Archive | October 2014

Ending Week 5

Oct31

Victory Mimosa!

Now that I am officially halfway through this term a celebration of sorts has to happen.  First there was the email from UO Theatre Department informing me that they want me to join their team.  I am now the University Theatre House Manager/Marketing Assistant!!  Yay!!

Second, my Ulitmate Victory Mimosa (see link above to my Instagram account) and thirdly, Chai Spiced Cheesecake from Sweet Life!  And I left the Gem Faire without buying anything, so I am incredibly proud of myself.

Other things to celebrate…figuring out to vector images and use the Add Anchor Tool.  I was starting to feel behind and overwhelmed in my AAD 610 but after working with Eric and John, I understand it better and have been able to replicate the process outside of class.  I feel determined to have a really inviting and refreshed brand for Free Shakespeare in the Park but I do not want to get too obsessed with it as there is still much more to do!

Next week appears to be getting busy but at least one of my anxities this term has been quelled with getting the part-time job.  Onwards and upwards though!

Starting Week 5

Oct26

It’s a Sunday, but if I am to treat my graduate studies like a full-time job, then I better start putting in those hours.

Today has been productive but I am still feeling really stumped with using Adobe Illustrator.  I have a handle on the copy and paste attribute of it as I discovered while making my Personal Learning Environment (PLE), but where I am struggling is utilizing the other functions of Adobe Illustrator to create a new brand image for a performing arts company.  I do not have access to Adobe Illustrator at home and bouncing from computer lab to computer lab on campus is becoming a hassle as each lab may have a different version of the software than the one I initially started with to develop the brand.

I will tackle the logo a little bit more tomorrow and allow for some more inspiration to sweep over me.  Utilizing Pinterest was great for finding some branding collateral ideas and some fonts, downside was the fact that the really awesome fonts I liked were not free, nor cheap.  And free is a requirement right now as funds are leaning towards zilch.

Onwards and upwards they say.  Let’s see how this week ends.

 

End of Week 4

Oct24

Compared to last week, it has been a pleasant respite from the onslaught of making a full bellydance costume to now being a stage hand for a local theatre company.  I am able to show up and work on assignments in an environment that invigorates me.  Being in the dark of the backstage world is comforting and the only distractions I have are the actors talking and being ready for my cues.  While I have stepped into the role as of Sunday, I feel relaxed and prepared to take this on as I have the confidence in my skill set as a practitioner of the theatre arts.  Plus, the show has a beautiful story to tell and its meaning and power is wonderfully executed by the actors and director.  My part is brief but builds upon the power that comes at the end of the show.  I will not give it away, but I encourage everyone to see it.  I & You at Oregon Contemporary Theatre.

Another benefit of not frantically sewing a costume is the ability to see articles and images online that I feel have relevance to what has been discussed in course work.  Portland Center Stage has a production of The Typographer’s Dream which opened recently and with my exposure to typography through my Marketing, Media, and Communications class, I now want to see this show.  Especially since they have a sense of humor.  Aside from the theatre, there has been an ongoing debate about women in the gaming (and other similar mediums) community.  I have been re-posting articles onto the AAD Class of 2016 Facebook group to either initiate debate or rather to bring it to our attention as it has relevance in what we have been discussing in our Art in Society class.  We have not covered much about gender, but when I see “culture wars,” I have to stop and figure out what are they meaning by culture.  Gamersgate is something I am not familiar with but it may have a lasting affect on how people are presented and treated in digital mediums or other art forms, especially when an article comes out about former Playboy Bunnies.

To counter possible negative articles, I keep finding really positive and affirming videos or articles such as comedian and actor BJ Novak reading to kids, http://themetapicture.com/this-man-opens-a-book/ or the video from CNN of a graffiti artist who now sells his works for thousands of dollars, https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153000318221509&set=vb.5550296508&type=2&theater  Being able to identify and relate to articles and opportunities is something I find re-energizing me and making me excited about my chosen path.  I just wish I could clone myself so I can be at 10 different places once, while still maintaining my original self so she can travel.  The clones can do the work.

