Uptown Art: Week of April 8 – 14
New in the gallery is Shelly Rickloff’s Perceptions of the Self-Obsessive Mind. Shelly’s artist statement reads, “I’ve created this body of work, Perceptions of the Self-Obsessive Mind, to express my concern for young women who have become victim to social standards of “beauty”. During my childhood, I was teased about my height, weight, and complexion, which developed into an obsession with my appearance. This eventually became a disorder. The work is based on personal struggles and experiences that I have re-constructed into images. Through this creative process, I have overcome my weight obsession and live a healthy lifestyle. I can now see beauty in the small ‘imperfections’ and quirkiness that define a person making them ‘real’ and unique. Nevertheless, I still battle with minor insecurities, as many women do.”
Student debt may discourage marriage: “Recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported that student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion, which has left most 2010 graduates with an average of $25,000 in loans to pay off. Shortly after that report was released, another was formed by IHS Global Insight, which suggested that marriage plans are being delayed because of debt, though it did not explicitly state it was directly related to student debt. According to the IHS report, the top 1 percent of borrowers owe $150,000 and the average age of first marriages has risen by nearly a year. The debts amassed by post-graduate students can be much higher than indebted undergraduate students.”
Creative decor is one fold away: “In the hands of a paper artist, a humble sheet can be transformed by a few clever folds or cuts into a creature, a structure, even an elaborate diorama. That alchemy is at the heart of papercrafting, and the finished projects make interesting, unusual home decor. Depending on your talent level, you can choose a simple-to-assemble kit, print out instructions from a paper artist, or buy a finished piece of custom artwork. A hobby for some, a collecting interest for others, papercraft can be a fascinating avenue of creative expression.”
Shooter to be charged in Trayvon Martin death: “It was announced yesterday that George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, will be charged in Martin’s death. According to the Associated Press, Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder and was arrested by police in Florida on Wednesday. In a press conference in Jacksonville, Fla., Special Prosecutor Angela Corey stated that they do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition, and that they prosecute based on the facts of cases.”
Apparently stolen photos part of London digital art exhibit: “The term “art thief” has taken on new meaning. A pair of artists has turned 10,000 private photos they say they stole from 100 hard drives into a public slideshow. The exhibit, on display at London’s Carroll/Fletcher gallery, also features intentionally tattered works by Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp and Jeff Koons. Curator Barbara Rodriguez Munoz told the Associated Press that the show is meant to question public versus private, as well as what falls under the “art” umbrella. “We wanted to create a space where there’s room for risk and a room for discussion,” she said. “Sometimes if you don’t shake those boundaries, you don’t create conversation.””
North Carolina town plans to ticket drivers for any cellphone use: “If you’re driving through Chapel Hill, N.C., and your cellphone rings, don’t answer it. Starting June 1, you can get a $25 dollar ticket for talking on your cellphone while driving within the city limits.
In a close 5-4 vote, the town council decided to ban any phone calls made while operating a vehicle – that includes hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth and speakerphones.”
Fun at PirateFest, Pigskin Pigout: “So much of the public discourse and focus in Greenville stays fixed on the many problems faced by this growing community. Issues like crime and public safety, transportation and mass transit, proper planning and thoughtful land-use management can set neighbor against neighbor and help to inaccurately define this city as a place overrun by woe. Then there are weekends like this — when the city’s annual PirateFest weekend festival unfolds at the same time that East Carolina University hosts its Purple and Gold Pigskin Pigout — and those fears and worries are pushed to the side for a few days of pleasant revelry. These opportunities are few and far between, so residents would do well to take advantage.”
ECU streaker in trouble again: “A Raleigh man arrested last fall for streaking at an East Carolina University football game is back in jail after campus police arrested him on Friday in connection with a vandalism incident on campus, according to a news release. John D. Sieglinger, 22, of Raleigh, was charged with injury to personal property and resist, delay or obstructing an officer for the 2:30 a.m. incident, officials said.”
