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| This is my view out the window from my local low-security priso-- ahem, Environmental Systems. |
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Picture of The Day
Monday, October 25, 2010
On Skills Related to Journalism, otherwise known as, How to walk up to a complete stranger, smile, and start talking as if you've known them all your life.
In writing for the Chronicle, nobody doubts we’ve learned a huge number of skills already, only two months into the program. But as an inexperienced reporter, fresh out of AP English 3 with nothing else under my belt, I’ve come to discover many more skills and pros aside from the ability to interview well, speak loudly and confidently with complete strangers, and write in the proper format using terms as clever as possible to draw the reader in. I’ve learned more about human nature.
In every interview I’ve done, I’ve been met by, if not complete enthusiasm and smiling faces, then at least an absolute willingness to help as much as possible. Going in, maybe I had some dystopian view of myself dodging cascades of rotting vegetables as I ran from the angry, misunderstood interviewee. Or perhaps I was sure that I would come up to a stranger to interview them, and they’d think, “Who is this girl-- This mere high school-age child? How dare she approach me with such inane facsimiles of interview questions?” Either way, I was sure I would try my best and be met with resistance. It couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
My first interview was with a professor who had won a teaching award. She was, admittedly, not too hard to track down, though at the time I was tearing my hair out and obsessing over checking email and finding correct phone numbers. I recited what I’d say thoroughly, repeating it over and over as the phone rang. When finally the secretary in the English Department of San Jacinto answered, she was brisk and sharp. My heart pounded. Was this what it would be like-- cold walls of communication where I craved only a single willing response? The secretary connected me to the professor’s phone, where I was left to eye the line of ants coming in my open door as no one answered.
On my third call directly to the professor's office, she picked up. Finally! Though she was on her way to a meeting, she admitted, she had a few minutes to answer questions. I was forced to forget my nervousness in communicating with her as she responded to my requests, questions, and comments with smiles that were palpable through the phone. Quickly, I relaxed and even laughed a little in response to some of her wittier comments. As the phone beeped, signaling the end of the call, I let it drop from my fingers and began to furiously type out the related article. Was this what it was like?
And it has been, since then. From an artist offering to buy me coffee to other students emailing later to make sure I had everything I needed, I’ve found my forays into the public to glean information altogether harmonious. People are kind, I’ve learned, and eager to help where they know they’re wanted. If I give a warm smile and act interested in their lives, they will most of the time be happy to answer with an equally warm response.
I know one day I’ll come to face that cold wall I so dread-- I’ve been told so multiple times by journalists I’ve met while at the Chronicle. I know one day I’ll smile in my overly enthusiastic manner and be met by an eye roll and a monosyllabic answer, and I think I’ll be ready for it when the time comes—after all, these congenial members of society I’ve been in communication with are preparing me for it.
What can I say? It comes with the job. But hopefully I’ll be able to avoid the rotting vegetables.
Sara
In every interview I’ve done, I’ve been met by, if not complete enthusiasm and smiling faces, then at least an absolute willingness to help as much as possible. Going in, maybe I had some dystopian view of myself dodging cascades of rotting vegetables as I ran from the angry, misunderstood interviewee. Or perhaps I was sure that I would come up to a stranger to interview them, and they’d think, “Who is this girl-- This mere high school-age child? How dare she approach me with such inane facsimiles of interview questions?” Either way, I was sure I would try my best and be met with resistance. It couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
My first interview was with a professor who had won a teaching award. She was, admittedly, not too hard to track down, though at the time I was tearing my hair out and obsessing over checking email and finding correct phone numbers. I recited what I’d say thoroughly, repeating it over and over as the phone rang. When finally the secretary in the English Department of San Jacinto answered, she was brisk and sharp. My heart pounded. Was this what it would be like-- cold walls of communication where I craved only a single willing response? The secretary connected me to the professor’s phone, where I was left to eye the line of ants coming in my open door as no one answered.
On my third call directly to the professor's office, she picked up. Finally! Though she was on her way to a meeting, she admitted, she had a few minutes to answer questions. I was forced to forget my nervousness in communicating with her as she responded to my requests, questions, and comments with smiles that were palpable through the phone. Quickly, I relaxed and even laughed a little in response to some of her wittier comments. As the phone beeped, signaling the end of the call, I let it drop from my fingers and began to furiously type out the related article. Was this what it was like?
And it has been, since then. From an artist offering to buy me coffee to other students emailing later to make sure I had everything I needed, I’ve found my forays into the public to glean information altogether harmonious. People are kind, I’ve learned, and eager to help where they know they’re wanted. If I give a warm smile and act interested in their lives, they will most of the time be happy to answer with an equally warm response.
I know one day I’ll come to face that cold wall I so dread-- I’ve been told so multiple times by journalists I’ve met while at the Chronicle. I know one day I’ll smile in my overly enthusiastic manner and be met by an eye roll and a monosyllabic answer, and I think I’ll be ready for it when the time comes—after all, these congenial members of society I’ve been in communication with are preparing me for it.
What can I say? It comes with the job. But hopefully I’ll be able to avoid the rotting vegetables.
