Dear
Friends:
I
n this issue of the Sweet Briar Magazine you will find several pieces on various aspects of the arts, among them a profile of artist and alumna Fay Chandler and an article on the new Barton-Laing Professorship in Art History, along with highlights from the theater, dance and creative writing programs. At a liberal arts college, studio and performing arts play a central and rich role. Some students make art in preparation for a career or a lifetime avocation. Others make art to explore the possibilities for expressing ideas in new media. Research increasingly indicates that asking students to express themselves artistically fosters creativity that expands their ability to analyze and solve problems in any field. Many students who do not make art study it. The arts can be viewed through the lenses of many academic disciplines — economics, history, psychology, sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, religion, anthropology. And the arts play a role in many of the professions students will enter — obviously, for example, arts management (a very strong program here at Sweet Briar, by the way) or education; perhaps less obviously, economic development or psychotherapy. Whatever their majors or career goals, students benefit from contemplating paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, installations and videos by learning to look attentively and thoughtfully. The same is true, of course, of listening to music or watching theater or dance. If we learn how to attend to them, the creative expressions of others open vistas that our own experiences could never reveal. The arts of all cultural traditions are an indispensable stimulus to thinking inclusively and broadly about what it is to be human. For all these reasons and more, at Sweet Briar the fine and performing arts remain at the center of the liberal arts. I hope this issue will provide you an interesting peek at the many ways the arts infuse campus life. Best,
Jo Ellen Parker, President
Thanks to former editor Zach Kincaid for his tireless energy and creativity in remaking this publication. Zach has accepted a position as director of marketing and communications at another private institution.
SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE MAGAZINE POLICY The magazine aims to present interesting, thoughtprovoking material. Publication of material does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the magazine or College. The Sweet Briar College Magazine reserves the right to edit and, when necessary, revise all material that it accepts for publication. Contact us anytime.
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MAGAZINE STAFF Jennifer McManamay, editor/staff writer Janika Carey, staff writer Meridith De Avila Khan, photographer Sarah Lindemann ’13, contributing photographer Catherine Bost, designer Contact information Office of Media, Marketing and Communications PO Box 1056, Sweet Briar, VA 24595 (434) 381-6262 jmcmanamay@sbc.edu SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul G. Rice, chair Please see sbc.edu/about/board-directors for the full Executive Committee and board members.
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SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE ALUMNAE Association Mollie Johnson Nelson ’64, president Please see sbc.edu/alumdev/current-board for the full board.
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