13 minute read
ARTS & CULTURE
An Artist’s
Journey
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Arts & CULTURE
Annette Crosby has gained widespread acceptance of her art with numerous awards in juried competitions in local, state, and national shows. She exhibits and markets her work with three fellow artists in Artists on Ashley, a private gallery in downtown Valdosta. Her artistic focus is painting landscapes and non-objective painting using a variety of color, shape, form, line, and textures.
Annette Crosby Finds Inspiration in the Smallest Things
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAVON LONGLIELIERE
The world sure doesn’t seem like itself right now; it’s upside down, and little stands to any sense of rationalization or reason. We have all felt the effects of the virus from lockdowns, loss of jobs, or even a lack of the time spent with family and friends. While there have been some that have been able to continue to work, so many of us have spent the last few months confined to our homes doing the things that we have put off around the house or even learning new things online and hopefully spending time with our family. We have been doing our best to feel our way out of this darkness that has engulfed the world.
Starting the morning inside Artists on Ashley in front of one of her beautiful paintings, I asked Annette Crosby, one of the owners of the downtown location, and a stunning fixture in the art world herself, how she has handled the pandemic and the resulting lockdown.
Arts & CULTURE
Painting, at times, up to six pages a day, she has created 152 uniquely different pages of landscapes and abstract designs.
What was it that kept her spark of creativity lit? Her eyes grew wide as she started to tell me about a project that she began during Valdosta’s shelter in place order. That tunnel of loss and isolation that so many of us have traveled through, Annette used smaller canvases and lots of color like a compass to find her way and keep moving forward through the tunnel. We decided to delve deeper into the light at the end of her tunnel, and we left for her house.
Crosby was not content to sit still during the shelter in place. Feeling the need to create, she began working in the pages of a blank book that she had in her house. The book, small, not more than six inches by six inches, and designed for sketches for future works, became the story of her experience of the pandemic. She adorned the pages with stunning colors that
she created from paints, textures, collages from her hand-painted papers, and on one of the pages, even a Chinese Yuan. Painting, at times, up to six pages a day, she has created 152 uniquely different pages of landscapes and abstract designs.
When asked where the inspiration comes from to be able to create on a day to day basis, Crosby responds, “Photos from travels and natural landscapes that I have seen inspire me.” The photos that she speaks of are inside a box that she keeps in her sunroom. When needing inspiration, she pulls out a random image or trinket. These little treasures become a starting point and a guide, so to speak, on her journey. Without knowing the final destination, she explains, “Each piece is an evolution responding to a dialogue that forms between the piece and me.” These evolving pieces, which have become the art itself, are a statement of her optimism and a way to keep going with her craft.
So, where does she go from here? The virus doesn’t seem to be slowing down, but neither does she. Annette has completed two full sketchbooks of different sizes, and while discussing her books, she talks about starting a third book. She has also taken pictures of some of her pages and put together small photo books that show off her work. Sadly, Annette suffers the same dilemma that all artists are going through, and that is a lack of people to share her art with personally. Throughout the entire morning, the brief moment she laments of the loss of being able to share her vision with others is the only time she seems even a bit sad. It so quickly fades when Annette begins to talk about the people she will share designs and creations with, like designers, and possibly take the pages inside her sketchbooks and use them as inspiration for larger pieces.
The word inspiration comes up a lot in the brief time spent with her in her sunroom that morning. It’s something that we could all use more of right now. Thank you, Annette, for the inspiration you are giving us and being a beacon of light when there is so much darkness right now.
VSO VALDOSTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MEET THE BRASS SECTION & CULTURE Arts
STORY BY MATTIA GODDARD / PHOTOGRAPHY BY WES SEWELL PHOTOGRAPHY In honor of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra’s 30 th Anniversary, Valdosta Magazine is profiling musicians from different sections. This issue highlights the brass section. VALDOSTA MAGAZINE IS PROFILING MUSICIANS FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE VSO. THIS IS THE THIRD IN A FOUR-PART SERIES. While the season has been altered due to COVID, there are two concerts scheduled for this Fall. The VSO has chosen concerts that will increase the safety of the players and audience by featuring smaller ensembles with increased spacing onstage and socially distanced audience seating. There are also three air filters on stage to help with purifying the air and stage space as well. The brass players will be using bell covers to help keep any spread of aerosols reduced significantly. Also available is the option to attend by watching the HD concert video, which will be shown for one week beginning the Wednesday after the concert through a new Vimeo site.
