The University of Blog

Friday night The Arcade Fire performed at Starlight Theater in Kansas City. We first ate at the Plaza and then enjoyed the music in the open-air theater. The music was absolutely awe-inspiring. They performed many of their songs off Neon Bible as well as the classics from Funeral. It was a complete show incorporating elements such as lighting and videos to make it a whole experience for the viewer.

LCD Soundsystem opened and got everyone very excited and pumped up for the show. Their music completely overwhelmed me. The bass was so intense that I actually felt it. Dancing and enjoying the music was great to get ready for Arcade Fire.

When Arcade Fire came on, the crowd went crazy. Even though we were far back, I was still able to get into the music through the stage show. They had cameras hooked up near each of the artists and big screens behind them to show various images. Arcade Fire actually put on a show rather than just a concert. It made the two-hour drive there and back worth it to see The Arcade Fire live. Easily one of the best concerts that I’ve seen.

I visited the Career Center for the first time. This was very helpful because I am going to the Society of Professional Journalists Convention in Washington, D.C. next weekend and I would like to have a quality resume to turn into prospective employers. I am not necessarily looking for a job, but I would love to have an internship for next summer. Preparation as well as networking is key for securing an internship and gaining valuable experience so prevalent in the realm of journalism.

The Career Center offered such suggestions like to not use abbreviations and use dates for what I’ve done. One suggestion was to use inDesign to design the resume. This allows for more creativity because employers only spend about 30 seconds looking at a resume. A journalism resume allows a bit more creativity than a regular business resume, and at the Career Center, they have examples of both. Once I update my resume, I will stick it on here to provide some ideas.

(this was an extra credit assignment for my newswriting class)

The sun sets over the Missouri River on Sunday, Sept. 23.

As the sun set over the Missouri River, it brought the close to the Second Annual Eco Art Festival, a two- day event highlighting the necessity to clean up the river. The festival provided arts, music and educational events on Sept. 22-23 at Coopers Landing on the bank of the Missouri River.
Karen Crane of the Missouri River Relief worked a booth at the festival to help get young people interested in cleaning up the river.
“I’m a regular down here,” Crane said. “I would like to bring more people into it and push younger generations to realize the importance of the river and have more respect for it. Basically, keep it clean and don’t dump your trash there.”
Crane believes her efforts have been worth it after meeting a couple of young guys at a campfire and getting them interested in helping clean out the river.
“People love the environment,” Crane said. “It gives them idea of what is good, history and how much we actually get since we get a lot of trash.
To concentrate on the natural resources of the river, the festival also brought in artists that use natural materials and are inspired by the environment. This adequately fit the theme “Our Local Treasures.”
“I like the fact that it brings so many creative artist here,” Crane said. “It brings a lot of lovely talented people.”
Columbia resident Gale Johnson uses electrical wire and Missouri river rocks in her sculpted jewelry.
“Electricians can’t work with short pieces and it ends up somewhere,” Johnson said. “I keep as much as I can out of the recycle bins and trash cans.”
When Johnson helped to clean up after Hurricane Katrina, she picked up pieces of ceramic and glass from the shore to keep kids safe and decided to use it in her necklaces and hanging art to help preserve the earth as our “playground.”
“I make it all up myself and take art to a different place,” Johnson said. “I use the leftover wire and start making stuff. The shards from hurricane Katrina are absolutely beautiful and meaningful.”
The festival raised money for the Missouri River Cultural Conservatory as well as raised awareness for the Missouri River in a relaxing, scenic atmosphere.
“Being on the river is an absolutely beautiful place,” Johnson said. “It couldn’t get better than this.”

The Roots ’N’ Blues ’N’ BBQ festival attracted around 60,000 people to downtown Columbia. Boone County National Bank sponsored the event for their 150th anniversary. There are currently no plans to host another event, but I believe that it was great success. Around 50 vendors shared their crafts as the smoky smell of BBQ filled the air.

I was able to interview Chris Thomas King for The Maneater. He played Tommy Johnson in “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” as well as a bandleader in “Ray.” King also won a Grammy for Best Album for his work on “Oh Brother Where Art Thou.” Read the article here.

