Diversity concerns are an important part of some of the most pressing and difficult conversations our country and our campus are having right now. Seeking to address these issues, a group of almost 30 AU students participated in a Tri-S trip to Washington D.C. While in D.C., they visited the African American History Museum and reached out to AU alums and connections to learn about how people are addressing diversity issues in the nation’s capital. The focal point of the trip was the museum, … [Read more...]
Jackie Grondahl finds calling in visual storytelling
Jackie Grondahl isn’t really sure that she knows what art is, but she is sure that it is her deepest passion, and she would like to spend the rest of her life creating it. “How do you define art, you know?” Grondahl said. “I’d never really thought about it before, but for me, the reason why I make art, per se, is that it’s all about capturing a specific moment. Time is always fleeting, and time is never something that we can hold tangibly. So capturing it is really cool, and something about … [Read more...]
Weekend opera: “Down in the Valley” and “The Old Maid and the Thief”
Lovers and performers of opera often feel the need to defend it to outsiders, but AU’s productions of "Down in the Valley" and "The Old Maid and the Thief" need little defense. With a single full-length production, an audience might only get one take on the art form, but with the pairing of these two one-act works, clocking in at about 30 and 75 minutes respectively, audiences have the chance to see the kind of thematic and musical range opera can have. Kurt Weill’s "Down in the Valley," the … [Read more...]
Black History Month celebrated on AU’s campus
The month of February, though acknowledged for Valentine’s Day and the unpredicted abilities of mother nature, reflects the honor and spirit of culture through Black History Month. Celebrating achievements and recognizing roles of black Americans, February is culturally developing and socially stimulating. As Black History Month continually provides insight and understanding, it has become a very vocal time for learning and exploring cultural experiences and identities. Mike Thigpen, director … [Read more...]
Students reflect on NAMM conference in California
Though success in any industry involves an ability to network, it is especially critical in the entertainment business. That is why, every year, AU takes a small group of students to California for the annual National Association of Music Merchants, or NAMM, conference to meet industry professionals and gain insight into what is next for their field. The NAMM show floor offers students unique opportunities to meet the names behind some of music’s most important record labels, instrument brands, … [Read more...]
Compose: The Storyteller’s Guild creative writing club begins
An abandoned mansion, an enchanted forest and a bridge suspended high above a dark, dangerous chasm were just some of the images alive in Decker Hall last Tuesday night. Although the students typed in peaceful silence, their minds were buzzing with plots both fantastic and heart-wrenching. After all, Compose: The Storyteller’s Guild was formed to give imaginative ideas like these a home with a community of like-minded writers. The idea for a creative writing club has been on the minds of junior … [Read more...]
Winter Jam 2017 to arrive in Indianapolis this weekend
This coming Friday, Feb. 10, Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will be the place to be for fans of Contemporary Christian Music as the Indiana leg of Winter Jam 2017 arrives. Christian artists of many different stripes and backgrounds will be performing, including Grammy-nominated acts like Crowder, Britt Nicole and the creators of Winter Jam, NewSong. Also performing will be fan-favorites Tenth Avenue North, veterans such as Thousand Foot Krutch and relative-newcomers to the scene, Andy … [Read more...]
Student Juried ehxibition on display in Wilson Gallery again
One of the most important steps for an aspiring artist is to have their work seen and critiqued by professionals, and that is exactly the purpose of the new Wilson Gallery installment of student works and the accompanying exhibit titled “The Judges.” Students from every class of the visual communications major submit works or groups of works for adjudication by outside professionals who decide what works will be featured in the final exhibition. Visual communications faculty, Tai Lipan, who is … [Read more...]
eSports club connects online gamers on campus
Gamers are not always a close-knit bunch. The days of huddling around the four-controller port console for split-screen sessions of Mario Kart and Goldeneye have been dying a slow death. The temptation often exists to isolate oneself in the world of gaming and make the act of gaming a one-person experience that eschews social interaction for cold, emotionless interaction with a console or computer. Multiplayer is now an online function that often puts the gamer in a situation of isolation, … [Read more...]
AU-based band, Watson, to release EP in coming month
Oftentimes in music, it's how the artist comes to a conclusion that adds an extra layer of meaning to their work and is just as important as the work itself. This is the case with AU band Watson. The band, getting its name from the name of lead singer-songwriter Ben Watson, has been busy since the summer of 2016 collaborating with writers, playing concerts and recording music to get off the ground. But before the folk-rock outfit was formalized into the four-man effort it is now, Ben was … [Read more...]