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The 6th Annual Emporia Art Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Commercial Street between 9th St. and 5th St.
“It’s really a good place for us to showcase some of the local and regional artists that we have,” said Melissa Windsor, executive director of Emporia Arts Council. “The arts are part of our community and they will enrich our lives, so it’s just a wonderful way to have community gathering, listening to music and enjoying the arts in downtown Emporia.”
The event features 25 artists from in and around Emporia, selling their art and, for some, even demonstrating their artistic process. Some of the types of art that will be for sale are glassworks, paintings, mosaic art, ironworks, ceramics, weaving and photography.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for artists to be in downtown Emporia to display their wares and display their art,” Windsor said. “A lot of them will actually be painting or working on their art so that they can explain to those who are participating and wanting to shop what they do and how they do their work.”
Windsor said that the Art Walk will take place in rain or shine, especially since artists can move displays into nearby stores in the event of rain. She also said that, because all of the stores are close to one another, rain should not have a major impact on the shopping experience.
“I think it’s a wonderful partnership between businesses and artists,” said Becky Smith, event coordinator for Emporia Main Street and manager of Town Crier Bookstore. “It gives everybody and opportunity to show off both their artwork and what merchandise is available downtown.”
The Artmobile will be parked on 7th St. and will have activities for children, including painting. Five bands, Altered to Offer, Black Tuxedos, Follow/Caleb Marsh, Dead Idols and Evil Love Drones, will play throughout the day across the street from the Artmobile.
“A lot of our businesses carry local artwork and we would like to make those introductions so we can encourage local businesses to carry local photography or paintings or jewelry,” said Casey Woods, executive director for Emporia Main Street. “That helps create a sustainable, local economy.”
On the 500 block, Kevin Rabas and Friends are scheduled to play music and read poetry. Bill Ihling on acoustic guitar and Minor Details, a jazz combo, will play as “traveling” musicians.
“It’s a free, fun event for the entire family so the community as a whole will benefit,” Woods said. “And it’s a draw from other areas. We pull artists from a fairly significant distance to come to Emporia.”
Emporia Community Theatre will be host a Reader’s Theatre at The Granada Theatre Foyer. Caricatures and illustrations will be available at the Java Cat 5 and jewelry will be available at the Granada Coffee Co., Town Crier Bookstore and Madelynn’s.
The event benefits for local artists, Windsor said, because the size of the crowd grows every year.
“We have a lot of very talented individuals in the local area, but we want to make sure that they can actually make a living,” Woods said. “That’s what they enjoy doing and that means that we have to find outlets where they can sell what they produce.”
The event can also benefit the businesses that sponsor the artists.
“These items are locally produced, they’re unique and they’re not carried everywhere, so consumers looking for unique items know to come to Main Street businesses because they can find things that will be different from anywhere else they’re looking in and that makes our different businesses destinations, so the retailers or other organizations benefit,” Woods said.

There are still two slots open in the Art Walk, and interested artists can call Emporia Main Street at (620) 341-6430.  There is a $10 fee for participating artists.

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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Sophomore music major Charlie Roemer sings as “Aeneas” during an opera rehearsal Wednesday night in Heath Recital Hall. Dido and Aeneas is scheduled for performance at 7:30 Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 in Heath Recital Hall. PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

