Macaulay Honors College, Fall 2014
Stepping into the lobby of Carnegie Hall was similar to stepping into the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House. Prior to attending these special Macaulay Honors events, I had only dreamed of one day watching a performance at these two prestigious concert halls. Finally, my dream came true!
Upon entering the venue, I already felt like I was floating on clouds. The serenity of the concert hall, the sophistication, everything seemed to fall perfectly in place. As Anne-Sophie Mutter and her ensemble of young, budding musicians entered the stage, the entire hall gradually quieted down and readied themselves for a night to remember. Ms. Mutter’s violin had the most serene and smooth sound, instantly engulfing me in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. The piece that I enjoyed the most is also a classic that even non-fans of classical music have listened to one point in their lives, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. “Spring,” which is arguably the most recognized of the four, never fails to bring me back to my first year of high school, when I was required to take a music appreciation class. Hearing Ms. Mutter and her ensemble play, I was instantly whisked away to the third row seat of the first floor chorus room where I first heard this beautiful piece. Ms. Mutter’s playing that night brought back much cherished memories of my high school years, and it created new memories that I will cherish well into the future.
The trek up to the Flomenhaft Gallery was a tough one- strong winds and wet grounds discouraged us from enjoying the walk, but once we entered the cozy warm building, I was instantly myself again. Hidden among all the other art galleries on the block and tucked under and beyond the High Line, it’s easy to overlook the tiny little building, but once I entered the lobby, I was struck by how clean and wide the space looked. It was grim and dark out on the streets, but once we walked up the stairs to the second floor gallery, I was pleasantly grateful for how warm and bright the studio was. When we entered the doorway, Ms. Flomenhaft was also kind enough to walk us around the studio and give us detailed explanations of the exhibit and each piece and the artist behind the paintings. What really struck me was the depth of knowledge Ms. Flomenhaft had about the artist, as well as the art subject. The ease with which she explained each piece was impressive and helped me develop an interest in the exhibit.
The artwork that most stood out to me was Flo Oy Wong’s pieces on “paper people.” Various books and textbook knowledge have taught me about the early Chinese immigrants’ struggles in western United States, but seeing them on display is a totally different learning experience. I have a deeper interest in this subject because I’ve learned of the injustices early Chinese, as well as German and Irish immigrants faced when they first settled in America. They were persecuted primarily for their ethnic background, and at a certain time period, these groups were even prohibited from immigrating here, which contradicts America’s own principles on equality for all. However, history should remain in the past, and what’s important is these artists who have taken a creative approach in retelling history through their artwork.
Costume
When the three main leads first stepped out onto the stage, I was a little bewildered by how simple their attire was. Afterwards, I realized that the simplicity of the street clothes and the colors is a deliberate attempt to highlight the complexity of Sammy and the other synesthetes’ minds. The director intentionally kept their costumes simple, so that the colorful flow of words is the main focus of the play. It is a clever decision on the director’s part, and personally, I feel that this is the best approach because had their costumes been elaborate and colorful, the depth of the characters’ speech would be lost.
Performing at a venue as grand as the Metropolitan Opera House is no small feat, and last night’s performance of The Magic Flute did not disappoint. From the unbelievably impressive vocals to the grand revolving stage, everything about the opera was captivating and engaging. In terms of staging, everything fell in place with the entire performance- each aspect was crucial to the full picture. The revolving stage features various scenic backdrops, such as the woods in which Tamino and Papageno must travel through to rescue Pamina. Along with the jaw-dropping stage, another interesting point to note is the blocking of the actors. The performers, from the main and supporting characters in the opera to the dancers, everyone used the space smartly, so that the audience never felt an awkward emptiness anytime during the play. Of course, with a sage as big as the Met’s, it is silly not to incorporate the space into the story. Dancing bears, fleeing captives, and even the star-shimmering Queen of the Night- all of these characters were well aware of their space and did not idle in any one position for more than a few minutes at most. Even when the sage was revolving to match the next scene, the performers would flawlessly wrap up their act and not have the stage change interfere with their performance.
I’ve been to a few Open Mic events at my previous high school, and I’ve always been very impressed by the performers creativity and courage for speaking in front of a large audience. I held high expectations for my first Open Mic experience at Brooklyn College, and today’s performance certainly did not disappoint. From the singers and guitarists performing their original pieces to the writers reciting their poems and writings, each performer genuinely blew me away. The sincerity in their writing and their passion certainly showcase Brooklyn College’s talents.