Now on to Week 5, halfway through my first term of Grad School!!!

 

Starting Week 4

Oct19

The first three weeks of school have flown by and I am now starting to feel more like myself and finding my way around campus and school work.  I had a really great workshop on Friday with the Graduate School on Speed Reading and I hope to take their next workshop on Time Management, downside is I have group work meetings at the same day and time as the workshop!  Oops!  Plus, trying to get ready for a dance performance with school work and finding part time work has had some serious side effects.  Dishes not getting down, scrambling to fit in hundreds of pages of reading (I will catch up though thanks to the speed reading workshop), and not feeling like I am taking care of myself.  Late nights sewing were not what I had in mind for doing a 3 and half minute dance, but there is an upside to all of this.

My performance yesterday at the Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene’s Fall Festival resulted in the audience clapping along to our music and then individuals from the audience would stop and say how much they enjoyed it.  Results of this performance were really pretty dance outfit, not messing up on the foot work (ok, maybe a little), performing with little food on my stomach and too much caffeine, and doing all of this in a two-piece costume!!  (Super body confidence powers activate!)

I hope to have photos or videos to post soon since I want to share my performance with my cohort, because the Universe decided that all the really cool things I want to do with my cohort have to happen the same weekend I have committed myself to another event.  While the Classes of 2015 and 2016 were having their talent showcase, I was dancing and stage managing, easiest stage managing gig to date, but having to chose between building new relationships with people I am spending a lot of time with or doing something I have been desperately wanting to do since 2005/2006, well….I stuck with the latter rather than the former.  Opportunities to perform the routine in the future may happen, but no more last minute sewing!  Too much stress, not always feeling rested, and not doing myself any justice by not doing my readings and school work.

A year ago I started the AAD application process and fretted if I would get in, now being in this program is so monumental to me as I never thought of myself as smart enough to earn a Masters degree.  In hindsight, it’s not about smarts, but about drive and finding that goal in life and doing whatever it takes to achieve it.  I may have cheated myself on expanding my network with AAD Alums this weekend, as I was unable to participate in a number of events, but being able to do something which I never thought possible because of how I look is really empowering.  I danced in front of people I do not know in a skirt and bra!!!  What?!?!  I know, right!  I did it and did the dance with lots of happiness in my soul because it is a great song and that no one was there to hate on dancers’ bodies, they were there to celebrate it!  This feeling of empowerment is what is driving me to pursue a Masters in Arts & Administration, or possibly use my degree as a vehicle for working with organizations that have mission to empower girls and women to appreciate and respect their bodies or being able to assist our veterans who struggle with PTSD.

So now that I have the dance performance behind me, I can start focusing on my school work and getting a part-time job because I am getting nervous that I will not be able to pull my weight on bills.  An opportunity to work at Oregon Contemporary Theatre has presented itself and I will be doing that for the next two weekends and I am excited to be around theatre people, they are my kind of crazy.  :-)

Ciao until we meet again!  Keep following my course work postings to see what I am learning and I will see you at Week 5 (Victory Mimosa is coming).

Blazing a new trail

Oct2

Hello and welcome aboard this fantastic journey!

I am embarking upon a path I would never have found if not for the amazing and talented Tara Wibrew (Class of 2013).  My goal is to help enlighten those of you not familiar with Arts Administration and to see how I progress over the next 20 or so months on my research, exploration, and skill development.

Thank you for being here and supporting me in this endeavor!

~Emily

Student Survey

Oct1

1. Where did you move from to attend the UO? And, briefly describe how you landed on the UO AAD program. Any interesting, funny, anecdotal stories/details are welcome.

While many people travel from all over to attend the University of Oregon, I have the rare distinction to be a Native of Eugene/Springfield, OR.  My travelling is less glamorous than my counterparts, but how I ended up in the AAD program is a bit of a story, so hang on.

