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(03/12/21 5:00am)
Third-year student Zianah Marshall got her start in visual art this past summer, when she found a blank poster board at a George Floyd protest she was attending and began to draw. Since then, Marshall’s passion for art has only grown.
Black beauty and Black power are two of the most prominent themes of Marshall’s work.
“I find Black people very beautiful, mostly because we’ve been told that we weren’t for a really long time. I think it’s important to express that, draw that, show Black people in that light because we haven’t been in that light for so long,” Marshall said.
Marshall’s work is visually stunning, filled from edge to edge with vibrant colors and movement. She said she takes much of her inspiration from the music she listens to.
“Whatever I’m listening to, whether it be a specific lyric or a song title, something that I heard — like, for the exclamation mark one, the song ‘!’ by Trippie (Redd) inspired that one,” Marshall said. “As I continue drawing, I build on the different concepts and the colors.”
Marshall went on to explain that her musical inspiration is diverse and wide-ranging, which makes each art piece unique. She credits her Trinidadian mother and her Jamaican father with their reggae, calypso and hip-hop influences as well as for Marshall’s Christian upbringing. Marshall also keeps Travis Scott and A$AP Mob in her listening rotation but cites KAYTRANADA’s album, “BUBBA,” as her largest muse overall.
The strong musical influences make sense when one takes into account that Marshall produces music in addition to her visual art.
Marshall has been making music since she played GarageBand with her brother as kids, and she picked up the talent seriously around 2019. In late 2020, she began posting her beats to SoundCloud. She takes pride in the unique sounds she creates.
“I feel like it’s kind of an extension of my art,” Marshall said in reference to her music. “You can see it visually, and now you can experience it — you can hear my art, too.”
Marshall’s artistic forms are inseparable from each other. She’ll often draw upon her drawings to establish a title and tone for her songs and set one of her artworks as the cover piece for the song inspired by it.
“I have one song that I matched with the whale art — I believe it’s called ‘Ziaya and Mario’s World.’ It’s kind of like a Mario vibe, and I did that because I used to play Mario World with my family when I was younger back when the Wii was popular. It was a homage to my family, it matched with the whale and the underwater picture, and it kind of just reflected the watery feeling of that,” Marshall said.
Although there are no lyrics to Marshall’s music, Marshall views music medium as a storytelling device to communicate her feelings and the meanings behind her artworks.
“It’s just been a way for me to express myself in just a different way other than physically talking to you,” Marshall said. “Art kind of takes it a little bit deeper ‘cause not only is it, like, an expression of yourself, but other people around you get meaning from it, whether it be the same interpretation that you have or something different.”
Marshall’s interest in people’s diverse interpretations on a subject is also what drives her passion for history, which is her course of study at Mercer. Hearing different perspectives allows Marshall to understand current events and her own art more deeply.
Additionally, Marshall is pursuing a minor in Africana studies. She became interested in the subject after taking Prison Narratives and Intro to Africana Studies during her first year at Mercer.
“When I came to the South — I used to live in New York until I was 14 — Black history kind of just got meshed into everything else,” Marshall said. “So, when I got to college and took those courses, I finally got an in-depth look at Black history, and I was like, whoa. We’re pretty cool people. We’re pretty resilient. We’ve been through a lot, but we’re still here, and that kind of just inspires everything that I do.”
Marshall ultimately aspires to become a history professor, but she intends to continue making music and art into the future.
“Taking the time to be creative, finding something that you love to do, is really important,” said Marshall. “I’ve enjoyed it, and I feel like it’s kind of brought me a little bit closer to learning more about myself.”
You can find Marshall’s art on Instagram @zia.yaahhh and her music on SoundCloud at “Ziaya With Da Beats.”
(03/11/21 2:47am)
A place to view and create art: that’s the intent of Mercer’s downtown McEachern Art Center, affectionately referred to as the MAC.
The MAC’s gallery opened to the public in early 2019 with support from Teresa McEachern and the Griffith Family Foundation of Macon. It is directed by Ben Dunn, a painter and art professor at Mercer University.
The MAC’s mission, according to its website, is to enrich the art scene in Macon by displaying contemporary art from around the country in the downstairs galleries and hosting art students in the upstairs classrooms and studio spaces.
By all accounts, the MAC is succeeding in its intent.
The MAC’s first gallery exhibition, “Foundations,” took place during the spring of 2019 and represented the works of Mercer’s art faculty. Since then, the MAC has featured a variety of emerging artists, including Ryna Frankel, Charvis Harrell and, most recently, five recent MFA graduates who displayed their artwork as part of a show titled “TAUT.”
The studios were completed in 2020, so this has been students’ first use of the space for a full academic year.
Previously, Mercer’s art studios were located at the downtown Contemporary Arts Exchange, where all of Mercer’s current fine art faculty once created as students themselves. When the building was sold to an apartment developer in 2018, Mercer’s art department had to find a new creative outlet for students. They landed on the MAC: a non-commercial, independent, artistic space located right in the middle of downtown Macon on Second Street.
“Being downtown is big,” Dunn said. “It exposes Mercer students to the community, helping them engage the town, while saving a little space for creativity in the midst of the real estate in the area.”
The current MAC studios are sectioned off with floor-to-ceiling length mobile wooden dividers. To accommodate the larger number of graphic design and fine arts students in the current junior and senior classes, Dunn arranged the dividers into triangles to make the most use of the floor space. Art students are permitted and encouraged to tack, paint and decorate the walls within their personal studios as they see fit.
“Studio spaces are delivered to enrolled, declared majors,” Dunn said. “Preference goes to seniors and juniors in the (Bachelor of Fine Arts program), but there is plenty of room at this time.”
However, because Mercer’s art department is so tight-knit, Dunn also accepts atypical requests. Currently, there is at least one first-year art student working in the studio.
Moreover, Dunn is also passionate about a multidisciplinary approach to creativity. He encourages not only visual artists but also people skilled in the art of language to take advantage of the space offered at the MAC.
“This is a beautiful old building where painters, poets and scholars can engage one another in social and intellectual meetings,” Dunn said.
Dunn’s own studio is also located on the second floor of the MAC, so he works alongside and is easily accessible to the art students while they create.
Two of those students are third-year students Amanda Herrold and Faith Reagin, both pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Mercer.
Herrold hails from Macon, so she said she appreciated the nearness of Mercer to home. She has also had the opportunity to follow both her interests in religion and art.
“Everybody is so wonderful, and they genuinely care,” she said. “I would recommend Mercer for anybody at this point, especially artists, and also people going into religious studies.”
In her artwork, Herrold is interested in figurative, representational artwork — artwork that depicts people and their personal journeys. Recently, she has been exploring more abstract, color-focused subject matter, which often finds her on the floor splattering, smearing and carving paint onto pages and pages of sketchbook paper. Her studio affords her the space to be expansive and messy in her creative process.
