“It’s beautiful to see the transformative power of secrets,” said Frank Warren, who will host the multimedia “PostSecret Live” presentation at the University of Illinois Springfield Student Union on Oct. 17. PostSecret is the brand name encompassing an oddball media empire overseen by Warren, consisting of anonymous personal secrets shared by strangers from all over […]
Scott Faingold
Scott Faingold is a journalist, educator and musician. He has been director of student media at University of Illinois Springfield, founding editor of Activator magazine, a staff reporter for Illinois Times and co-host of Old School Bleep, a music-centered podcast.
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Antidotes to a toxic political culture
This summer, State Representative Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, State Senator Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, and Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza – working together as the Anti-harassment, Equality and Access Panel (AHEA, a nonprofit 501(c) (4) organization) – traveled across the state on a listening tour, engaging female political candidates, campaign staffers and officeholders in conversation about their experiences […]
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Peace of paper
Betsy Dollar, whose current exhibition “New Paper Works” is ongoing at the Chatham Area Public Library, explained that papermaking was not always an end in itself for her. “It started out as a technique to generate something to print or paint on, to make into a book or fold into a sculpture,” she said. Eventually, […]
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Legacy’s Violet promises a transcendent musical road trip
“Left my troubles back there when I climbed on board…”- from Violet Following a cross-country Greyhound ride undertaken by a young woman in search of healing, Violet is the Legacy Theatre’s most recent production, a musical set in 1964 which promises to skirt the trappings of flashier shows to deliver an emotional punch via strong […]
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Not just for business majors anymore
Associate professor Nathan Steele, Ph.D., a popular and respected instructor and researcher in the University of Illinois Springfield’s college of business and management for over a decade, is excited about his recent appointment as director of the university’s Master of Business Administration program. He especially wants to clear up what he sees as some misconceptions […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Reflections on a lost highway
Timed to coincide with the 17th annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, the Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space’s most recent group exhibit is entitled “Mother Road.” It will feature many of the group’s member artists, along with guest sculptor Darren Miller, tackling themes both automotive and nostalgic. “We thought it would be a good […]
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Young activists host advocacy summit at UIS
Glenwood High School senior Clare Farnsworth, 18, became interested in political activism after witnessing news reports of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February, where 17 were killed and several more injured. Taking her cue from the Parkland survivors who became high-profile activists for gun regulation, she got involved with […]
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County sales tax would improve old Springfield school buildings
In November, Sangamon County voters will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed one percent increase in sales tax. In District 186 the proceeds would be used exclusively to make improvements to the aging school buildings in Springfield. If approved, the new tax would be countywide, so all the public school districts in the […]
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Vachel getting plenty of attention in 2018
On Friday, Sept. 7, the Springfield Art Association held an opening reception for Vachel Lindsay: Poet, Artist, Visionary, an exhibit featuring original works and memorabilia by the celebrated early 20th century Springfield denizen whose epic novel, The Golden Book of Springfield, celebrates its centennial this year. The show represents a collaboration between the SAA, the […]
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A life in music
“One of the things I had said all my life was, I want my own chorus,” said Marion van der Loo. “I wanted a chorus where I chose the music, I taught the music and I conducted the music.” In 2005, van der Loo got her wish when she was hired as director of the […]
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Pillars of salt
St. Louis-based artist Amanda Bowles’ current exhibit at the University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery is entitled “digital dusk shadow storage,” a multimedia installation which combines striking sculptures made from crystallized salt along with a large oil painting and re-contextualized pieces of computer technology. “The objects made from salt take many years to grow,” […]
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SPD fights gun violence with tough love
Springfield Police Department Chief Kenny Winslow spoke at the Citizens Club of Springfield’s August policy breakfast, held at Hoogland Center for the Arts on Friday, Aug. 24. His subject was gun violence in Springfield, specifically the SPD’s recent adoption of a “focused deterrence” policy where offenders are identified and offered two options: either go to […]
