Evolving Emotions: Forevermore

I feel your presence beside me

On the frigid, unforgiving Earth

On the lonely wooden park bench

On the gentle bed we shared

 

I hear your voice 

In the corridor you passed

In the kitchen you cherished

In the doorway to our home

 

I smell you in all that is beautiful

A hint of lavender in someone’s hair

A box of oranges sold at the market

A loaf of bread I find at the bakery

 

I surmise that I’ve see you

Maybe?

Maybe not. 

Perhaps it is madness

 

It’s hard to discern

The wishes and whims

The truth and sacred lies

 

Perhaps, I witness what I was too blind to see yesterday

No matter

 

Alas,

We are apart

But soon

We will feel each other’s warmth

In a plane unlike this one

 

My joy

My love

My apparition forevermore 

 

Art Biz with Liz: An Artsy Halloween in Ann Arbor

One of the best things about campus life at the University of Michigan – and living in Ann Arbor in general – is that there is always something going on. On any given weekend, you can see a musical theatre performance by SMTD students or a concert by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Halloween weekend is no exception, and if you’re looking for something to do other than attending parties or watching the long-awaited U-M versus MSU football game, there are plenty of arts events to consider.

Whether you visited the haunted bell tower at Lurie Bell Tower or watched one of the horror films offered through Halaloween: An Online Muslim Horror Film Festival, I hope you had a great start to the Halloweekend festivities. Last night, ComCo presented “Wait, That Zombie Is Sexy.” ComCo, or The Comedy Company, is the oldest improv comedy troupe at the University of Michigan, and the event was an affordable, entertaining event for students to attend at $2 a ticket in Angell Hall. For anyone else, the Hill Auditorium hosted the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, which offered a night of magic playing music from Harry Potter. There have been virtual events, too, like today’s virtual Saturday sampler tour at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. The event, “Spooky, Weird, and Magical: Halloween with the Kelsey,” offered audiences to engage with the museum virtually and experience Halloween with headless sculptures, mummies, more.

While Friday has come and gone, tonight you have another chance to see Ripper by Penny Seats Theatre at the Stone Chalet. The performance is conveniently one of the arts events featured on the most recent Passport to the Arts! Of course, there is also plenty of stuff going on this Sunday, Halloween itself. On October 31st at 3:15 pm, the carillon guild will play a variety of pieces for the public at the Burton Memorial Tower. Shortly after that at 4:00 pm, the SMTD University Symphony and Philharmonia Orchestras will present their annual Halloween concert. The Halloween tunes will be made more entertaining by the costumed musicians, and audience members are invited to dress up as well.

For students, also be sure to check out what’s going on in your residential halls and student organizations. Many dormitories are offering activities like open mic nights and Halloween arts and crafts! Whatever you decide to do, have a safe and fun Halloween!

Note: Apologies for the delay in this post; I forget to publish it last night, so everything has been updated to what has already passed and what is yet to happen.

Round green shapes of varying sizes glow against the black background. The text reads, "Immersive."

Immersive #13: Mood Board

Creator’s Note: Mood boards are often used as a source of inspiration for something that we hope to create in the future. Sometimes the images we find come from external sources: stock photo insights into a lifestyle or aspiration that resonates with us. Yet, our past is where our own mood is set. The way we’re raised, what we dream about, and the memories we make with others all serves to shape our own identity. In a sense, our upbringing is the original inspiration for who we are now and will become in the future. There can be a tension when using our pasts in our present work in a semi-autobiographical manner, but when you’re the one creating, your experiences are just as valid as the rest.

If you have any thoughts, let me know. Otherwise, I shall see you all in Immersive’s next article!

poco piano: Ravel La Valse

 

La Valse:

An impossible piece to play on the piano. This work was first conceived of as a Ballet. It’s so much a parody of the classic Viennese waltz  (think Blue Danube- that piece that plays in Space Odyssey) that it truly embodies it. He wrote it to break to form yet somehow in breaking it, he really found it again.

In the middle, you’ll hear some WWI bombing and sirens blaring to an almost euphoric insanity.

This piece scares me and I’m about to play it on Tuesday, wish me luck.

TOLAROIDS: Spooky Edition

For this week’s post, I went through almost all my folders and picked the 12 spookiest photos I could find in the spirit of the Halloween season! Make sure to choose your favorite and then vote at the bottom of the post. The photo that will be voted as the spookiest will be reposted here with the description and settings I used and also posted on my Instagram!