The Department of Music will present the operas “Dido and Aeneas” and “Signor Deluso” at 7:30 Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 in Heath Recital Hall.
“I’m a vocal performance major, so I like to have every opportunity to perform that I can,” said Dion Johnson, senior vocal performance major who is playing Dido in “Dido and Aeneas.” “This is going to be my first lead role, so it’s been a fun experience.”
For students who speak English as a second language, singing in something like an opera can be difficult and rewarding.
“English is not my first language so it’s very hard for me, but it’s a good experience to perform in English,” said Takako Iyadomi, junior vocal performance major who is playing Celie in “Signor Deluso.” “Especially pronunciation is hard and a very special phrase that I can’t understand.”
“Dido and Aeneas” was written by Henry Purcell in 1689, but is a story taken from “The Illiad” by Homer. It is a story of love and tragedy in which Dido, the queen of Carthage, falls in love with Aeneas, a refugee of the Trojan War.
“It’s pretty much like all tragic love stories, but I really like the music in it,” said Charlie Roemer, sophomore music education major who is playing Aeneas in “Dido and Aeneas.” “There’s a lot of emotion that goes into the opera.”
An envious sorceress then sends a false messenger to Aeneas who tells him to found Italy. Dido dies from a broken heart because Aeneas abandoned her.
“When I’m doing acting, I really focus on the character and, with this, I have to incorporate my singing into it and constantly be thinking, ‘What would my character be doing for this?’” Johnson said. “There are also technical things like breathing. I’d say probably the biggest thing between plays and operas is that there’s an equal balance between character work and vocal work. We have to be constantly aware of both.”
Penelope Speedie, associate professor of music, selected “Dido and Aeneas” because it will be the last orchestral conduction of James Starr, associate professor of music, and she wanted to choose something that he would enjoy.
“I wanted to do something that he wanted to do,” Speedie said. “And I love the work, too, and we had the people to do it, it fits the voices.”
“Signor Deluso” was written by Thomas Passatieri in 1993 and is in the style of Comedia dell’arte. It is the story of Celie, who wants to marry Valere, but her parents disapprove. She faints and drops her locket and another man, Deluso, carries her into his house. Deluso’s wife, Clara, sees this and assumes Deluso is having an affair. Deluso then finds Celie’s locket with Valere’s picture in it and thinks it is his wife’s.
“Some of us are hoping to be teachers someday, so I’m doing this to get the experience of learning how to direct opera and technique and these type of things,” said Jake Narverud, senior bachelor of arts major, chorus director in “Dido and Aeneas” and Deluso in “Signor Deluso.” “My favorite part about (“Signor Deluso”) is that it’s short and sweet. It’s only about 20 minutes long and it’s all very fast-paced.”

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MARTIN

Gustavo Martín, an internationally known cellist, will perform a concert featuring works from Mexican composers at Emporia State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, in Heath Recital Hall.

“I think the reason behind it is to improve our music department,” said Whitney Wiebe, sophomore social sciences secondary education major and cellist in ESU’s orchestra. “Bringing someone like that helps students and helps, overall, the reputation of the school and the music program.”

Martin, a music professor at the National School of Music, which is a division of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, or the National Autonomous University of Mexico, will be accompanied by Virginia Covarrubias, a graduate of the National School of Music.

UNAM is the largest university in Latin America and the music department is made up of 250,000 people and is separate from the rest of campus, said Martin Cuéllar, associate professor of music.

“I actually play music because I want to say something, I believe,” Martín said. “Sometimes, I say something composing music, sometimes I say something playing music… for me, my cello and music in general generates a great weight to tell the people something.”

During his stay in Emporia, Martín will also give master classes to cello and string students.

“It’s a joy to work with somebody who has traveled the world and has played the concerts that he has,” said Lucas San Martin, freshman international business major and cellist in ESU’s orchestra. “I’m very excited to get a chance to play with him… he’s got a great sound and I’d like to mirror my sound after him.”

He has also written music for two plays, including pieces for various chamber ensembles and vocal pieces of work, according to the concert flyer. Martín was also “instrumental” in creating an exchange program between UNAM and ESU, which is how he met Cuéllar and what allowed him to visit ESU, Cuéllar said.

“It gives us the opportunity to highlight the Hispanic culture in a different way,” Cuéllar said. “There are perceptions, there are stereotypes, there are ideas about the Hispanic culture here in Emporia, in Kansas, in the United States.”

At the concert, Martín will play a list of music that is written entirely by Mexican composers, including the world premiere of his own composition.

“For one, he’s an artist,” Cuéllar said. “How many performers who are Mexican and in the classical field do we get to see on an annual basis, here in Emporia? The children in the schools, what role models do they have?”

Martín will also perform on 89.7 FM, Lawrence’s classical music station and in one of the church services for Easter.

“It gives both the Hispanic and the non-Hispanic constituents this year an opportunity to learn,” Cuéllar said. “I think it’s going to yield a lot of benefits for the university, for our community, for our students.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KELLEN JENKINS

Following Tuesday’s city election, the Emporia city ordinance banning smoking in public places will remain in effect. The current count is 2,333 votes in favor of the smoking ban and 2,325 against it, for a difference of 11 votes.