After completing my Bachelors of Arts – Theatre Arts degree from Portland State University in 2005, I returned back to Eugene and started working part-time until I landed a full-time job in 2007.  I have always had the dream of becoming the World’s Greatest Stage Manager (still do) but having access to the resources and education needed to move up the ladder in stage management was proving to be a challenge while working 40hrs/wk and not having received formal stage management training as an undergrad.  I did attempt to apply to two East Coast universities in 2010, during a conference in Chicago, but their answers were basically “no.”  I was very disappointed as I felt I had the qualifications to be taught how to be a stage manager but it was made apparent I needed to have been an undergrad in their programs first to then be in their graduate level programs.

Then, in September 2011, my friend Tara Wibrew (AAD class of 2013) informed me of a program she was going into at the University of Oregon.  She said Arts & Administration and I began to wonder what it would entail and I would ask her more as she moved through the program.  In March of 2013, I got handed my “do it now or never” card when I was told I was an unhappy person.  Sure, my job paid me well but I was not truly happy since I was not doing theatre, not pursuing my passion and feeding my soul.  I then started to research the AAD program, saw there were openings available for the 2013/2014 year, and on July 11, 2013 I met with Tina Rinaldi for an informational interview.

She looked at my portfolio, the same one I took to Chicago, and I saw how professional and personable she was and that she enjoyed the pictures.  At the end of the interview, she said, “You would be a good fit here.”  OMG!!!!!!  A YES!!  I got a YES!!!  This was the day before my birthday and I could not have been more excited about anything in a long time!  (Look whose gonna be happy now!!!)

I decided to wait and apply for the 2014/2015 year as I would have had 4 weeks to gather all of the necessary items for my application and I did not want to have to slap something together and have it looked rushed.  Plus, I was a very integral part of my workplace and leaving them in the lurch did not sit well with me.  So I applied last fall and in March I got my acceptance letter.  I counted down the days, gave notice, and am now here ready to absorb all that I can to become something I would have never pictured for myself.  I am surrounded by amazing faculty, students, and my friends and family are super supportive, so I know I am on the right path.  The right path to World’s Greatest Arts Admin?  Sure!  World’s Greatest Stage Manager.  We shall see….

2. Area of concentration in AAD?

Performing Arts/Arts in Healthcare (really curious about all of the concentrations).

3. Describe your knowledge and use of technology systems. Responses should include the following:

  • Computer platform you use (Mac, PC, Linux, other):  PC, yes.  Mac, very rusty.
  • Smart phones, tablets, other hand held/smart devices:  Smart phone, yes.  Tablet, yes.  Both are Android based.
  • Digital Cameras, Video, Audio devices:  I have an Olympus digital camera with a video recorder.
  • Peripherals – printers, scanners, other necessary and/or cool gadgets: I can use printers, scanners, fax machines, and laminators!

4. What software do you commonly use? Briefly describe purpose/application for software on your list.

I use Microsoft as the operating system on my PC and Android operating systems on my phone and tablet.  I may also use Adobe PDF to view documents and Google Drive to create and save documents.  I generally use web browsers like Chrome and Firefox for research and entertainment.  I also have Steam for games, which I do not play.

5. Do you have any graphic design or media production/management experience? Have you taken any graphic design or media production courses?

No graphic design experience but I am a content contributor to the Free Shakespeare in the Park Facebook page.

6. Know anything about typography?

I know they can be called fonts and they are used for marketing or printing.

7. Do you use Web 2.0 apps? Name those that you use or are familiar with.

What is Web 2.0?

8. Do you use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, Yelp, etc.)? Name those that you engage in.

I have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, and Pinterest.

9. Tell me something unique about yourself.

I have a tattoo on my left wrist.  It comes from the Free Shakespeare in the Park logo.

10. Anything else?

We have gonna have so much fun once I figure out how to use Macs!!!