Police remove downtown barriers: “The barriers that once blocked key intersections of downtown Greenville on the weekends have been removed. The barriers were mainly concentrated in the vicinity of Fifth Street and surrounding areas. Barriers were initially utilized in 2009 after violence swept through the city and came to a climax with a drive-by shooting downtown. According to the Greenville Police Patrol Bureau’s Downtown Deployment Strategy plan, which was updated only a month after James Richardson shot and killed Andrew Kirby and Landon Blackley outside of the Other Place nightclub in June 2009, the barriers were to aid in “traffic calming.””
Restored violins bear sound, remembrance of Holocaust: “When a musician plays a violin long enough, the instrument is imprinted with its owner’s way of making sound. If someone else picks it up, they learn to play it in a way that honors its history. So when David Russell places a violin played in the World War II concentration camp of Auschwitz under his chin, he lets the violin tell him how to do it. The Auschwitz violin and 17 others with connections to the vanished world of Europe’s prewar Jewish communities are part of a new exhibit and performance series called “Violins of Hope.””
Round Up – Week of April 1 – 7
Things you must’ve said to your children.
Transform your iPhone with water.
The internet killed reading? Not quite.
Uptown Art: Week of April 1 – 7
Uptown Art recently welcomed a new assistant manager, Shannon – and she agreed to do an interview for us!
Say hello, Shannon!:
Hi there! I’m Shannon. All my life I’ve been a passionate Photographer, Traveler, and Crafter. I’ve moved around here and there – born in Atlanta, spent an early year in Delaware, raised in L.A., lived in Beirut, and most recently relocated to Greenville, NC.
What was your first job?:
I spent about a decade completely consumed in the wonderful world of Theater. I started as an Actress for a several years, but a fortuitously timed opening lead me to become a Stage Technician. My first job was actually as a Stage Manager for my southern California school district…while I still attended high school there. I loved it; the job, the schedule, my older coworkers & friends, and the unique perks of being a simultaneous district employee and high school student.
Speaking of school, where did you attend?:
Home Photography Studio, c/o Dad.
Upland High School, Upland CA.
Citrus College. Glendora, CA.
Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA.
What inspires you?:
Travel, above all else. My family has a unique and longstanding tradition of World Exploration that I inherited early on. Travel, of any shape or size, changes you. It changes the way you see the world and how you interact with it. It answers questions and raises even more. It opens your eyes.
What drove you to photography?:
I am a third-generation world traveler & photographer, so I guess it was in my blood. My paternal grandfather’s home was littered with exotic artifacts & photographs from his life spent as a Tour Guide & owner of a Travel Agency. There was an African Boar hide above his living room couch, next to an old black & white photo of him wearing a pith helmet sitting astride a camel on the Giza plateau. My father lived in Brazil and Germany, as well as traveling throughout Europe…all before he graduated College. They developed a passion for photography as a tool to document all they had seen; a passion that grew from there. This was my normal, growing up.
When I was little, my Dad would set up a photography studio in the living room on Saturdays. I’d stare out the windows while he metered & flashed, getting it all right. At the time, I was bored (although, years later, it was handy having him take all my acting headshots). But now, looking back, I am so thankful for the years of instruction I received at home. The connection I have to my father & grandfather. It is all invaluable to me.
Who inspired you to be an artist?:
First and foremost, I try to follow my father’s & grandfather’s example. As I grew older, and studied and traveled myself, I found other photographers whose work I admired. Travel Photographers & Photojournalists still remain my largest influences. The phenomenal James Nachtwey and Jodi Cobb (the only female Staff Photographer for National Geographic) are two in particular whom I greatly respect.
When you were younger, did you want to be something other than an artist? If so, what?:
I think like all little girls, I went through a Veterinarian phase. That is, until the watershed moment I learned that as such I’d be responsible for euthanizing sick critters. No more Veterinarian dream. Growing up in L.A., and developing a passion for Theater early on, I was bitten by the Art Bug. I knew from then on out, my life had to be centered around some form of Art. While I moved on to Travel & Photography, I still have many friends in the Performing Arts, and my twin brother makes his living as a Stage Technician through IATSE and Disney…so I feel surrounded by Artists, which I love.
