End of the year!

As my freshman year comes to an end, I have much to be thankful for. I am thankful that I was able to stay at Russell Sage and not drop out. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the long nights of studying, writing papers, and the worst: the darkroom. Oh, the darkroom! I have to say that taking Photography 1 wasn't what I expected. I walked into that class thinking I was going to excel right away, but boy, was I wrong. I didn't know how to use a film camera (one of the requirements in the class) and I also didn't know what exposure, aperture, ISO, or shutter speed were. For the first half of the class, I struggled to make good prints and spent up to two hours in the changing room trying to get film on the reels. By the second half, it's like I had an epiphany. Soon, I was making excellent prints and presenting them to a professor that was, what I thought, hard to please. Soon, he was admiring my work and I felt better. I think Photography 1 was the hardest class I've taken throughout my career as a student. I'm proud of my work, and I'm proud to say that I want to go on in Photography. The only other class I struggled through was English 101. I've only written one MLA essay throughout my high school career. Every week we were assigned an eight page paper. As a future Journalist, I often mix the Journalistic style of writing short paragraphs; this turned out to be a nightmare in English 101. However, I didn't give up, and I passed the class. I'm extremely proud of myself for following through with the hardest subjects and for staying in school. 

Summer Fun

I have decided that this summer I will be taking many photographs with my Nikon D40 and Kodak film camera and also my Poloroid.  I'm hoping to get a show or two and also photograph local bands for their upcoming albums! Trying to think of a theme for what I'm going to shoot this summer (other than bands) is a whole different story. I will also be working at the office of Communications!! This means that I will be writing more Sage alumni stories and doing "odds-and-ends" for the other employees. I'm hoping this summer is going to be full of great experiences and that I can get some much needed rest!

A Ghoul Poon Photoessay

Ghoul Poon at a show at the Saratoga Art Gallery in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Creator of Ghoul Poon, Shane Sanchez, with friend Beth Barrett at the UAG on Lark Street in Albany, N.Y. in February. Ghoul Poon does many noise shows at the UAG. Sometimes twice a month.

Ghoul Poon at Hotshots in Glens Falls, N.Y. Dec. 2008. They played with

musicians Pluto and Midas of their record label, Sub-Bombin.

                                              

For the past few months, I have fell in love with electronic, "dance-duo", music group Ghoul Poon. Shane Sanchez,22, started Ghoul Poon back in 2007. He has released two EP's within the past two years and play shows with other musicians. Sanchez is the sole performer, but has friends help him play his music on stage. Sanchez will have his first professional CD out this summer entitled "The Cosmic Conversation". It will be produced by indie-based hip-hop label, Sub-Bombin records. 
*Please visit Sub-Bombin's website at www.sub-bombin.com and type in Ghoul Poon on myspace.com to listen to a few of Ghoul Poon's songs!!

Johnny Mystery: Mystery Solved

I love music and writing about music. For this blog, I decided to write about my dad. He has a true passion for music and loves speaking about it.

         Johnny Mystery is no mystery around Albany, N.Y. Maybe his dark sunglasses and black pants and jacket “hide” his outside appearance, but they certainly don’t hide his passion and talent for music.

            Johnny is a fifty one-year-old man who loves music with a passion. “Johnny Mystery”--his stage name from his friends--first began his music career at thirteen after he picked up a bass guitar. The band he was in had no bass player, so he decided to get a few lessons and teach himself. He and his first band played at clubs around Albany, N.Y. His favorite club to play was The Shelter in Cohoes, N.Y. He also rehearsed there, too. Mystery and his band strictly played rock-‘n-roll. “ I never inspired to be a classical musician, and never wanted to be one.” Explained Mystery. He believes rock-‘n-roll isn’t being portrayed in a good light. “It’s supposed to be raw, it’s supposed to be dirty, and have a deep bass, heavy beat and not clean-sounding.” Mystery said.

Mystery didn’t only take up bass guitar, but also guitar and keyboard, which was self-taught. He began writing lyrics, too. Mystery explains his lyrics just “pop into” his head and many things around him inspire him. Mystery’s lyrics were also inspired by his favorite musicians such as: Iggy and the Stooges, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. The most important influence to Mystery were the New York Dolls, the Velvet Underground and beat poet Alan Ginsberg. “Ginsberg showed me that you could write about anything.” He enjoyed the Beatles and the Rolling Stones because they were rhythm and blues based, one of his favorite musical genres.

In addition to his knowledge of various musical instruments, Mystery learned the science of recording. “I asked a lot of questions and paid attention to the engineers in the studio.” Mystery said. In the past ten years, Mystery has released 5 or 6 CDs—all of the rock-‘n-roll genre.

The most important role that Mystery plays is a friend to his fans. He is loyal and dedicated, always. In fact, Mystery prefers small clubs because it gives him and his fans a more personal experience. “I’ve played with crowds in front of 8 people and 80,000 people (at Lark Fest in Albany, N.Y.).” Mystery said.