The Missouri Student Association (MSA) brought in Rilo Kiley to perform at Jessie Hall last Wednesday. I only knew a few songs by them, but I was able to get into it. It was not as satisfying as bringing in Ben Folds last year, especially when there was not a huge crowd there, but I was still able to dance and appreciate the music. In a highly glittered outfit, Jenny Lewis dazzled with her vocal and keyboarding talents.

I heard that the band was comprised of all child stars. This is interesting because sure enough, the guitar player Blake Sennett was in Boy Meets World and Lewis was in Troop Beverly Hills. The musicians are not only in Rilo Kiley. Sennetts’ other project includes The Elected, which has some awesome songs. Lewis has Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. It is interesting how many connections there are among bands. Everyone who is anyone has multiple projects and bands.

Jenny Lewis sings with Rilo Kiley at Jessie Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007.

I wrote an article for the National Presbytery News Service about the NNPCW leadership conference I attended. The network is a feminist group with a mission statement that includes a commitment to challenge systems of oppression, domination, exploitation and suffering and to work for justice in both church and society.

You can read the article and bio here.

The sweet smell of kettle corn and smoke from the blacksmiths’ fires filled the air as over 40 crafters and 100 performers demonstrated their skills and knowledge of the 1800s and before during the 30th Annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show.
Thousands showed up to see authentic crafts, enjoy the weather and watch history come alive during the event on Sept. 15-16, 2007 in Nifong Park.
“Everything is traditional,” Public Information Specialist for Parks and Recreation Tammy Miller said. ”We strive to make it a truly historic festival.”
The festival, which takes place during the third weekend of each September, has grown significantly since its birth in 1977. According to the Parks and Recreation Department, many of the artisans return year after year.
Some of the crafts included handmade jewelry, weaving, candles and pottery. During the festival, the artisans showed how they created their works to make it an interactive experience.
“I am teaching my granddaughters a trade,” said Columbia resident Pat Kelley, who brings her eclectic jewelry to festivals around the area.
With the help of her granddaughters, Kelley picks up beads at the festivals that she visits to design necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Kelley saw an ad in the newspaper to be a vendor at this year’s event and decided to participate.
“I really like this festival,” Kelley said. “It’s my first year, but I definitely want to come back.”
Further recreating history, the department also brought in professional performers. Oral historian Jim Two Crow Wallen presented his knowledge of fur trapping as a mountain man. Wallen has prepared 19 different historical characters and presents an average of 300 performances a year.
“This is all I do for a living,” said Wallen who began performing in 1980.
Wallen, who is part Cherokee, grew up with an appreciation of oral history through his grandfather. He has been to 46 states sharing his love of history, educating both youth and adults.
“Festivals like this bring history alive,” Wallen said. “This is an interactive thing. When you can go inside a tepee and feel it, it brings it to life. People come expecting to see history.”
Even on a MU football weekend, many people showed up to experience history by attending performances, participating in interactive drumming or talking to local artisans.
“It is fun and educational,” Miller said. “The Heritage Festival is really well known in Columbia and is a true tradition.”

(left) Man weaving his loom. (right) Mr. Peddlesworth displaying his unique bicycle collection.

A performance by Wilco concluded Columbia’s outdoor concert series Summerfest last night. More than 2,000 people gathered Ninth Street outside the Blue Note to listen to some music and to enjoy the atmosphere. Dr. Dog from West Philadelphia opened with their three-part harmonies off of their new album We All Belong.

Wilco gave a great show and really appealed to the audience. They performed at Summerfest two years ago and seemed to be a crowd favorite. When “You Are My Face” was played, the crowd immediately gathered closer toward the stage. Creator Jeff Tweedy told us that that we were the best audience on the tour. After leaving the stage once, the crowd cheered them on for three encores, and Wilco did not disappoint. Since the band was formed in 1994, it is true that Wilco have been around for awhile. However, they still know how to please a crowd and provide an entertaining, enjoyable show for all ages.