“Set-up is really important to being able to actually produce work and get it out and get it done,” Herrold said. “The amount of work I’ve been able to produce is up so much, and I think it’s directly correlated to the fact that I have a space to dedicate purely to the artistic endeavors.”
Dunn seconds Herrold’s sentiment, describing an artist’s studio space as “sacred.”
“We need spaces to take the creative work seriously, and where we can let our guard down to hear the demands of our work. This isn’t that different than folks going to a beautiful church, I assume,” Dunn said.
Another benefit to having a community studio space that is separate from both home and Mercer’s main campus is the chance for artists to work in close proximity to each other. Peeking into the unique studios that fill the MAC’s second floor, you’ll find a diverse array of mediums and motifs: graphite drawings, digital art, sculptures, spray painted canvases; people, shapes, cartoons, landscapes.
“You know, we may not understand exactly what the intricacies of all of our thought processes are and everything going on behind the work, but we understand that we’re artists trying to make art, and so the environment is of a mutual understanding and a mutual — I guess, it’s a nurturing environment,” Herrold said.
Herrold and Reagin are “studio buddies,” meaning their studios are neighboring each other, and they both laud the ability to engage in prompt, constructive dialogue.
“It’s nice to have somebody else also in that creative space. You know, we have our own space, but we’re also there together, and that’s also really nice because we can bounce ideas off each other and give feedback immediately on our work,” Reagin said.
Reagin’s specialty is in drawing, and her material of choice is graphite, though she is also skilled in ink, charcoal, paint and pastels. A motif she finds herself returning to frequently is hands.
“In one of my classes here at the lovely, lovely Mercer, I had a professor that made me draw in my sketchbook — it was Yvonne (Gabriel) — every day,” Reagin said. “I either read somewhere or heard somebody say, ‘Hands, when they’re wrong — anybody can see when they’re really wrong because they’re something we look at literally every day.’ When I got good enough in my head of drawing hands, then it was a cool accomplishment to me. Now, it’s fun to make hands look super weird and gnarly.”
Reagin attests to the multitudinous benefits she reaps by having a studio space at the MAC, finding it to be a greater help than she’d originally anticipated.
“I was like, ‘I can make art wherever,’ but that is not the case, and it’s just so much nicer to have a space dedicated to making art,” Reagin said. “It’s freeing in a way because that’s your space, and you can do whatever you want with it.”
“Art is my future,” concluded Reagin, a statement that rings true for herself, Herrold and many of the other Mercer artists working within the MAC studios.
“I hope that students leave the MAC prepared to make a persistent demand for space for art in their own life, and serve their communities by helping others access these spaces,” Dunn said.
Indeed, in their own ways, Herrold and Reagin demonstrate their commitment to carrying on the MAC’s legacy. Reagin dreams of creating a future for herself as a full-time artist, and Herrold plans to pass on her artistic knowledge to younger generations.
(02/20/21 5:00am)
2020 was undeniably rough, stripping us of too many of the things we hold dear, including live concerts—but music prevailed. The following artists, both new and rising, have produced incredible work you should be adding to your playlists, especially as they promise to break through in the coming year.
Arlo Parks
At only 20 years old, Arlo Parks is bursting with talent: she’s been featured by NPR and spotlighted by Michelle Obama, amongst other recognitions. It’s no surprise that she’s received so much appreciation. Her soft songs are tender and vulnerable, capturing the way it feels growing out of adolescence into adulthood. In fact, Parks has even been lauded as a voice for our generation.
NEWEST RELEASE: “Hope” (single)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Black Dog” and “Green Eyes”
Asiahn
Sitting snugly at the intersection of pop and R&B, Asiahn is a vocal powerhouse and criminally underrated. As an out lesbian, her proud lyrics are incredibly empowering. She often sings about the complexities of relationships, self-discovery and exploring life.
NEWEST RELEASE: “The Interlude” (EP)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Belong” and “Curiosity”
Dijon
Dijon is most recognizable for his 2018 single, “Skin,” but his entire discography is one worth listening to. With a soft voice and gentle articulation of deep, earnest feelings, Dijon’s music sweeps listeners away on a hazy cloud.
NEWEST RELEASE: “The Stranger” (single)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Nico’s Red Truck” and “Drunk”
Hope Tala
I discovered Hope Tala when Raveena recorded “Floating” with her in 2019. Tala is a talented musician in her own right, releasing track after danceable track in the past couple of years. Her sound is summer-bubbles-meets-summer-blues, and much of her content basks in sensitivity.
NEWEST RELEASE: “Girl Eats Sun” (EP)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Moontime” and “Lovestained”
Kyle Dion
Instrumentally, Kyle Dion’s got funk. Vocally, he’s buttery smooth with an irresistible falsetto, which he isn’t afraid to use to its fullest effect. A contemporary artist with a timeless sound, Kyle Dion would be a regrettable artist to miss out on.
NEWEST RELEASE: “That Don’t Mean a Thing” (single)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Brown” and “Hands to Yourself”
Nilüfer Yanya
Nilüfer Yanya’s music defies genre boundaries; it can best be described as a jazzy sort of pop, supplemented by her gravelly voice and hard guitars. She handles subjects both soft and tough with a trademark grittiness, and the motif of repetition immerses listeners in the worlds she creates.
NEWEST RELEASE: “Feeling Lucky?” (EP)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Heavyweight Champion of the Year” and “Day 7.5093”
Orion Sun
Something is injected into the music of Orion Sun to make it sound simultaneously nostalgic and current. Perhaps it’s the combination of lax beats and a soulful voice. Or maybe it’s the emotional lyrics juxtaposed with her chuckles sporadically breaking through. Whatever the case, Orion Sun makes subtle, moving tunes you can play in the background of your next hangout.
NEWEST RELEASE: “Forever” (single)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Antidote” and “Coffee for Dinner”
Q
Q’s discography spans acoustic and pop, demonstrating his range as an artist. His music has picked up more groove throughout the years, but his lyrics remain consistently intimate and raw, with romance and religion featuring as prominent themes.
NEWEST RELEASE: “The Shave Experiment” (EP)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Your Special” and “Lavender”
Serena Isioma
Serena Isioma took off on TikTok when her song, “Sensitive,” went viral, and if you were as into it as I was, I guarantee you’ll find the whole EP to be refreshing. Isioma carries a distinct energy into her music, and her upbeat lyrics are rife with self love.
NEWEST RELEASE: “The Leo Sun Sets” (EP)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Do I Make You Nervous” and “I Feel Fantastic”
Tanerélle
It was almost impossible to pick only two of Tanerélle’s songs to recommend because there isn’t a single bad track in her discography. Her slow, deep, sultry voice transports listeners into the celestial realm, and her ethereal instruments elevate one to heavenly heights.
