2008 Woodie Awards
The Arts: The end
Ariel Davis
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Fine Arts
- Page 1 of 1
With only a week of school remaining, this issue of The Vanguard is the last issue of the year.
Though I'll be saying goodbye, I won't really be leaving. My arts column and position as Fine Arts editor will be over, but I'll be back next semester as a staff writer.
I always considered how I would approach my last and final column. It has ran for two years in the Vanguard as a somewhat unstructured, but (hopefully) insightful discussion on the arts community both at home and afar.
I always thought it would be fun to just sum up the years, but I realized that that would be too large a task. So many things happened that I can't even remember them all.
Through my writing, I was able to dive in and explore the arts community. Like any other writer, I've had my favorite moments, always connected to the behind-the-scenes glimpse I've been given through my work: attending rehearsals, watching shows go up, seeing galleries prepare for openings and artists -- not critics, fans or curators -- introduce their art.
If forced to pick, a few would come to mind: shaking hands with artist Nall and getting to hear him speak about his creative process; sitting down with my favorite creators and arts leaders like conductor Scott Speck, arts council community director Charlie Smoke, pianist Dr. Holm, photographer Joyce Lin, composer Mason Bates and former curator Barclay McConnell, and hearing them be so surprisingly down to earth.
There's a lot in Mobile, and the column allowed me to open my eyes and ears to all of those people and things.
Vanguard Editor in Chief April Havens is to thank for having the foresight to realize the need for a Fine Arts page at The Vanguard.
For years there had been a combination of both the Arts and Entertainment pages, but the latter was always more strongly represented.
Also the writers of the Fine Arts pages are to thank, for being willing to write, explore, listen, serve as critics and put up with my high expectations.
I was hoping to have some profound conclusion, but all I will say is this -- go out and explore something new; your life will be much better for it.
Though I'll be saying goodbye, I won't really be leaving. My arts column and position as Fine Arts editor will be over, but I'll be back next semester as a staff writer.
I always considered how I would approach my last and final column. It has ran for two years in the Vanguard as a somewhat unstructured, but (hopefully) insightful discussion on the arts community both at home and afar.
I always thought it would be fun to just sum up the years, but I realized that that would be too large a task. So many things happened that I can't even remember them all.
Through my writing, I was able to dive in and explore the arts community. Like any other writer, I've had my favorite moments, always connected to the behind-the-scenes glimpse I've been given through my work: attending rehearsals, watching shows go up, seeing galleries prepare for openings and artists -- not critics, fans or curators -- introduce their art.
If forced to pick, a few would come to mind: shaking hands with artist Nall and getting to hear him speak about his creative process; sitting down with my favorite creators and arts leaders like conductor Scott Speck, arts council community director Charlie Smoke, pianist Dr. Holm, photographer Joyce Lin, composer Mason Bates and former curator Barclay McConnell, and hearing them be so surprisingly down to earth.
There's a lot in Mobile, and the column allowed me to open my eyes and ears to all of those people and things.
Vanguard Editor in Chief April Havens is to thank for having the foresight to realize the need for a Fine Arts page at The Vanguard.
For years there had been a combination of both the Arts and Entertainment pages, but the latter was always more strongly represented.
Also the writers of the Fine Arts pages are to thank, for being willing to write, explore, listen, serve as critics and put up with my high expectations.
I was hoping to have some profound conclusion, but all I will say is this -- go out and explore something new; your life will be much better for it.
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