Juneteenth edition. The Signpost 6-11-24

Black Lives Matter

OGDEN’S BARBER AND BRAID BATTLE

By WIKTORIA KOLODZIEJCZYK Reporter

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Though the day was established as a national holiday only three years ago by President Joe Biden, Black communities in Utah have been celebrating the holiday for over 35 years as it symbolizes the power of liberty and resilience.

“Freedom is Never Granted, It Is Won” is the theme for the 35th Annual Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival organized at the Ogden Amphitheater from June 14-16.

Among the many versatile events including live entertainment and other educational opportunities is the unique “Barber and Braid Battle,” which highlights local talent and cultural pride like no other during this

fun-filled weekend. This year’s Barber Battle is on June 16 at noon.

This year’s Utah Barber Battle is open to both the audience and participants, welcoming individuals of all skill levels. Barbers will compete in three categories: confident cut, fast fade (with a 30-minute timer) and open braid. There will also be an open hair competition, a beard competition and a student category contest. All winners will receive special belts and a cash prize, with amounts ranging up to a few hundred dollars. Owens will also present recognition to runners-up, encouraging them to level up their skills and confidence.

Kevin Owens, a barber, started the first-ever Barber Battle in Ogden. From a very young age, Owens has been taught the importance of his legacy and heritage by both his mother and grandmother. After the first Barber

Battle was created, six more Barber Battles were established in Utah in the following years, demonstrating the increase in celebration of local talent and the recognition of Juneteenth. Owens was inspired by icons of barbering excellence, Willie Moore and Billy Mason.

The significance of Juneteenth deeply connects to the Black community’s values and struggles as “barbering and braiding was a way to freedom” for many African Americans. Barber Shops haven’t been only about haircuts, but also about finding a way to promote positive lifestyles.

For many barbers and braiders, this is a way of giving back to the community, improving their craft and making an honest living. Barbering and braiding is a symbol of celebrating young talents, entrepreneurship, reinforcing self-expression and showcasing unique talents that deserve recognition. These skills are a form of art that not only reflects cultural heritage but also emphasizes the importance of finding freedom through positive means and strong will.

Share this story at thesignpostwsu.com

A barber pole attached to the outside of Moore’s Barbershop.

ANNA

KUGLAR

Signpost

FROM WHERE THE AIR IS DIFFERENT: NEW EXHIBITION IN DUMKE ARTS PLAZA

By TENAYA HYDE Reporter

Red, green, blue and every color in between now cover Ogden’s Dumke Arts Plaza with its new exhibition, titled “A Dream That Comes in Color.” Hundreds of thousands of ribbons tied to the fencing and surrounding area decorate a large aerial hanging above the plaza titled “From Where the Air is Different.”

Megan Geckler, a site-specific installation artist, described her pieces saying, “the rainbow was a sign of unity and diversity and coming together. Everybody likes rainbows. We all get excited when we see a double rainbow.”

Ogden City’s website states Geckler’s latest art piece “is a vibrant, kaleidoscopic declaration of the beauty of differences coming together in harmony. It is a large-scale, site-specific installation artwork that uses hyper-colorful, recyclable PVC film, integrated seamlessly with the architecture of the site to inspire, uplift, and provide a space for contemplation at Dumke Arts Plaza.”

Camela Corcoran, the gallery exhibitions manager for Weber State University’s Shaw Gallery, said the installation used over 12 miles of tape for the fencing and 6 miles for the aerial.

The plaza and its installation can be used for everything from lounging, date

nights and art displays to small performances.

Corcoran said discussions on the exhibition started over a year ago when Geckler came to her with the idea. Over 20 volunteers and workers helped Geckler and Corcoran during the installation’s month-long construction.

“It’s a total honor to be selected to do something like this, because this is the first time at the Plaza that they’ve had an actual installation,” Geckler said.

Geckler has been doing art pieces for over 24 years all around the country. WSU, in conjunction with Ogden City, flew her in to make this piece for Dumke Plaza.