NEWEST RELEASE: “Star” (single)
ALSO CHECK OUT: “Love from NGC 7318” and “Dreamgirl”
(02/08/21 5:00am)
Valentine’s Day: culture’s ultimate celebration of love. And what says love more than creating something special with your own hands for the people you cherish—or treating yourself to something sweet? Whether you’re celebrating Feb. 14 with lovers, friends, family or yourself, here are some homemade gift ideas.
Embroidered Clothing
There is love to be found in the act of repetition, in doing something tedious over and over to produce something beautiful. Consider embroidering your initials or a special symbol onto your loved one’s sweatshirt sleeves or the collar of their button-up so they can receive a tender reminder of your appreciation when they wear it. If you’re new to crafting, “The Spruce Crafts” is full of simple-to-follow instructions for various stitches.
Wire-Wrapped Jewelry
Not only is wire-wrapped jewelry relatively simple to make and pretty to look at, but you can also imbue it with an extra layer of special meaning if you incorporate crystals. There are hundreds of crystals to choose from, each charged with its own energy. Whether your loved one needs creative inspiration, contentment, to connect with their deep emotions or any other number of qualities, you can help them attract it with this thoughtful gift.
Playlist
Making someone a playlist—carefully poring over the millions of hours of music that exist and selecting the perfect few that capture your loved one—is already an intimate gift, but you can take it a step further. Accompany your playlist with a set of cards, each with the particular lyric that reminds you of your person or a memory you’ve shared together.
Origami Love Notes
Origami lucky hearts are easy and quick to make, so you can fill a jar or bottle with dozens of them. Your loved one can unwrap them to reveal all the little things you admire about them.
Handwritten Poems or Letter
Nothing says “I love you” quite like saying it. You don’t have to be the next Pablo Neruda to make something extraordinary. Write from the heart and seal it with a kiss, a wax seal or a cute sticker for something your loved one will always cherish. Alternatively, search for published poems that describe the way you feel and hand-bind them in a little book.
Video Montage
More of a visual person? Collect the photos and videos you’ve taken of your loved one during your time together, and edit them into a clip that they can view over and over again. Adobe Premiere and iMovie make video editing easy. You can add “your” song in the background for a unique touch.
(02/08/21 2:58am)
How does one cope with aging, loss, death, sickness—the tribulations of life? “Scaring the Bears,” the debut poetry book by Mercer Professor of Creative Writing Gordon Johnston, suggests that it is by connecting with nature that we find solace.
Johnston’s collection has been long-anticipated and is well worth the wait. The 47 poems are grounded in the natural world and supplemented by trust in God while weaving in Johnston’s life experiences and observations, from youth through adulthood.
The first two poems capture the collection’s movement and intent. In the first, “Bear,” a 40-year-old man is nearly mauled by the titular animal. While he races to remember what he knows about surviving bear attacks, the narrator flashes back to key memories, like the last time he walked in the woods and his ex-wife.
Ultimately, the subject is spared by the bear, and the poem concludes that “he loves her who has let him live”—live to make more memories, live to appreciate the realness of the world he is part of.
The second poem, “The Things of Earth,” abruptly moves back in time to the speaker’s childhood, signified by the presence of “my mother” and “Wrigley’s wrappers” and reference to “grown-ups” whom the speaker refers to as “Mr” and “Miss.” God is introduced in this poem, and the speaker finds that God is not necessarily contained within a church’s walls, but also within the rays of “twilight.” In nature, Johnston communicates, he finds spiritual meaning.
The following poems expand upon these initial themes and subjects as Johnston traverses high school, young adulthood and beginning a family, to whom he passes on the beliefs and lessons he’s learned in his own trials and errors.
At once thoughtful and humorous, clear and evocative, “Scaring the Bears” explores what it means to fully engage with the world through the senses.
It can be ordered through Mercer University Press.
(11/10/20 5:00am)
Omar Apollo’s newest nine-song album is a compact yet simultaneously sprawling project exploring growing pains. “Compact” in that it comes in at just under 26 minutes; “sprawling” in that, within that time frame, Apollo smoothly weaves together the all too relatable experiences of youth, including traversing turbulent relationships, figuring out one’s identity and learning to love oneself.
“Apolonio” opens with the track “I’m Amazing,” which aptly sets the tone for the rest of the album.
“I'm amazing, that's what they tell me / I don't think of that too much, it overwhelm me,” he sings, striking the delicate balance between trying to be happy being himself under the pressure of others’ expectations. The following lines address a previous broken relationship, hint at queerness and proudly claim his Mexican heritage — all themes that tumble out as the songs progress.
Next is “Kamikaze,” one of the album’s most popular releases. Ever-playful, Apollo juxtaposes the pain of driving “nineteen hours” for a “pretty boy” who broke his heart with lines like “I ain’t really know you was freaky though / Ass round like Cheerios.” In such a way does Apollo reflect how many young people often cope with difficult emotions through humor.
Personally, my favorite track off the album is “Stayback.” Apollo’s voice is at its dreamiest potential slow and easy, effortlessly transitioning between high and low notes with a funky, psychedelic beat coursing through the background.
While Apollo acknowledges “I can’t help that you been on my mind,” he also recognizes that the relationship he has with the song’s subject is not good for him because “you could never love me back.” Given the choice between pursuing an unhealthy relationship and taking care of himself, Apollo bravely chooses himself and bids his unrequited lover to “stayback” so Apollo can heal.
“Dos Uno Nueve (219)” is placed in the middle of the album, breaking up the heartache theme dominating thus far. An homage to his Mexican heritage, Apollo swaps out the dreamlike instrumentals for more traditional guitar plucking and English for Spanish. The song is corrido-style, so he discusses the hardships he’s experienced in his life to earn the success he has now.
My one qualm with “Apolonio” is with “Hey Boy,” featuring Kali Uchis — it’s simply too short! Uchis and Apollo’s voices blend to create an unbelievably beautiful atmosphere that almost transcends the entire album, and Uchis’s lyric, “I love those feelings that you bottled, you should pour 'em on me,” is especially clever. Were this song extended another verse, it had the potential to be the album’s best.
Regardless, “Apolonio” is a large success. “Useless” is another standout track for its collaboration with Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., while “Bi Fren” takes on a more upbeat sound compared to preceding songs on the album. “Apolonio” as a whole culminates with “The Two of Us,” a soft song that suggests a hopeful love on the horizon amidst past heartbreaks.
Stream the album today on your preferred music listening service and find yourself immersed in Apollo’s musical dreamscape.
(11/05/20 8:49pm)
2020 marks the 21st year celebrating Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is recognized Nov. 20. It was begun by transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to honor Rita Hester, a Black trans woman who was murdered in 1998. TDOR brings attention to and honors trans people who have lost their lives due to transphobic violence.
TDOR also spotlights other ways in which trans people can be hurt that — though not necessarily always directly lethal — are no less harmful than physical violence.
