If you know one thing about Canadian art history, it's the Group of Seven. Thing is, that's all I've heard about Canadian art history, and it's made me think, there has to be more to Canadian art than this! ...right?
Monday: I submitted a call for participants for my independent project to the NOW bulletin, which is published by the NSCAD Service Centre and distributed throughout the school three times a week.
Tuesday: Over lunch, there was a meeting about the grad show and catalogue. We can do either one or both, and both are voluntary, unlike NBCCD's grad show, which is a requirement of all the programs. I'm considering submitting stuff to the catalogue but not the show because of the cost of shipping my photos on top of the cost of mats and frames (Canada Post ain't cheap).
I was supposed to have an appointment with Joan that afternoon, but it was canceled because she was sick. I used the extra hour to get stuff done.
Wednesday: At the beginning of the semester, I had a look in The Plaid Place, which sells Scottish stuff, and checked out their tartan scarves. I have a Moffatt tartan scarf, but it's way too scratchy for me. The lady told me that they'd be having their annual sale (fifty per cent off) in the last week of January and the first week of February. On Wednesday I finally bought myself a scarf--or two. As I didn't have anything with the Johnston tartan (Mom's family--unfortunately, that tartan doesn't reproduce well: in addition to the gold stripe, it has dark blue, forest green and black) on it, I decided to get a Johnston tartan scarf as well.
While I did get stuff done, my time management was really bad and I was up until 2:00 AM studying for Thursday's classes...
Thursday: ...which meant that I only got about five hours of sleep, which is less than I get on Christmas (unless there's a power outage, I'm in bed at midnight and then up at 6:30 to put the cinnamon buns in the oven--and I'm someone who needs eight to nine hours of sleep a night in order to be happy).
Jayne spent the first part of class talking about the midterm exam, which will be my first-ever essay-format exam (all others have been multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank style). After class, I had a bunch of questions for her because I was new to doing an exam that way.
In between classes, I studied for Contemporary Indigenous Arts as I wanted to get a good start on the week's readings.
And yes, this week's Topics in Modern Canadian Art was about the Group of Seven. However, for the first time in my life, I was in a setting where there was freedom to actually think critically about the Group--in fact, one of the readings for this week took a step back and actually examined the Group and the National Art Gallery's role in promoting those artists to death. Apparently, the NGC's attitude has been, "if you don't like the Group of Seven, you're not Canadian or not patriotic" (which means I'm screwed: minus Harper, I love this country--but I like the Group of Seven about as much as I like Ketil Hvoslef: they're good, but not my style). I've been raised to think critically, and it's bothered me that no one has done that with the Group of Seven (at least as far as I could tell). Sure, I don't question the composers in the classical canon--but then again, I like most of them. And even with the ones that I don't like, I feel no pressure to like them and treat them like they're the best thing since music notation.
That evening I got my first response to the notice that I put on the SUNSCAD Facebook group, advertising for participants for my project.
Friday: During Helen's and my Skype chat/memorial service, she told me that she was going to be in Halifax a couple of weeks from then and we started making plans to meet. Friday was the big day and I met her on the first floor of the NSCAD library (it has three floors) and we talked for a while. Eventually Helen had to go put more money in the parking meter. On our way out, I said "hi" to Ken, who was also in the library and introduced him and Helen. The two talked for a while, discussing artist stuff. Also, yay, networking. After Helen fed the meter, we went in the NSCAD Art Supply Store's street door, as she wanted to get some supplies (unlike NBCCD's store, the NSCAD store is open to the public). Turns out, she knows Neil, the storekeeper. We finished with a thorough tour of the photo dept.--and a good, long chat with Alex and Chris (also: yay for all the random things you learn at art school. Today's topic: gardening.).
Saturday: I spent the day studying and listening to the Met.
I'm considering going to the simulcast of La Bohème. While I can afford it, the issue is that it's right at the end of the semester and therefore I'll be in the midst of studying for final exams and putting the final touches on my photo project. Keep your fingers crossed, everyone! I'd love to finish my time at university with a good Met Opera/MOO/favourite opera-induced sob-fest (Bohème never fails to turn me into a sobbing wreck in act four).
Because the BSO played a pops concert featuring the music of John Williams that evening, I thought I'd share my favourite pieces by him, some of which were on the program. Enjoy. What I would've given to hear the BSO play the Indiana Jones and Schindler's List themes...
You'll have to go to YouTube to view this one:
I still remember the time the BSO reduced me to tears with the Star Wars theme:
Sunday: Once again, I spent the day reading--while listening to opera on CBC Music in celebration of Renée Fleming's performance at the Super Bowl, which I was super-excited about (I was positively giddy as I wrote about the upcoming performance in an email to Lynn Saturday evening, and I think my excitement came across in my writing).
If you've ever wondered about Renée's vocal range--wonder no more. Long story short: it's impressive--yet another reason why she's my favourite soprano. I have always wondered about the numbers that followed note names, as in the video below, and I finally looked it up.
The video is included in this list on BuzzFeed.
Back in August, Suzanne Nance opened her final broadcast on MPBN with O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi, as sung by Renée:
I know I've shared a lot of videos (eight, to be exact) with you guys already, but I promise this is the last one. How can I deny those of you who weren't lucky enough to see Renée's performance of The Star-Spangled Banner live the joy of said performance, which was the first time an opera singer sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl? As I watched--with tears in my eyes because her singing was so beautiful--I was thinking about the significance of her performance. This is what I had been gearing up for and getting excited about since yesterday. BRAVA, RENÉE!
*"Toi, toi, toi" is the opera equivalent of "break a leg".
Showing posts with label Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metropolitan Opera Live in HD. Show all posts
Monday, February 3, 2014
Sunday, October 16, 2011
work, work, work--with a bit of fun every now and then
Brace yourself: this is a long post.
It seems like the stress comes in waves this year: I think I'm doing okay, getting stuff done, handing it in--and then all of a sudden I realize that this, this, and this are due on this day and this day, and there's still work to be done on the majority of those assignments. And all of a sudden I feel like I'm hydroplaning, spinning out of control. That's what the last few days have been like for me--which is really frustrating when you consider that my time-management skills were really good last year...
Monday (Thanksgiving): I spent most of the day doing homework, and enjoying my last full day at home. 'Nuff said.
Tuesday: Mom and I drove back to F'ton, and I spent the better part of the afternoon putting stuff away. I planned to do homework, but didn't get around to it.
Wednesday: Back to Earth with a bUmP. This week's Photoshop class was all about animation and video: we made a short video that was shot by Drew--there were several to choose from, shot in various locations in the school--appear as though it were playing on a TV. Although there were several TVs to choose from in the homework folder, I wanted to find a photo of a TV like the one that my family used to have. The TV was a Sony cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV, which Tom's parents bought in '68. It was then passed down to my parents, and we had it until a few years ago--I can't remember when that thing bit the dust (the screen started going wonky, though I can't remember what it did--I keep confusing it with the TV that we got afterwards, which didn't live long). After much googling, I finally found a photo on Flickr. I think the TV in the photo is a few years older or younger: the RGB icon is in a different place than it was on my family's TV, and I seem to remember that the bars in the speaker grille were horizontal rather than vertical. But it was close enough, so I used it.
The video that I chose was one that Drew shot last year in the Design Studio. There were a couple shot in that studio, and of course I had to choose the one that had one of my projects in it.
At noon, the Student Representative Council (SRC) had a meet-and-greet in the Design Studio. I went, and let's just say that this year's going to be the best year ever: while NBCCD is one of the best art schools in Canada, for as long as I've been a student here, it's kinda sucked in terms of events and a feeling of community outside your own studio. Which really sucks if you're an FVA student: since you haven't yet chosen a studio, you don't have anywhere in the school to call home. Also, this year there will be several student-run committees, and each studio will have two student representatives, and each FVA group will have one rep (I think--I don't think it's two). As someone who's wanted to get involved in making her school awesome, but who's never had any interest in running for SRC, I think this is the best thing since art school. Some of the committees are: yearbook (yes, really--we're finally going to have a yearbook again!), student life, events (which I signed up for), and orientation, which won't truly take effect until next September--but we need to start planning now.
Orientation is another thing that NBCCD has kind of sucked at: while it's great to spend Orientation Day with your academic adviser (yay Adam and Blue Group '09!), that one day is all you get. Up to now, NBCCD's attitude has been, "here's where everything is, here's your academic adviser, here's the registrar, here's Endeavours ArtStuff, here's Read's Newsstand, here's some barbecue--now get to class!" Which isn't the most welcoming experience. Yes, it's welcoming to an extent, but it pales in comparison to UNB's Orientation Week! UNB takes a whole week to not only show freshmen around the campus, but to host events to make them feel welcome in the university community. Corn boils, and Shinerama, and Movie on the Hill--oh, my!
Thursday: As I said last week, I wasn't "to show my face in class." I spent all day in the darkroom (minus a meeting with Trudy in the morning) overdosing on opera--if that's possible--and cranking out the photos. And singing along in Italiano e/et Français. By the time I was done, I was hungry, my legs were protesting, and I was physically exhausted: once I got started after downing a couple of muffins for breakfast (I sipped my coffee throughout the morning), I hadn't stopped for one second that day. But my work was done.
That evening was the official opening of the college's new expansion in the Barracks. So just before the festivities began at seven (six EDT), I walked across the courtyard from the main building to the Barracks. As I walked over, my excitement and happiness welled up inside me, and I swallowed back a couple of big sobs: the Barracks was thisclose to being officially complete, after two-and-a-bit school years. While the building isn't totally finished, it's finished enough that students who don't have classes there can go over--for example, if they need to check something out of the college's library, which has moved from the room across from the Design Studio to the Barracks--I think it's on the third floor.
As with any snazzy event, there were speeches: F'ton Mayor Brad Woodside and UNB Art Education prof (and Mom's and my friend) Mary Blatherwick being the most notable. There were one or two others, but I can't remember their names. Of course, NBCCD's principle, Michael Maynard, was there. Picaroons Traditional Ales sponsored the event, so that meant free beer--Picaroons Blonde Ale, to be exact, which is similar in taste to a Keith's India Pale Ale, but with a bit more oomph and complexity. The school usually prohibits alcohol on campus, so this was an exception.
When we'd had enough of the loudness and the crowd, Karen and I and a couple of other people explored the rest of the building.