“I think regardless of your major and regardless of your area of discipline, that it’s really good to open yourself up to things that maybe you haven’t seen before and get inspiration from them,” Geckler said.

Megan Geckler will be doing a lecture about “A Dream that Comes in Color” as well as her other national projects and their constructions on Sept. 4 at WSU. For more information about the lecture, see https://www.weber.edu/artscalendar/.

SONGS OF THE WILDCATS

By MEGAN SWANN Editor

The concept of a love song about Hot Wheels might seem unlikely, but it was exactly the type of song student Catie Wirz wanted to write.

Wirz said what started as a challenge among classmates to write a song about the toy cars turned into a surprisingly cathartic writing experience.

“It was actually inspired by someone I dated who loves Hot Wheels, and it didn’t work out, and I wanted to write an angsty Hot Wheels song,” Wirz said.

This is exactly the type of creativity en-

couraged by instructor William Pollett in English 2750, a special topics course revolving around the art of songwriting.

Students met every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. during the spring 2024 semester to learn how to write in different genres including rap, folk, pop and country.

Pollett said this course has been around since 2012. In those 12 years, Pollett said past students of the class include David Owen, who founded and owns Imagine Music on Harrison Boulevard, as well as Pete Sands, whose music was used in the television show “Yellowstone.”

“We’ve had so many stellar graduates

since then that it’s really just kind of held its own place,” Pollett said.

Pollett said the class sometimes feels hidden in the university because it’s in the English department rather than the music program.

A lot of students find the class through flyers Pollett posts around campus and in the community. For example, another student, Arlene Szalay, found out about the class through a flyer at Grounds for Coffee on 30th Street and Harrison. Szalay, 72, is taking the class as a lifelong learning student, meaning she can attend it without earning credit for a reduced price.

Instruments are not required to take the class, and Pollett said any major or level of experience is welcome to enroll.

“The best students, it seems they come from every walk of life,” Pollett said. “They can come from the nursing program, they can come from the business department, and the creative writers who are in the English department really shine because they’re studying Dylan and Shakespeare and it’s just amazing. It really is super fun.”

After writing one song each week, the class culminates in a songwriting festival at the end of each semester. At this festival, each student performs a couple of the songs they’ve written throughout the semester. Community members and alumni are invited to attend and perform as well. This year, the festival took place on April 9 from 6-9 p.m. in Elizabeth Hall room 229.

Pollett said he likes giving students a space where they can nurture their love for music and express themselves.

“I think Will is terrific at making everybody feel comfortable and included. And he really gets even the shyest students to speak up,” Szalay said.

Despite performing in choirs and musical theater throughout her life, Dayna Shirley, another student, said she was nervous yet excited to share her songs at the festival.

“I’m definitely nervous to share such an intimate part of myself because a lot of my songs are my poems and my poems are often intimate,” Shirley said. “So it’s scary, but I’m excited.”

Music is a huge part of Pollett’s life, as he has been in over 100 bands. His current band, The Snarlin’ Yarns, includes other Weber State University faculty like Abraham Smith and Ryan Ridge, both from the English department.

Pollett said these bands have added many experiences to his life, so creating a safe space to let the community interact over music is special to him.

This course will be offered again in fall 2024 on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-8:10 p.m.

Pollett encourages any interested students to try it out, regardless of previous songwriting experience or music knowledge.

“Get writing some music and making the world a better place because the world needs it,” Pollett said.

Students work in the new Ray L. Kimber Music & Sibyl Recording Studio in the Val A.Browning Center for the Performing Arts on March 18, 2022.

Weber State University

CANCIONES DE LOS WILDCATS

POR NELLY HERNANDEZ Traductor

POR MEGAN SWANN Editor

La idea de una canción de amor sobre Hot Wheels no sería muy probable, pero fue exactamente el tipo de canción que Catie Wirz que es un estudiante quería escribir.

Wirz dijo que lo que comenzó como un reto entre los compañeros de clase para escribir una canción sobre los juguetes de carro se convirtió en una experiencia catártica.