Invisibility and negative portrayals of trans people in the media both impact the trans community catastrophically. While the former attempts to erase and "other" trans people in society, the latter encourages brutality against them. These consequences are heightened for trans people of color and trans people with disabilities.
One way to combat the damage inflicted upon the trans community through negative media portrayals is by celebrating and supporting trans creators. The figures below are not only reshaping how trans people are perceived by society at large but also making waves in their respective artistic fields.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is an activist and filmmaker who has won national awards, recognition and fellowships for her work. Her mission is centered around historical trans people of color. She produced “Happy Birthday, Marsha!,” a short film about Stonewall figure Marsha P. Johnson; “The Personal Things,” an animation based on an interview with trans activist Miss Major and “Salacia,” a short film about a trans woman from the 1800s by the name of Mary Jones.
Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg is an actor and musician who rose to prominence with their role as Rue in “The Hunger Games.” Since then, they have played in “The Hate U Give” and “Everything, Everything.” They also have a couple of enchanting singles out called “Be Mine” and “Let My Baby Stay,” both of which are especially heart-wrenching to gay listeners.
Wu Tsang
Wu Tsang is a visual and performing artist interested in exploring the multifaceted nature of lived experience. Her work combines documentary and narrative, hidden and dominant histories, to dive into the implications of race and gender. Her work has been exhibited at the Tate Modern and the Guggenheim Museum amongst other international venues, and she has also been awarded the MacArthur Genius Grant.
Danez Smith
Danez Smith is a writer and a spoken word performer whose work primarily focuses on gender and race and their consequences in our whitewashed, cisheteronormative, patriarchal society. They have placed in international slam poetry contests and have published their work across a myriad of magazines and journals.
The works of all these creators, as well as many others, can be found on their websites.
(09/09/20 4:09am)
Wini McQueen has been a member of Macon’s art scene since the 1970s, and at the age of 77, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her work has been featured internationally, including both Japan and Africa, the latter from which she draws much of her style inspiration.
“Nobody had any riches, but they all had tie dye and woven fabrics of all colors, and it was such a beautiful swirl,” she said in an interview with Macon Magazine. “They have a different appreciation of beauty than I think we have in this society. They have so few material resources that they appreciate what they have, and they work to create beauty not just for themselves but for their community.”
Best known as a textile artist, McQueen masterfully melds together the craft of quilting with the art of storytelling, often to capture what it means to be an African American woman in the South.
“I want my work to speak of the beauty and horror of learning who I am, where I came from and what I’ve seen,” McQueen said.
Of beauty, McQueen’s current exhibit at the Museum of Arts & Sciences is in endless supply. Entitled “The Covering,” the show is massive, with McQueen’s art expanding into three galleries.
Her quilts are colorful, dynamic and unique. They are primarily made out of cotton that has been ripped and dyed every color of the rainbow, though she also paints and prints fabrics. Many of her quilts are bordered with fabric scraps twisted into flower shapes, with images and text overlaying the quilt’s center. These elements all relate back to African American history: artistic depictions of Black people over time, prominent historical figures, newspaper clippings and quotes from former enslaved people.
And therein lies the “horror” McQueen refers to: once viewers look beyond the gorgeous, eye-catching colors and patterns of her quilts, they unearth the intergenerational trauma woven deeply into African American history that McQueen aims to educate on.
Gaze even deeper and one would find that McQueen’s very craft, quilting, is intentional, as she incorporates the cotton medium into her telling of past—and still ongoing—southern Black slave labor.
“Some of the memories associated with cotton need to be replaced with something beautiful, as a tribute to the work our people did, and the way they suffered,” McQueen said.
McQueen thinks of her art as more than mere quilts—they are more like narratives, like pieces of neglected history. And while their content is undeniably horrific, they also attest to the strength and hope of African Americans.
“I think I’m taking quilting elements through a new passage and into an abstract form that is enlightening and encouraging,” she said.
My favorite work in the exhibit is a huge, reaching, three-dimensional collection of pink-and-orange-dyed fabrics arranged in a circle hanging from the ceiling. Viewers can walk between the pieces and become wrapped in “the fabric medium that has ‘covered her life’ and threads throughout her work,” according to the Museum of Arts & Science website.
“The Covering” will be on display at the Museum of Arts & Science through October 25.
(08/26/20 4:00am)
Taylor Swift’s success has in part been owed to the massive promotions of her albums, even to the extent that she changes her personal aesthetics to correspond with the sounds of her new music. You may know her best as America’s sweetheart during her “Fearless” era, the vintage darling of “Red” or the edgy superstar of “reputation”--regardless, or perhaps because of this variety, her huge impact on pop music has been undeniable.
Thus, it was a shock to Swifties and the music industry as a whole when Swift suddenly announced the morning of the release of her eighth studio album, “Folklore,” at midnight on July 24.
Even without any promotion, “Folklore” has found major success. Forbes writes that it is 2020’s fastest-selling album, reaching one million units in the United States by its third week. In addition, Billboard reports that Swift has become the first-ever artist to land the first spot on both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 at the same time.
These recognitions are more than well-earned. “Folklore” consists of 16 folksy, “indie”-sounding songs that carry a quality of lovely loneliness throughout, and every single one is its own soft pleasure. A seventeenth track, “The Lakes,” is available only on physical copies of the albums, of which there are several different aesthetic versions for fans to choose from.
It wouldn’t be a Taylor Swift album without songs about heartache. Three songs--most probably “cardigan,” “august,” and “betty”--illustrate a love triangle-affair from the perspectives of three teenagers. “betty” doubles as a song that can be heard through a queer lens, to the delight of Swift’s large LGBT following, as the gender of the song’s speaker is not explicitly stated and the female voice sings lovingly to a woman subject.
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver features on the album in a duet with Swift for “exile.” Their voices mingle in a harmony that is both stunning and painful, as each singer represents a different perspective in a failed relationship. Vernon’s desperate insistence that “You never gave a warning sign,” followed by Swift’s broken-down “I gave so many signs” is a haunting reminder of the ease in which language between lovers can be dangerously lost in translation.
Of course, there must also be love songs. “hoax” and “peace” beautifully articulate the struggle of balancing true love with relationship struggles, while “the 1” continues wallowing in the devastation of losing who you thought was your soulmate.
But the album isn’t all about Swift’s romantic experiences. Perhaps the most important songs on the album are those that delve into her relationship with herself and with the world. “this is me trying” and “my tears ricochet” are stunningly confessional, as Swift admits to past regrets and earnestly tries to grow from them. “mirrorball” is one of my personal favorites off the album, wrestling with the dichotomy between being as you are and how you are perceived by the world.
Because it is Swift’s trademark to switch up her style with every album, it is impossible to know how personal she is in these songs. Nonetheless, they seem to signify the artist’s growth as she continues creating music into her thirties. Listeners will find here something that makes them feel gently held, loved “to the moon and to Saturn,” no matter what baggage they carry.