The crowd and I finished the evening in the new library, browsing the shelves, and admiring the library's impressive collection of National Film Board of Canada (NFB) videos and DVDs. When it was across from the Design Studio, the college's library was full beyond capacity. In it's current incarnation the library is full, yes, but there's lots of space for more books, DVDs, journals and magazines. The librarian, Julie McDonald, was at the opening, and when we all headed up to the library, she did, too, and while everyone was browsing and talking, she walked in and sat down behind her desk. She looked totally at home in the new location.
I eventually went back to the main building via the gallery, which also had a show opening that evening. Since the darkroom hadn't been cleaned up, I took care of it: dumping the developer, pouring the stop bath back in it's jug, pouring the first fix (fresh) into a jug, dumping the second (used once before), and washing the plastic tubs and the tongs. After doing homework for an hour or so, I started thinking about going home. Karen stopped by the studio, and offered me a ride back to my place since she was headed home, too--and it was pouring outside. After I packed up and turned off the studio lights, I met Karen downstairs (she had to lock up the gallery) and she drove me home.
And in case you're wondering, I pulled a twelve-hour day that day. **whew!** There's a reason why I don't have a job during the school year: school is a full-time job in itself, and I do a lot of overtime as well. Only thing is, I don't get paid in money--I get paid in credits, which count towards my diploma, and eventually will count toward my BFA.
Friday: I was back at it again that afternoon, doing everything from printing off my ticket for the simulcast, to profiling the printer--though I want to do it again, because I used Enhanced Matte paper, and I usually use Premium Luster when I print my photos--finishing my Photoshop homework, paying back Peter (when I did my darkroom blitz on Thursday, I ran out of paper and borrowed some from Peter, with a promise to pay him back when I bought a new pack of paper), and working on the business plan.
Saturday (Simulcast Day): I didn't get any homework done. Instead, I wrote part of this blog post (which I started on Friday, BTW), and got ready for the opera.
And this time I was actually well-rested: the night before both Turandot ('09) and Das Rheingold ('10), I was so excited that I barely slept the night before the opera. It might have had to do with the fact that I was completely exhausted after Friday's excitement.
This was my first time attending a performance with a friend: Liz, who is a fellow Met fan. This was her first simulcast, and I think she's hooked now.
We met up at the bus stop a few minutes from my place. I was way early, but after waiting for what felt like forever (excitement does that), I saw someone who looked like Liz coming from the direction of UNB. I didn't want to get excited, just in case it wasn't her, but as she got closer, I saw that it was her, and I started running towards her. She started running to me, and we almost crashed into each other, which turned into a gigantic hug. We chatted and filled each other in on our lives as we waited.
The buses in F'ton are fairly reliable: if they say that they're going to be at one of the bus stops at 12:15, they mean 12:15--not 12:14, not 12:16. So it surprised both of us when the bus was early. And because we were in the convenience store across from the bus stop at the time, it sped by without stopping. We both tore out of the store and ran for the next stop, but it was too late. There went the bus up the hill to the UNB campus--without us. So Liz called a cab, and we talked some more as we waited--again. Finally, the cab arrived and in a few minutes we were pulling up to the food court entrance of the Regent Mall.
Since we were going to an Italian opera, we both opted for Italian food. And we chatted some more as we waited for our food, and then chatted some more as we ate lunch.
Afterward, we walked to the Chapters store across from the theatre and spent a few minutes there, and then went to the movie theatre. And yes, we chatted even more as we waited for the transmission to start.
This simulcast was almost flawless: there were a couple of blips, but nothing like the issues that I experienced at my first simulcast (Turandot). As to the production itself, I both liked and disliked it. The whole thing (sets, costumes) is very dark, plain and drab, with the exception of some of Anne Boleyn's costumes--one of which is a beautiful deep red, almost maroon--and while I understand why producer David McVicar, set designer Robert Jones, costume designer Jenny Tiramani, and lighting designer Paule Constable did it that way--to set the mood, and also to recreate what people wore back then (a lot of dark clothes)--the production came off as boring.
However, the music was anything but. The role of Anna Bolena (Anne Boleyn) is one of the most difficult and demanding soprano roles: it requires the singer to sing--or, in Anna Netrebko's words, "shout"--in the lower register "for half the opera. [Donezetti] wants that nasty, chesty voice--he wants it to sound uncomfortable!" Here's an example, as sung by Beverly Sills. Watch out for the lines "manca solo a compire / il delitto d'Anna il sangue / e vesato sara," which Anna (the soprano) refers to in the article.
This performance was the first simulcast in Anna's home country of Russia.
And it was sold out at the opera house.
After the performance, Liz and I consulted the bus schedule and groaned about the fact that the next bus wouldn't arrive for over an hour. So since Liz's dad was in town for a conference, she called him for a ride and we got a ride back to our respective dorm/apartment, and I spent the rest of the evening writing this post in spurts.
This afternoon, after I take a shower, I'm going to the college to get some serious work done. I'm also going to skype with Mom and Tom at some point.
It seems like the stress comes in waves this year: I think I'm doing okay, getting stuff done, handing it in--and then all of a sudden I realize that this, this, and this are due on this day and this day, and there's still work to be done on the majority of those assignments. And all of a sudden I feel like I'm hydroplaning, spinning out of control. That's what the last few days have been like for me--which is really frustrating when you consider that my time-management skills were really good last year...
Monday (Thanksgiving): I spent most of the day doing homework, and enjoying my last full day at home. 'Nuff said.
Tuesday: Mom and I drove back to F'ton, and I spent the better part of the afternoon putting stuff away. I planned to do homework, but didn't get around to it.
Wednesday: Back to Earth with a bUmP. This week's Photoshop class was all about animation and video: we made a short video that was shot by Drew--there were several to choose from, shot in various locations in the school--appear as though it were playing on a TV. Although there were several TVs to choose from in the homework folder, I wanted to find a photo of a TV like the one that my family used to have. The TV was a Sony cathode-ray tube (CRT) TV, which Tom's parents bought in '68. It was then passed down to my parents, and we had it until a few years ago--I can't remember when that thing bit the dust (the screen started going wonky, though I can't remember what it did--I keep confusing it with the TV that we got afterwards, which didn't live long). After much googling, I finally found a photo on Flickr. I think the TV in the photo is a few years older or younger: the RGB icon is in a different place than it was on my family's TV, and I seem to remember that the bars in the speaker grille were horizontal rather than vertical. But it was close enough, so I used it.
The video that I chose was one that Drew shot last year in the Design Studio. There were a couple shot in that studio, and of course I had to choose the one that had one of my projects in it.
At noon, the Student Representative Council (SRC) had a meet-and-greet in the Design Studio. I went, and let's just say that this year's going to be the best year ever: while NBCCD is one of the best art schools in Canada, for as long as I've been a student here, it's kinda sucked in terms of events and a feeling of community outside your own studio. Which really sucks if you're an FVA student: since you haven't yet chosen a studio, you don't have anywhere in the school to call home. Also, this year there will be several student-run committees, and each studio will have two student representatives, and each FVA group will have one rep (I think--I don't think it's two). As someone who's wanted to get involved in making her school awesome, but who's never had any interest in running for SRC, I think this is the best thing since art school. Some of the committees are: yearbook (yes, really--we're finally going to have a yearbook again!), student life, events (which I signed up for), and orientation, which won't truly take effect until next September--but we need to start planning now.
Orientation is another thing that NBCCD has kind of sucked at: while it's great to spend Orientation Day with your academic adviser (yay Adam and Blue Group '09!), that one day is all you get. Up to now, NBCCD's attitude has been, "here's where everything is, here's your academic adviser, here's the registrar, here's Endeavours ArtStuff, here's Read's Newsstand, here's some barbecue--now get to class!" Which isn't the most welcoming experience. Yes, it's welcoming to an extent, but it pales in comparison to UNB's Orientation Week! UNB takes a whole week to not only show freshmen around the campus, but to host events to make them feel welcome in the university community. Corn boils, and Shinerama, and Movie on the Hill--oh, my!
Thursday: As I said last week, I wasn't "to show my face in class." I spent all day in the darkroom (minus a meeting with Trudy in the morning) overdosing on opera--if that's possible--and cranking out the photos. And singing along in Italiano e/et Français. By the time I was done, I was hungry, my legs were protesting, and I was physically exhausted: once I got started after downing a couple of muffins for breakfast (I sipped my coffee throughout the morning), I hadn't stopped for one second that day. But my work was done.
That evening was the official opening of the college's new expansion in the Barracks. So just before the festivities began at seven (six EDT), I walked across the courtyard from the main building to the Barracks. As I walked over, my excitement and happiness welled up inside me, and I swallowed back a couple of big sobs: the Barracks was thisclose to being officially complete, after two-and-a-bit school years. While the building isn't totally finished, it's finished enough that students who don't have classes there can go over--for example, if they need to check something out of the college's library, which has moved from the room across from the Design Studio to the Barracks--I think it's on the third floor.
As with any snazzy event, there were speeches: F'ton Mayor Brad Woodside and UNB Art Education prof (and Mom's and my friend) Mary Blatherwick being the most notable. There were one or two others, but I can't remember their names. Of course, NBCCD's principle, Michael Maynard, was there. Picaroons Traditional Ales sponsored the event, so that meant free beer--Picaroons Blonde Ale, to be exact, which is similar in taste to a Keith's India Pale Ale, but with a bit more oomph and complexity. The school usually prohibits alcohol on campus, so this was an exception.
When we'd had enough of the loudness and the crowd, Karen and I and a couple of other people explored the rest of the building.
 |
| The view from the upper deck (third floor) of the Barracks, shot the day after the opening. |
 |
| The upper deck (third floor) of the Barracks, and NBCCD, shot the day after the opening. |
I eventually went back to the main building via the gallery, which also had a show opening that evening. Since the darkroom hadn't been cleaned up, I took care of it: dumping the developer, pouring the stop bath back in it's jug, pouring the first fix (fresh) into a jug, dumping the second (used once before), and washing the plastic tubs and the tongs. After doing homework for an hour or so, I started thinking about going home. Karen stopped by the studio, and offered me a ride back to my place since she was headed home, too--and it was pouring outside. After I packed up and turned off the studio lights, I met Karen downstairs (she had to lock up the gallery) and she drove me home.
And in case you're wondering, I pulled a twelve-hour day that day. **whew!** There's a reason why I don't have a job during the school year: school is a full-time job in itself, and I do a lot of overtime as well. Only thing is, I don't get paid in money--I get paid in credits, which count towards my diploma, and eventually will count toward my BFA.
