February 2009

Group examines future state of the arts

for future activi-

State College, and Centre County as well,”

by Adam Eshleman

“Much of a satisfying life, I

ties,” she said.

because it draws both national and local

Often, when the economy goes to war on

“It was very excit-

acts.

think, is art; the making of

a people, the arts are the first casualty.

ing,” said Elaine

“I’d love to see more local acts in the

it if you can, the savoring of

Yet, months before anyone could believe

M e d e r - Wi l g u s ,

State Theatre, but right now it’s a problem

it if you can’t.”

how rough it would get, a campus group

owner of Webster’s.

of economics,” Negra said of the future. He

--Bill Welch,

launched the Arts in Public Life project to

“We had an amazing

also said he’d like to have local charities,

Mayor of State College

focus on the role of art in this community.

mix of people from

such as THON, use the theater for fundrais-

The group plans to raise community aware-

different

back-

ing events.

ness with regard to the arts, to ensure they

grounds with differ-

Arts groups were not the only ones at the

will continue to flourish throughout the

ent ideas.”

meeting. The State College Downtown

attended the symposium.

region even during the tough times.

Mike Negra, exec-

Gabeba Baderoon

Improvement District—a group dedicated to

“I was simply there to hear what folks

In December, AIPL hosted a public sym-

utive director of the

ensuring the prosperity of State College—

had to say and offer my couple of com-

posium, titled “Live Arts/Downtown Life,”

State Theatre, came to discuss the impor-

also has a stake in the future of regional arts.

ments based on being the oldest living

at Webster’s Bookstore in State College to

tance of his theater as a community asset

At the meeting, the group’s new executive

inhabitant,” he said with a laugh. “This was

begin a preliminary discussion of art in

and its role as a “facilitator of other people’s

director, Jody Alessandrine, delivered a pres-

all very preliminary, with the aim of should

Centre County. About 30 community mem-

dreams.”

entation detailing the economic advantages

a group be formed and who would it be.”

bers and representatives of regional organi-

“I liked it because all these people that

offered by a vibrant art scene.

Welch added that public art installations

zations attended.

are interested in the arts as a whole, which I

Alessandrine said people who prefer to

such as the murals and sculptures in down-

“We started to lay out what we all thought

personally believe holds a big key to the

shop downtown appreciate the arts as well.

town State College could be more visible.

was happening, what some of the benefits

future of downtown State College, were all

“When you’re talking about downtowns,

He said he’d like to see the “First Thursday”

and opportunities were and also what some

in one room, thinking towards how we can

and you’re talking about offering variety of

program, which promotes public art events

of what the difficulties were,” said Gabeba

attract audiences and how we can offer

appeals, that goes hand in glove with having

the first Thursday of every month, expand-

Baderoon, leader of the AIPL project fund-

alternative art forms and maintain venues

a variety of artistic disciplines,” he said after

ed into an institution that features events

ed by the Penn State Institute for the Arts

such as the State Theatre,” Negra said later.

the symposium. “It’s natural for us to be a

and Humanities.

“It was a way of creating

The State Theatre, Negra said, serves as a

part of any initiative to promote the arts.”

channels of communication and also a basis

“hub of community performing arts for

State College Mayor Bill Welch also

see AIPL , pg. 22

Galaxy provides schools stellar art class enrichment

10, for the past 13 years. CIU 10 is one of

program, she met storytelling artist Jan

by Natalie Ferrigno

29 Intermediate Units here in Pennsylvania.

Kinney and has been collaborating with her

In a time of budget crunches and strict

The units are links between school districts

since.

academic guidelines, some public schools

and the Pennsylvania Department of

A couple of years ago Kuren and Kinney

find it difficult to keep arts programs alive.

Education.

worked with a group of students at Park

The Galaxy Program for the Arts, which has

Galaxy also has a partnership with the

Forest Middle School. At first, Kuren was

an office in State College, has been working

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, which

concerned that self-consciousness would

for the past 33 years to help out, namely

has provided grants to support the residency

hinder students. However, she and Kinney

through their artist-in-residency program.

programs.

persisted and were met with stunning

Galaxy currently benefits an estimated

results.