(08/25/20 4:00am)
The Sierra Development Group and Argus Eyed Partners, a community development partnership, has unveiled plans for an Allman Brothers Band mural to be painted between the downtown Lofts at Capricorn and Mercer Music at Capricorn.
“The Allman Brothers Band was a magnet for other bands like Wet Willie to record at Capricorn,” said Larry Brumley, Senior Vice President for Mercer’s Marketing Communications and Chief of Staff.“This will no doubt be one of Macon’s most popular photo spots.”
The Allman Brothers are a beloved fixture of Macon history. While the band originally formed in Florida, they were signed to Capricorn Records in 1969 by Phil Walden. Between tours, they dined frequently at H&H Soul Food, where they were graciously hosted by Mama Louise.
The band exploded into fame and is considered the roots of Southern rock. Guitarist Duane Allman, singer-songwriter Gregg Allman and Walden specifically are to be honored in the mural.
Artist Jeks, from Greensboro, North Carolina, has been hired to complete the project. He has already made his mark on Macon with a big, beautiful painting of Little Richard at The Society Garden, but he also has work spanning across the United States and internationally.
“Mercer has advanced its mission and has been a vital leader in bringing positive change to the landscape and culture of the Macon community,” said Anna Daniels, Director of Marketing with Sierra Development Group, in a press release for the mural.
Though Mercer is partnered with Sierra and Argus Eyed, there has been no word on whether there is a connection between the Allman Brothers mural and the Black history mural, painted by Joereal Numina, erased from Mercer Village earlier this summer.
(08/22/20 4:00am)
“Disclosure” is essentially a reel of transgender film history supplemented with commentary by contemporary trans film industry workers like Laverne Cox, Sandra Caldwell, Lilly Wachowski and Yance Ford. Although perhaps shocking to cisgender viewers, what they examine and discuss is nothing new.
“For decades, Hollywood has taught audiences how to react to trans people. And sometimes, they’re being taught that the way to react to us is fear. That we’re dangerous, that we’re psychopaths, that we’re serial killers, that we must be deviants or perverts.”
So said Nick Adams, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Director of Trans Media & Representation, in the Netflix documentary. What precedes and follows his statement is a variety of clips from past productions with depictions of, as well as interviews with, trans people, the overwhelming majority of which illustrate his point.
Whether inserted as comedic relief or a villain in a movie, killed off in a show series or harassed on live television, trans people, over and over again, throughout virtually the entirety of film’s existence, have been subjected to violence in the media. And because the media shapes society, such treatment has catastrophic real-life impacts.
According to GLAAD, 29% of trans people live in impoverished conditions, 30% report experiencing workplace discrimination because of their gender and nine times the national average reported attempting suicide.
“I think, for a very long time, the ways in which trans people have been represented onscreen have suggested that we’re not real, have suggested that we’re mentally ill, that we don’t exist,” said “Orange is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox.
The documentary takes care to show how intersectionality factors into trans media depictions. Trans women deal with the additional issue of misogyny; trans people of color, and particularly Black trans people, are even more susceptible to harm as racism intersects with transphobia.
“It’s the erasure of, of Black people. So, it’s like you can’t have, like, queer trans people and Blackness in the same space at the same time,” said writer and media maker Tiq Milan. “They’re (Hollywood media) telling me that I can’t exist in my Blackness and my queerness and my transness. I can’t bring all of this in at the same time.”
“Disclosure” ultimately seeks to challenge trans representation by presenting these harmful depictions alongside successful trans stars in the pursuit of awareness and positive change.
“I think capitalizing on people’s fear is what has landed us in this moment right now, and you have hope on one side and fear on the other,” multimedia artist Zackary Drucker said.
Overall, the documentary is excellently done and important to watch, particularly if you align yourself as a trans ally.
(04/28/20 6:03pm)
Look through my Spotify playlists and you’ll find songs by every popular LGBT singer out there. I was so excited when Hayley Kiyoko released “Girls Like Girls” in 2015, and I can guarantee I have downloaded all of Girl in Red’s discography. Mainstream artists, however, cannot always capture my own experiences, nor do they begin to represent many intersectional communities under the LGBT umbrella. Below, I’ve gathered some of my other favorite LGBT musicians who are just as deserving of shower concerts and playlists for your crush.
CJ Run
An Afro-European, queer, trans person whose work is infused with R&B, pop and electronic genres, CJ Run’s music is a proud blend of identities and sounds. They aim to make art that represents themself and their communities in positive, confident ways.
CHECK OUT: “Tangerine” and “Spaghetti”
Cub Sport
Bandmates Tim Nelson and Sam Netterfield weren’t out when they first started Cub Sport. Now, they’re married. Their last two indie-pop albums have been about the process of coming out, the questions and eventually blooming into an assured sense of self.
CHECK OUT: “I Don’t Love My Baby” and “Come on Mess Me Up”
Ezra Furman
Ezra Furman is a powerful player in the contemporary punk music scene. His retro-sounding lyrics tell vulnerable stories about pushing against oppressive societal structures. For Furman, music is the medium for exploring these subjects that are ordinarily hard to speak about.
CHECK OUT: “Love You So Bad” and “Can I Sleep in Your Brain”
Ivy Sole
An equal balance of soul, hip-hop and poetry, Ivy Sole paints vivid pictures with her songs. Although these pictures and stories relate to her own journey through life as she grows into herself, she hopes they inspire positivity and self-forgiveness in her listeners as well.
CHECK OUT: “Dream Girl” and “Bones”
Jasmine Kennedy
Jasmine Kennedy’s acoustic tunes are gentle and startlingly genuine, elegant observances of life and all that it entails, including loss, possibility, loneliness and love.
CHECK OUT: “Cardigan Sweater” and “Laura”
Jay Som
Jay Som’s singing is best experienced through headphones so she can softly croon right into the deepest parts of you. Her low, whispy voice captures the glittering moments of reality so perfectly that she whisks you away on nostalgia-fueled daydreams.
CHECK OUT: “I Think You’re Alright” and “O.K., Meet Me Underwater”
Keiynan Lonsdale
You might recognize Lonsdale as Bram from “Love, Simon,” but did you know that he also makes music? His upbeat pop ballads are all about fierce self-love and the magic of gay love.
CHECK OUT: “Kiss The Boy” and “Higher”
Ms. White
Ms. White’s jazzy pop songs focus on reclamation, whether she’s singing about her identity as a trans woman, love or heartbreak. They are confident, unflinching and everything she wishes she could have grown up listening to herself.
CHECK OUT: “Arizona” and “Jaded”
MUNA
Consisting of three tightly-knit friends who passionately believe in the power of intimate connections, MUNA’s music is deeply confessional. Their songs speak to addiction, mental health, heartbreak and queer love with lyrics that are emotional and intensely relatable.
