Inkwell | April 2018 by Annie Wright Schools

Inkwell ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL

April 2018

THE ARTS ISSUE

Senior artwork by Ariel Chiang (top), Zoe Zheng (middle left), Ariel Chiang (middle right) and Kali McCoy (bottom)

ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL

Inkwell

CONTENTS

APRIL 2018

827 North Tacoma Avenue Tacoma, WA 98403 inkwell@aw.org | 253-272-2216 Issue 2 | Volume 57 EDITOR IN CHIEF Allison Fitz SENIOR EDITORS, STUDENT LIFE Nina Doody & Abby Givens SENIOR EDITOR, MULTIMEDIA Molly Bryant ARTS EDITOR Gabrielle Krieger

Klarsch Hall in spring. Artwork by Daniel Wang

NEWS EDITOR Maeve Hunt PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Jade Cheatham

#neveragain: poem for walkout Noh on art Tacoma arts scene dance team doesn't miss a beat student bands rock Gettel brings theatre 360

2 3 4 15 16 20

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Julia Henning SPORTS EDITOR Kaitlin Tan Inkwell aims to provide the Annie Wright community with dependable and engaging coverage of school, community and global topics. Timely articles of all genres are published weekly at anniewrightinkwell.org. In addition, two to three themed news magazines are published during the school year and distributed around campus. Submissions of articles and photographs, correction requests and signed letters to the editor are most welcome. Please email the editors at inkwell@aw.org. All published submissions will receive credits and bylines.

anniewrightinkwell.org On the cover: Over the summer, I went with my friends on a photography adventure where I took their portraits. I played around with Photoshop to see how I could make the picture a bit more interesting. I just wanted to make something that no one may have seen before and that would showcase my overall aesthetic for my art pieces. - Marilyn Fisher

#neveragain

a spoken word poem by Julia Henning

Fast beating hearts Eyes wide open Hiding in a corner Crying, wailing, screaming For any form of help Afraid for their life for the first time Everything too real Never expected to happen here Glass shattering, Windows breaking Bullets piercing through doors and walls, Coming closer, step by step Hearing the bullets coming down the hall Afraid for the outcome Students in a state of horror, The only thing between them and death: A book. The students grab books one by one Hold them up, Deflecting the bullets that could hit their heads at any moment It is the book they were complaining about Reading for their assignment seconds before It was their math textbook that taught them their formula, But now has a bullet punctured through it It is their journal, the only place for their thoughts, gone. But it saved their life. But not everyone has a shield for their life. The students now have to walk past their friends Lying in facedown in the hallway Where they once gossiped about Who was going to prom with who But now they’re gone because A man came in and shot them In the middle of the hallway

That a man came in with a gun and took their life Their parents were going to see them off to college in the fall, Watch them in their state championships Wait for their SAT scores, But now, the score won’t matter Because there is no file to put it in And students all across America are scared for their lives Wondering if it could happen at their school Wondering if they will live to see their parents If they make it home from school Wondering if it could be their last soccer game Because tomorrow they will be shot Alyssa, Scott, Martin, Nicholas Jaime, Luke, Cara, Gina Joaquin, Alaina, Meadow Helena, Alex, Carmen Peter, Mr. Beigel, Mr. Hixon And Mr. Feis We stand out here today and Thousands of students in America Are protesting today to honor you We want change to honor you We need to make sure that every parent Sees their child alive at the end of the day That students don’t hear the echoing of bullets From down the hall of their classroom And every student can feel safe Walking into their school everyday Because in the end, They need to be able to walk out of it.

Parents wait anxiously to see their child out to safety But families and friends of 14 students and 3 faculty Will never see them alive again Parents sent them off to school that morning, Maybe they didn’t even say goodbye Because they were in a rush and it was a normal day But they don’t see them among the children walking out No, because this is no longer a normal day Now they are told that their child did not make it. Julia Henning delivers her poem at the school walkout on March 14. Photo by Gabrielle Krieger

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Passion through art

Claire Noh. Photos courtesy of Gabrielle Grandjean

by Nina Doody

Sophomore Claire Noh speaks to Inkwell about what art means to her Inkwell: When did you discover your passion for art? Noh: I have been drawing since I was little, so I guess I

never really discovered I had a passion for art. It has just always been there.

Inkwell: What inspires some of your creations? Noh: Mostly films. Sometimes just my own imagination, but mostly films by Tim Burton and Wes Anderson.

