RIP Tommy Marth of The Killers

 On Monday, April 23rd 2012, Tommy Marth, saxophonist of The Killers was discovered dead in his Las Vegas home. Cause of death was ruled suicide. He was 33. A truly talented musician who laid down great licks on tracks such as "Joy Ride" off of Day & Age and "Bones" off of Sam's Town.
  Unfortunately, the passing of someone we look up to is always difficult to cope with. Despite the fact that I did not know Mr. Marth personally, I truly appreciated the musicianship he contributed to a solid rock band. It's upsetting that at the age of 33, it is speculated that he took his own life, despite his success of touring with such a recognizable band as The Killers.
  In a September 2008 article with Las Vegas Magazine, Marth stated something that caught my attention that I believe showed how humble and personable this great musician was. He stated, " You can always expect honesty, you can always expect me to help you out. I'm always true to my word."
  Well Tommy Marth, I want to help you out by spreading the word to a world that may not know entirely who you were. This ones for you.

RIP Tommy Marth 4/23/12

Hello World! (Mark)

So this is my first entry on Frank's and my blog...

I am so unbelievably excited to work on getting our artistic visions "out there" and what not. I thought I would introduce myself first before any of that though.

My name's Mark Oleszko, and I am currently a Junior at City College in the Macaulay Honors College. I live in the city and I couldn't love it more. Actually, wait I could probably love it more but it doesn't matter...I LOVE IT HERE already. I'm a music major and play piano as well as woodwinds. Most importantly, my main passion with my music is the theatre. I love to Music Direct theatrical productions and do lots of arranging (and some composition) for fun. 

Well, that's pretty much me in a basic nutshell...and I'm tired so I'm gonna wait to write any more. But look out soon for my first post where I tackle the idea of fame and what it takes to be an "artist" who is highly recognized. 

Bye for now!

                                                                       Mark

^ Hey that's me! --> http://www.youtube.com/user/BwayPianist391

First steps into Arts Education (Frank)

Hi all!

  It's been a while since I've posted on Twinning the Arts, my apologies. I promise that it is not because I wanted to avoid sharing what's going on, but rather that I have been given the opportunity to start creating Art program initiatives for students who's school has either cut down their art programs or dismissed them entirely.

   I am currently an intern with Project Focus here at SUNY Purchase. One of my responsibilities includes organizing an art program initiative for a day for a school that has either partially or fully lost their arts department. Myself and Cara Gullotta, another intern, have been asked to create art activities 2nd-5th graders at John F. Kennedy Magnet Elementary School in Portchester, New York. 

Here is what we will be working with:

-two 2nd grade classes, two 3rd grade classes, two 4th grade classes and one 5th grade class. (total of 140 students) mostly of Latino decent.

-A staff of 13 (other mentors working with Project Focus this semester) as well as any teaching staff at the school who would like to be involved. 

-two time slots: 3:30-4:10 and 4:10-4:50

-A budget of $500.00

What we planned:Cara and I came across a blogspot titled "Arts Projects for Kids" by Kathy Barbro (artsprojectsforkids.org) that had day to day art projects that are created for K-5 and beyond. Using these ideas as a template, we expanded and created two activities that use the same materials but differ in the objectives.
For the 2nd and 3rd graders, we have created an activity called "Wild Side/Calm Side Self Portraits". Below is the project instructions that will be handed out to the mentors who will be assisting us with this program:

4/30/12

Project Focus Arts Day (2nd and 3rd grade)

Activity: Wild Side/Calm Side Self Portraits
Materials:

-Cardstock Paper
-Magazines

-Crayons

-Markers

-Colored Pencils
-Scissors

-Glue Sticks

Objective:

1.      Students understand how colors, sounds (optional), and images convey emotion.

2.      Mentors spend as much one on one time with students as possible. Engage in conversation.

Instructions:

1.      BEFORE HANDING OUT SUPPLIES, Take 5-7 minutes to introduce and then ask students about what colors they believe represent different feelings or moods. (ex. Yellow = Happy… hence why the ‘sun’ is always smiling)

2.      Explain that today we will be using colors and images to show our ‘wild’ and ‘calm’ sides and that each students ‘sides’ are specific to them.

3.      Each child should receive a cardstock paper and the supplies should be shared in groups of 5-7 (depending on space).

4.      Start with all students focusing on creating their ‘calm’ side. (Playing “calm” music-optional). 15 minutes

5.      Continue to students focusing on their ‘wild’ side. 15 minutes

6.      After the activity, encourage students to share their portraits and for them to explain why chose the colors and images that they did.

For the 4th and 5th graders, we have created an activity called "Code Switching" Self Portrait. It does have it's more 'serious' title, but I haven't been able to come up with something more creative. Nonetheless, here is the project instructions: 

Activity: “Code Switching” Self Portrait

  Code Switching is defined as using different languages or forms of language depending on social context. Code switching is a term used by anthropologist to study people in different social situations and how they act in different social groups. For this activity, we want to ask the students to reflect on how their home life and school life differ.