Friday: I was back at it again that afternoon, doing everything from printing off my ticket for the simulcast, to profiling the printer--though I want to do it again, because I used Enhanced Matte paper, and I usually use Premium Luster when I print my photos--finishing my Photoshop homework, paying back Peter (when I did my darkroom blitz on Thursday, I ran out of paper and borrowed some from Peter, with a promise to pay him back when I bought a new pack of paper), and working on the business plan.
Saturday (Simulcast Day): I didn't get any homework done. Instead, I wrote part of this blog post (which I started on Friday, BTW), and got ready for the opera.
And this time I was actually well-rested: the night before both Turandot ('09) and Das Rheingold ('10), I was so excited that I barely slept the night before the opera. It might have had to do with the fact that I was completely exhausted after Friday's excitement.
This was my first time attending a performance with a friend: Liz, who is a fellow Met fan. This was her first simulcast, and I think she's hooked now.
We met up at the bus stop a few minutes from my place. I was way early, but after waiting for what felt like forever (excitement does that), I saw someone who looked like Liz coming from the direction of UNB. I didn't want to get excited, just in case it wasn't her, but as she got closer, I saw that it was her, and I started running towards her. She started running to me, and we almost crashed into each other, which turned into a gigantic hug. We chatted and filled each other in on our lives as we waited.
The buses in F'ton are fairly reliable: if they say that they're going to be at one of the bus stops at 12:15, they mean 12:15--not 12:14, not 12:16. So it surprised both of us when the bus was early. And because we were in the convenience store across from the bus stop at the time, it sped by without stopping. We both tore out of the store and ran for the next stop, but it was too late. There went the bus up the hill to the UNB campus--without us. So Liz called a cab, and we talked some more as we waited--again. Finally, the cab arrived and in a few minutes we were pulling up to the food court entrance of the Regent Mall.
Since we were going to an Italian opera, we both opted for Italian food. And we chatted some more as we waited for our food, and then chatted some more as we ate lunch.
Afterward, we walked to the Chapters store across from the theatre and spent a few minutes there, and then went to the movie theatre. And yes, we chatted even more as we waited for the transmission to start.
This simulcast was almost flawless: there were a couple of blips, but nothing like the issues that I experienced at my first simulcast (Turandot). As to the production itself, I both liked and disliked it. The whole thing (sets, costumes) is very dark, plain and drab, with the exception of some of Anne Boleyn's costumes--one of which is a beautiful deep red, almost maroon--and while I understand why producer David McVicar, set designer Robert Jones, costume designer Jenny Tiramani, and lighting designer Paule Constable did it that way--to set the mood, and also to recreate what people wore back then (a lot of dark clothes)--the production came off as boring.
However, the music was anything but. The role of Anna Bolena (Anne Boleyn) is one of the most difficult and demanding soprano roles: it requires the singer to sing--or, in Anna Netrebko's words, "shout"--in the lower register "for half the opera. [Donezetti] wants that nasty, chesty voice--he wants it to sound uncomfortable!" Here's an example, as sung by Beverly Sills. Watch out for the lines "manca solo a compire / il delitto d'Anna il sangue / e vesato sara," which Anna (the soprano) refers to in the article.
This performance was the first simulcast in Anna's home country of Russia.
And it was sold out at the opera house.
After the performance, Liz and I consulted the bus schedule and groaned about the fact that the next bus wouldn't arrive for over an hour. So since Liz's dad was in town for a conference, she called him for a ride and we got a ride back to our respective dorm/apartment, and I spent the rest of the evening writing this post in spurts.
This afternoon, after I take a shower, I'm going to the college to get some serious work done. I'm also going to skype with Mom and Tom at some point.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
confessions of an art addict
After the non-weekend that was last weekend, this week I made a point of getting as much work as possible done between Tuesday and Thursday. I knew I'd have stuff that I needed to work on over the weekend (for example, my drawing assignment, which isn't due until the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend), but I didn't want to be doing homework all day for three days straight, crashing into bed every night, and waking up exhausted every morning. Mission accomplished.
Monday: This time Adam took us outside--to the Loyalist Cemetery (between George and Brunswick Sts., with Carleton St. stopping at the south end of the cemetery and picking up again at the north end). I couldn't resist taking off my sandals (a pair of Tevas that have probably been through everything except snow), having worn them since about eight (seven EDT) that morning.
As that night was the Met Opera's Opening Night (the Met premiere of Anna Bolena, with Anna Netrebko in the title role and Marco Armiliato conducting a certain favourite orchestra), I listened to the last few minutes of the second--and final--act of the opera when I got home. For the first time in several years, the Met pretty much nailed the opening night performance (in '09, the director, producer, and the rest of the team were booed when they appeared onstage after the performance; and opera-philes are still iffy about Robert Lepage's production of the Ring Cycle). And that brings me to...
Tuesday: Drum-roll please: I ordered my ticket to the Met's Live in HD simulcast of Anna Bolena!!! I'd originally planned to order the ticket last weekend, but they weren't on sale at the time. Time to start counting down to October fifteenth (by the way, that performance is completely sold out at the opera house)! And this time I'm going with a friend who's a fellow Met fan (I went to the other simulcasts alone)!
I also calibrated my MacBook Pro's screen. This is the second time that I've done that, but it's the first time that I've done a really good, thorough job. The screen has more of a magenta tone to it now, but the blues are noticeably richer.
That day I decided that next weekend (this weekend) wouldn't be another non-weekend weekend, and I dug into my homework that afternoon.
Bonus: I was well-rested for the first time since the Thursday before the non-weekend weekend (September twenty-second). And as a result, I felt like the happiest woman in Southside F'ton.
Wednesday: I started the day bright and early by rolling film before Photoshop class. I considered developing it, but realized that I didn't have enough time. So I stuck the canister (which is light-proof) in my locker, to be developed after lighting class.
Thursday: That afternoon I finally finished the reading for Output--as I believe I said before, one of the textbooks that Drew has us reading from, Fine Art Printing for Photographers, 2nd edition, is fond of long chapters. I've been reading each chapter all in one go, but I've found that that's a bit much for me, especially when I have a bunch of other assignments bouncing up and down and trying to get my attention: "pick me! I'm due on Thursday!," "pick me! I'm due on Monday!" So this week, I decided to split it up into at least two readings: half the chapter on Tuesday, the other half later in the week. Done.
My independent study project is starting to come together even more: Peter had me bang out a bunch of quick 'n' dirty prints that might work for the project, and I'm glad I did that. It renewed my excitement for the project, and helped to give me some ideas as to where I might like to take said project in the coming weeks.
That evening was the first of two show openings that I went to this week, both of which feature work by one or other of my teachers: Obscura: Confessions of a Pinhole Photographer opened at the Campus Gallery. Obscura is a show of photos (both black and white and colour) taken with pinhole cameras by Drew Gilbert, who's my Digital Output, Lighting, and Photoshop teacher. Here's a PDF version of the poster.
The show also features some of his camera obscura photos. For the last decade or so, Drew has built a camera obscura in every single place that he's lived--sometimes he's moved just to make a camera obscura at that location.
In addition to Drew's work, one of my classmates, Erin, who's also into pinhole photography, showed a few of her photos on two of the walls. Some of the photos were straight-up pinhole photos, but some of them were taken using a technique called solargraphy. Solargraphy is when you use a pinhole camera to track the sun's path over the course of a month or more. The sun is recorded as bands (either white or coloured) across the paper. After X number of months, you cover the hole, take the whole thing into a darkroom, and scan the image (no developing). Because the photo isn't fixed, you have one chance and only one chance to scan the image. Drew and Erin had to work on that a bit...
As a special touch to the opening, Karen had some of Drew's students talk about what they like about Drew. I spoke, but right now I can't remember what my exact point was. I think it was that Drew is really approachable.
After the show, I went back to the photo studio--specifically, the darkroom--and cranked out those photos for the independent study project.
Friday: That day was primarily a work day, and I spent most of it working on stuff for Preparing for Professional Life. However, I also shot my Lighting assignment (shiny objects).
But that evening, there was another show opening: Boneyard Blues by Adam MacDonald (yes, my drawing teacher), and Funcrush by Jean Rooney at Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts. I met Karen and one of her friends in the NBCCD gallery that afternoon, and we walked over to Art + Concepts (on Regent St., just up from King St.).
As usual, Adam's work sent my head for a spin, and I felt like there was something more to it that my brain just wasn't grasping. But that's what I love about his work: I want my brain to be stretched, twisted and spun. I might go back at some point between now and the eighteenth, which is when the show comes down. Neither of the artists spoke, but I was cool with that: until I started going to show openings in F'ton, I hadn't been to an opening where the artists spoke, so it was a new, and even foreign, experience for me. It's still rather new.
Boneyard Blues was also a milestone for me: after being a student at NBCCD for two-and-a-bit school years, and knowing Adam as my academic adviser, teacher, and favourite artist, and hearing about his shows at Art + Concepts (this one is his fourth there, and the third since I started at NBCCD), I finally made it to one of his openings (I'm not counting Journey into WHATEVER, because that one was super-easy to get to because it was at the college gallery)! The first one that I heard about (in the spring of '10), I would've gone to if I hadn't been going home that weekend. The second one I knew about, but the wording on the Art + Concepts website was a bit confusing as to where and when the show was to take place, so I didn't make it to that one. This time, it was very clear as to where and when the show was, and since I had yet to make it to the opening of one of Adam's shows, I decided that I would make a point of going. No ifs, ands, or buts--I. would. be there.
Saturday: Yesterday was the second annual Guess Who? fundraiser, put on by Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Inc. Just like last year, the event was sold out, and all 119 canvases (created by 104 artists, including Mom and me) went to good homes (you can tell that I've had too much exposure to cat rescuing and adoption). The event raised $13,200.00 for the centre.
Next weekend is Thanksgiving weekend, so I'll be going home for the first time this year. Yippee! Home on Thursday before Thanksgiving, and back to F'ton on Tuesday!
PS: In case you're wondering, yes, the title of this post is a play on the title of the show that's currently hanging in the NBCCD Gallery. ;-)
Monday: This time Adam took us outside--to the Loyalist Cemetery (between George and Brunswick Sts., with Carleton St. stopping at the south end of the cemetery and picking up again at the north end). I couldn't resist taking off my sandals (a pair of Tevas that have probably been through everything except snow), having worn them since about eight (seven EDT) that morning.