20,000 K-12 students in Centre, Clearfield,

The artists involved with Galaxy find the

The students’ project was to split into

and Clinton Counties. While similar pro-

experience rewarding.

three groups, tell a story written by a fellow

grams existed before, none were as substan-

“We have a wonderful group of talented

group member, and then dance the story of

tial as the ones happening today.

and dedicated artists,” Assistant Director

another group. One group had to dance the

Program Director Jennene Lundy

Stephanie Hosier said, noting that many of

story of a sheriff’s horse thought to be too

explained artists of any discipline can work

them are full-time, professional artists.

slow to come to the rescue.

in a school for 10 or more days as an indi-

“Our artists are willing to travel sometimes

“I needed a way to visualize the story.

vidual or five or more days as a group.

an hour and a half both ways to get to these

[The students] were terrific,” Kuren said. “I

Galaxy currently benefits approximately

schools to spend an hour, three hours, four

had them pass a movement to another per-

Photo courtesy of Galaxy Program

20,000 K-12 students in Centre, Clearfield,

During a mulitple-day artists in residency, stu-

hours interacting with diverse populations.”

son. They created their own movement and

and Clinton Counties.

dents use clay to tell a story.

Artists also work together to help stu-

pointed to the next person, sort of like if you

“Unfortunately, the arts are too easily dis-

dents gain self-confidence.

were to have a map. They were so sharp

counted,” said Lundy, referring to the lack

arts.

Dancer and choreographer Ann Van

of attention many publics schools give to

Lundy has been working for Galaxy, a

Kuren of State College has been working

music, theatre, dance, literature, and visual

non-profit run by Central Intermediate Unit

with Galaxy for several years. Through the

see Galaxy , pg. 22

February 2009

‘Foxdale Miscellany’ allows retirees creative literary outlet

by Lindsay Chew

works, as well as inspiring every resident to

take up a pen and let their creative writing

For some people, retirement might mean

skills come to life.

long afternoons knitting and evenings of

“It is a nutritional atmosphere,” said

“Murder She Wrote” reruns. But for the

William Tomb, a regular contributor.

writers of the Foxdale Miscellany life is full

The staff meets the fourth Monday of

of exciting new literary exploration.

every month to read their pieces aloud and

The Foxdale Miscellany is an all-volun-

help one another improve.

teer publication produced and distributed

“We all make suggestions and we’ll all

within the Foxdale Village Retirement

talk about it,” said de Lissovoy.

Community in State College.

“When we started out, there was no edit-

Ranging from retired English teachers to

ing,” said Bunny Moon, a writer. “And now

retired lieutenants of the U.S. Navy, the

we proofread again and again.”

writing staff of the Miscellany brings to life

Such a thorough editing process would

this quarterly publication with short essays,

not have been set in place without the guid-

short personal narratives and poetry. The

ance of de Lissovoy. Acting as a backbone

publication also includes children’s stories

for the Miscellany , de Lissovoy a retired

as well as pet profiles, creating a surprise

English teacher, has taken a leadership role

for the reader every issue.

in the Miscellany . Not only does she writes

“Miscellany really means miscellany,”

for every issue but also proofreads, types

Photo by Lindsay Chew

said Charlotte de Lissovoy, a writer, copy

and edits the publication.

Members of Miscelleny writing staff collaborate on stories. From left to right: Bunny Moon, Amy Weber

editor, and typist for the Miscellany .

“She takes a story, prunes it, changes it,

Paul Bixby, Charlotte de Lissovoy and William Tomb.

The Miscellany staff builds an atmos-

develops it,” said Tomb.

phere of community between all the resi-

Paul Bixby, Foxdale resident, familiar to

student came to Foxdale looking for anyone

dents at Foxdale by abiding by a mission

Not all the writers for the Miscellany

most Miscellany readers, had no intentions

statement that facilitates the sharing of

intended to become writers when they

of writing.

thoughts, ideas, and feelings in creative

joined the Foxdale community.

Bixby said he started when a university

see Miscellany , pg. 22

February 2009

Penn State Downtown Theatre augments art community

by Bridget Monaghan

“[This] is the off off-

Broadway theater of our

With its bright white lights beaming on

College Avenue, the State Theatre stands as

dreams. It’s like 42nd Street

a prominent community performing arts

in New York right here in

venue. But downtown State College offers

State College.”

another gem of the performing arts world

hidden a few blocks away and around the

--Dan Carter, director

corner.