Inkwell: Is art something that you look forward to pursuing beyond high school?

Noh: I want to be an animator, so probably. Inkwell: What does art mean to you? Noh: Everything. Inkwell: How many hours on average do you spend working on art per week?

Noh: 24/7. I guess I never really stop. artwork by Claire Noh

What does art mean to you?

"Everything."

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Hidden gems of Tacoma's art scene Where to look for all-things-art in Tacoma

by Gabrielle Krieger toast (you’ll understand why after your first time). If you’re under 17, just make sure to get parental permission! For classical and jazz connoisseurs who don’t want to pay symphony prices, you can view student recitals and featured performers for low prices at the University of Puget Sound. You can also find art exhibits at the University of Puget Sound such as “Michael Johnson: Sculpture,” which is on exhibit until April 14. Their website offers a full listing of upcoming events.

Left: A singer performs original music at Metronome Coffee open mic night. Right: The Blue Mouse offers the midnight classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Photos by Gabrielle Krieger

When you think of Tacoma, the arts are not usually the first thing that come to mind, but maybe they should be. While we might not have been the hometown of Jimi Hendrix, we still have lots of upand-coming talented artists to see for next to nothing. You just have to know where to look.

offers open mic nights on Tuesdays for singers, bands, poets and more. A platform for arts events is Real Art Tacoma, which features a variety of media in a range of venues. Another event finder is Song Kick. Just make sure that the venue isn’t 21 and over before booking. Some tickets are as low as $8.

Some of the best art in Tacoma is free. Murals and projects are on public display outside, especially downtown. Artists and in some cases, poets, work continually to provide Tacoma’s public spaces with fresh inspiration.

"We still have lots of upand-coming talented artists... You just have to know where to look."

You can see lots of talent for the cost of a coffee, and even be a participant, at open mic nights. Shakabrah, the eclectic breakfast spot, offers open mic comedy every Friday, a perfect time to unleash your inner Adam Sandler. Metronome Coffee, a cozy and quirky coffee shop,

If live or modern shows aren’t your jam, the Blue Mouse movie theater has a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. Dress up, bring your friends, bring your voices, and most importantly don’t forget to bring your

For visual art lovers, we have many options as well. A great place to check out is Space Works. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed of all upcoming events, whether they are gallery exhibits or new murals. We also have many local studios such as B2 Fine Arts and Feast Arts. They feature exhibits and classes from and for aspiring artists. A little known Tacoma gem is the LeMay collection at Marymount in Parkland, not to be confused with America’s Car Museum near the Tacoma Dome. Behind the numerous cars there is a wonderful sculpture garden and old military school. You can ask for a tour around the garden and the school, both wonderful and unexpected features. Many of the sculptures are Auguste Rodin’s, such as the sixth-made The Thinker. They are currently working to widen the collection and expand overall.

>> Tacoma murals, clockwise from top right: theatre district, Opera Alley, Market Street, 11th & Market Streets, Opera Alley and South 7th Street. Photos by Inkwell team

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Graffiti art made by the Fab 5 organization on the Rialto. Photos by Maeve Hunt

Tacoma graffiti artist defines a movement An insight into the work of grafitti artist and muralist Kenji Stoll by Maeve Hunt Tacoma-based graffiti and mural artist Kenji Stoll works with an organization called Fab 5 to spread art throughout the community. Fab 5 is a non-profit organization that aspires to empower youth through art to become creative and inspiring leaders. The organization runs a drop-in center and offers free classes in several different art forms. It also organizes projects, performances and events in the Tacoma community. Currently Stoll is working on art projects in the community for Tacoma Housing Authority, Metro Parks Tacoma and Sound Transit's Tacoma Link Extension.

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Graffiti art means many different things to different people. Inkwell interviewed Stoll about his views on graffiti, as well as controversy over his artwork. Inkwell: What defines graffiti art? Is Stoll: Murals are paintings on it an art style, an illegal act or a statement you are trying to get across?

Stoll: Graffiti art is a type of public

art that was initially created by youth of color and is now a global culture and industry. Today people do graffiti for many different reasons, but in its roots it was about urban youth reclaiming public space and their communities.

Inkwell: What is the difference between a mural and graffiti art?

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outdoor walls, and graffiti is specifically about lettering, aliases, etc. Graffiti comes from a latin word (grafito) which means to scribe.