As that night was the Met Opera's Opening Night (the Met premiere of Anna Bolena, with Anna Netrebko in the title role and Marco Armiliato conducting a certain favourite orchestra), I listened to the last few minutes of the second--and final--act of the opera when I got home. For the first time in several years, the Met pretty much nailed the opening night performance (in '09, the director, producer, and the rest of the team were booed when they appeared onstage after the performance; and opera-philes are still iffy about Robert Lepage's production of the Ring Cycle). And that brings me to...
Tuesday: Drum-roll please: I ordered my ticket to the Met's Live in HD simulcast of Anna Bolena!!! I'd originally planned to order the ticket last weekend, but they weren't on sale at the time. Time to start counting down to October fifteenth (by the way, that performance is completely sold out at the opera house)! And this time I'm going with a friend who's a fellow Met fan (I went to the other simulcasts alone)!
I also calibrated my MacBook Pro's screen. This is the second time that I've done that, but it's the first time that I've done a really good, thorough job. The screen has more of a magenta tone to it now, but the blues are noticeably richer.
That day I decided that next weekend (this weekend) wouldn't be another non-weekend weekend, and I dug into my homework that afternoon.
Bonus: I was well-rested for the first time since the Thursday before the non-weekend weekend (September twenty-second). And as a result, I felt like the happiest woman in Southside F'ton.
Wednesday: I started the day bright and early by rolling film before Photoshop class. I considered developing it, but realized that I didn't have enough time. So I stuck the canister (which is light-proof) in my locker, to be developed after lighting class.
Thursday: That afternoon I finally finished the reading for Output--as I believe I said before, one of the textbooks that Drew has us reading from, Fine Art Printing for Photographers, 2nd edition, is fond of long chapters. I've been reading each chapter all in one go, but I've found that that's a bit much for me, especially when I have a bunch of other assignments bouncing up and down and trying to get my attention: "pick me! I'm due on Thursday!," "pick me! I'm due on Monday!" So this week, I decided to split it up into at least two readings: half the chapter on Tuesday, the other half later in the week. Done.
My independent study project is starting to come together even more: Peter had me bang out a bunch of quick 'n' dirty prints that might work for the project, and I'm glad I did that. It renewed my excitement for the project, and helped to give me some ideas as to where I might like to take said project in the coming weeks.
That evening was the first of two show openings that I went to this week, both of which feature work by one or other of my teachers: Obscura: Confessions of a Pinhole Photographer opened at the Campus Gallery. Obscura is a show of photos (both black and white and colour) taken with pinhole cameras by Drew Gilbert, who's my Digital Output, Lighting, and Photoshop teacher. Here's a PDF version of the poster.
The show also features some of his camera obscura photos. For the last decade or so, Drew has built a camera obscura in every single place that he's lived--sometimes he's moved just to make a camera obscura at that location.
In addition to Drew's work, one of my classmates, Erin, who's also into pinhole photography, showed a few of her photos on two of the walls. Some of the photos were straight-up pinhole photos, but some of them were taken using a technique called solargraphy. Solargraphy is when you use a pinhole camera to track the sun's path over the course of a month or more. The sun is recorded as bands (either white or coloured) across the paper. After X number of months, you cover the hole, take the whole thing into a darkroom, and scan the image (no developing). Because the photo isn't fixed, you have one chance and only one chance to scan the image. Drew and Erin had to work on that a bit...
As a special touch to the opening, Karen had some of Drew's students talk about what they like about Drew. I spoke, but right now I can't remember what my exact point was. I think it was that Drew is really approachable.
After the show, I went back to the photo studio--specifically, the darkroom--and cranked out those photos for the independent study project.
Friday: That day was primarily a work day, and I spent most of it working on stuff for Preparing for Professional Life. However, I also shot my Lighting assignment (shiny objects).
But that evening, there was another show opening: Boneyard Blues by Adam MacDonald (yes, my drawing teacher), and Funcrush by Jean Rooney at Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts. I met Karen and one of her friends in the NBCCD gallery that afternoon, and we walked over to Art + Concepts (on Regent St., just up from King St.).
As usual, Adam's work sent my head for a spin, and I felt like there was something more to it that my brain just wasn't grasping. But that's what I love about his work: I want my brain to be stretched, twisted and spun. I might go back at some point between now and the eighteenth, which is when the show comes down. Neither of the artists spoke, but I was cool with that: until I started going to show openings in F'ton, I hadn't been to an opening where the artists spoke, so it was a new, and even foreign, experience for me. It's still rather new.
Boneyard Blues was also a milestone for me: after being a student at NBCCD for two-and-a-bit school years, and knowing Adam as my academic adviser, teacher, and favourite artist, and hearing about his shows at Art + Concepts (this one is his fourth there, and the third since I started at NBCCD), I finally made it to one of his openings (I'm not counting Journey into WHATEVER, because that one was super-easy to get to because it was at the college gallery)! The first one that I heard about (in the spring of '10), I would've gone to if I hadn't been going home that weekend. The second one I knew about, but the wording on the Art + Concepts website was a bit confusing as to where and when the show was to take place, so I didn't make it to that one. This time, it was very clear as to where and when the show was, and since I had yet to make it to the opening of one of Adam's shows, I decided that I would make a point of going. No ifs, ands, or buts--I. would. be there.
Saturday: Yesterday was the second annual Guess Who? fundraiser, put on by Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Inc. Just like last year, the event was sold out, and all 119 canvases (created by 104 artists, including Mom and me) went to good homes (you can tell that I've had too much exposure to cat rescuing and adoption). The event raised $13,200.00 for the centre.
Next weekend is Thanksgiving weekend, so I'll be going home for the first time this year. Yippee! Home on Thursday before Thanksgiving, and back to F'ton on Tuesday!
PS: In case you're wondering, yes, the title of this post is a play on the title of the show that's currently hanging in the NBCCD Gallery. ;-)
 |
| In the Hall of the Mountain King, inspired by Grieg's piece by the same name. This was my creation for Guess Who? |
Sunday, September 25, 2011
crazy-busy
I'm still adjusting to this year, which surprises me: I'm normally fairly well-adjusted by Week Three, but the last few weeks have been incredibly intense. And I need to work on my time management.
Monday: Although I was tired and could've done with an hour more of sleep, I was able to finish the day with more energy than the week before. Drawing class was also less intense than the week before, which was nice (thanks, Adam!).
I haven't said anything about my morning class (Preparing for Professional Life). I can sum up the entire class with, "NBCCD doesn't want you to be a starving artist post-graduation." And because I'm totally clueless about business stuff, I have a lot to learn.
My output class is as interesting as I expected it to be, which is good because from the moment I first heard about that class last year, I placed a high priority on it, because I want to be able to produce high-quality prints that will last a hundred years MINIMUM (which means that I'd better find an alternative to Kodak kiosks fast, because, as I found out this week, those prints only last about twenty years). By the way, did you know that when ink-jet photo printers first came on the market about two decades ago, the photos that they produced only lasted a few weeks--or just a few days if they were exposed to sunlight? Yikes. We've come a long way in twenty-five years.
Tuesday: I spent the day getting stuff done: editing photos from my Lighting homework, getting them ready to hand in and submitting them; shooting a roll of T-MAX for my independent study project; copying notes from my Monday morning class... It usually only takes me about half an hour to walk from my dorm to the college, but this time it took me about two hours because I was constantly looking for possible photos and then shooting them.
Wednesday: This week's Lighting assignment was to shoot using three flashes, and I got my assignment done right after class. Since the beginning of the semester, I've wanted to photograph the cameras that are just sitting on top of the lockers in the photo studio. I want to document them before I graduate next year because they're so quirky, clunky-looking and cool. I've always loved old stuff (I'm looking at you, Beethoven, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky), and cameras are no different--even if you can no longer get film for them.
Thursday: I finally crossed "say 'hi' to Rod" off of my to-do list for this semester. I still laugh when I think of the double-take he did when he saw me (knowing him, he was jesting). Ah, Rod and his sense of humour...
My independent study project has started to become more focused: this coming week, I'm going to shoot a couple rolls, and try to find "mates" (or, as Peter put it, "play match-maker"--ah, photo studio humour) for the photos from the first two rolls that I deem to be the best of the best.
That evening I listened to a live concert by Arcade Fire on CBC Radio 3, which was part of the POP Montreal festival. And yes, I sang along with my favourite songs.
Friday: And thus began my crazy-busy "weekend". I put it in quotation marks because it really wasn't much of a weekend because I was working my butt off all day, every day, for three days straight. That day I plowed through the readings for Output, worked on my homework for Drawing (a two-week project that's due tomorrow evening), got help with one of my Photoshop assignments (turns out, I had the layer order screwed up), copied the notes from my photo-shoot for my lighting assignment. ...and stayed at school until about eleven (ten EDT) that night (which is a record for me).
Saturday: Yesterday was Moving Planet (a worldwide event put on by 350.org), but I didn't attend the event here in F'ton due to my workload. However, I did manage to finish my drawing homework. And although I stayed at school late, I was outta there by about 9:30 (8:30 EDT), though I was absolutely wiped.
I also posted the letter that I wrote to Jack Layton a month ago. You can read it here.
Sunday: Today I finally took care of the business plan that's due tomorrow morning.
I planned to order tickets to Anna Bolena this weekend, but Empire Theatres isn't letting me: they say that there are no showtimes available for any of the simulcasts at the theatre here in Fredericton. I double-checked with the Met, and Empire Studio 10 Regent Mall is on the list for the 2011/2012 season, so something's screwy. I planned to call the theatre on Friday, but I was so busy that I didn't get around to it. I'll try to call them on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed, everyone!
Monday: Although I was tired and could've done with an hour more of sleep, I was able to finish the day with more energy than the week before. Drawing class was also less intense than the week before, which was nice (thanks, Adam!).
I haven't said anything about my morning class (Preparing for Professional Life). I can sum up the entire class with, "NBCCD doesn't want you to be a starving artist post-graduation." And because I'm totally clueless about business stuff, I have a lot to learn.
My output class is as interesting as I expected it to be, which is good because from the moment I first heard about that class last year, I placed a high priority on it, because I want to be able to produce high-quality prints that will last a hundred years MINIMUM (which means that I'd better find an alternative to Kodak kiosks fast, because, as I found out this week, those prints only last about twenty years). By the way, did you know that when ink-jet photo printers first came on the market about two decades ago, the photos that they produced only lasted a few weeks--or just a few days if they were exposed to sunlight? Yikes. We've come a long way in twenty-five years.