Audiences will hear music from Bach, Vivaldi, Dvorak, Gounod, Tchaikovsky and several others as the VSO begins its 31st season.
Doug Farwell
Doug has been the Executive Director of the VSO since 2005 and is in his 9th year as Head of the Music Department He has been the Principal on Trombones for over 25 years and can play them all–alto, tenor, bass, and some bass trumpet. He also plays euphonium and a little tuba from time to time. He is originally from Madison, Wisconsin but grew up in North Carolina and Texas.
When he first arrived in Valdosta it was 1988, he stayed 2 years, then left to get his doctorate at the University of Illinois. When the job in Valdosta opened up in 1995, he happily returned because he and his wife, Donna, loved Valdosta. He's been a transplant to South Georgia ever since. When he's not teaching trombone and music technology classes, he's spending time with his beautiful wife of 32 years. He particularly likes the people and the size of Valdosta. The proximity to both beaches and mountains is ideal for their purposes.
When asked why it's important for people to experience live music, Doug says, “There is a community experience with coming to a concert that is difficult to emulate online or just by listening. So many colors and combinations of sound are lost in translation and we just don’t get the full vibrant effect of music unless you hear it live.”
Arts & CULTURE
Arts & CULTURE
Benjamin Vasko Benjamin Vasko has been in Valdosta for about a month, coming here from Boston where he is in the middle of his doctoral studies at Boston University, but since his courses are online, he decided to jumpstart his college teaching career by joining VSU’s music faculty. So far he has loved getting to know his colleagues and students, as well as the town. He finds the climate warmer than he'd like, but he thoroughly enjoys the scenery. “The pines clashing with live oaks covered in Spanish moss is an inspiring scene.”
Benjamin has been playing the tuba for 15 years and considers it his duty, like all good tuba players, to try many new and interesting beers. He also enjoys brewing coffee utilizing different methods. He used to keep a coffee journal that recorded the method, origin of the beans, time, temperature, and other variables. “Like trying to perfect my playing, making the perfect cup of coffee eludes me, but it is still fun.”
In addition to teaching VSU’s tuba and euphonium players, Benjamin also instructs courses in music and technology. It is his goal to help his students be able to utilize the resources available to them to further their own careers.
Benjamin's thoughts on the value of experiencing live music, "Live music is so important because it connects the audience to the humanity of the individuals performing it. Sometimes there is a personal disconnect with recordings. Regarding the VSO, we are in an interesting situation in which the orchestra is spotted with our finest students. They have the opportunity to learn next to their mentors in a risk-free environment. With the VSO being such a safe place for students to learn from the professionals next to them, more bold decisions can take place on stage. You might not get the same kind of confidence from other orchestras in the region.
DR. JOHNS WAS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PHOTO SHOOT FOR THIS ARTICLE. Dr. Kristen Michele Johns Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michrepertoire and also to teach private horn students at the same igan, Kristen came to Valdosta from time. VSU has been an ideal match for her professionally. Kristen Cincinnati, where she earned her began playing the horn in elementary school in 1975 through a Master of Music Performance degree school program that partnered with teachers at the University of and Doctor of Musical Arts degree. In 1995, she became VSU’s AsMichigan. sistant Professor of Horn and she has called Valdosta home ever At VSU Kristen enjoys specializing in horn teaching but is since. This fall she is starting her 25th year on faculty. glad to also teach more than one thing, because the variety makes
When considering what she likes about Valdosta, she parthe job most interesting. She teaches Introduction to the History ticularly enjoys both the opportunity to perform the orchestral of Music, Horn Methods through the new Master in the Art of
Javian Brabham
New to Valdosta, Javian previously worked at Young
Harris College as the Assistant Director of Bands and freelanced as a musician in addition to teaching trumpet, an instrument that he’s played for 20 years. Javian has been a faculty member with VSU for a year now as the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and teaches weekly trumpet lessons to all trumpet majors within the Department of Music, as well as the studio class and trumpet ensembles. In addition, he also teaches the trumpet portion of the department’s graduate High Brass Method course, and as the brass chamber coordinator, he coaches the brass quintets within the department.