Materials:

-Cardstock Paper

-Magazines

-Crayons

-Markers

-Colored Pencils

-Scissors

-Glue Sticks

Objective:

1.      Show students that everyone is different in their own way, specifically fellow students.

2.      Art can be used as a reflection of ourselves and life in a quick, easy activity

Instructions:

1.      Students are given a head and shoulder template to trace in pencil on a sheet of paper.

2.      Tell students to draw a line down the middle of the head.

3.      Students choose one side and draw face features and hair in a manner that represents home life. Lots of zig-zags and energetic lines may be used or interests at home (ex. Video games). The remaining side of the face is for school life. This can represent the way the students view school work or extracurricular activities.

4.      Students fill in each side with colors and objects that represent each corresponding side.

5.      Make sure the students fill in the background. Remind them that the goal is for both sides to look very different.



So as you can see, both activities are similar, however for the older students, we are pushing for them to analyze their life and use their artistic abilities to portray it to the rest of us. I believe it's arts programs that go beyond arts and crafts and allows students to do critical thinking that survive. This is my first attempt to see how far this way of thinking goes. There will be pictures and a blog post to follow the event to let you all know how it went. As always, thanks for reading!

-

-Frank

Meet the Cast: Ardent Winant

Ardent Winant 

                                                                        (photo credit: Hashim Wright & Jane DiBartolo)

1.Who did you play/What did you do in the SUNY Purchase production of AliceUnraveled?


I was the choreographer, and I also was featured as a Shadow Dancer.

                                                                                Arden choreographing away with lead, Danielle Izzo. 


2. What other productions have you been involved in at Purchase? out of Purchase? (credits) 


SUNY Purchase: Vendetta Chrome, bobrauschenbergamerica, No Exit, Hair, The Tempest, The Freeborn
NYC/Reigonal: Hedda Gabler, The House of Bernarda Alba, Coming to America, The Drowsy Chaperone, Winnie the Pooh: The Musical
Film/TV: "NYC 2-2", "Blue Bloods", Twelve, Adventureland, Bee Season, A View From the Top, Interview With the Assasin, Catching the Stars

                                                                               With a snap, the choreographer has her way. 
                                                                          

3. Did you find it challenging to develop an original character? What were some obstacles you faced a long the way? 

For me, when I was choreographing the piece, I saw the dancers as an extension of Alice's mind and, more specifically, a physical representation of the rape. I really got inspired by Sigmund Frued and his book "Beyond the Pleasure Principle", where he lays out the guidelines of the Id, Ego and Superego. When I first met with my dancers, I told them that I imagined them as not being human, but being a moving representation of the Id in Alice's memory - we're pure emotion, and whatever everyone around us is feeling, we feel it 100% more than they do. If they're happy, we're elated; if we're sad, we're devestated. There's no in between for us, and that allowed for us to really play, not only with our range of motion as dancers, but our range of emotion as actors. I think that the dancers, apart from Alice, are the hardest roles in the entire show. We're onstage 95% of the time, and we go through the biggest emotional changes, sometimes over the course of the song.

Arden walks the Shadow Dancers through the choreography at a Dance Rehearsal in the Dance Conservatory at SUNY Purchase. 

4. What was the moment through out the process where it hit you that, "we had a show!" 

I don't think that it hit me till the night before we opened. As the choreographer, I was very critical of all the movement, and I felt like it didn't really click till then. I didn't feel like I was ready to present my work until the night before, but the cast, as always, impressed me.

         

     Everyone loves Tech Week! 

5. Favorite rehearsal moment? 

Oh, I always loved putting the cast through the really intense and long Sunday morning warm-ups. They hated me during it, but as the show went on, everyone kept coming up to me saying how much stronger and flexible they were, and how much weight they've lost because of it, and that always makes me feel kind of good.

Why no one questions the choreographer. 

6. Is there anyone you would like to send a shout out to? 

Colline, you're my woman. Frank and Mark, so much love for putting up with my frantic phone calls whenever I was having dancer-block over winter break when I was actually choreographing this thing. And to the cast - y'all exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't have asked for a better group of artists to experiment with.

No one can question the bonds built between a cast during a production. 

I would personally like to thank Arden for being an absolute pleasure to work with on this project. Not only is Arden a great choreographer, but a dependable friend who is an essential person to have part of any cast and creative team. Thank you Arden for contributing to the blog and best of luck to you with your future endeavors!

-Frank

A change of pace...in double?!

Hey all you people!

 As you may, or may not know, this blog was originally for a production of Alice Unraveled: A New Rock Musical that premiered at SUNY Purchase in mid-March. ( feel free to look at past blog posts on the project)
  Now that the production is over, my brother Mark and I are currently working on a new original work with a good friend of ours, Bethany Mayes. Since the piece is still being developed there is not much I can tell you about it. What I can tell you is that this project may take years to fully develop into a full piece, but we are all looking forward to presenting it to a live audience in the future!
  So please, stay posted and check in whenever Facebook or school work just is not doing it for you anymore. We would love to know what you think of our work and look forward to possibly getting to know you through this blog. Mark and I promise that we will strive to give you and every audience member Art of the highest artistic quality. Wishing you all a happy month of April!


Best,
Frank Oleszko