“We knew it was going to be a tight race, but we also knew it wasn’t going to be as clear-cut a victory as it was in many of the other towns in Kansas,” said Matt Cook, senior bachelor in secondary education major. “Emporia really rallied behind it and didn’t allow the city commission to unilaterally make that happen… I’m a little upset, but I’m also just happy that it was put to public vote.”

However, this is not the official and final count. The County Clerk’s office will count provisional ballots on Friday, which will determine the final result of the proposed ban.

“That’s what we talked about today in (a health promotions class), responsibility for the community to do what’s best,” said Amy Byfield, junior health promotions major. “Bar owners and restaurant owners, they have a responsibility to do something that’s best for… their employees and people who bring in their money. If they allow smoking, they’re not really doing their responsibility.”

There are still 86 provisional ballots to be counted, but not all of those apply to the smoking ban. Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat said she is not sure exactly how many of those votes do apply, as only voters registered in the city of Emporia are considered in the outcome of the ban.

“I don’t view it as a drag for me, as far as not being able to smoke in a bar, but I feel that it’s infringing upon the rights of a business owner,” said Peter Tuttle, junior secondary English education major. “To choose how a business is run takes away from rights… I wouldn’t want people coming into my house and telling me how to run it, I don’t think that it’s ethical to tell a business that they can or can’t allow smoking.”

The final provisional ballots are the key to the final decision regarding the smoking ban. They could overturn the current vote, or widen the gap. If there are less than 11 ballots that are considered applicable to the city-wide ban, then the ban will remain in effect.

“I’ve been around secondhand smoke for a long time and I just never liked it,” said Taylor Thenstead, freshman graphic design major. “If they’re stopping it, then great. Of course, the statistics show that it pollutes the atmosphere. Not a lot of people do like it because it’s a disgusting type of smell.”

There is also the possibility of a tie. If the vote ends this way, the ordinance won’t pass.

“Where do you cross the line between what’s good for businesses and what’s for the public good?” Tuttle said. “It is democracy in action, so I can’t complain. It was democratic, even though I do view it as going against the rights of business owners.”

Despite the outcome of the current count, a state-wide ban is still in consideration.

“I think it’s a big step in a long-term goal for people to quit smoking and realize the negative affects it can have on health on not only the person smoking, but people around them,” Byfield said. “It gets people thinking about it.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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Freshman nursing major Peter Kyonda and freshman business major Charlie Sigle clean leaves out of a senior citizen’s yard Saturday afternoon at Greenbriar Estates. Kyonda and Sigle, along with other students from ESU, helped senior citizens in the community for Didde Catholic Campus Center’s Volunteer Workday./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Rakes, leaves and a hard day’s work.

Last Saturday, five Emporia State students volunteered to help senior citizens with yard work through Didde Catholic Campus Center’s Volunteer Workday.

“It feels good to help out the elderly, because they’re so appreciative when you’re done,” said Charlie Sigle, freshman business major and DCCC outreach minister. “They try to offer you money… The lady was really nice, she was lonely and glad to see us. We had to fight her off with a stick so she wouldn’t pay us.”

The senior citizens said they enjoyed meeting the students.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the young people,” said Clara Eckdall, 91. “Of course, they say the other purpose of this thing is to meet the older citizens.”

One thing that the program offers senior citizens is the security of doing housework without potential injury.

“You’re used to doing everything yourself and, suddenly, you realize you better not do it, because you might fall,” Eckdall said. “That is the biggest worry of older people, falling and breaking a hip or something like that.”

DCCC hosts Volunteer Day annually and last Saturday’s schedule included four senior citizens that student groups helped to complete work that they couldn’t do alone.

“Sometime in the past year, my grandma fell off of a ladder when she was cutting branches off of a tree,” said Sarah Schwindt, freshman music education major and DCCC outreach minister “She broke both of her arms… That’s something that we can prevent. “Also, it’s really good for everybody to see that college students aren’t just here buying stuff from Wal-Mart and going to class, we’re able to help too. We don’t just cause trouble.”

Senior citizens who seeking volunteer help were able to fill out a form in advance that included their name, address and work requested and give it to DCCC.