Inkwell: Have you faced

controversy over your artwork?

Stoll: Yes - the mural on the

Rialto Theatre initially got a lot of bad attention due to some bad journalism and misinformation. Sometimes the misconceptions about who does graffiti and what it's about override people's ability to see beyond their own perceptions.

Inkwell: Why is graffiti art important to you?

Stoll: Graffiti is important to me

because it's what introduced me to art, working with community, and contextualizing my creativity in a broader social context. It's one of the only arts movements in history (that I know of) to be started by young people, particularly young people of color. I think the social roots and history of graffiti art are really important to understand and often get overlooked in society's conversation about it.

Tacoma artist offers inspiration by Gabrielle Krieger

Chandler O’Leary, wife of Upper School science teacher Donald Sidman, is a well known artist based in Tacoma. Her artwork is displayed in shows across the globe.

Her Dead Feminists Fund contributes to charities aiming to empower females such as the Women’s Sports Foundation. Funding comes from book sales as well as direct donations.

In 2016, O’Leary published the book Dead Feminists, which illustrates past feminists and discusses their accomplishments. It serves as both inspiration and a guide for anyone looking to make a difference.

One of her current projects, Drawn the Road Again, includes artwork depicting the places she has traveled, including her 50 States Series. She plans to publish an illustrated atlas in 2019. Below is an excerpt from an online article published on anniewrightinkwell.org.

Sketchbook drawing of Seattle houseboat. Photo courtesy of Chandler O'Leary

Inkwell: What advice do you have for someone still in high school who wants to be an artist?

O’Leary: I think the two biggest

skills you can develop are drawing and discipline. Even if you don't end up working as an artist who draws (a painter, an illustrator, etc.), drawing teaches you to be observant—to notice the world around you, and to put what you see down on paper in some way. If you can learn to be observant, you'll never lack for ideas. Drawing also helps you

understand what you see, as it forces you to really look and study whatever you're drawing — like exercising a muscle, developing a drawing practice makes you stronger as a designer, observer and storyteller. Discipline is a tougher "muscle" to develop. People talk about artists finding "inspiration" and "creativity," but the reality of working as an artist is that sometimes you have to come up with ideas and make art when you don't feel like it, or when you're tired or sad or sick. This is where discipline and habits

really come in handy. If you can get in the habit of showing up every day, rain or shine, distractions or no distractions, and making something — it might be a drawing, or a photograph, or a rough idea, even — you'll develop the discipline you'll need to be a professional artist. You'll also make an incredible amount of work this way! Just by showing up every day and making something, good or bad, you'll quickly accumulate an ever-growing portfolio of art. The more work you create, the more people will be able to find you and follow along with you.

To read the full article on Chandler O'Leary and her work, visit anniewrightinkwell.org. 8

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This statue in Fireman's Park commemorates Tacoma's logging history. Photo by Allison Fitz

Artist in residence has big plans for Tacoma by Abby Givens

The city of Tacoma hired two artists, Susan Robb and Roni Chelben, to explore creative solutions to homelessness in public spaces. Inkwell corresponded with Susan Robb to learn more about both artist-in-residencies and her personal artistic vision. Over the past ten years Robb has created multiple pieces of public art in and around Seattle. She also wrote the Public Art Master Plan for downtown Seattle, which will be used by the Seattle Officer of Arts and Culture to guide planning for future public art in the city. When the opportunity for the artist-inresidence position opened up in Tacoma, multiple people reached out to Robb thinking she would be interested. Robb then applied and got accepted into the role. Robb is working on Fireman’s Park, a grassy field in downtown Tacoma

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that overlooks the Puget Sound. “I hope that with some landscaping and repair it will be enjoyed by more people and seen as a public asset,” she said.

"Be yourself, devour experiences... rejection isn't personal, don't give up." Although Robb has focused recently on public art, she has engaged in a variety of projects. An example is Wild Times, which involved her hiking 2,680 miles from Mexico to Canada. She worked with museums on the West Coast to produce this

piece involving rocks, 3D printing, and colors signifying the elevations where Robb found the different rocks. According to Robb, this piece looked at “the way rocks chronicled the experience, but it was also about beaming these rocks from the untamed spaces of the deserts and forests back to the tamed spaces of museums and how it can be impossible to translate experience.” Robb has used a range of media for various art projects, but overall she describes her artistic style as “process-driven, experimental, organic, dialogic, and serious yet humorous.” Robb then offered some advice to high school artists looking at art as a possible future career: “Be yourself, devour experiences, use your day job to feed your art (both through money and subject), rejection isn’t personal, don’t give up.”

