Pedersen

I love Emporia’s music scene.

At my house alone there have been concerts of some of the most talented and unique musicians Emporia has to offer. We have had everything from hip-hop to punk to noise metal all under the same roof.

We even have a couple house bands and, let me tell you, getting a solid dose of live music almost every week does great things for the soul. I have also been to shows at bars and the Granada Theatre and I’m blown away at the music that comes into Emporia.

But one thing that has always disappointed me during the last few years of going to music shows is the level of attendance. It seems that no matter how many people are at a show, I always want there to be more. I see more people walking to one class than I do at an amazing local music show.

During these shows, I always wonder why there are so few people. Is it because of the quality of the music or the venues? Is it because we are a “commuter school?” Or is it because we simply don’t have enough motivated people?

Of course the weather has played a large part in low attendance as of late but I think the reason people don’t come is a combination of the above things. Strangely enough, those are all assumptions people make which may come from a false perception.

We all know the simple equation: no people = worse music in the future. If people don’t attend events of any sort, those venues make less money and can’t book as good shows and eventually Emporia sucks even more.

There is a schism in people who stay in Emporia and enjoy what is here and those who do not. Those who don’t are afraid to even try enjoying what Emporia has to offer because they are solidified in the mindset that Emporia is boring.

On the other side of the coin, you have the people who realize that Emporia is fairly boring and do all that they can to make it fun and interesting.

It feels like when I first came to Emporia, this side was much larger and people went to bars to see live music, not to Natasha’s or Desperado’s to shake it to a DJ playing canned music.

I am not asking that you change your way of life and go to every show possible, but I am asking for you to have an open mind and take a taste of some local flavor.

Don’t shut down, get down.

Alex Pedersen/ The Bulletin

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Hemphill

I am a student of the liberal arts. I have never been adept at math or science and I never really considered pursuing either subject at the college level. For me, it was arts all the way.

For this reason, Gov. Sam Brownback’s recent proposition to phase out funding to the Kansas Arts Commission by this summer is weighing heavily on my heart.

The KAC was founded in 1966 and supports arts in Kansas through grant-funding and other fiscal support of Kansas’ artists. Brownback’s proposal would eliminate state funding to the KAC and force the organization to become privatized. This cannot happen.

It is natural in tough economic times to attempt to tighten the budget and cut costs. So in this regard, Brownback’s proposal seems like an okay idea. But when you look at the actual numbers, his theory that cutting funding to the KAC saves the state money does not work out.

According to the KAC website, if the organization loses funding, the state of Kansas will lose over $1 million  in direct federal funding and regional grants each year. State and local governments would lose approximately $15 million in revenue that is generated from the Kansas non-profit arts and cultural section.

So really, the budget sheet out of the state house may look a bit better if the KAC loses funding, but local governments around the state will be gravely affected by this proposition.

The main reason for Brownback’s proposal is the loss of federal stimulus dollars that will occur at the end of this fiscal year. The state is also facing unemployment issues with approximately 100,000 residents out of work.

Cutting funding to the KAC will put a strain on every arts organization in the state. Some of them, it is unfortunate to say, will not survive the loss of funding. People who work in these ill-fated organizations will lose their jobs. For all the talk Brownback has initiated in terms of getting the unemployment rate under control, he does not seem to be conscious on the effect this new proposition will have on those employed by arts organizations in the state.

The arts are intertwined in the fabric of our society. They represent the heart and soul of Kansas. Throughout the history of our state, the arts have been a constant outlet for Kansans. In times of hardship or triumph, the arts have given us a medium to express our emotions – a way of commiserating and connecting on a personal level. If something as sacred and honest as art is allowed to fall to the wayside for the purpose of finding a quick fix for the budget issues the state is facing, I shudder to think of what Kansas could become.

I urge everyone to take action to ensure that Brownback is not allowed to follow through with this mistake. Contact your representative in Topeka to let him or her know that Kansans do not take this issue lightly.

To overlook art is to overlook what makes us human. Anyone who has ever picked up a pen, brush or guitar knows this to be true. If Brownback doesn’t see it this way, then it is the artist’s job to show him.

Go to http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=22477501 to send a letter opposing Brownback’s proposition.

Eric Hemphill/The Bulletin

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Christopher Anderson, junior communications major, writes down his thoughts about one of Ashton Ludden’s, senior fine arts major, prints at her opening art reception MEAT in Gilson Gallery on Friday. JONATHAN ELLIOT/THE BULLETIN

Ashton Ludden, senior fine arts major, held the opening reception for her show, MEAT, in Gilson Gallery on Friday. The show will continue to run until Sept 18.

The reception ended with a silent auction outside the gallery. One engraving piece, named “Food Stamps,” was completed by Ludden in 2008 and sold to the last bidder for $200.50.

Ludden’s art works displayed in her Senior Thesis Exhibition are mostly engraving and printmaking pieces.

The inspiration of making “MEAT” came from a conversation which Ludden had with a worker in a slaughterhouse the summer before, listening to his experience working on food processing.

“Before that morning, I never heard about how my food is processed and what goes behind it,” she said. “It really interested me that I knew so little about food, you know, such a vital thing for us to live.”

Since then, Ludden realized that the more she thought about food, the less she felt she knew about it. Thus, Ludden decided to start researching what goes into food processing in order to acknowledge the food processes, as well as gaining insights for her art.

Ludden studied food processesing through numerous readings and speaking with people in the meat industry.

“I have had a lot of interesting experience running into people in a town like Emporia, where there are a lot of local ranchers and farmers,” Ludden said.

For Ludden, MEAT was supposed to make people think about and acknowledge the food processing industry.

“The concept is really cool,” said Kiwamu Otsuka, physics major, after viewing the gallery.  “I didn’t think about meat, animals, creatures and stuff like that before. It makes me feel like I should know more about animals.”

Ludden initially came to Emporia State planning to study art therapy. She discovered that she was more interested in creating art and gradually found her gift in engraving and later her passion for printmaking.

After graduating from ESU in December, Ludden will accept an invitation from master engraver Martin Strolz in Höhere Technische Lehranstalten (HTL, also known as Higher Technical Institute) Metal Design School in Steyr, Austria.

She also plans to continue her studies in graduate school after studying abroad, pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking.

The proceeds of the auction will be split in two. One portion will go to The Humane Society, which is a national non-profit organization that celebrates animals and confronts animal cruelty. It protects all animals, through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, science, advocacy and fieldwork, according to their Web site.

The other portion will benefit The Kansas Rural Center, which supports the rural land and its people through research, education, and advocacy, according to KRC’s official Web site.

“MEAT” will still be available in Gilson Gallery located on the first floor of King Hall until next Friday.

Xinyi Chen/The Bulletin

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