“Not only did we get to help her with the work she wanted, we got to visit with her and that probably made her day,” Sigle said. “It’s so the elderly don’t have to worry about finding somebody to do their work, so we can do it for them because they always have stuff to do and nobody around to do it.”

In addition to the work service aspect of volunteering, many students saw this as an opportunity to get to know a group of people in the community that they may not meet otherwise.

“It’s good to have the generations mixed with each other,” Fischer said. “To have people of our age with older ages so it’s not just two separate things, like we’re kids and they’re adults, but put us all together. There is a lot we can learn from them.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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Sandra Cox, professor of music at Mid-South Community College, plays the flute Sunday afternoon in Heath Recital Hall. Cox is a winner of the National Flute Association’s Convention Performer’s Competition and has been playing for more than 30 years./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Ambient noise hovers in the air like a vulture. Then a child’s voice breaks in and clumsily counts, “5, 6, 7.” More buzzing arises and the delicate sound of the flute seems like a rock in an overbearing sea of avant-garde.

“It’s interesting and it gets a reaction every time,” said Sandra Cox, professor of music at Mid-South Community College. “It allows me a lot of freedom and I get to really express myself. Several people have said that it sounded creepy, which is how it’s supposed to sound, so that’s good.”

This was “In Ida’s Mirror,” a song in which Cox played the flute over computer generated music when the department of music hosted guest artists Sandra Cox, flutist, and Kennith Freeman, pianist, yesterday afternoon in Heath Recital Hall. Both artists are professors of music at Mid-South Community College and have been playing music for over 30 years.

“I thought it was pretty cool – it was unique,” said Whitney Morgan, sophomore music major. “Something you haven’t heard before, I guess. I never really thought of having any kind of digital accompaniment before, so it’s different. It was pretty cool, it was kind of creepy.”

Cox and Freeman played six songs, including “Nocturne,” by Lili Boulanger, “Lament,” by Marilyn Bliss and “Goldfish through Summer Rain,” by Charles Ives. The list of songs that they played were based off of a program Cox wrote that only has female composers whose last names begin with the letter B. Other similar songs, such as the Ives song, were put in to add to the group.

“I can’t live without (music), for one thing,” Cox said. “This is my passion. I decided I wanted to have something that gave me joy and, hopefully, other people too, in addition to that fact that I’ve got a God given talent.”

Cox was the winner, according to the program, of the National Flute Association’s Convention Performer’s Competition in both 2003 and 2004. She has also played in Venezuela, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and China.

“Some people know,” Cox said. “I put it up to my lips and made sound. I never struggled to get noise out, like some people. Of course, I could already read music – that made it easier. I practiced a lot, my brother could tell you.”

Freeman has performed in chamber festivals in California, Oregon, Arkansas, Kansas and Marktoberdorf, Germany. He was the musical director for stage productions throughout the Mid-South and the Los Angeles areas, according to the program.

Both professors are candidates for the Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Memphis in flute and piano, respectively.

“I play music because it expresses emotions and ideas where words fail,” Freeman said. “It’s a way for me to communicate to someone regardless of their language or their age, based upon my personal experiences.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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Sheena LeMay, senior intergraded studies major and P.R.I.D.E. public relations chair, helps check out Jim and Cristina Raiz at the P.R.I.D.E. garage sale last Saturday. The money raised at the garage sale will help bring Sylvia Guerrero to ESU during P.R.I.D.E. week (April 20-24) to talk about her transgender daughter and how she was killed./PHOTO BY KATHI WALKER

Last Saturday, P.R.I.D.E. sponsored a garage sale to raise money to bring Sylvia Guerrero to Emporia State.

They more than succeeded in meeting thier goal. P.R.I.D.E. made $372.10 at the garage sale and $56 from their participation in last Thursday’s Jamnesty event. Their original goal was $175.

For P.R.I.D.E. the opportunity to host Araujo is a valuable one.
“She is the mother of Gwen Araujo, who was murdered in 2002 for being transgendered,” said Sheena LeMay, integrated studies major and P.R.I.D.E. public relations chair. “Sylvia speaks out against violence and she speaks for civil rights in the LGBT community.”
P.R.I.D.E. stands for People Respecting Individuality in Education and is bringing Guerrero to ESU at 7 p.m. April 23 in the Memorial Union.

