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RPThursday, March 1, 2012
Dinkytown venue standing above the rest Hannah Vaughn Staff Reporter
Photo provided by Generation Photography
The Varsity Theater’s trademark sign towers over nearby shops.
Located in Dinkytown, just off the University of Minnesota’s campus, sits the Varsity Theater. The Varsity sign effortlessly towers above the surrounding buildings, welcoming you inside. Once there, an abstract and multidimensional world unfolds. The relatively small, yet intricately designed entrance extends past the bar, towards the main sitting area, ending at the foot of the raised stage. “The Varsity exists as a facility, two veins of business,” said Jason McLean, owner and general manager of the Loring Pasta Bar and Varsity Theater. McLean separates the Varsity’s purpose into two categories; events and weddings in one, concerts in the other. He believes that The Varsity’s unique and carefully thought through design allows creative minds to wander, allowing the 10,000 square feet of carefully designed architecture to be transformed for any event. “When they’re given a facility like the Varsity, they stimulate creative ideas,” McLean said. Dani Segelbaum, senior, held her Bat
Gold, silver keys shining light onto students’ success Katie Cera Variety Editor Recently, 16 HHS students were recognized for their creativity on a state level. They were awarded gold or silver keys and honorable mention in the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 26, the nine gold and silver key pieces will be on display at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Gallery (MCAD). Each teacher is allowed to enter 10 individual pieces and didn’t have a limit on the number of senior portfolios. The spaces normally go to the Advanced Placement (AP) art students taught by Ms. Randi Rood and Ms.Terry Chamberlin, Art Department. AP Drawing and Painting, Ceramics, and Jewelry are the AP courses the department offers. However, students from the art department wasnot the only one recognized. Mr. Rob Fuhr, Technology Education, entered in photography students. This year there were 1,376 individual artwork entries and 170 portfolio entries. 133 gold keys and 167 silver keys were awarded to the individual artwork entries and 228 honorable mentions. 11 gold and 16 silver keys were awarded for the portfolios along with 40 honorable mentions. “I was really happy, obviously, and a little surprised. Ms. Chamberlin entered me on a whim,” said Alex Johnson, senior and gold key winner. “I was honored that she choose me,” Johnson said. “I just starting taking jewelry this year; it was
the first time I had room in my schedule.” The teachers did have an impact within the curriculum they teach to help students win a key. “I develop the assignments they do and the curriculum. I monitor their progress and teach them the skills,” Chamberlin said. “It was my choice to choose this piece,” said Marlee Krietzman, senior and silver key winner. “The teapot I won with, I made last year during Ceramics Four and it was my best piece.” Another art student, Paris Ebersviller, senior, won a gold key for her painting. “It is a two by three painting; it is an old photo of me and my grandpa when I was four,” Ebersviller said. “My grandpa died last summer, and I found myself forgetting what it felt like to be around him. I did the painting to remind me of him and our relationship we had,” Ebersviller said. “Pictures are very deceiving and I thought that the minute the judges saw it at MCAD they were going to take my award away,” Krietzman said. According to the MCAD website, the judges consisted of arts educators from around the world. “[The judges] look for craftsmanship, originality of ideas, and original voice,” Chamberlin said. Gold key award winners’ pieces will move on to the national competition in New York. According to the scholastic website, 300 seniors who win national awards in either their art or writing competition receive $500 to full tuition to some colleges, universities, and art institutes in the country. “Each key winner is one of the best 300 in the entire state,” Chamberlin said.
Mitzvah at the Varsity Theater. “It was really cool how they transformed the place,” Segelbaum said. “They took a night club kind of theme and turned it into a 13 year old’s dream.” The Varsity is not only known for its creativity, but also its concerts. The theater has hosted popular artists such as Augustana, Amy Winehouse, Colbie Caillat, Cobra Starship, Flyleaf, The Fray and The Plain White T’s. The theater is popular venue among HHS students. “I just really liked the atmosphere,” said Morgan Nybo, senior, who recently attended an Andy Grammer concert at the Varsity. “It was a great show,” Nybo said. Lizzie Fontaine, senior, went to the Varsity for the Justin Nozuka concert. “Justin even did an acoustic song off the microphone and I could hear it quite well,” Fontaine said. “The venue is charming and I feel like the Varsity has a humble vintageness about it.” McLean thinks that the cohesiveness between the “two veins of business” mesh well together, enhancing the Varsity’s popularity. “It’s the coordinated use of those two
business types that make the Varsity function collectively,” McLean said. The Varsity Theater has a uniqueness that “people are magnetically drawn to,” McLean said, “It’s a cacophony of elements.” Adding to the “magnetic” appeal is the location of the Varsity. The Varsity’s placement was carefully planned out in order to bring life and character to Dinky Town as well as create a more diverse setting for U of M students. “It’s a little more interesting to me to go to a place like Dinky Town,” McLean said, “Dinky Town was kind of a ghost town in the 1990’s.” McLean also believes that the Varsity is beneficial to campus students and will “make their university experience more universal,” McLean said. Performing at the Varsity this upcoming April are popular bands such as Gotye and Hot Chelle Rae. And as for McLean, “I think it’s interesting that as time goes along, the opportunity for new thoughts for what I’m already doing don’t dry up,” McLean said. “I’m definitely willing to go back,” Nybo said. “My friends and I have been looking up future concerts.”