“En realidad fue inspirada por alguien con quien yo salía y que le encantaban los Hot Wheels, y no funcionó, y yo quería escribir una canción angustiosa sobre Hot Wheels’, dijo Wirz.

Este fue absolutamente el tipo de creatividad que fue incentivado por el instructor William Pollet en English 2750, una clase sobre el arte de composición.

Los estudiantes se reunieron cada martes y jueves desde las 10:30-11:45 de la mañana durante el semestre de primavera 2024 para aprender cómo escribir diferentes tipos de música incluyendo rap, folk, pop y country.

Pollett dijo que esta clase existió desde

2012. En estos 12 años, Pollet dijo que estudiantes que han tomado la clase en el pasado incluyendo David Owen, que es el fundador y dueño de Imagine Music en Harrison Boulevard, y también Pete Sands, cuya música fue usado en un un programa de tele llamado “Yellowstone”.

“Hemos tenido tantos graduados asombrosos desde ese tiempo que ha ocupado su propio lugar como una clase”.

Pollett dijo que a veces la clase aparece escondida en la universidad porque es parte del departamento de inglés en vez del programa de música.

Bastantes estudiantes encuentran la clase por panfletos que Pollett pone por campus y en la comunidad. Por ejemplo, otra estudiante, Arlene Szalay, encontró la clase por un panfleto en Grounds for Coffee en 30th Street y Harrison. Szalay, 72, está tomando la clase como un estudiante de educación continuada, lo que significa que ella puede atender la clase y no obtener crédito escolar por un precio reducido.

Instrumentos no son requeridos para tomar la clase, y Pollett dice que cualquier estudiante especializando en lo que sea o de cualquier nivel de experiencia puede tomar la clase.

“Parece que los mejores estudiantes vienen de todos diferentes tipos de vidas”, dijo Pollett. “Pueden ser del programa de enfermería, pueden venir del departamento de negocios, y los escritores en el departamento de inglés brillan porque están estudiando Dylan y Shakespeare y es increíble. Es tan divertido”.

Después de escribir una canción cada semana, la clase tiene un evento de composición de música a finales de cada semestre. En este evento, cada estudiante presenta algunas de las canciones que han escrito durante el semestre. Miembros de la comunidad y alumnos son invitados a atender y presentar también. Este año, el evento fue el 9 de abril de 6-9 de la tarde en Elizabeth Hall cuarto 229.

Pollett dijo que le gusta dar a los estudiantes un lugar que pueda apoyar su adoración de música y que ellos se puedan expresar.

“Yo creo que Will es genial en pudiendo hacer que todos se sientan cómodos e incluidos. Hasta puede hacer que los estudiantes más tímidos hablen”.

Aunque Dayna Shirley hacía presentaciones en coros y teatros musicales de todo la vida, ella dijo que estaba nerviosa pero emocionada por compartir sus canciones en el evento.

“Yo definitivamente estoy nerviosa por compartir una parte íntima de mi porque bastantes de mis canciones son mis poemas y mis poemas normalmente son íntimas”, dijo Shirley. “Entonces da miedo, pero estoy emocionada”.

La música es una parte significativa en la vida de Pollett, él ha estado en más de 100 bandas. Su banda actual, The Snarlin’ Yarns, incluye otros miembros de facultad en WSU como Abraham Smith y Ryan Ridge, ambos del departamento de inglés.

Pollett dice que estas bandas han agregado varias experiencias a su vida, entonces crear un espacio seguro entre la comunidad para la interacción con su música es algo especial para él.

Esta clase va a ser ofrecida otra vez en el semestre otoño 2024 los jueves desde 5:308:10 de la tarde.

Pollett promueve a cualquier estudiante interesado en probarlo, sin importar experiencia de composición anterior o conocimiento de música.

“Que todos comiencen a escribir música y hacer el mundo un lugar mejor porque el mundo lo necesita”, dijo Pollett.

Weber State University