. CRC multicultural student assistant Faith Sayles believes the goals of celebrating Black History Month are to raise awareness, encourage people to take pride in their heritage and to bring people of all backgrounds together. BSA council member Alana … [Read more...]
Folk tale meets fairy tale in March double bill opera
Modern fables are met with dynamic performances from some of AU’s finest singers in the double bill opera this coming March. The easy-going operas will entertain theatergoers in a unique way. “The Unicorn in the Garden” is a short, contemporary folk tale that holds comedic surprises, and “Meanwhile, Back at Cinderella’s” wields a wild interpretation of the classic fairy tale. The two one-act operas compliment each other in their length, the first running around 15 minutes and the second … [Read more...]
Students earn unique career development opportunities
Driven by connection Krista Baker is a junior marketing major who learned what she wanted to do at a young age. Baker started with music promotion and management at age 14 to raise money for her youth group with the support of her youth pastor. Within months, Baker had made a venue, affectionately called “The Basement,” in her church’s lower floor. The Basement became a stop for touring bands from across the country. All through high school, Baker booked shows at The Basement, but stepped … [Read more...]
“White RiverStories,” Mark Dawson short, featured at film fest
On Jan. 14, video storyteller Mark Dawson’s short film “White RiverStories” was featured at the Indiana Forest Alliance’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival that took place at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre in Bloomington, Indiana. Mark Dawson began his filmmaking career at AU as a mass communications major. Since graduating in 1989, Dawson has worked as a producer and director, as well as cinematographer, camera operator and editor on most of his projects. For seven years, Dawson worked as a … [Read more...]
Power of the pen: AU students’ poetry to be published
“Poetry is something that demands to be contemplated before, during and after reading it,” said Sam Stimer, a senior English major. “The language and imagery used in poetry forces its way into your mind regardless if you want it to or not. Especially in modern poetry, I think it’s becoming a way for people to process things and reach out to others to create a bridge between author and reader.” This February, Z Publishing House is releasing “Indiana’s Best Emerging Poets.” The book will … [Read more...]