The Penn State Downtown Theatre

Center, nestled modestly among the busi-

nesses on South Allen Street, continues to

differentiate itself from the State Theatre

walked into an old, abandoned department

said Rob Schneider, a theater director and

store on Allen Street and walked out in an

Penn State graduate student.

arrangement with the Woskob family—

Schneider said although the theater is

owners of the building—to renovate the

“constantly” busy on the inside, people pass

space into a theater.

it by because it’s tucked away and not a

“It’s been very exciting and it’s a great

major, more visible venue.

compliment to the Playhouse Theatre and

“What people don’t know is that it’s

the Pavilion Theatre on campus,” Carter

really a small jewel box of a home for the

said.

“[It] provides great entertainment,

arts,” he said.

reveals another window of excellence to the

Now in its fifth year—and launched well

broader community, and makes towns like

Photo by William Wellman

before the reopening of the State Theatre—

State College a great place to live,” he said.

Professional actors perform “Lend me a Tenor” at the Penn State Downtown Theatre during a summer

the theater is the brainchild of Penn State

Schneider said because the theater only

theater series.

President Graham Spanier.

seats a scant 151 people, the intimate set-

“I felt some responsibility for the univer-

ting it offers sets it apart from any other the-

Mike Negra, executive director of the

Penn State’s School of Music frequently

sity to contribute to the growing entertain-

ater downtown or on campus.

State Theatre, agreed the two theaters aren’t

uses the Downtown Theatre for music

ment corridor downtown and to help rejuve-

In fact, Schneider said the Penn State

in competition and even plan to co-present

events during the beginning of each semes-

nate the viability of the downtown,” Spanier

Downtown Theatre was the perfect setting

“Menopause the Musical” in July.

ter. The space is also used for graduate act-

told Voices in an e-mail. “I was able to

for “A Man of No Importance,” a play he

“They are an arm of Penn State during the

ing programs throughout the year.

obtain private gifts to pay for the majority

recently directed which was written for a

school year and present a different brand of

During the summer, the Pennsylvania

of costs, so I think it has been a success all

small audience.

theater during the summer,” he said. “It all

Centre Stage theater program uses the

around.”

“When an audience is watching a show

works together.”

venue to host professional performances,

Although the university already had two

they are part of the story,” he said.

While it may have fewer amenities than

some featuring Broadway actors.

venues for its school of theater, Spanier said

Some residents worried at the time it

the other theaters in the area, the Penn State

“It’s really exciting for a cast of graduate

the existing theaters were located in dark,

opened that downtown couldn’t support two

Downtown Theatre offers more than a few

students to watch professionals in a profes-

inaccessible areas of campus with limited

venues. But Carter said Penn State Theatre

seats and a stage. Behind its doors, the the-

sional setting,” he said.

parking.

does not compete with the State Theatre.

ater hides the Woskob Family Gallery, a

Carter said the theater is similar to many

“The fine and performing arts provide the

They have different missions.

home for various art exhibitions and free

of the places where students are likely to be

soul of a community and a university and it

“We do a lot of long runs and they do

entertainment during lunch hours.

working after graduation.

is important to support and showcase them,”

short runs, but we are great friends,” he

The Penn State box office, where theater-

“The theater is the off off-Broadway the-

he said.

said. “They are our friends and neighbors

goers can purchase tickets to nearly every

ater of our dreams,” Carter said. “It’s like

Dan Carter, a director for the school of

and it has made it an even healthier down-

Penn State event, is also located in the

42nd street in New York right here in State

theater, said a few members of his college

town community.”

building.

College.”

'SQI ZMWMX YW EX SYV

3TIR ,SYWI

E] *IFVYEV]

EQ RSSR

7XEXI 'SPPIKI *VMIRHW 7GLSSP

KVEHIW /

+VSYRHIH MR XLI 5YEOIV XIWXMQSRMIW SJ

)UYEPMX] 'SQQYRMX]

7MQTPMGMX]

4IEGI

7XI[EVHWLMT

-RXIKVMX]

[[[ WGJVMIRHW SVK

9RMZIVWMX] (VMZI 7XEXI 'SPPIKI

February 2009

lives and experiences. The latest edition,

titled “Historic Moments Relived,” gave the

from AIPL , pg. 19

from Galaxy, pg. 19

from Miscellany , pg. 20

entire community a chance to depict their

more regularly.

with it...Nobody held back.”

interested in walking with her as a part of a

memories through their pens and garnered a

“Much of a satisfying life, I think, is art;

“Each school community has a different

class assignment. Bixby volunteered and it

particularly strong response.

the making of it if you can, the savoring of

feeling,” said Lundy, pointing out Galaxy

because a regular habit to walk with her.