What do you enjoy about creating?:
The instant gratification of having something tangible & completely unique to show for the time & energy you’ve sacrificed to create your Art.
Where has your art been published or displayed?:
Dagher, Shannon. “Where I’m At – Ballouneh, Lebanon.” JPG Magazine Oct-Nov 2008: 16-17. Print.
Dagher, Shannon. “CA. Powerline (TtV).” FILE Magazine. August 2008.
Dagher, Shannon. “99 Cents.” FILE Magazine. May 2008.
Dagher, Shannon. “German Military Coats.” FILE Magazine. April 2008.
Dagher, Shannon. “Finding Lebanon.” Everywhere Magazine Mar-Apr 2008: 74+. Print.
Dagher, Shannon. “Photo Challenge Winner—Moustache.” JPG Magazine. March 2008.
Dagher, Shannon. “Photoshop Challenge Winner.” What Digital Camera Magazine (UK). October 2007: p. 101.
Dagher, Shannon. “Featured Artist.” United Artist Guild (India). October 2007.
Photography at High Speed: A Historical and Contemporary Exhibit, Millard Sheets Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA. 2008.
We Are All Photographers Now!, Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne, Switzerland. 2007.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Art Benefit, Azusa Pacific University, Glendora, CA. 2005.
Have you ever collaborated with other artists?:
I was very proud to be a member of a small International Photography Collective, 15×100—15 Photographs By 100 Photographers, from 2008-2010. I still remain close to my fellow members and our collaboration is still alive & kicking through The Shoe From Peru Project.
What type of camera do you use?:
My Travel Photography is mostly done on my Canon DSLRs with all post done in Photoshop CS4. I originally learned to shoot on 35mm. & 120mm., and have quite an extensive collective of Antique & Vintage cameras (35mm., 120mm., and deadstock). I love to have fun trying new cameras & processing techniques.
Favorite snack while creating?:
Water, while shooting. Usually chocolate or gummy worms while editing.
What do you wish you could do?:
Make my living as a Travel Photographer / Photojournalist.
What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?:
Becoming a published photojournalist. Seeing my Lebanon photographs and stories (2005, 2007) in print.
How do you defeat artist’s block or burnout?:
Obviously, Traveling is #1. While a trans-Atlantic flight isn’t always possible in the real world, I’ve found that something as simple as getting out of town for the day can do the trick. Just drive…wander. Get lost. See what you find. Additionally, Art in general can get me going again. Perusing museums, galleries, books, the internet, or trying my hand at a new medium or craft…all of these are necessary to keep me happy and functioning.
Round Up : Week of March 18-24
Enormous Sculptures of Books Exploding Out of Buildings
“It elevates the soul, but an appetite for the arts may also do the body good. A new study found that stroke survivors who enjoyed music, painting and theater had better recovery than patients who did not.
Researchers from the University Tor Vergata School of Nursing in Rome asked 192 stroke survivors whether they did or did not like art: the participants were fairly split, with 105 reporting an interest in music, painting and theater, and 87 reporting no appreciation. The researchers then compared quality of life for patients who liked art and patients who didn’t.”
How an Appreciation for the Arts May Boost Stroke Recover
Like Public Art? There’s Now An App For That!
The Galileo is a revolutionary, iOS-controlled robotic iPhone platform with infinite spherical rotation capability. Just swipe your finger on the screen of your iPad or other iOS device and Galileo reacts, orienting your iPhone or iPod Touch accordingly. With applications in areas of photography, cinematography, social networking, and video conferencing, Galileo gives iOS devices endless possibilities of remote-controlled motion. Capable of infinite 360° pan-and-tilt at speeds up to 200° per second in any orientation, Galileo is an invaluable tool to everyone from an amateur photographer to the professional cinematographer, and vastly improves the experience of video chat for anyone needing to stay connected.
“Real Life” Disney characters.
Alberto Seveso’s stunning a Due Colori series
adsf
Uptown Art : Week of March 18-24
Hello, all! The blog has been hit-or-miss in the past… let’s see if this go ’round works a little better, hm?