“I’m excited,” LeMay said. “I’ve been talking to Sylvia. I’m the one that kind of put everything together. It was a big thing to try get her here before I graduated and she said the same thing, so she’s definitely worked with us as far as pricing and everything and keeping me updated on everything. She’s really helping us out.”
P.R.I.D.E. members said they were impressed with the number of people who attended the garage sale and those who donated money, which included Sociology Club and Amnesty International.

“It’s a better turn-out than what was expected,” LeMay said. “This morning, we had people here when we were still putting tables up. We had a lot of interest. People said they had seen our fliers on campus, had seen the posters we put out and everything. I think it’s gone really well. And we did publicize at Jamnesty, so that was a big help from Amnesty International.”

Lifetime has created a film about Gwen Araujo called “A Girl Like Me,” which, according to a flyer for the Sylvia Araujo speaking event, “shows the life and tragic death of a young woman born biologically male.”

“I’m definitely excited,” said Amanda Bullard, junior information resource studies major and P.R.I.D.E. member. “I think it will be very informative. It’s not a topic that I have any experience in or know anything about.”

P.R.I.D.E. members said they already have plans for the excess money that they have raised. They will spend it on publicity and, if they have any left, they will donate it to Matthew’s Place, an anti-bullying foundation, which was established after Matthew Shepard was murdered for being gay in 1998 in Laramie, Wyo.

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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Katherine Grey, assistant professor of art at California State University at San Bernadino, speaks about her involvement with the Glass Blowout Wednesday afternoon in the Science Hall. ABOVE: “White Mounds,” an example of Grey’s artwork, will be featured along with other pieces at the Glass Blowout this Saturday./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

The Glass Guild will host a Glass Blowout starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Art annex on the East side of Highland St. The Blowout will feature the artwork of Katherine Grey, assistant professor of art at California State University at San Bernadino.

“It’s a really good opportunity for us students to get to learn from a professional artist outside of our shop,” said Kristen Elliot, junior art major. “Every time a new artist comes in, we learn a lot from their technique and skills. (Grey is) pretty amazing, what she does. That’s for sure.”

From 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m., Grey will demonstrate some glass forming techniques with the help of ESU students who have been working with her since she arrived in Emporia last Monday night.

“You’re really dependent on help,” Grey said. “You are always generally working with at least one assistant. At first, it seemed like that was a liability or made it harder to do what you wanted to do. But, actually, now it’s my favorite part of the whole process because, most of the time, I get to work with people I enjoy spending time with.”

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a BBQ potluck dinner with live music performed by Elexa Dawson and the K.O. Kitchen, followed by an auction at 7 p.m. The auction will feature donated artwork from local artists and artwork created by Grey during her stay in Emporia, as well as the artwork of others involved in the art department.

“We generally try to have two to three visiting artists a year and, usually, some of the work they make, we will definitely put in the auction,” said Patrick Martin, associate professor of art. “Some faculty members will donate pieces and most of the glass students will also donate some, so there will be works ranging from small cups and vases on up to sculptures.”

Grey has been forming glass for over 20 years and, before becoming involved in glass forming, she was interested in furniture and interior design. Her interest in furniture design led her to explore lights, an interest which eventually led her to glass.

“It’s an amazing material,” Grey said. “It’s not like any other I’ve used. When you work in the hot shop and you’re a glass blower like I am, it’s very technically challenging, which I think is what’s kept me engaged. Other things came easy to me and I got bored with them quickly, but glassblowing, I still find challenging.”

Yesterday, Grey spoke at an Art Forum during which she displayed some of her work. This particular collection is what Grey refers to as her “swiss army table setting” because it is both practical and useful.

When fully assembled, each piece fits into another piece, making it difficult to dissect the purpose of each. But, when taken apart, each separate piece has a specific use. In total, it contains a bowl, a water glass and a decanter. The decanter stopper also functions as a shot glass and a candle holder.

“She’s a nationally and even internationally known artist,” Martin said. “Her work is spectacular. Expert craftsmanship, super detail, just meticulous technique involved with making her work. And yet, when the work is finished, it’s very conceptual and has a lot of ideas that go beyond the glass itself. It’s not just about the object, it’s about the concept behind the object.”