Tuesday: I spent the day getting stuff done: editing photos from my Lighting homework, getting them ready to hand in and submitting them; shooting a roll of T-MAX for my independent study project; copying notes from my Monday morning class... It usually only takes me about half an hour to walk from my dorm to the college, but this time it took me about two hours because I was constantly looking for possible photos and then shooting them.
Wednesday: This week's Lighting assignment was to shoot using three flashes, and I got my assignment done right after class. Since the beginning of the semester, I've wanted to photograph the cameras that are just sitting on top of the lockers in the photo studio. I want to document them before I graduate next year because they're so quirky, clunky-looking and cool. I've always loved old stuff (I'm looking at you, Beethoven, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky), and cameras are no different--even if you can no longer get film for them.
Thursday: I finally crossed "say 'hi' to Rod" off of my to-do list for this semester. I still laugh when I think of the double-take he did when he saw me (knowing him, he was jesting). Ah, Rod and his sense of humour...
My independent study project has started to become more focused: this coming week, I'm going to shoot a couple rolls, and try to find "mates" (or, as Peter put it, "play match-maker"--ah, photo studio humour) for the photos from the first two rolls that I deem to be the best of the best.
That evening I listened to a live concert by Arcade Fire on CBC Radio 3, which was part of the POP Montreal festival. And yes, I sang along with my favourite songs.
Friday: And thus began my crazy-busy "weekend". I put it in quotation marks because it really wasn't much of a weekend because I was working my butt off all day, every day, for three days straight. That day I plowed through the readings for Output, worked on my homework for Drawing (a two-week project that's due tomorrow evening), got help with one of my Photoshop assignments (turns out, I had the layer order screwed up), copied the notes from my photo-shoot for my lighting assignment. ...and stayed at school until about eleven (ten EDT) that night (which is a record for me).
Saturday: Yesterday was Moving Planet (a worldwide event put on by 350.org), but I didn't attend the event here in F'ton due to my workload. However, I did manage to finish my drawing homework. And although I stayed at school late, I was outta there by about 9:30 (8:30 EDT), though I was absolutely wiped.
I also posted the letter that I wrote to Jack Layton a month ago. You can read it here.
Sunday: Today I finally took care of the business plan that's due tomorrow morning.
I planned to order tickets to Anna Bolena this weekend, but Empire Theatres isn't letting me: they say that there are no showtimes available for any of the simulcasts at the theatre here in Fredericton. I double-checked with the Met, and Empire Studio 10 Regent Mall is on the list for the 2011/2012 season, so something's screwy. I planned to call the theatre on Friday, but I was so busy that I didn't get around to it. I'll try to call them on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed, everyone!
 |
| This Polaroid camera usually just sits on top of one of the lockers in the NBCCD photography studio, looking pretty. Shot for this week's lighting assignment (three-light set-up). |
Sunday, September 18, 2011
the fun of being a college senior
 |
| Tom took this photo at my first student recital, in June '97. That's Lynn at the piano, and I'm the kid with the violin. |
Every time one of those big anniversaries (first violin lesson, seeing The Nutcracker at the Maine Center for the Arts--with the BSO in the pit--other important concerts) comes around, part of me looks at the anniversary in question and thinks, "has it really been that long? Has it really been nine years since my first André Rieu concert?" (which was on April 29th, 2002--and speaking of violin lessons, the twenty-ninth was supposed to be a lesson day, but of course it was cancelled). But when I really look at it, and think about all that has happened since (good and ill), the anniversary becomes a lot more real.
Monday: Welcome to my first three-class day since FVA year. Except that this time it was a lot more brutal: in FVA, the final class of the day was History of Visual Culture, which was split into two parts--a lecture on Tuesday, followed by a tutorial later in the week--so it was only an hour-and-a-half long. Three-class day, version 2.0 was a lot more intense due to the fact that my final class--a drawing class--was a full three hours long.
By the time I finally packed up and staggered off campus and towards home, I was completely wiped, and it probably showed.
Tuesday: I didn't do much other than slog through the longer of the two readings for Digital Output (my Monday afternoon class). I have much to learn.
Wednesday: I finally started my independent project: before my Photoshop class, I bought a couple rolls of Kodak T-Max 400 ISO film, and after my afternoon Lighting class I shot one of the rolls and in the process came up with a theme for my project. The project itself is on urban/street photography, but the main theme will be juxtaposing the pretty, glamorous side of the city with the not-so-pretty, grittier side. Downtown with back alleys.
Thursday: That day, I developed the roll that I shot on Wednesday. And I made a major mistake: I used the developer that's used to develop prints (that's stored in the darkroom) rather than the one used to develop negatives (that's stored outside the darkroom, across from where the film reels and canisters are stored). That mistake caused the negatives to come out clear--not even the name of the film or the exposure number was visible. Which meant that I had to re-shoot the project on the other roll that I bought.
But after a few minutes I moved on from the "oops" moment, and actually saw it as a good thing: now that I'd figured out a theme, I could devote the entire second roll to it.
That second roll turned out almost perfectly when I developed it that evening. I busted a couple of exposures, but that was due to how I rolled the negatives on the reel. As I said to Peter on Friday, "you should've seen the celebration!"
During my meeting with Peter that afternoon, in addition to talking about my project, we also talked about life post-NBCCD (the same happened in the meeting the week before), and I'm now seriously considering doing a BFA at NSCAD University in Halifax. With my credits from NBCCD, I'd only have to do a year there.
When I skyped with my parents today, Mom and I talked about the possibility of NSCAD (which is her alma mater), and it's doable. BFA in Photography, here I come (though if I decide to get a degree in art education, I'll have to go somewhere else because NSCAD doesn't offer any sort of education degree)!
Friday: Workworkwork all day. I finally started my drawing homework (I knew that if I started it earlier in the week, I'd probably do it with a "finish it" mindset, and the finished drawing isn't due until a week from tomorrow). I'm working from a photo that I took of my plate and mug from breakfast (the theme is "mundane"). I also put the negatives from the second roll in sleeves, and shot my lighting homework--which took three hours.
Although I was finished at school at around six, I didn't get back home until about nine because I couldn't help getting caught up in the fun that is the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. One of the guys who lives down the hall from me was selling his paintings (and making new ones) across the street from the school, so I stopped to watch. I really liked one of the paintings that he made while I was there, so I spoke for it and will probably buy it this evening.
Saturday: I spent most of the day working on my drawing homework--and watching Drew cart huge pinhole cameras (one was made from a garbage can) in and out of the studio. That evening I made a contact sheet of the roll that I'd processed on Thursday. I'll probably make prints on Tuesday.
And again I didn't get home until about nine, due to all the fun of Harvest.
If all goes well this week (which will be the infamous Third Week), this coming weekend I plan to order tickets for Anna Bolena (Donizetti), which will be simulcast on October fifteenth. LET'S GO, FRENCH HORNS! (Yes, MOO violin section, you're awesome, too.)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Opera! Field trips! Art!
I meant to write an entry after the simulcast, but I was having so much fun hanging out with my parents and cats that it didn't get done.
The simulcast was wonderful, though I don't think I'll go to another Wagner opera: it was a bit much for me. Give me my Bizet/Puccini/Donizetti/etc., NOW!! There were no intermissions, which also intensified it. This simulcast was less hiccuppy than Turandot (there was only one major disruption, which was during the opening credits). The production design was really cool and innovative and I liked how the set was used as a backdrop and a second stage--and more.
When Maestro Levine walked into the pit I looked for Scott (my favourite hornist). I found him. The prelude was gorgeous and I teared up a bit when the horns started their part.
However, I found most of the rest of the opera to be rather boring and a bit too intense to be taken in all at one time. I'm definitely sticking to "lighter" stuff from now on (that is, if operas like Carmen and La Bohème qualify as "light"--at least they've got some catchy, memorable tunes and plots that draw you in).
At the end, some of the people in the theatre applauded, which was very different from Turandot (I was the only one applauding that time). And several of us stood against the wall after getting out of our seats and watched until the screen went dark and the Met's logo came on.
Mom and I drove home afterwards since it was Thanksgiving weekend.
I went to the show opening at the school gallery on the seventh--and was completely blown away. There was so much to look at! And not just in the gallery, either: the show extended out into the school lobby, which I thought was rather cool: if you came into the school that way, it could entice you to walk down the hall to see the rest of the show in the gallery. As I looked at Adam's work (he has several pieces in the show) I kept thinking, "I really love his work--but do I like it enough to call him a favourite artist?" I teetered on the answer, but I eventually took the plunge with a "YES!" I have yet to tell him, though (I meant to all this week, but my life was so crazy with two field trips and other things that I didn't get around to it).
Field trips! We had two in two days this week: one with Peter and one with Karen and Drew. Peter took us to a wooded area and a car junkyard (which was waaaayyyy too much fun--see below for two photos from each). Karen and Drew took us to Saint John, primarily to the New Brunswick Museum, though we visited Rod's studio as well. And we got lunch at the Saint John City Market.
Yesterday I went to Art Trek. This was my first time: I wanted to go last year, but the first semester was so crazy that I hardly had any time for anything other than homework and classes. It was everything that I expected it to be and more. I met several NBCCD alumni, which was really cool: we talked about both the artist's work and the school, what it was like when the artist in question was going there and what it's like now. I finished up at the home of Jane Geurts, who's one of the teachers. She was really happy to see me and gave me a hug. She was even more thrilled when I mentioned that I was now majoring in photography (she hadn't realized that I'd come back to the school to major in a studio--she just thought I was visiting or whatever). Harriet Taylor and Peter were also displaying their work there, but they couldn't actually be there. The student affairs coordinator, Gillian McLean, also displayed one of her paintings at Jane's place (she wasn't officially part of Art Trek).
This week is assessment week. Yesterday I read some of my blog entries from my first assessment week. My, how things have changed. Back then, even though everyone was telling me that I didn't have to be nervous about it, I was. This time, I know I have nothing to be nervous about: I've been through no fewer than four assessment weeks (this'll be number five), and it'll be less of a hassle this time around: I won't be rushing around grabbing stuff from various classrooms and lugging them to the third or fourth floor.
However, I wish the FVAs the very best this week and if there are any reading this blog (I got a comment from one ten days ago), what they say is true: unless you've been doing really crappy work, you don't have anything to fear--though I totally understand if you're nervous.
