This week, I talked with Sarah Cripsey, a sophomore in SMTD’s Bachelor of Theatre Arts program. She can be found on Instagram @sarahemilycripsey and stars as Lucy in “Vamps,” a new musical from NERDS that will be performing in Lorch Hall 140 on December 6th at 7pm and December 7th at 2pm and 7pm.
This is more of an illustration than a comic, but! Ya know!!! Sometimes you’re cowboy. And sometimes you center your IP (integrative project see here) around cowboys until you become cowboy.
On another note! If you want to see some more cowboy/girl/bug drawings of mine, please come to the Helicon student exhibition “Spilt Milk”! The Helicon student shows are always a super fun way to get involved with the art scene on campus, I’ve been submitting work to their student shows for three years now and it’s always a blast. Come on down to 101 West Liberty st. from 8-11 pm tonight to check out this show!
This past Sunday on November 17th, The University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club (WGC) presented “Be the Light Home,” a fall concert surrounding themes of compassion and circling back home. The community-driven concert was a great finish to my first semester in Women’s Glee Club. As such, I thought this week’s post would be a great opportunity to reflect on my experiences in the group so far.
Auditioning for the ensemble was initially nerve-wracking, but I am so, so glad I did. Since I was a child I have enjoyed singing, whether on my own or in church choirs. Throughout middle and high school I sang in my school’s choirs, my favorite being my high school’s smaller, auditioned choir. Before this year, however, I had never sang in an all-girls choir. While I had been a Soprano 2 for certain songs before, I had always been in an SATB choir comprised of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass vocal parts. Transitioning to SSAA—which has two distinct soprano sections and two distinct alto sections—was different but fun.
Founded in 1893, the Women’s Glee Club has a long, rich history, one that has impacted countless members of the university community. With hundreds of alumnae and around 80 current members, I’m ecstatic to have joined the ranks of such talented women. Women’s Glee Club features students with a variety of majors and interests, from voice performance to molecular biology. One of the great things about Women’s Glee Club is that it allows students to continue to sing in college while studying as a non-music major. Students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to sing in a collegiate choir through WGC, something I’ve enjoyed since being a member of RC Singers last year.
Women’s Glee Club is also a wonderful place to meet new people. I’ll admit, when I first heard the motto “Sisterhood, Song, and Strength,” I was a little skeptical. I was baffled by the concept of “Bigs/Littles” and “points.” Getting a sorority-esque vibe, I was perplexed by how a choir, especially one structured for academic credit, could achieve the same level of networking and bonding as a sorority or other organizations; however, I understood quickly WGC has so many events and aspects outside of the typical rehearsal. I’ve particularly enjoyed “Blues,” where WGC members go from tailgate to tailgate on game days and sing school spirit songs (Yellow and Blue, The Victors, etc.).
Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time in Women’s Glee Club so far and look forward to next semester!
Link to the official website for The University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club
Image design by Anna Sharp Chewter
Jennifer Daniel, Google’s Expression design team Design Manager, oversees gifs, emoji stickers, and camera filters. She is also an illusrator, author, and mother. Before her position at Google in California, Daniel worked for numerous years at the media giants the New York Times and Bloomberg Businessweek. I had the chance to see her speak at the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series last year, and she impressed the crowd with her wit and humor. Above all, Daniel’s vibrant, engaging work invites viewers to indulge in the fun parts of everyday life. She is a designer of true honesty and immense talent.
One of her works I find most alluring is Space: A Children’s Text Book published in 2015. The neon volume boasts pages of clean, beautiful graphics of planets and our solar system, and a plethora of facts about space. Although described as a “simple, attractive book of infographics,” let’s be real here, this book is for adults. I could spend hours poring over its colorful, info-packed pages, and will be sure to purchase a copy for my coffee table.
Some of Daniel’s portfolio includes editorial illustrations, infographics, and animations. I am personally drawn to designers with bold, simple lines, and colorful graphics and Daniel certainly fits the bill. Drawing from both retro and modern inspirations, her illustrations are so aesthetically-pleasing to look at. Be sure to check her out!