In his free time, Javian stays fit by working out, going on runs, and working on his music podcast called Coffee & Clarke’s. Even with his busy teaching schedule, Javian finds time to hang out with friends at local eateries around town and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that Valdosta has to offer.
After living here for only a short time, Javian could immediately tell there was a strong sense of pride among the people here. So far, the people he has met have been very welcoming.
When asked why he thinks it is important for people to experience live music and the VSO in particular he says, “I think experiencing live music is important because it creates the ultimate human connection. Live music can be such a motivating force for a listener because it can touch the heart and soul of an individual and society. With the music we perform in VSO, we are able to foster a sense of community and measure the success and progress we have made together. With a city the size of Valdosta, experiencing live music and culture from around the world allows us to experience the humanity in it outside of our own familiarity.“
Arts & CULTURE
Teaching degree, Art Perspectives covering music, a studio class for the horn majors once per week, and chamber music.
Free time for a musician, often translates to private practice time. To maintain the strength of the embouchure, which is the way the musician applies their mouth and lips to the horn, Kristen typically practices 10-20 hours a week. When time permits, she loves to visit the Rocky Mountains in Canada and in the US. Closer to home she also enjoys visiting the ocean and traveling to seek out new and different types of foods.
Kristen finds it a pleasure to perform for Valdosta’s appreciative and supportive audience. When reflecting on what makes the VSO exceptional, she says, “ One of the reasons why the VSO in this particular part of the country is a unique and exciting experience is because audiences get to hear an orchestra that is made up of students who pass a rigorous audition, faculty who work with these students as the concert date approaches, and then the full orchestra on the concert weekend. Because the VSO hires freelance musicians from all over the southeast to fill out the orchestra, the talent on stage is truly impressive.”
Kristen recommends reading about the music and the composer a bit before attending the VSO. That extra insight will make it a more rewarding experience. Another good tip is to attend the pre-concert chat with Dr. Hsu.
Among Friends
Join in celebrating the reopening of concert halls after the global shutdown earlier this year. To accommodate safe distancing, there will be a reduced audience size and blocked off seating in between separate parties. For those that do not feel safe attending, the concert will be available to stream following the live show. Masks will be required throughout the performance.
Both concerts will take place in Whitehead Auditorium at 1500 N Patterson Street. For ticket information, call 229.333.2150 or email mlrodgers@valdosta.edu.
IF YOU GO:
Concert: Among Friends Date/Time: Saturday, October 3rd - 7:30pm
Concert:Vibrant Date/Time: Saturday, November 7th – 7:30 pm
SATURDAY October 24 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Free Admission
3rd Annual ARToberfest Turner Center Art Park
20 Fine Art Vendors
Demonstrations: Glass Blowing with Devan Cole Potters Wheel with Julie Smith Spun Yarn with Ashley Frazier Live Music with Jen Anders Pumpkin Painting & Kid’s Art Activities Plein-Air Painting Competition Snake Nation Press Author Readings South GA Classic Car Show Gud Coffee Burgers & Georgia Beer Co. by Jessie’s Catering Mo’s Mediterranean Falafel
229.247.2787 | turnercenter.org Parking at the Turner Center Galleries 527 N. Patterson St., Valdosta
Arts & CULTURE
Gogh Green
UPSCALE ART RESALE
The Center for the Arts Guild Fundraiser event is a great opportunity to expand or start your own art collection by purchasing upscale works of art at affordable prices. The art sale begins with a special preview party on Monday, October 5 from 7-9 p.m. and will allow attendees first chance to take home newly acquired treasures.
Admission: $20 | Hors d’oeuvres provided. Wine and beer available for purchase.
The sale continues Tuesday and Wednesday, October 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., free of charge. Patrons will be allowed to take home their purchases knowing their support of this event will benefit educational programs provided by the Turner Center for the Arts.
SPECIAL DRAWING: During the preview party - A Jill Bright commissioned portrait of your pet. (20" x 20" unframed) Tickets 1 for $5 / 3 for $10 (Presence NOT required to win)
Fore more information and tickets visit turnercenter.org or call (229) 247-2787.