Here are some of the photos that I took during Peter's field trip:
The simulcast was wonderful, though I don't think I'll go to another Wagner opera: it was a bit much for me. Give me my Bizet/Puccini/Donizetti/etc., NOW!! There were no intermissions, which also intensified it. This simulcast was less hiccuppy than Turandot (there was only one major disruption, which was during the opening credits). The production design was really cool and innovative and I liked how the set was used as a backdrop and a second stage--and more.
When Maestro Levine walked into the pit I looked for Scott (my favourite hornist). I found him. The prelude was gorgeous and I teared up a bit when the horns started their part.
However, I found most of the rest of the opera to be rather boring and a bit too intense to be taken in all at one time. I'm definitely sticking to "lighter" stuff from now on (that is, if operas like Carmen and La Bohème qualify as "light"--at least they've got some catchy, memorable tunes and plots that draw you in).
At the end, some of the people in the theatre applauded, which was very different from Turandot (I was the only one applauding that time). And several of us stood against the wall after getting out of our seats and watched until the screen went dark and the Met's logo came on.
Mom and I drove home afterwards since it was Thanksgiving weekend.
I went to the show opening at the school gallery on the seventh--and was completely blown away. There was so much to look at! And not just in the gallery, either: the show extended out into the school lobby, which I thought was rather cool: if you came into the school that way, it could entice you to walk down the hall to see the rest of the show in the gallery. As I looked at Adam's work (he has several pieces in the show) I kept thinking, "I really love his work--but do I like it enough to call him a favourite artist?" I teetered on the answer, but I eventually took the plunge with a "YES!" I have yet to tell him, though (I meant to all this week, but my life was so crazy with two field trips and other things that I didn't get around to it).
Field trips! We had two in two days this week: one with Peter and one with Karen and Drew. Peter took us to a wooded area and a car junkyard (which was waaaayyyy too much fun--see below for two photos from each). Karen and Drew took us to Saint John, primarily to the New Brunswick Museum, though we visited Rod's studio as well. And we got lunch at the Saint John City Market.
Yesterday I went to Art Trek. This was my first time: I wanted to go last year, but the first semester was so crazy that I hardly had any time for anything other than homework and classes. It was everything that I expected it to be and more. I met several NBCCD alumni, which was really cool: we talked about both the artist's work and the school, what it was like when the artist in question was going there and what it's like now. I finished up at the home of Jane Geurts, who's one of the teachers. She was really happy to see me and gave me a hug. She was even more thrilled when I mentioned that I was now majoring in photography (she hadn't realized that I'd come back to the school to major in a studio--she just thought I was visiting or whatever). Harriet Taylor and Peter were also displaying their work there, but they couldn't actually be there. The student affairs coordinator, Gillian McLean, also displayed one of her paintings at Jane's place (she wasn't officially part of Art Trek).
This week is assessment week. Yesterday I read some of my blog entries from my first assessment week. My, how things have changed. Back then, even though everyone was telling me that I didn't have to be nervous about it, I was. This time, I know I have nothing to be nervous about: I've been through no fewer than four assessment weeks (this'll be number five), and it'll be less of a hassle this time around: I won't be rushing around grabbing stuff from various classrooms and lugging them to the third or fourth floor.
However, I wish the FVAs the very best this week and if there are any reading this blog (I got a comment from one ten days ago), what they say is true: unless you've been doing really crappy work, you don't have anything to fear--though I totally understand if you're nervous.
Here are some of the photos that I took during Peter's field trip:
 |
| Broken Windshield |
 |
| Cobwebs |
 |
| Forest |
 |
| Still Standing |
Sunday, October 3, 2010
ah, the life of a photog...
First of all, SIX DAYS TO THE SIMULCAST!!
Last Monday was the Met's opening night. They played Das Rheingold and it was streamed online. I listened for a couple of hours (the first hour was pre-show red-carpet stuff). During the prelude the horn part was so overwhelmingly beautiful that I had to sit down. Here's the NY Times' review.
The photo that I took of Adam has officially taken on a life of its' own: on Monday afternoon I developed a print for him which I planned to leave in his mailbox in the library (which was closed by the time I finished developing the photo), but then one of the third-year photogs told me that he would be teaching a drawing class in about ten minutes, so I rushed around, putting the finishing touches on the photo (squeegeeing it, putting it through the dryer, chopping off excess paper, and signing it) and then I dashed up to the third-floor drawing room, charged in, and gave it to him. He was thrilled and gave me a huge hug. I heard later that he'd shown it off to some of the students.
The next day he told me that he'd scanned it and it was now on his computer. Later that week when I got a notice on Facebook that he'd "liked" a comment I'd posted on the event page of the NBCCD Gallery's next show (called Journey into WHATEVER, which is "a selection of local and transnational drawings." Adam and a couple of other NBCCD teachers are in it. The opening is on Thursday and I'm unbelievably excited.), I discovered that he'd made it his profile pic. Here's a screenshot that I took the next day:
One of the things we're doing in Creativity in Photography is writing journals. Peter gives us a topic and we write whatever comes to mind. We're to write two hundred to three hundred words and spell-checking, cleaning up grammar and other "perfecting" are off-limits. Here's the one that I wrote this week (to be handed in on Wednesday morning). The topic was our greatest hopes for the year.
"The [hockey] game" refers to the game of ball hockey played between the graphics and photography studios. Right from the beginning of FVA year I knew that I wanted to major in photography, so I was cheering for that studio. I was rather disappointed when they lost. This year I'm thinking about making a sign (I'll buy a sheet of Plainfield from the school store and decorate it with a slogan cheering my studio on and maybe some drawings of different cameras). To me, being a photography major is more than just taking classes and doing homework: it's a way of life.
I'm finding that this year I have a lot more freedom: freedom to do things outside of school (I'm on the Maggie Jean Chestnut residence haunted house committee this year) and freedom to get my hands messy creatively. Last year I felt the need to conform creatively, which isn't my thing: if I want to conform to what's considered "normal" and "safe," I will, but creatively I like to do my own thing, get my hands messy, and see what happens. This year we're encouraged to try things out. The overall attitude is, "here's the assignment, I want you to do this, this, this, and this--now go have fun with it." Right from the start this year was easier.
This afternoon when I was walking home from school, I saw a drumming group at the side of the York-Sunbury Museum in Officers' Square, so I went down into the square and listened. Next thing I knew, one of the guys asked if I'd like to join in. I said sure, and had my first-ever drum lesson on the djembe. Let's just say that for a beginner, drumming hurts. I had to learn to hit the drum fairly hard.
While writing this I got an email from Mom: both the pieces that we submitted to Sunbury Shores' "Guess Who?" show sold. YIPPEEEE!!!!
Last Monday was the Met's opening night. They played Das Rheingold and it was streamed online. I listened for a couple of hours (the first hour was pre-show red-carpet stuff). During the prelude the horn part was so overwhelmingly beautiful that I had to sit down. Here's the NY Times' review.
The photo that I took of Adam has officially taken on a life of its' own: on Monday afternoon I developed a print for him which I planned to leave in his mailbox in the library (which was closed by the time I finished developing the photo), but then one of the third-year photogs told me that he would be teaching a drawing class in about ten minutes, so I rushed around, putting the finishing touches on the photo (squeegeeing it, putting it through the dryer, chopping off excess paper, and signing it) and then I dashed up to the third-floor drawing room, charged in, and gave it to him. He was thrilled and gave me a huge hug. I heard later that he'd shown it off to some of the students.
The next day he told me that he'd scanned it and it was now on his computer. Later that week when I got a notice on Facebook that he'd "liked" a comment I'd posted on the event page of the NBCCD Gallery's next show (called Journey into WHATEVER, which is "a selection of local and transnational drawings." Adam and a couple of other NBCCD teachers are in it. The opening is on Thursday and I'm unbelievably excited.), I discovered that he'd made it his profile pic. Here's a screenshot that I took the next day:
One of the things we're doing in Creativity in Photography is writing journals. Peter gives us a topic and we write whatever comes to mind. We're to write two hundred to three hundred words and spell-checking, cleaning up grammar and other "perfecting" are off-limits. Here's the one that I wrote this week (to be handed in on Wednesday morning). The topic was our greatest hopes for the year.
I’m finding that this year is a lot easier than last year so I actually have goals beyond just getting through the year and serviving (which is how FVA year ended up playing out: I had goals and high hopes at the beginning, but then they evaporated and I did pretty much nothing else besides homework, homework, homework, and homework.
This year I wanted to really get out and explore the galleries (Beaverbrook, Gallery 78, Ingrid Muller Art + Concepts being my favourites) outside the NBCCD gallery (which can also knock my socks off and which I love to pieces—note to Karen) and within the first few weeks I succeeded.
I also wanted to have a better balance between school and fun since FVA was almost all work and very little fun outside of school. I’ve succeeded, though the line has become increasingly blurred since I”m in my dream studio and have had more fun there than I thought possible. There was a reason why I constantly had to avert my eyes when I went to my history tutorial down the hall… (On a scale of one to ten, the school year so far ranks at a twelve or higher).
And I want to see the NBCCD Photogs beat the Computer Guys (the graphics studio) at the hocky game. Last year’s poster said that the graphics studio was the current champ and they won last year as well. GO PHOTOGS!! We can beat the graphics studio—I know we can.
I just read the latest NBCCD newsletter and it reminded me that I want to experience Art Trek this year. It’s another of those things that I didn’t get around to doing last year (I have to admit that part of what this year’s about for me is making up for what I missed out on last year). When I jotted it down in my calander I also made a note to visit 22 Grey st., and there are now three others circled in the brochure.
"The [hockey] game" refers to the game of ball hockey played between the graphics and photography studios. Right from the beginning of FVA year I knew that I wanted to major in photography, so I was cheering for that studio. I was rather disappointed when they lost. This year I'm thinking about making a sign (I'll buy a sheet of Plainfield from the school store and decorate it with a slogan cheering my studio on and maybe some drawings of different cameras). To me, being a photography major is more than just taking classes and doing homework: it's a way of life.
I'm finding that this year I have a lot more freedom: freedom to do things outside of school (I'm on the Maggie Jean Chestnut residence haunted house committee this year) and freedom to get my hands messy creatively. Last year I felt the need to conform creatively, which isn't my thing: if I want to conform to what's considered "normal" and "safe," I will, but creatively I like to do my own thing, get my hands messy, and see what happens. This year we're encouraged to try things out. The overall attitude is, "here's the assignment, I want you to do this, this, this, and this--now go have fun with it." Right from the start this year was easier.