Government specialist illuminates the Tacoma public art industry by Allison Fitz

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass. The Alice in Wonderland mural on Market Street. The color-changing lights above Cheney Stadium. The traffic box wraps or the MLK mural near People’s Park in Hilltop. Some of these public art installments are more well known than others. In cities where people have many responsibilities and little time, public art installations may often be overlooked. That is the nature, and risk, of public art: an indefinite audience. But that also remains its beauty. Public art programs require plenty of organization, cooperation and funding. Inkwell spoke with one of Tacoma’s Cultural Arts Specialists, Naomi StromAvila, who shed light on the inner workings of the city’s art. Strom-Avila sees her role as a means to support individual artists, city programming, and, in turn, the community as a whole.

Through funding and professional training, Strom-Avila allows individual artists in Tacoma to create new work and remain competitive on the national and international stages. While she doesn’t necessarily produce art or arts events, she connects those who do with the partners and resources needed to actualize their visions. She also manages various programs, including the annual Tacoma Arts Month in October, the city’s Poet Laureate program, the murals project and public art projects. Through these works, she builds community. Within Tacoma specifically, Strom-Avila noted the lack of “elitist” culture regarding the arts, citing a variety of events, many casual and some formal, at a range of prices. She and her team are working to create more art accessibility across different neighborhoods and socioeconomic statuses, but she notes that currently “art is integrated into the

everyday experience.” The guerrilla art movements are also telling of Tacoma’s artistic culture. Artist groups like Beautiful Angle, which creates and distributes art posters, have emerged throughout the city. The 6th Avenue Yarn Bomber, Kassie Mitchell, knits sleeves for bike racks. Monkey Shines, a city wide treasure hunt around the Lunar New Year initiated by an anonymous group, provides simple ways to meet other community members. “These are just individuals who have some sort of vision and thought about how they can contribute to the community, and they go out and do it,” said Strom-Avila. More commonly, however, public art requires funding. Every two years, the Tacoma City Council reevaluates its allocation of the city budget, mostly created through tax dollars, to the arts. Strom-Avila then works to redistribute this money to various artists through funding programs. Money is also dedicated to public art maintenance.

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“With more people wanting funding and the same amount of funds available, it becomes a competitive process,” she said. Arguably with a bit of bias, she sees the arts as a worthwhile investment. She argued that art is an economic driver. In 2016, for example, a study called Arts & Economic Prosperity conducted by Americans for the Arts showed that Tacoma’s non-profit art sector alone is a $137 million industry. The city invested about $400,000 into the arts, and it brought a $6 million local and $8 million state revenue. The arts also work in cooperation with other industries. “When people go to an arts event, they very often go out to

a meal as well,” Strom-Avila noted as another financial benefit. Launched in 2015, the Traffic Box Wrap Project shows how public art can also have a practical benefit. The city noticed that some traffic boxes, which are the utility structures along sidewalks that contain the controls for the traffic lights, suffered from consistent vandalism and graffiti. To discourage this behavior, the city selected 21 different artists to create designs that cover over 40 different city traffic boxes. Using public art, the project both “beautifies the public infrastructure” and “reduces instances of vandalism,” according to Strom-Avila.

Although it was hard to choose, one of Strom-Avila’s favorite art installation in Tacoma is Hilltop People’s Community Center Mural by Dennis Valente. Its power, she said, comes from the story it tells. The mural depicts the life and symbols of Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, which, according to Strom-Avila, has “received a pretty bad rap.” With newspaper headlines floating through the bright blue sky, the mural “speaks to the people who live and have lived there.” Like many other public arts, this piece works to “rewrite the history” and tell the entire story of its neighborhood and people.

The city of Tacoma implemented the Traffic Box Wrap program, above and to the left, to both reduce vandalism and create beauty from otherwise mundane utility objects. Photos by Allison Fitz

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Feminism through art: GRLS by Molly Bryant

The four women that make up the GRLS Studio. Photo courtesy GRLS studio

The GRLS studio, based in downtown Tacoma, comprises four women, Sarah Alisdairi Close, Lana Alisdairi, Alexis Sargent and Jaquilyn Shumate, who work together to create and showcase art in all different forms while empowering women entrepreneurs and artists. The studio has many uses. It is a space where women and men can grow their businesses, selling items such as handmade dolls, handmade cards, plants and clothes. It is also used to host events such as an allwomenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book club, a knitting club, workshops, and markets. Anyone is able to rent the studio out, whether it be for a photography session or a birthday party.