“We got stories form people that have

it if you can’t,” he said. “It’s always helpful

artists enjoy working at a variety of schools.

However, once she graduated Bixby had no

never written before,” said de Lissovoy. “It

to have these kinds of discussions.”

Mostly, Lundy said, the artists

“really

one to walk with.

gives us more in depth awareness of each

Stimulating this kind of community dis-

enjoy the work because they know they’re

“I tried to walk alone for a while…and

other.”

cussion is a big part of AIPL’s mission, but

doing something good. They see results.

started to think about things I could write

Recalling a loved one’s greatest attributes

the project was formed for different reasons.

Some of these experiences can be life-

about,” said Bixby. “It has been fun. Some

with a poem or remembering a personal

Baderoon said she and her coorganizers

changing experiences for students. [They]

make sense, some don’t…but I enjoy it all

hardship through a short narrative, the writ-

Jonathan Eburne and Dorn Hetzel assem-

develop confidence, discovering who they

the same.”

ers of the Miscellany allow themselves the

bled this project as a response to the dimin-

can be through a creative endeavor.”

Others on the staff, however, came onto

share these memories with other residents.

ishing presence of art in the news media.

Lundy said many students who struggle

the Miscellany scene with a resume filled

“There is a lot of reminiscing,” said

“Coverage of the arts has been very drasti-

in the so-called basic academics might find

with previous experience.

Tomb, who explained that it is easy to say

cally affected by changes in the media indus-

they excel in the arts.

Amy Weber, a retired secretary and

an event happened, but harder to explain

try,” she said, adding that, nationwide, news-

Working with a storytelling artist, for

writer, fell into place as a regular writer for

what happened. It is how you saw the event

papers and other media have cut coverage of

instance, can help a student who dislikes

the Miscellany when she moved into

that makes the difference, he said.

the arts in response to dwindling revenue.

reading take an interest in books. That same

Foxdale. Weber, who wrote for her home-

The memories of the residents bring the

The group aims to begin discussions of this

artist can help a shy student gain public

town paper in her youth, has applied those

past to life in the Miscellany . The heart of

phenomenon, and in so doing, change the

speaking skills.

skills and painted the pages of the

the publication lies within each of these

way we as a culture think about the arts.

“Students will learn math concepts

Miscellany with colorful detail and witty

writers and their willingness to forgo their

“If we stop paying attention to the arts,

through dance or paper cutting, history

phrases.

fear of sharing and to embrace their words.

they will slowly stop being a central part of

through theatre, multi-culturalism through

“I was always interested in newspaper

“Your memories, as you get older get

our lives,” she said. “I think that is going to

any of the art forms,” Hosier said.

writing and that is how I learned to write,”

very sharp,” said Bixby.

“You may not

be a huge and regrettable change for us all.”

“[The program] is a win for students. It’s

said Weber.

“The five Ws in the first para-

remember the exact words but you remem-

AIPL’s next event will be Feb. 9 in 102

a win in the educational realm. It’s a win

graph and go from there.”

ber the images. It is my memory…It may

Kern Building, at Penn State. It will feature

for teachers. It’s a win for society,” Lundy

Many of the pieces found in the

not be the same as the person next to me but

nationally recognized bloggers.

said.

Miscellany come from the writers’ personal

it is what I remember.”

The State Theatre presents

Let the Circle Be Wide

Rachel Getting Married (2008/R)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

$% &

"' (

A fantasic celtic show, just

in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Trouble the Water (2008/NR)

" ! &

Average White Band

2nd Annual “Out of the Cold”

Movie Event

Akeelah and the Bee (2006/PG)

The Betrayal -

Nerakhoon (2008/NR)

Artie Shaw Orchestra

( &

-%%

/00

" 2

Milk (2008/R)

% &

)

The Cooperative Playschool

Jonatha Brooke

Best Picture

Co-Opalooza

& 6

-%%

& #

9 *

& 5

Text “StateTix” to “39649” to be the first to know who’s coming to The State

www.StateTickets.org | (814) 272-0606 | 130 West College Ave

Downtown State College