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Ann Miller, community counseling services director, Chrissy Koerner, graduate rehabilitation counseling, and Mary Conley, graduate rehabilitation counseling, discuss the idea behind the Personal Growth Group. The Personal Growth Group meets every Tuesday at 5:15 pm in the Earl Center and is designed to help undergraduate students work out any problems they may be having in a group environment./PHOTO BY KATHI WALKER

Undergraduate students going through personal issues may have a new outlet for their emotional difficulties.

The Personal Growth Group is a gathering group that allows students to talk about any issues they may be having. It is facilitated by Chrissy Koerner, rehabilitation counseling graduate student and Mary Conley, rehabilitation counseling graduate student.

“It gives undergraduate students an opportunity to come in and just share anything that they want, really,” Koerner said. “If they have an issue they want to talk about, they can bring that in.”

The Personal Growth Group meets from 5:15-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Community Counseling Services located in the Earl building at 1601 State St. Attendance is free of charge.

“We start each group with a go-around and ask how everybody’s been doing and if there are any subjects that they want to talk about that day, then we go from there,” Conley said. “It’s not like, ‘Come in and vent about a particular professor,’ or anything like that, it’s just, ‘What craziness is going on in your life that you want to discuss?’”

Because the facilitators are graduate students, the group is only accepting undergraduates in an effort to avoid getting a student in the group who might have a class or other activity with one of the facilitators.

“It helps them normalize their feelings and realize there are other students out there that go through similar issues and problems,” said Ann Miller, assistant professor of special education and school counseling and Community Counseling Services director. “It also provides them a place to vent and get some things off of their chest so they can focus a little bit more on their studies, on class, or on family, whatever it may be.”

The group’s first meeting was on March 24 and will have its last meeting on May 12. This is the only semester this group will be offered and many seats remain, as the group only gets two or three participants each week.

“It’s always interesting to hear about other students who have the same struggles or the same issues going on,” Koerner said. “It’s a good way to relate to and even meet people.”

Koerner and Conley lead the group in discussion and participate with their group in the talks and in any group activities, but it is the members of the group who decide the topics.

“The first couple of sessions, you really build trust and honesty with the group members,” Conley said. “Then you feel you can come in and you can really talk about what’s bothering you and you may have peers that have the same types of issues.”

Community Counseling Services is an entity completely separate from Emporia State’s Counseling Center and, apart from the Personal Growth Group, offers members of the Emporia community mental counseling.

“I think any individual can benefit from attending any sort of counseling opportunity,” Miller said. “I think it really provides an external support network for anyone at any time, because we all consistently have concerns, or worries, or struggles that would work themselves out if we had a non-biased, non-judgmental person to bounce our ideas and thinking off of.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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The Emporia Arts Council building is a one-level building next to the public library that, if it weren’t for the brightly painted storefront, may not stand out much.

But the Arts Council has made plans to move to a new location next to the Granada Theatre on Commercial Street, which will provide a much larger space and more exposure than that of the current building.

“We’ve outgrown it,” said Melissa Windsor, Arts Council executive director. “In addition to overgrowing our current space, there was an opportunity where we could be next door to the Granada and have a new facility for downtown Emporia and we knew that was very important for our community.”

The plan was developed three years ago and the current economy has not weakened the plans for the new building – plans that rely mainly on donations.

“As near as I can tell, charitable giving isn’t slowing down in the community,” said Mel Storm, English professor and Arts Council board member. “I think people in the community recognize how important what we are doing is. I think they know it’s a long-term, very positive investment for Emporia.”

Members of the Arts Council said they see this as a boon for the community, which is why they think that Emporia residents will still support the cause, despite economic hardships.

“This is an opportunity for growth,” Windsor said. “This is an opportunity to do something that will positively impact our community and actually enhance the economy and economic development of our downtown area.”

The Arts Council has to raise $2.8 million to start the construction. Windsor said that they are currently $197,000 away from their goal.

“It’s an absolute necessity,” Storm said. “It’s such an active organization that we need facilities that will enable us to do as much as we’re capable of and to do what we’re now doing with more efficiency.”

The first floor of the new building will have a gallery, a gallery work room, a mechanical room, a kitchen and a theater to seat 130 people. The theater will be designated not only for such activities as community theater performances, but also things like musical recitals and speaking presentations.