This week we waved goodbye to a wonderful assistant manager. Meagan has been with Uptown Art for six years, keeping our stock [and employees!] in check, as well as bettering Uptown Art’s connection with both ECU’s School of Art and Design and PCC’s art and design classes. Our store is all the better for her having been here, and she will be greatly missed.
Thank you, Meagan! Good luck – Greenville’s loss is New York’s gain!
If you haven’t seen the new layout, check out our website!
We’ve made it easier to find whatever you’re looking for – new products, sales, or events.
We also like to think it looks prettier. But maybe that’s just us.
Speaking of changes, Uptown Art upgraded to Timeline this week!
Now you can message us if you have a question, see our latest deals and newest products, and check in at Uptown Art to let your friends know you’re here!
“For the second year in a row, some portions of the university’s Fine Arts programs did not receive funding.
Before a previous move from the Department of Student Affairs, the performing arts trio used student fees but stopped receiving funding as the budget crisis began.
The S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series and Family Fare and Arts Smart constitute the trio that did not receive funding.”
Read more of Fine arts raises does not receive funding.
“Nonprofit Uptown Greenville’s executive director is leaving the position for a job on the Outer Banks and a search committee has begun looking for her successor.
Denise Walsh will resign effective April 20 from the job she’s held since 2007.”
Read more of Uptown Greenville director to resign.
“For many, graduation will be a time for celebration, tears and reminiscing. On May 4, thousands of Pirates will walk across their respective stages and shake hands with their department’s chairman, signifying their completion of a degree. However, treacherous waters lie ahead for these soon-to-be graduates since success is difficult in today’s struggling economy.”
Read 10 tips for soon-to-be college graduates.
“The eighth annual Youth Arts Festival at ECU will be held on Saturday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Mall.
More than 100 visual and performing artists from the university and surrounding area will be present to share their talents with children and their families.
There will be activities such as wheel-thrown ceramics, watercolor painting, weaving, papermaking, printmaking, portraiture and blacksmithing.”
Be sure not to miss the Youth Arts Festival.
“Fans have been positively rabid in advance of today’s theatrical release of “The Hunger Games,” the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel of the same name, but none may be more enthusiastic than North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue. She led the push to expand tax incentives for movie production, a key factor in bringing the blockbuster to the Tar Heel State.”
Read more of Hunger Games a success for NC.
“All last summer, locals would spy Woody Harrelson on the streets of Asheville, eating raw manicotti at The Laughing Seed, often shoeless, blending in with the rest of the city’s hemp-wearing vegan vagabonds.
One of the stars of “The Hunger Games,” filmed entirely in North Carolina, Harrelson bunked at the Hotel Indigo on Haywood Street, enjoying views of the Blue Ridge Mountains through floor-to-ceiling windows – or, if he preferred, from the vantage point of a claw-foot tub.
So one day, the makers of Buchi, a brand of the bubbly tea-based beverage called kombucha, sent Harrelson a gift basket, figuring odds were slim he’d ever open it.
But the next day, the star found the staff at an Asheville arts festival, hopped shoeless off the bus and posed for pictures wearing a Navy blue Buchi T-shirt.
“I was out there slingin’ Buchi,” said Zane Adams, the drink’s marketing guru, “and he was just rockin’ the shirt.”
The movie opens today, and analysts predict the story of children dueling to the death in post-apocalyptic North America could rake in more than $100 million in its first weekend. But to Western North Carolina, the excitement peaked last year, when the cast popped up on unlikely corners.”
Read more of Hunger Games stars leave memories in NC.
“The Student Government Association is reaching out to the student body to design a monument that will be built outside of the Boneyard section at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
“In an effort to commemorate the naming of the student section and to solidify our reputation as one of the most spirited stadiums in the nation, SGA is once again partnering with the Athletics Department to commission a monument for the Boneyard student section,” said Joshua Martinkovic, SGA President.
SGA conducted the naming process for the student section two years ago and its members are mimicking that process for the monument. They are collecting submissions, then narrowing those down to several options for the student body to vote on.”
Read more on Artists needed to design monument.
Uptown Art 