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Inkwell spoke with Sarah Alisdairi Close to understand the purpose, origins, and stories of the studio.

Inkwell: What is the main goal of

GRLS: Once we got the keys, we

the GRLS studio?

were ready for our official opening just a few months later. It took quite a bit of elbow grease to renovate the studio, but we were able to knock it out together. One big challenge was figuring out how to coordinate four different schedules to get it all done. Three of us are moms and all of us have our own businesses, jobs, and community commitments apart from the studio so that often meant late nights. Another challenge was money. We paid for everything out-of-pocket, so we had to get creative and pay for things one at a time, as our personal budgets allowed.

GRLS: Our main goal is to provide a space for people to create in Tacoma. Beyond that, it is so important to have spaces in our communities that empower women to pursue creative projects and build their businesses. When we chose our name, our intention was to make it known that women are welcome here.

Inkwell: When and how did you become inspired to open the studio?

GRLS: About a year and a half ago, we all found that we needed a studio space to grow our individual businesses, but to do it alone would be too expensive. We couldn't find a neutral, multipurpose studio space to rent, so decided to create one ourselves and open it to the public.

Inkwell: What was the process like opening the studio and what kinds of challenges did you face?

Inkwell: In what ways do you provide an artistic space for the people of Tacoma?

GRLS: What we love so much about GRLS Studio is that it's a blank canvas. Our walls and floors are both painted white, so anyone can come in and transform the space to create their vision. We're not just a photo studio, we are also a space for small events, workshops, and markets. In just our first year, our studio has been utilized

by dancers, candle makers, painters, furniture makers, florists, local clothing designers, bridal showers, charitable organizations, product launches, and photo shoots of all kinds.

Inkwell: Is it hard to collaborate with each other’s individual visions and talents? How do you work past those differences?

GRLS: The funny thing about our group is that our talents are strangely complementary. Jaquilyn is a photographer, Lana is a clothing designer, Sarah is a stylist and florist, and Alexis is a freelance marketer. If we're working on a project, we all fall into our areas of expertise pretty well, but we've learned that each one of us has a different communication style. Learning how to communicate as a group is key. We've also found that it works to pursue our own creative visions whenever we can so that when we collaborate, it's about GRLS and the community as a whole. Our mission for the studio is pretty straightforward, so that helps us stay on track.

"It is so important to have spaces in our communities that empower women to pursue their creative projects and build their businesses." The GRLS Studio's blank canvas. Photo courtesy GRLS studio

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Live Music Venues for YOU by Nina Doody

While a lot of music venues are deemed 21 or older, there are some locations in Tacoma that offer venus for all ages to attend and to perform. The Swiss, downtown near the University of Washington Tacoma, offers a full performance schedule, some events that are under 21, and some events that are over 21 only. The Swiss also serves as a restaurant. Metronome is a coffee shop on the corner of 6th and South Union Streets that also serves as a performance venue. They have open mic nights on Tuesday.

Anthem Coffee and Tea is another downtown coffee shop that features live music. Anthem serves espresso drinks and flatbread pizzas. The Antique Sandwich Company is located in the heart of Ruston. They offer open mic night every Tuesday. Real Art Tacoma on South Tacoma Way prides itself with being an allage venue. It features a plethora of advanced performance equipment. JazzBones is specifically a live music venue, and while a lot of the events are 21 and older, they do offer a few events under 21. The Tacoma Dome often attracts big stars and is a great venue for concerts. Big acts coming up include Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake and Shania Twain.

Music venues in Tacoma. Map by Abby Givens

SOUNDCLOUD by Nina Doody

SoundCloud serves as an online platform for independent artists. You can create and upload your own songs and share them with friends or the public. Additionally, you can link your SoundCloud account to different social media, making it easier to promote yourself. You do not have to be a music artist to be on SoundCloud. You can also simply browse different types of music.

