Monday, August 31, 2015

Check-in August 30, 2015

The summer passed quickly enough, much of it spent in quiet resignation.  However, I did explore two new venues in the path of art and music, and both were well worth it.

First, I took a summer course at UC Berkeley, a “visual studies” class called Paint and Pixel taught by Katie Hawkinson.  My goal was to try my hand at graphic design and learn a little Photoshop and Illustrator in the process.  What a blast this was!  We designed posters and postage stamps and explored concepts through line and color.  It was so engaging and so satisfying to generate a design and have it printed within a short period of time.  Compare that to the protracted process of architecture, with its multi-dimensional plans, permits, and construction.

My second adventure was joining the Stanford Summer Chorus.  What a hoot this was!  Following only six rehearsals and one dress rehearsal, we found ourselves singing in the magnificent and resonant Memorial Church.  The program centered on the Earth, and in his kooky and wonderful way, the director Raf Ornes even had an earth quiz on our registration forms.  A geek after my heart.  I will plan singing with them next summer, too.

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