“Originally, the Arts Council was primarily the programming group, bringing performances to Emporia,” Storm said. “We still do that, but we work with young people regularly and, in the new facilities, we’ll have not only our own small theater, but we’ll have classrooms and we’ll have pottery wheels: all sorts of things that really, right now, we severely need.”

The second floor will have three art studios, offices, a conference room, a ceramics room with four pottery wheels and a library.

“The new building that they’re planning will have a lot more space and facilities,” said William Clamurro, modern languages and literatures professor and president of the Arts Council board. “The building’s much prettier, too. The building they’re in now is a multi-purpose building that will return, I guess, to the city’s use.”

There is also a door that connects the building to The Granada Theatre. Windsor said that this will allow employees of The Granada to use the Arts Council’s kitchen, for example, if they need to. It will also allow for conferences to be held in the two buildings.

“We think that we can actually have, with the Arts Center, more of a community center where we can have some convention type event at the Granada with break-out sessions being held over at the Arts Center,” Windsor said. “We have the ability, with the classrooms we’re putting in, to offer some more convention-type meeting spaces.”

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Winston Walker, senior art major with a ceramics emphasis and Student Advisory Board chairperson, stands in the ceramics lab Wednesday afternoon in the basement of King Hall. Walker and other members of the Student Advisory Board will host an open critique today in King Hall. /PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Art critiques aren’t just for art classes.

An Open Critique for all those interested in art will be held from 6-8 p.m. today in King Hall room 207. It is open to anyone who is willing to have their art critiqued or just wants to witness a critique.

“The open critique is basically a forum that anyone can bring artwork to receive feedback from peers, artists and people who have an interest in art,” said Winston Walker, senior art major with a ceramics emphasis and Student Advisory Board chairperson. “The primary goal of it is to make their work better or get feedback to see if you’re going where you want to be going.”

The Open Critique allows for art students to get support and criticism from other art students who may have a different emphasis.

“It’s to get more feedback from peers outside of your class,” said Stephan Anderson-Story, senior art major with a photography emphasis and Student Advisory Board co-chairperson. “A lot of what I felt was happening was that during photography critique, it was just photographers looking at photographs, so then I thought it would be beneficial if we had 3-D artists draw a critique on it to get a different perspective on it.”

Apart from getting a critique of a finished piece of work, the Open Critique is also an outlet for artists who are having trouble with a piece of art and need advice.

“A lot of times, a critique in a studio art class are at the resolution of your project,” Walker said. “I think that the open critique is more important as a half-way point. A lot of people bring stuff that’s not totally finished or they have a trouble with an idea, and they are able to get feedback from their peers to point them in the right direction or, at the very least, away from the wrong direction.”

Walker estimated that 27 people attended the last Open Critique. Although they didn’t get to speak about everyone’s art, Walker believes the discussion they had was useful.

“They’re less reserved and people are more open with what they say,” Anderson-Story said. “I think it prepares them for grad school because, in grad school, people usually don’t hold back with what they want to say.”

Usually, artists bring about 2 or 3 pieces per person, though people can bring entire groups of work with many pieces of art meant to be displayed together.

“I think it’s really beneficial because even if the feedback you’re given doesn’t apply, you still have heard it and you’ll process it, no matter what,” Anderson-Story said. “Usually, everything that somebody says applies somehow and it’s also a way to learn how to talk about art.”

Anderson-Story has noticed more freshmen students coming to the critique, which he thinks is a good thing because it shows them a critique process outside of their class. Faculty members outside of the art department have also attended, including Ed Emmer, social sciences professor.

“It’s a good way to learn how to talk about work, how to view work, how to understand work and it’s a good way to bring students together,” said Megan Stelljes, senior art major. “Any time you can receive feedback on your work, it’s a positive thing.”

Though the sessions are scheduled to last only two hours, they have lasted for up to four hours in the past.

“I think it’s important that the arts remain at the forefront of people’s understanding of what’s going on,” Walker said. “I think that it’s our responsibility to talk about the things that we love to do and mine is art so I like to think that I could encourage somebody to think that was a good thing to keep around or to get involved in on their own.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

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