This afternoon when I was walking home from school, I saw a drumming group at the side of the York-Sunbury Museum in Officers' Square, so I went down into the square and listened. Next thing I knew, one of the guys asked if I'd like to join in. I said sure, and had my first-ever drum lesson on the djembe. Let's just say that for a beginner, drumming hurts. I had to learn to hit the drum fairly hard.
While writing this I got an email from Mom: both the pieces that we submitted to Sunbury Shores' "Guess Who?" show sold. YIPPEEEE!!!!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
the infamous third week = done (that was easy)
First and foremost, Week Three is done--without any mental/emotional scratches, bumps, bruises, scrapes, breakdowns, etc. YIPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
What has happened: I've fallen even more in love with photography and the NBCCD photography studio; I'm now super-comfortable in the darkroom; I've developed two rolls of negatives (one roll of standard 35 mm film, the other a roll of 120 film, which we use in the Holga 120N cameras that we're using for Creativity in Photography); I've stayed after class far more often than I care to admit (but I don't mind: NBCCD is one of those places where I'm happiest, and I'm usually working on projects); and I've had a blast and learned a lot.
Yesterday I was at school until seven PM (TEN HOURS!!!). I had a Photoshop class in the morning (that was almost cancelled because no one could log onto their accounts because something was rather screwy with the server. After Drew cancelled the class, he tried logging on one last time--and it worked. So he took off running to catch the students who'd already left and told them that class was un-cancelled.), and then I developed the 120 film in the afternoon. Since I'd developed the 35 mm film during Drew's Film and Darkroom Techniques class on Thursday afternoon, I finished up with making a contact sheet of that roll. I then put the chemicals away (which meant either dumping them down the drain or putting them back in their respective jugs), turned things off, checked Facebook in the big computer lab, and (finally) walked back to MJC.
This week I'll do a contact sheet for the 120 film (for class), as well as making a print of one of the photos (said print won't be part of the assignment: I'm making it as a surprise for Adam--my FVA academic advisor--who posed for it).
I ordered my ticket to the Das Rheingold simulcast on Wednesday. I was so excited about it the night before that I didn't sleep well. Honestly! It's just a ticket. Okay, it's a ticket to two-and-a-half hours of music, singing, drama, a French horn section that is the best thing since the instrument was invented (including a favourite hornist who can knock my socks off in half a second), an opera company that's the best thing since opera was invented, and one hundred per cent pure happiness.
Here's a video of the Prelude. Make sure the volume is turned up as high as possible. And take note of the horn part--and then imagine it being played by the MOO's horn section. That's my cue to swoon.
They're also performing it on Opening Night, which will be streamed live on the Met's website this Monday starting at seven PM, six EDT. Since I have a high-speed connection here I'll listen--while watching a webcam of Times Square (it'll be simulcast there). I got the idea from a fellow commenter on the Met's Facebook page who'll be doing the same thing.
Since the weekend of the simulcast is also Thanksgiving weekend, I'll be going home afterwards (Mom will come up and we'll pack some of my stuff and then she'll drive me to the movie theatre).
Last week was the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which meant that for almost a week you could hear music coming from just about every corner of downtown F'ton. And not just jazz and blues, either: there was folk, international music (I listened to a duo singing in Spanish and playing guitar and congas about half a block from school one evening), rock, visual art (including panels set up for graffiti artists)... And a lot of it was free, too. My favourite show was Reek Barrel from Halifax, which performed just past the intersection of Regent and Queen Streets on the evening of the eighteenth, and which blew my mind. See for yourself:
They got the audience cheering, clapping, and screaming for the performers.
Last year was the first time I'd heard about the Festival, but due to the overwhelming workload of FVA year, I didn't go. This year I tried to make up for it and I think I succeeded.
TWO WEEKS TO DAS RHEINGOLD!!!!!!!! GO MOO FRENCH HORN SECTION!!!!
What has happened: I've fallen even more in love with photography and the NBCCD photography studio; I'm now super-comfortable in the darkroom; I've developed two rolls of negatives (one roll of standard 35 mm film, the other a roll of 120 film, which we use in the Holga 120N cameras that we're using for Creativity in Photography); I've stayed after class far more often than I care to admit (but I don't mind: NBCCD is one of those places where I'm happiest, and I'm usually working on projects); and I've had a blast and learned a lot.
Yesterday I was at school until seven PM (TEN HOURS!!!). I had a Photoshop class in the morning (that was almost cancelled because no one could log onto their accounts because something was rather screwy with the server. After Drew cancelled the class, he tried logging on one last time--and it worked. So he took off running to catch the students who'd already left and told them that class was un-cancelled.), and then I developed the 120 film in the afternoon. Since I'd developed the 35 mm film during Drew's Film and Darkroom Techniques class on Thursday afternoon, I finished up with making a contact sheet of that roll. I then put the chemicals away (which meant either dumping them down the drain or putting them back in their respective jugs), turned things off, checked Facebook in the big computer lab, and (finally) walked back to MJC.
This week I'll do a contact sheet for the 120 film (for class), as well as making a print of one of the photos (said print won't be part of the assignment: I'm making it as a surprise for Adam--my FVA academic advisor--who posed for it).
I ordered my ticket to the Das Rheingold simulcast on Wednesday. I was so excited about it the night before that I didn't sleep well. Honestly! It's just a ticket. Okay, it's a ticket to two-and-a-half hours of music, singing, drama, a French horn section that is the best thing since the instrument was invented (including a favourite hornist who can knock my socks off in half a second), an opera company that's the best thing since opera was invented, and one hundred per cent pure happiness.
Here's a video of the Prelude. Make sure the volume is turned up as high as possible. And take note of the horn part--and then imagine it being played by the MOO's horn section. That's my cue to swoon.
They're also performing it on Opening Night, which will be streamed live on the Met's website this Monday starting at seven PM, six EDT. Since I have a high-speed connection here I'll listen--while watching a webcam of Times Square (it'll be simulcast there). I got the idea from a fellow commenter on the Met's Facebook page who'll be doing the same thing.
Since the weekend of the simulcast is also Thanksgiving weekend, I'll be going home afterwards (Mom will come up and we'll pack some of my stuff and then she'll drive me to the movie theatre).
Last week was the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which meant that for almost a week you could hear music coming from just about every corner of downtown F'ton. And not just jazz and blues, either: there was folk, international music (I listened to a duo singing in Spanish and playing guitar and congas about half a block from school one evening), rock, visual art (including panels set up for graffiti artists)... And a lot of it was free, too. My favourite show was Reek Barrel from Halifax, which performed just past the intersection of Regent and Queen Streets on the evening of the eighteenth, and which blew my mind. See for yourself:
 |
| Fire Hoop |
 |
| The Beat |
 |
| Twirling Fire |
Last year was the first time I'd heard about the Festival, but due to the overwhelming workload of FVA year, I didn't go. This year I tried to make up for it and I think I succeeded.
TWO WEEKS TO DAS RHEINGOLD!!!!!!!! GO MOO FRENCH HORN SECTION!!!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
welcome to a new year
Here we go: another year.
First, the most important news: I was accepted into the Photography program at NBCCD, and I can't wait to set foot in that studio again. My first class is the day after Labour Day, but I'm moving to F'ton a week from today which will give me a day to get my bearings before launching into a new year. And I am gonna rock this year!!!!!
I hope you guys have all had a great summer. I did. And I managed to cross off quite a few things on The List: the only things that didn't get done are violin lessons (that one was questionable anyway), transcribing The Hunters' Chorus, and making a collage (though it kind of got done when I created a work for a show/auction at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Inc.).
This summer I worked in one of the stores in St. Andrews. This was my first time working in retail and I'm proud to say that (drum-roll please) I now know how to operate a cash register. It's really not that difficult: if you can use a computer--even on an extremely basic level--you're more than capable of working a cash register. Tom said that it's because employers don't want to take the time to teach new people how to use one. Grr...
Earlier this summer Blogger changed the template editor. The templates that are available now are completely different from what was available previously and the whole thing is more customizable (if that's even a word). I can make my blog look exactly the way I want it to look. Or almost: the links and blogs lists are rather unreadable, but that's because I wanted the links in my posts to be readable (one colour for all the links in the blog).
I've finally started thinking about packing, and what and what not to pack. Like, this year I'm taking my CD player--there's no way I'm surviving another year listening to the MOO's horn section play the Hunters' Chorus on a pair of dinky computer speakers. Those guys deserve the best I can get. Same goes for the other music and musicians I listen to. Plus, I'll have room for it this year since the rooms I applied for (first and second choice) are bigger than the one I had last year which was basically a walk-in closet.
Reflections (the piece that I'm writing for solo violin) is almost done, but I'm such a perfectionist this time--so far this is the most complex and experimental piece I've ever done and I want it to be juuust right. But I will get it done. The last bit of work I did on it was working out the metronome settings. :-P
I only went to one PBSO concert this summer (I was expecting two: one in the spring and one this month, but the orchestra was taking part in the SummerKeys program), but about a week later I went to another concert--this one with Trond Saeverud (PBSO conductor, BSO concertmaster) and Greg Biss. This was my first chamber music concert in about three years, but I think that made it more special. Both guys are superb musicians (Greg was one half of one of my favourite chamber groups, the Biss-Brubaker Duo), but by the end of the concert Trond had become a favourite violinist (bringing it back up to seven). He's the second violinist from the BSO to become a favourite (Lynn was the first, as well as being my first favourite violinist, period).
I'm probably going to the Met's simulcast of Das Rheingold in October. I'll play it by homework level, but if I survive the third week (which is when the homework level peaks), I'll order tickets. The production is a new one--check out the trailer on the Met's website (set to the instrumental part of the Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre).
Here's to an awesome year!
First, the most important news: I was accepted into the Photography program at NBCCD, and I can't wait to set foot in that studio again. My first class is the day after Labour Day, but I'm moving to F'ton a week from today which will give me a day to get my bearings before launching into a new year. And I am gonna rock this year!!!!!
I hope you guys have all had a great summer. I did. And I managed to cross off quite a few things on The List: the only things that didn't get done are violin lessons (that one was questionable anyway), transcribing The Hunters' Chorus, and making a collage (though it kind of got done when I created a work for a show/auction at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre, Inc.).
This summer I worked in one of the stores in St. Andrews. This was my first time working in retail and I'm proud to say that (drum-roll please) I now know how to operate a cash register. It's really not that difficult: if you can use a computer--even on an extremely basic level--you're more than capable of working a cash register. Tom said that it's because employers don't want to take the time to teach new people how to use one. Grr...