Aside from the individual performances that I found highly impressive, I was also struck by how sympathetic and encouraging everyone were. From the group of friends sitting towards the back snapping away at their friends’ heartfelt performances to the general audience rooting on each participant, I was touched by how kind everyone was despite being total strangers. Though I witnessed the same kind of compassion at Stuyvesant, it was a tad different as the Open Mic community pretty much all know each other, and the population was much smaller, so we were pretty much acquainted with most of the usual performers.
Overall, I really enjoyed my first Open Mic at Brooklyn College. I cannot pinpoint the exact performance that I was most impressed by because all were amazing to me. However, the most memorable one was one student’s realistic skit/poem titled, “Robocop”. His passion and creativity are commendable, and I hope to see him again at future Open Mic events.
Holiday Windows in Manhattan
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Practically every child in this world looks forward to Christmas time, and why wouldn’t they? The winter season is the most magical and miraculous time of the year, from giving and receiving presents on the holidays to playing with friends in the snow. Even as an adult, just the prospect of Christmas gives me excited flutters and happy thoughts. Anything related to winter and the holidays brings me immense joy, and we’re nearing that time of the year, so it only made sense to choose the holiday windows in Manhattan as my topic. I worked together with Jasmine and Jenny, and together we explored and researched this year’s window displays for Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue.
New York City is a shopping heaven, with Manhattan’s Herald Square and Fifth Avenue being the two most popular centers. As a child I visited Herald Square once in awhile to shop with my family, but I’ve started frequenting this bustling part of the city more so the past five years to shop and to eat with my family as well as my friends. I visited Rockefeller Center when I was but a toddler, so my memories of that area of the famous borough are very fuzzy. I actually only learned that Fifth Avenue is a shopping heaven two years ago, so I am considered an outsider to some degree.
For this project, Jasmine, Jenny, and I were each responsible for one store, and I chose my favorite of the three: Macy’s. As a New Yorker, Macy’s is a must-go-to store during the holidays. From the July 4th fireworks to the Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Christmas window display, Macy’s is one of New York City’s cultural icons. That being said, I was very excited when I stepped out of the train station and headed towards the iconic department store. As I expected, this particular area of Herald Square- 34th Street between Fifth and Seventh Avenues- was bustling with New Yorkers and tourists anxious to catch a glimpse of the magnificent window display.
This year’s show is a six-window display titled “Santa’s Journey Through the Stars.” The entire production was designed and overseen by Roya Sullivan, the National Director of Window Presentation for Macy’s, Inc. She has previously worked alongside previous directors at Macy’s, as well as at stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Polo Ralph Lauren, but after returning to Macy’s, this is her first season running the show. She got inspiration from children’s books to create this year’s theme: Christmas in outer space. The display tells the tale of Alex, a young boy in bed on Christmas Eve too excited to sleep, and his journey through the stars with his pet dog Bella, Santa and his space reindeers. They start out on Earth and each successive window presents the Earthlings stopping at each of the planets. Anyone can tell that special attention to details and careful planning went into this production, and the final outcome is impressive: colored lights, grand sculptures made from 85% foam, and video monitor with Alex narrating his adventures. My favorite window was the one of Earth because the replicas of New York City’s landmarks gave me a surge of pride for the city. However, I was also impressed by the sculptors’ efforts in making the planets seem as realistic as possible- craters on the planets’ surfaces and tiny rocks to replicate Saturn’s rings. Overall, the windows are too colorful and impressive to miss- even for busy, preoccupied New Yorkers rushing to and from work, and the towering sculptures are enough to make anyone ooh and ah.
After entering college, I found myself maturing, as well as becoming indifferent towards things that used to excite me. I was scared that I had lost my touch of childishness and childlike innocence. However, after visiting Macy’s for this project, I realized that even if my environment and mentality changed, a part of my heart would always stay the same. As cliché as that sounds, it is true- I am grateful and relieved that I haven’t lost this part of my childhood. Adults are all children at heart, and the winter season is magical because it allows the hidden children to surface for adults to experience innocent happiness.
National Ballet of China, The Peony Pavilion
Art is narrative.
Art is nuanced.
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