Recently, Creative Generation team member Jordan Campbell wrote a blog about the concept of the arts hybrid - “A person with multiple professional identities whose work is interdisciplinary in nature, spans multiple fields or domains, and is grounded in arts & culture.” It is this framing that I have worked much of my education and now my career to rationalize and explain within siloed fields, especially in higher education. Though many colleagues and friends may identify similarly as Arts Hybrids, it is often difficult to share the value of that multi-speciality, when many opportunities call for a more linear set of experiences.
Read moreA2RU: Looking Forward to The Future of the Arts
The experiences shared at the A2RU Conference brought new insight to my personal artistry. As a DMA Candidate in Flute Performance at the University of Houston, I was inspired by the motivation to modify curriculum and encourage the next generation of artists to “think outside the box”. The confines of our art’s education has limited exploration and an understanding of art’s true purpose. This is-of course-subjective and will differentiate among each individual artist. But, I believe that there is a general consensus that artistry is an enlightening experience that allows individuals the power of expression and provides a more meaningful way to make a large impact on controversial and pivotal issues that we face in society.
Read moreHow can we encourage college students to use their Radical Imagination?
On June 10, 2022, Jeff and I moderated and participated on a panel entitled “Learning in Liminal Spaces: Arts Integration from the Student Perspective,” at the A2RU@10 Symposium What’s Next for Arts Integration? hosted by the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. We were joined by two panelists, both of whom have interacted with higher education arts-related programs in various capacities, shared their ideas and reflections about a carving space for unique scholastic journeys in the higher education ecosystem.
Read moreNAVIGATING: Make Them Hear You: Navigating A Rapidly Changing World With Guidance from Youth Musician and 2SLGBTQIA+ Leader
Last week, I shared with you a bit about my friend and creative co-conspirator, Luke Chacko (LINK FROM BLOG POST), and their inspiring story using music to address the challenges faced by many young people today, especially 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
Read moreYOUTH LEADER SPOTLIGHT: Luke Chacko | Musician & LGBTQ+ Leader
The first time I heard this song, its catchy lyrics got stuck in my head for days and made me think: “What a true testament to what young people are experiencing right now in this intense and rapidly changing world: anxiety, pressure, worry, and yet they are finding ways to stand up and bloom.”
Luke Chacko (he/she/they) is a 16 year old musician from Arlington, Texas who went viral after Idina Menzel invited Luke and other young audience members on stage to sing "Let It Go" in July 2017. Luke’s sudden internet fame landed them an appearance on The Ellen Show in September 2017. This provided Luke with a platform to shine a light on the effects of bullying, which they had endured and ultimately overcome.
Read more