Johnny Mystery is NO Mystery to his friends, and fans. He has a passion for his music, and continues to release it and embrace it until he can’t anymore. [When I play music] “I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.” Said Mystery. “I have a lot of songs and ideas.” Said Mystery. And fame for Mystery? “ I think it would be great. That means that people are listening to your music.” Mystery is still around and is excited to release more music with his garage band, The Mysteios. “I wanna kill disbelievers [of rock-‘n’roll] with my guitar.” Mystery said.

Wendy Costa Shows True Passion for Art

For my work study at the Communications office, I have the opportunity to write for our alumni magazines Connections and Crossroads. This story was by far my favorite, so I would like to share it with you.

“I wanted to be an artist as far back as I can remember. I clearly remember putting a smock on in kindergarten to paint at an easel thinking, ‘This is it’,” said fashion and home accessories designer Wendy Costa.

 

Fast forward through grade school, high school and the then-Sage Junior College of Albany until today, and Costa’s charming designs have appeared everywhere, from Ben & Jerry’s advertisements to Meri Meri greeting cards. Her whimsical merchandise is available at world-famous shopping meccas like Selfridge’s in London and in funky neighborhood boutiques.

 

While completing her associate degree at Sage, Costa was offered a scholarship to Parson’s School of Design by now-famous Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame, who used to attend Sage’s annual Portfolio Day to recruit students for Parson’s. But she was eager to gain professional experience and toward her childhood dream of becoming an artist. “I was busting with enthusiasm,” she said.

Costa started her business in 1987, after working for two other design studios. “I started in a small cabin in the woods in Berne, N.Y, making porcelain jewelry,” she said. “We grew to have eight employees and accounts from Disney to Neiman Marcus. It has been beyond my wildest dreams, an amazing journey.”

 

Her merchandise line includes handbags, household ceramics, stationary and more, featuring her capricious illustrations that have been described as “a celebration of fantasy, food and fashion.” Everything is cut, sewn or sculpted and finished in her studio.

 

“I paint all of the art, and the concepts and poems are my own. My boyfriend Rod helps print the fabrics and he completes the work with patterns and oversees the sewing of all of the fashion pieces,” she said.  “My most popular designs probably would be the dresses that look like food or flowers, and also shoes! Those images seemed to really take off and lead to licensing contracts.”

 

A native of upstate New York, Costa chose Sage because it offered an alternative to art school in the “big city.” She continues to call the area home. “I am close to Canada, Philly, Boston, New York City and Maryland, and these are the strongest markets for wholesale,” she said. “I am also obsessed with the past, so my Victorian home and Troy, N.Y. in general, is an amazing treasure chest for that.”

 

Her inspirations are myriad: “Who or what inspired me? Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, Picasso, my third grade art teacher,” she said. “Then I found feminist art and that changed everything. I have always been inspired by people who lead, not follow. I am inspired by nature, color, music, fashion, package design, window design, car design, emotion, love, compassion, peace, philosophy, psychology, food, writings and vintage everything.”

 

While Costa is an artist whose creativity knows no limits, she is also a serious business owner. “Business was something I had to research on my own, which I did gladly because it was my long, loving dream to own my own art studio.”

 

And while both her artistic side and business acumen play a part, she attributes her success to something else entirely.  “I believe in the power of positive thinking, more than anything,” she said. “How else could I do this?”

Women In the World-Not What I Expected

At first, I was not enthusiastic about taking Women in The World. Since I am a freshman, this class is required for freshman year. I received my books for the course almost a year ago and breathed a huge sigh-and it wasn't a sigh of relief. 

Three months later, I found myself beginning to enjoy the class. The books we have to read are enriching and compelling. 

The book I've enjoyed reading the most is My Name is Rachel Corrie.  I absolutely loved the writing that Corrie used, and fell in love with the book. 

I'm thankful that Russell Sage offers us a chance to read interesting books such as My Name is Rachel Corrie.

Influenced

I know my freshman year isn’t over until the end of next month, but my first year was great at an all-women’s college. At first, I wasn’t too keen to start at a school that had all women. Many thoughts ran through my mind, especially the question “Would I be able to find a date?” considering that I am a straight woman. Okay, okay, so one can still find cute boys. There are numerous frat houses around, including RPI’s frat house Castle right down the street, but I’ve learned to stay away from those places. I haven’t been to one frat house this semester. Reflecting back on my first year at RSC, I’ve learned there’s so much more than just finding cute guys here (which I found one, and NO he’s not a frat guy, ha-ha!). RSC taught me to be a strong woman. In my first Communications class during first semester, Oral Communications, my teacher taught me not only how to speak well, but also how to be proud that I am a woman. She taught me many techniques to use while speaking, and even gave a small lecture about taking a self-defense class! I wasn’t too crazy being surrounded by women constantly my first semester, but by my second, I learned to appreciate it. No offense to men, but I learned to appreciate the company of women at times more than the company of men. I’ve learned here that women are caring, intelligent, and not “bitchy” ALL the time. I can say it’s been a great first year here at Sage and I’m hoping the next three will be as enriching as the first.