CHECK OUT: “Winterbreak” and “It’s Gonna Be Okay, Baby”
Zolita
Zolita’s music is a mix of pop and R&B, but it is thoroughly dark through and through. Her songs are rife with lesbianism, women empowerment, witchcraft and desire so desperate that it nearly destroys you.
CHECK OUT: “Holy” and “Explosion”
King Princess, Girl in Red, Troye Sivan and Hayley Kiyoko have had an undeniably huge impact on the music industry, particularly in regards to LGBT representation, and their fame is well-deserved. If you find yourself craving something outside of the mainstream, you’re in luck, for there are so many under-recognized yet so worthy LGBT musicians to be discovered.
(04/16/20 4:00am)
In this anxious time of self-isolation, I’ve been finding comfort in mugs of chamomile tea and the words of some of my favorite poets. Literature - particularly poetry - is something I highly encourage everyone to get invested in. However, after years of English classes and analytical essays, it’s an understandably daunting request. To get you started, here are some poets I recommend looking into, categorized by style and subject.
The most important question to consider before you dip your toe into poetry is: What is art to you? Is art an escape from the chaos of reality? I remember being little and up way past my bedtime, when I would curl under my thick blankets with a book and a flashlight, soaking up every word like my heartbeat depended on it. For myself and many others, creativity still acts as an outlet for inner peace, as a tool for healing. For these readers, I recommend Joy Harjo, Mary Oliver and Emily Dickinson.
In a similar vein, the literary arts carry a certain magic with them. When you read a book or gaze upon a striking artwork, you don’t find yourself transported to another realm at all, but as seeing through new eyes the big world around you. You delight in works that defamiliarize the things you think you know by heart. For these readers thirsty for new perspectives, I say you must read the works of Naomi Shihab Nye, Li-Young Lee, William Carlos Williams and Elizabeth Bishop.
Perhaps you love art because it reminds you of what it means to be truly, fully alive. “Alive” not as in breathing, but as in luxuriating in experiences - experiences that make your hands tremble, your heart crack in half, and adrenaline flood through your veins. You treasure every moment, blissful or tragic, because they’re all part of the human condition. For you, I recommend Richard Siken (my personal favorite poet), Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton.
Or maybe you’re the type of person who insists on transcending surface-level emotions, who hungers for meaning. You declare that art is worthless unless it extends outside of itself into society, unless it advocates for some cause beyond itself and contributes to the greater societal discourses. Art, for you, is inherently political. The poets for you are Pat Parker, June Jordan (another one of my favorites), Allen Ginsberg and Ai.
Do you enjoy being challenged? Do you seek out things that force you to think - about yourself, society, the world? You pride yourself on being someone who doesn’t believe there is one way to communicate and who doesn’t mind putting in the effort to understand something because you know the payoff will be tremendously rewarding. If this sounds like you, then e.e. cummings, Topaz Winters, and Frank O’Hara are your poets.
Poetry is a magnificent art to get interested in, but it’s also terrifyingly immense and diverse. This grandness is exactly what makes poetry so enchanting; there is something for everyone. Somewhere out there is a poetry collection waiting for you to fall in love with it.
(04/14/20 4:00am)
During this period of self-isolation, many of us are finding hours of entertainment on Netflix, TikTok and online games — and who can blame us? While TV-binging is tons of fun, now is also a good time to get your hands on a new creative hobby. Doing things off-screen is incredibly healthy for you, and maintaining your wellbeing is critical right now. Here are some ideas for getting the imagination flowing.
Book-binding
Book-binding is an old craft but, surprisingly, not a hard one. You only need a few materials, which can be found here. It’s a unique gift for others or for yourself. Make a scrapbook, a journal, a collection of your writings — whatever you desire.
Collage making
Experiment with a variety of expressive mediums and create some collages. You can press plants, splatter some paint, rip and glue newspaper pages and write your favorite lyrics or quotes on top of it all.
Journaling
Journaling is an excellent, often-recommended pastime, but a daunting one for so many, and it shouldn’t be. A daily, reflective journal is an option, but it’s not the only form of journaling. Check out art journals, bullet journals, creative writing journals and nature journals. The world of literary arts is yours to discover.
Embroidering, Knitting and Crocheting
You only need a bit of thread and a needle to get started embroidering. Make your backpack and clothing totally yours with your favorite flower, lyrics or design. Too small of a detail? Give knitting or crochet a try. I used to knit tons of scarves for my friends on circular looms, and it was always relaxing and fun.
Photography
You don’t need a fancy camera or stellar locations to be a great photographer. You only need practice and time. Play around with lighting, angles and posing while you’re social distancing, whether you have a phone or a camera. And remember, you can still go out in nature to capture amazing pictures.
Design
Painting and drawing are classic artistic hobbies, but think outside the box. What bare furniture do you own that could use a little more color? Got any plain mugs or plant pots? Do you have picture frames, mirrors without frames, tupperware containers, glass jars? Design them all.
What am I doing during quarantine? I’m catching up on my pleasure reading, writing poetry and teaching myself the names of flowers and the stars, and my personal health is thanking me for it. I hope you will join me in tapping into your expressive side.
(04/14/20 3:24am)
With social distancing measures in place, it can be easy to slip into loneliness. It’s difficult to be apart from your loved ones, especially when you’re also experiencing health or financial anxiety and balancing extracurricular responsibilities.
Now more than ever, it’s important to stay in touch with your support systems, no matter the distance. Here are some ideas for how to bridge the gap.
Share Creative Pursuits
Lots of people are using self-isolation as an opportunity to delve into their creative side, whether that be through cooking, reading, or teaching themselves new things. Get your friends involved! Swap recipes and rate each other’s dishes, share book recommendations and make collaborative playlists so you can hear what songs your friends have been listening to on repeat.
Play Games
Games are a fun way to keep laughing, even if you can’t be together. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Minecraft, Cards Against Humanity, Uno and other server-based, online gaming services are here to rescue your Saturday night plans! You could also have a Powerpoint Night: each friend is randomly given a topic that they make a five minute Google Slides presentation on, and then you all present on Zoom.
Watch Movies
Netflix offers an extension called “Netflix Party,” which allows you to sync up with your friends’ shows and movies so you can watch them together and chat. Don’t have Netflix? Try Kast, Discord or Watch2Gether. Keep in mind that you also have access to Kanopy, a video streaming service, through your Mercer credentials!
Virtual Meetups
Of course, it’s essential to keep up with your best friends while we are self-isolating, but don’t let other groups you’re involved in fall to the wayside. Have video chat coffee or lunch dates with those friends you usually catch up with weekly, host Zoom study sessions, and join in on virtual club meetings if the organizations you are part of are holding them.
Letter Correspondence
If your heart misses your loved ones too much to settle for a text and you’re too exhausted from all-day virtual classes for a call, sit down and write some old-fashioned letters. Include the songs you’ve discovered, a small art piece, your current favorite tea — whatever makes you think of them. Even if you choose not to use the postal system right now, it’ll be a heartfelt gift to receive after the time for self-isolating has passed.