Sara
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Houston Art Galleries
This year, I've been using the train to get home from school. Sitting still for 20 minutes a day every day, often with no book or music to keep me company, I've taken to staring out the window at the people and buildings rushing past. One day, I saw a series of galleries and decided to look up how many more there were in my area. You would not believe how many free galleries and art spaces there are in Houston -- and so many accessible by train! Here's a list -- by no means comprehensive, and I promise to update as I discover more, but it's a start.
HOUSTON ART GALLERIES (and various spaces that can generally be placed in the same category)
-Art Palace (contemporary/multimedia): 3913 Main Street. Open Tu-Sat 11-6.
-Fotofest (photography/video): 1113 Vine Street. Open M-F 10-5, Sat 12-5.
-Jung Center Houston (classes/books/visual art): 5200 Montrose
-Station Museum of Contemporary Art (contemporary/multimedia): 1502 Alabama. Open Wed-Sun 11-6.
-Caroline Collective (collaborative workspace): 4820 Caroline Street
-Gallery M Squared (contemporary/multimedia): 339 W. 19th Street. Open Wed-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5.
-Aurora Picture Show (film): 1524 Sul Ross. Open Mon-Fri 10-6 [must make appointment to view library]
-Houston Center for Photography (photography, surprise): 1441 West Alabama. Open Wed + Fri 11-5, Th 11-9, Sat + Sun 12-6.
-McMurtrey Gallery (contemporary/regional): 3508 Lake St. Open Tue-Fri 10:30-5, Sat 11-5.
-CTRL Gallery (contemporary/multimedia): 3907 Main St. Open Tue-Sat 11-6.
-Inman Gallery (contemporary/multimedia): 3901 Main St. Open Tue-Sat 11-6.
-Blaffer Art Museum (contemporary): UH 4800 Calhoun Rd (120 Fine Arts Building). Tue-Sat 10-5.
-Lawndale Art Center (contemporary/some regional): 2711 Main St. Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-6 [Rotates through over 500 artists annually]
-Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (crafting): 4848 Main St. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5.
-DiverseWorks (visual/performing/literary arts): 1117 East Fwy. Wed-Sat 12-6.
-Menil Collection (private collection): 1515 Sul Ross. Wed-Sun 11-7.
-Contemporary Arts Museum (medieval documents. Just kidding.): 5216 Montrose. Wed + Fri 11-7, Thu 11-9, Sat + Sun 11-6.
There are a lot of small theaters I haven't checked out a whole lot yet, but I promise there will be more info on those in the future! I hope this helps anyone who has an empty rainy afternoon.
Sara
HOUSTON ART GALLERIES (and various spaces that can generally be placed in the same category)
-Art Palace (contemporary/multimedia): 3913 Main Street. Open Tu-Sat 11-6.
-Fotofest (photography/video): 1113 Vine Street. Open M-F 10-5, Sat 12-5.
-Jung Center Houston (classes/books/visual art): 5200 Montrose
-Station Museum of Contemporary Art (contemporary/multimedia): 1502 Alabama. Open Wed-Sun 11-6.
-Caroline Collective (collaborative workspace): 4820 Caroline Street
-Gallery M Squared (contemporary/multimedia): 339 W. 19th Street. Open Wed-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5.
-Aurora Picture Show (film): 1524 Sul Ross. Open Mon-Fri 10-6 [must make appointment to view library]
-Houston Center for Photography (photography, surprise): 1441 West Alabama. Open Wed + Fri 11-5, Th 11-9, Sat + Sun 12-6.
-McMurtrey Gallery (contemporary/regional): 3508 Lake St. Open Tue-Fri 10:30-5, Sat 11-5.
-CTRL Gallery (contemporary/multimedia): 3907 Main St. Open Tue-Sat 11-6.
-Inman Gallery (contemporary/multimedia): 3901 Main St. Open Tue-Sat 11-6.
-Blaffer Art Museum (contemporary): UH 4800 Calhoun Rd (120 Fine Arts Building). Tue-Sat 10-5.
-Lawndale Art Center (contemporary/some regional): 2711 Main St. Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-6 [Rotates through over 500 artists annually]
-Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (crafting): 4848 Main St. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5.
-DiverseWorks (visual/performing/literary arts): 1117 East Fwy. Wed-Sat 12-6.
-Menil Collection (private collection): 1515 Sul Ross. Wed-Sun 11-7.
-Contemporary Arts Museum (medieval documents. Just kidding.): 5216 Montrose. Wed + Fri 11-7, Thu 11-9, Sat + Sun 11-6.
There are a lot of small theaters I haven't checked out a whole lot yet, but I promise there will be more info on those in the future! I hope this helps anyone who has an empty rainy afternoon.
Sara
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Picture of The Day
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| Today, I went to galleries on Main Street. This was at CTRL gallery. Houston has so many cool galleries that nobody knows about! |
Picture of The Day (pretend I posted this last night)
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| I saw Madame Butterfly last night. It was magnificent! This is the lobby of the Wortham Theater. |
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Picture of The Day
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| Today, I went to Sig's Lagoon again, and took pictures upstairs in the room with LPs. Look for my article about Uncle Charlie, the concert poster artist whose work is featured at Sig's, in a future issue of 29-95. |
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