Earlier this summer Blogger changed the template editor. The templates that are available now are completely different from what was available previously and the whole thing is more customizable (if that's even a word). I can make my blog look exactly the way I want it to look. Or almost: the links and blogs lists are rather unreadable, but that's because I wanted the links in my posts to be readable (one colour for all the links in the blog).
I've finally started thinking about packing, and what and what not to pack. Like, this year I'm taking my CD player--there's no way I'm surviving another year listening to the MOO's horn section play the Hunters' Chorus on a pair of dinky computer speakers. Those guys deserve the best I can get. Same goes for the other music and musicians I listen to. Plus, I'll have room for it this year since the rooms I applied for (first and second choice) are bigger than the one I had last year which was basically a walk-in closet.
Reflections (the piece that I'm writing for solo violin) is almost done, but I'm such a perfectionist this time--so far this is the most complex and experimental piece I've ever done and I want it to be juuust right. But I will get it done. The last bit of work I did on it was working out the metronome settings. :-P
I only went to one PBSO concert this summer (I was expecting two: one in the spring and one this month, but the orchestra was taking part in the SummerKeys program), but about a week later I went to another concert--this one with Trond Saeverud (PBSO conductor, BSO concertmaster) and Greg Biss. This was my first chamber music concert in about three years, but I think that made it more special. Both guys are superb musicians (Greg was one half of one of my favourite chamber groups, the Biss-Brubaker Duo), but by the end of the concert Trond had become a favourite violinist (bringing it back up to seven). He's the second violinist from the BSO to become a favourite (Lynn was the first, as well as being my first favourite violinist, period).
I'm probably going to the Met's simulcast of Das Rheingold in October. I'll play it by homework level, but if I survive the third week (which is when the homework level peaks), I'll order tickets. The production is a new one--check out the trailer on the Met's website (set to the instrumental part of the Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre).
Here's to an awesome year!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
T-minus two weeks
To celebrate two weeks until the Met's first radio broadcast of the season, here are some videos of pieces from the operas that will be broadcast (including seven that were recorded at the Met). Enjoy!
O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi from Il Trittico. I remember asking Tom about this when I heard it for the first time in '99 and at the time I really wanted to hear it in context. I forgot about that dream until I saw that the Met will be performing it this year.
Song of Olympia (Les oiseaux dans la charmille) from Les Contes d'Hoffmann. I think Natalie looks like Shirley Temple in this production. Tom has a CD of highlights from the opera and before I left for NBCCD I listened to it constantly. Especially the Entr'acte, which I can't wait to hear the MOO play.
The final scene from Elektra with Deborah Voight, who'll be singing it this season. Besides this video (which was recorded at the Met) I've never heard of this opera.
A scene from Hansel und Gretel. This is from the simulcast that the Met did in '07/'08. Wonderful music (BRAVO MOO!!!) mixed with a wonderful mess. I bet this production is a lot of fun since by the end of the performance the lead singers are absolutely covered in food. Note the KitchenAid mixer.
WOW! I can't wait to hear this for the first time.
The Habañera from Carmen. I've heard a few pieces from the opera, but it'll be nice to hear the whole thing.
This is another one that I've never heard of--but I'll take anything the Met throws at me. This one won't be live, though: it'll be an archive performance from 1958.
Ditto for this opera--but bring it on!
...and this one.
Brace yourself for the high C's--BRAVISSIMO! This is Pavarotti's very first performance of this opera at the Met (1972). This is one of the few times when I actually feel sorry for those who don't like opera (not everyone has to like the same thing): this is such a classic, monumental performance. The high C's (middle C's) are difficult for a tenor to reach and are sometimes downgraded to B natural to make it easier to sing.
Let's just say that this year I'll be hearing a lot of operas that I've never heard of before.
This is one of my favourite operas. It's also the Met's most-performed opera. Tom gave me this performance on DVD for Christmas last year (I'd seen it on TV a few months before). Dig out the kleenexes: the Met knows how to make me cry--and enjoy it at the same time.
The summery of this opera sounds ridiculously intriguing, but I'm not exactly a fan of the music.
Now this is one I could get into--it looks so darn cool! (And it's another one that I've never heard before)
Natalie will be be singing this role at the Met this year. Yet another one that I'll hear for the first time.
This is one of those pieces that I've never heard in context. This was recorded at the Met in '89.
Glory to the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra! If you want a reason why I love that orchestra, here's one--now go listen to the demo of the Hunters' Chorus played by the French horns for the other reason (if you decide to listen to that, prepare to have your socks knocked off by eight wonderful musicians). For the last couple of seasons the Met has been performing a "Family Production" of the opera, which is shortened to one act (it was the first simulcast). As for the overture, just the first three notes are played. This season, however, the Met is performing the whole thing--YAAAAY!
I know almost every word of this piece and have heard it live (André Rieu and the JSO). I also love the Overture, but have never heard either one in context.
I'm familiar with this piece, but I've never heard it in context.
This is one that I've never heard of before, but it sounds really cool.
This will be the Met's final broadcast of the season and it's yet another one that I've never heard of before.
Last season I realized how big the world of opera is and how much I have to learn and this year is no different. The Met is a good teacher and I'm enjoying learning from one of the greatest opera companies (and orchestras) in the world.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
an afternoon at the opera
I am ridiculously tired this morning since I was up past one last night celebrating the simulcast and music in general. But I still want to write this (though parts of it are lifted directly from an email that I wrote to Lynn last night, since there are some things that I can't imagine saying any other way).
Yesterday was one of the busiest Saturdays that I've had in a while. I woke up at about eight and until I left for the opera I was a blur: getting breakfast, packing like crazy (I went home after the performance), ironing my shirt and pants (on the way home I asked Mom to get me an iron for Christmas, since the one at MJC is crap), getting lunch, getting dressed, putting on makeup, and then flying out the door.
All morning I was worried (there I go again) that I wouldn't have enough time to get everything done and I was constantly rushing to cross the various tasks off my list.
I skidded out the door at about twenty to one and walked as fast as I could to the Kings Place Mall (which is the hub for all the buses). I met another NBCCD student whom I'd seen around school (it's a small enough place that you eventually get to the point where you recognize a lot of faces) and we chatted for several minutes while I waited for my bus (which wasn't due for another TEN MINUTES).
A few minutes later I looked up from studying the bus schedule, and there it was: 16 Prospect. So once again I rushed to get to the bus (which was only a few metres away). Once there, I paid the fare ($2), chose a seat, sat down, and waited some more.
The bus stop is at the opposite side of the mall (where the theatre is) from the entrance that I usually use, so I spent several minutes walking around outside.
"After a while I gave up, and just chose a random entrance, found a map of the mall, located the theatre, found the theatre, gave them my booking reference number, asked which theatre the simulcast was in (theatre one), went in, had a moment where I said to myself, "I'm fulfilling a promise!," had another moment of amazement at how many people were there (it was almost sold out), found a pretty darn good seat, sat down, and waited (again)."
I chose a seat that was quite high up (it was stadium seating, which meant that your seat is high enough that the head of the person sitting in front of you won't obscure your vision. The seat backs were much higher then I'm familiar with--also very nice.). The screen was one of the biggest I've ever seen--I'm guessing that it was about two stories high--and it was very wide.
When I arrived, you could hear the orchestra (ONE OF MY FAVOURITES!) tuning and going over the hard parts one last time (which is a cacophony that I absolutely love--to me it adds a feeling of suspense and expectation). But you couldn't see them: instead there was info about the Met's HD Live series, supporting the Met, stuff about the stars of the opera, etc. There was also a countdown (first in minutes, then in seconds) on the right side of the screen.
When they started showing images of the inside of the opera house I thought that it was just photos until I looked more carefully and realized that--wait a sec!--the people were moving! We were in New York!
The performance wasn't a perfect one: the sound kept cutting in and out. It was a problem that was Canada-wide apparently and during the first intermission a staff member came in and told us that we weren't the only ones with the problem, and that they were working with New York to get the problem fixed. I'd come prepared, though: on the Met's website they have a series of FAQs about the simulcasts and one of them is "Broadcasting a live theatrical performance to movie theatres must present some technical challenges. Do you experience any?" According to the Met, most of the problems are local: one theatre might be having issues, but another theatre a couple of blocks away could be having a perfect transmission--which is why I was really surprised when the guy said that our glitches were happening not just in Freddy, but also in Halifax, Vancouver, St. John's, Ottawa--you name it, they were experiencing the same thing.
He also offered a free ticket to anything at the theatre: a movie, the encore of Turandot--anything. I chose not to get a ticket because even with the glitches, I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. At times I was so absorbed in it that "I felt as though it was just me and the Met."
Also during the first intermission I went and got a snack, since I would be in the theatre a little past supper-time and I knew I'd be hungry. Since the Pretzel Maker stand was only a few metres from the theatre, I decided to go there and get one of their cinnamon pretzels (soo good!) to tide me over.
Of course, one of the high points was Nessun dorma (at the beginning of the third act), which is one of the most famous arias ever written. As soon as I heard the opening notes, I started sobbing: this was it! It was live! At the Met! With one of my favourite orchestras in the pit! (There were no glitches during the aria: they happened less often in the second act, and even less than that in the third act.)
"[...] everything came together to create this one, perfect moment. By the end, I was almost bent double, I was crying so hard. Little did I know how powerful the end would be (both musically and emotionally)."I have said before that I'm in love with the Met. Well, those times are looking more and more like infatuation: during the finale my love for the Met hit the roof and kept on going, it was so strong and powerful, and I was completely consumed by it. So consumed, in fact, that when combined with the music it was enough to make me start sobbing--again. I've never felt that much love towards the Met before."
When I came out of the theatre I immediately whipped out my cell and dialled Mom's number--but just after I hit the 'send' button I looked up--and there she was. I immediately started squealing like mad and gushing about the opera as we walked out to the car to go get my stuff at MJC and then drive home.
That evening I stayed up dancing like crazy (and being reduced to tears yet again--this time by the Bangor Symphony's violin section, though I did listen to Tom's recording of Nessun dorma, which is the same version as the video that I included in my last entry) to blow off some of the energy and emotion of the day. I also wrote the email that I sent to Lynn.
And then I crashed into bed, thoroughly worn out and feeling like the happiest woman this side of the Metropolitan Opera House.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)