Future Planning
Plan for brighter days! Create a collaborative list of things you and your friends want to do when you can see each other again. Remember that things won’t always be this gray, and you will get through.
Remember, also, as you’re finding ways to keep in touch with people, to make time for your relationship with yourself. With time slowed-down, take the chance to get to know and nurture yourself. Treasure the rare opportunity to be alone with your thoughts for a little while. Then go forth and connect with your friends!
(03/27/20 2:39am)
Whether you’re regularly called “pretentious” by your friends for your preference of underground movies and lavender coffee, or you’re just in the mood for new music, I’ve assembled this list of musicians from a wide variety of genres that you need in your library.
Anju
Listening to Anju is like sitting very still in a creek, watching water trickle over your shins and the shadows of leaves play on your arms. Her voice and instrumentals are relentlessly soft yet strong as she croons about love, healing and her South Asian roots.
RECS: “Cassiopeia,” “Garden Prayer,” “Fill Into Me”
BbyMutha
BbyMutha is proud to be a black mother in rap, and these important facets of her identity shine through her music. Her songs are outlets for unapologetic self-expression as well as tools for empowerment for the larger communities she belongs to.
RECS: “Roses,” “Religion,” “R.I.P.”
Cam the Artisan
What initially drew me to this Atlanta-based hip-hop artist were his raw, utterly honest songs about depression. However, Cam the Artisan’s smooth beats also carry over into his more upbeat songs about relationships and life experiences.
RECS: “Bliss,” “WYA?,” “SadderDays”
Clarence James
I had the opportunity to hear Clarence James live last August, and his voice was just as refreshing then as it is now streamed. He plays and sings with reckless ease, with bass notes that reverberate inside your chest and get your head nodding along unconsciously.
RECS: “Ronson Princess,” “I Think It Might Be Hell,” “Losin’ You”
KAYE
KAYE is a powerhouse of a pop vocalist whose dance-worthy songs challenge societal expectations for women, prioritize self-love over romance and encourage women to derive power from their sexuality.
RECS: “Closer Than This,” “Porcelain,” “Carry You”
Kitten
Kitten has gone through several band member changes in the decade that they’ve been a band, giving them an incredibly unique sound influenced heavily by both pop and rock genres. Their bassist, Blu DeTiger — who is currently touring with pop musician Caroline Polachek — produces electrifying electronic dance music on the side.
RECS: “Cathedral,” “Memphis,” “Devotion,” “Apples and Cigarettes”
Luna Luna
Hopeless romantics, look no further: Luna Luna’s ethereal love ballads will transport you back to the ’80s, where you and your lover sway in each other’s arms under pink-tinted lights. The Texas-based band also works closely with Pretty Boy Aaron, a dreamy R&B singer/rapper.
RECS: “Fro,” “Daydream,” “Commitment”
Nai Palm
If you need a break from this fast-paced world, give blues musician Nai Palm a listen. Her slow, full voice, prominent guitar plucking and heavily nature-inspired lyrics will transcend you beyond the stressful present to an otherworldly forest realm.
RECS: “Atoll,” “Haiku,” “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)”
Orville Peck
Orville Peck is reworking contemporary topics into traditional-sounding country music with his deep, soulful voice. The many songs in which he pines after another cowboy will have you yearning for your own wild West romance.
RECS: “Roses Are Falling,” “Turn to Hate,” “Dead of Night”
Ray Gifted Keys
“Gifted” refers not only to Ray Gifted Keys’s silky vocal abilities, but also her extensive piano-playing and poetry-writing history. Her lyrics are sensual and confident, leaving listeners both helplessly charmed and exhilarated at once.
RECS: “Girls Need Love 2,” “Nani,” “Lil Youngin’”
Beyond these incredible names, there are so many talented, under-recognized artists in the music world right now. Deviating from the mainstream might be uncomfortable at first, but doing so will ultimately enrich your listening experience. Challenge yourself by listening to something or someone new every week—you might just fall in love!
(02/13/20 12:00am)
Why thrift? Perhaps you are a storyteller, a collector of unique items with mystical origins. Maybe you’re environmentally-oriented and constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce your personal waste footprint. Or you just might be a college student in need of a wardrobe and dorm decor that won’t obliterate your budget. Regardless of your reasoning, thrifting is a great way to shop, and there are several ways to dig into it in Macon.
Wear
Behold: Macon’s lauded holy grail of thrift shops, and with good reason. Conveniently located on First Street downtown, Wear is clean, well-organized and staffed with friendly, fashion-minded people. The initial floor boasts designer clothes and jewelry at bargain prices; below holds a vast collection of unique shoes, casualwear and accessories. Though the pieces tend to be a little pricier than the average thrift shop, the quality is well worth it.
JC Thrift
Don’t be fooled—although the building is on the small side, JC Thrift is stocked to the brim with an assortment of odds and ends, ranging from clothes and shoes to household goods and knickknacks. You might need to inspect your items to ensure that they’re not damaged, but you’re guaranteed to find something one-of-a-kind. My favorite part? The section devoted to fruit-printed vests!
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is more accurately a consignment shop rather than a thrift store, but it’s still an affordable option if you are searching for brand name pieces. Plus, you can sign up with their rewards program to receive alerts about sales and deals they’re having to save even more.
Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia Bargain Center
Not only have I shopped for furniture and clothing at the Rescue Mission Bargain Center, but I have also volunteered here because I value its mission. While you are saving money shopping, you will also be giving money back to help Maconites overcome addiction and escape domestic violence, as well as raise community awareness about the social issues Macon faces.
Goodwill Outlet
For $1.59 per pound, you can dig through dozens of Goodwill Outlet’s bins and thrift to your heart’s content! Such organization is not the ideal method of shopping—especially if you’re new to the world of thrifting—but such a price is impossible to beat. Moreover, Goodwill gives back to the community by connecting local citizens with skills and jobs.
Goodwill on Forsyth
The Goodwill on Forsyth is my personal favorite Goodwill location in Macon, as, despite its lackluster selection of home goods, it is clearly organized and often carries both simple and statement clothing pieces. The sheer amount of clothing can be daunting to sort through, so I recommend going in with a few concrete items in mind to search for!
I began thrifting as a young teenager to construct my uber-specific Halloween costumes. As a woman now, I continue to do it as a conscious decision to eliminate my contribution to the fast fashion industry. I wish good findings to all interested in beginning thrifting!
(01/31/20 5:00am)
For senior violin performance major Bronwyn James, music runs in the family. Her parents and her sister are classical musicians, and her father is “rapidly becoming one of the most respected teachers in the country,” James said.
“We pretty much grew up at the symphony hall. The entire orchestra would come to our house for parties. They would come do barbecues and just show up and sight-read chamber music, which was always really fun for me as a kid,” she said.
James got her start in music at the age of four, when she accompanied her older sister to violin lessons.
“I would apparently start correcting her before the teacher would,” James said. “They were like, ‘Okay, well, might as well give her something to do.’”
James originally wanted to play the flute like her mother, but she said she wasn’t able to start playing wind instruments at such a young age. She turned to the violin instead. Amongst her inspirations, she names Leonidas Kavakos, James Ehnes and Augustin Hadelich, all of whom she has gotten the chance to meet through family connections.
For the past 18 years, James has been building a reputation for herself in the world of classical music.
“I’ve played concerts in Europe and in China and all across the country,” James said.
In addition, she’s participated in music festivals in Rome, Colorado and New York.
Out of all the places that she’s been around the world, James said Carnegie Hall remains her favorite venue.
“It has this incredible history. You’re playing on the same stage that music premiered on 200 years ago, but also people like the Beatles were there, and there’s pictures of Mark Twain and Einstein being there at the same time,” she said.
Rich history is also part of what drives James’s passion for the violin.
“Western classical music has been so politically relevant,” James said, reflecting on the past centuries of the violin’s existence. “One of my favorite, more contemporary composers from the 40s, (Dmitri) Shostakovich, a lot of his work was politically censored by the Russian government during the Soviet Union because it was not nationalistic. It was trying to express things and convey hardships and outcry and emotions.”
This expression is what James believes art should do.
“I think it’s an intentional pursuit to say something,” she said. “Whether you’re saying it to somebody that knows what you’re saying, whether you’re saying it to people that aren’t even listening or paying attention, or whether you’re just saying something for your own sake.”
While James said she doesn’t know what she wants to say in her own work just yet, she is excited to be adding to her artistic toolbelt.
“I have a main pursuit,” she said, “but also being able to do things like trying to design and make clothes and paint and cook—they’re all things that involve making something that you experience. I love that kind of thing, so I definitely plan to pursue all of it—at the same time—forever.”
While James continues developing her hobbies, her ultimate goal is that her “main pursuit” concludes with a career in an orchestra.
“I am really passionate about working with other people in the arts,” she said. “Usually string quartets are my favorite.”
In the meantime, James is looking forward to attending the Big Ears music festival in the spring, spending the semester painting in one of the McEachern Center’s art studios and auditioning for grad programs.
(11/26/19 9:00pm)
Gary Blackburn has been an art professor at Mercer University for over 30 years, specializing in photography. Now, he is the winter exhibiting artist at the McEachern Art Center. His collection, titled “With Contrast,” is an assortment of turned wooden forms and photographs of the Georgia and Florida coast that he took while on sabbatical in fall 2018.
Throughout Blackburn’s long artistic career, he has mostly worked with film photography to document the Southern landscape. He used his sabbatical as an opportunity to explore the Florida and Georgia coasts in a new way: with digital technology.
“After looking at the many image files produced during the early fall,” Blackburn wrote in the informational pamphlet accompanying the exhibit, “I realized that in color my attention was drawn to the interplay where sky, land and water meet.”
In some of Blackburn’s photographs, there is a distinct boundary between sky and land. For instance, “End of the Day” features a fiery orange sky colliding with black silhouetted trees and grass.
Other images are of landscapes with elements that blend into one another seamlessly. Blackburn’s “Morning on Wassaw Creek” is one of these pieces; the physical trees and clouds are reflected so perfectly onto the surface of still water that the photograph could be flipped around without any viewers being the wiser.
Contrast is also evident in the wooden pieces Blackburn includes in this exhibit. While about half have been smoothed into round circles, the other half boast natural wood knots and ragged edges.
However, the contrasts in Blackburn’s exhibit do not refer only to the artwork.
“I think it is fitting that this exhibition is also about the contrast of where I have been and where I am going,” Blackburn said.
While Blackburn’s early photography work was primarily done in black and white film, these new pieces explore the power of color and digital media. Moreover, the exhibit contrasts his past of teaching sculpture and photography with his future of working more closely with woodturning and creating art independent of class instruction.
Blackburn’s exhibit will be showcased at the downtown McEachern Art Center until Jan. 15.
(11/07/19 5:00am)
Meet Ebonye Smith: second-year electrical engineering major, golfer of 10 years, orange juice and dystopian novel addict and lifestyle blogger. And she’s only just getting started.
Self-described as witty, sassy and genuine, Smith has been blogging since the summer after her senior year of high school. She was initially inspired by the people around her making YouTube channels, the influencers she followed on Instagram — including “Cup of Jo” and “With Love, Kayla” — and her own adventurous summer.
“I just liked how witty you were allowed to be and how free you were allowed to be because you had your own space to express yourself,” Smith said.
Among the topics that Smith explores on her blog are travel and fashion.
“But my main topic that I like to talk about is relationships, and not specifically relationships with other people,” Smith said. “It could be relationships with yourself or friendships or romantic relationships."
One post that Smith has written that she thinks is particularly significant is titled “Why Your Past Relationships Haven’t Worked.” Rather than criticize the reader, Smith’s article encourages people to be their authentic selves in order to find people who value them below their surface-level qualities.
Smith said that much of her writing and her life philosophy are motivated by Michelle Obama’s motto, “When they go low, we go high.”
“If I find myself keeping an eye on myself and worrying about what I have to do, and I don’t find myself worrying about what others have going on, life is just so much easier, so much happier,” Smith said.
In addition to blogging, Smith finds joy in pursuing electrical engineering. While she appreciates the freedom and openness of writing, Smith also loves the structure that math and science provide.
“It was something that I was able to solve and get an answer,” Smith said. “It’s not a whole lot of guessing when it comes to math and science, and that was one thing that I really liked about engineering.”
When Smith needs to disconnect from social media and her academics, she turns to golf. Smith said she has been playing golf since she was nine. Although studying prevents her from playing as much as she’d like to during the school year, she said that she plays every single day during the summer with her dad.
Smith said that her mother is also a strong source of support in her life, especially in regards to her blog.
“She was mainly the first one that was pushing me to start a blog,” Smith said. “I remember before I even got my own domain, and I was still on the Wix site, my mom was my first subscriber, my first biggest fan. She was reading all my posts and sharing them on Facebook to her friends.”
Smith’s own advice to anyone interested in blogging and content creation is to get out of their heads and “just start it.” Moreover, she emphasized the importance of being genuine and doing things out of personal enjoyment rather than fame or external acknowledgment.
As for Smith, she ultimately aspires to a career in engineering, but she said that blogging is not something she sees herself stopping in the future.
In fact, Smith is currently in the process of rebranding her blog. Right now, her blog is named after herself — “Ebonye LaSha’” — and is solely text-based, but she is considering adopting a signature unique to the topics she writes about and exploring the podcast route.
“My blog has allowed me to be able to be free with myself,” Smith said, reflecting on her writing experiences over the past couple of years.