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The senior dancers of Dance Team perform at Lip Sync. Photo courtesy Tiffany Wang

Student-led dance team doesn't miss a beat

by Julia Henning

If you walk into the Kemper center at any point after class during the school week, chances are you will find a group of girls dancing or at least hear their music from below the studio. The Annie Wright Dance Team, the 2018 Lip Sync champion, practices two times per week in the Kemper dance studio. Captained by seniors Ariel Chiang and Serafina Xie, the team has more than 30 dancers representing all grades of the Upper School for Girls. Dance Team was created five years ago by Jeeyoung Kim, who graduated from

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Annie Wright last year. This year the team made some changes, including incorporating a greater cultural variety of music, instead of just Korean pop as they had before, to provide a wider appeal and different types of dance. “We use music like Bruno Mars because his songs are more fast and happy feeling, and that’s very suitable for dancing,” said Xie. The team typically meets Monday during tutorial and Friday during club time, but for the second semester they have seperated into groups to practice, so different groups dance at different times

throughout the week. They currently have five songs in progress and five more they hope to perform by the end of the school year. When they have a performance scheduled, their practice schedule becomes in intense. To prepare for their Seattle performance in the fall, for example, they practiced every day for two hours because they only had a month to choreograph. With smaller groups the team is able to choreograph faster and be more prepared to put the pieces together for a performance. “Most of the time we just

learn from the videos online and we choose it based on our taste and style and how others feel about the moves,” said Chiang.

Chiang said she felt excited to win, but also that the team was deserving of first place. “It felt like we earned it because we devoted so much time to it,” she said.

The dance team started rehearsing for Lip Sync right after their Seattle performance in October. The three groups include the seniors, the younger students, and the whole team together. When it got closer to Lip Sync, they bumped up the practice times in order to make final touches and combine the three pieces into an act. “For us, this was our last Lip Sync performance, and we wanted it to be perfect so we just practiced a lot,” said Xie.

When asked if the group considers themselves to be a club or an activity, they said that they actually considered themselves a sport. They practice more than twice a week, they get sweaty, and they earn PE credits. They keep the sport strictly student-led because it is about letting students have a place to be creative and enjoy themselves. The captains say that was the goal from the beginning.

@awsdanceteam Annie Wright Dance Team

Scan for one of Dance Team's most recent videos, "Black Dress."

Blue Avenue on the road to success

by Julia Henning

Inkwell had the pleasure of watching and interviewing Kian Russell’s band, Blue Avenue, at the Skylark Café in Seattle last January. The group consists of four 8th & 9th graders that were originally individual performers but formed the group about a year ago.

Kian Russell sings while playing lead guitar at Blue Avenue's performance at the Skylark Cafe in Seattle. Photo by Gabrielle Krieger

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Russell, an Annie Wright Upper School for Boys 9th grader, is lead guitar and vocals. His band mates include Princess Guinto (bass and vocals, School of the Arts), Jace Long (drums, Kalles Jr. High), and Sam Comfort (rhythm guitar and vocals, Charles Wright Academy). The group worked in different spaces before they formed the band. Long was already in a band, Guinto and Comfort were in lessons and working individually to grow, and Russell had performed at some events by himself. Long left his band a few days after Russell had asked him if he wanted to collaborate on a piece, and Long ended up permanently joining Russell. Comfort and Russell knew each other through school and Comfort was on board to join the group. Guinto’s dad introduced her to Russell at an event and they ended up staying in touch, so the group gathered together and Blue Avenue came about. The band practices for an hour and half on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they perform at gigs on the weekends. Russell’s father, Neil Russell, who works at Annie Wright as the Middle School office coordinator, books most of Blue Avenue’s gigs, but Comfort’s father also has a band, and he will often have Blue Avenue open for his band when he performs.

The group estimates they’ve played between 30 and 50 shows since the band first started. It is easier for them to perform during the summer because they can play at more outdoor venues and also play on weeknights. Last summer they won first place and $500 at the Olympia Lakefair Battle of the Bands.

"Music wasn’t as big for me at my old school, but over here, I’m in the recording studio at 7:00 am, so here music is definitely my thing." Even with their many successful shows, they have also had some rough experiences, including the time they performed at the Freedom Fair in Tacoma, but had to wait for hours in 95 degree weather before they actually started their performance. The group gets a lot of their inspiration from Aaron Jones, Tom Petty, Bradford Loomis, Paramore, and the Foo Fighters. They mostly play original music, but they also perform a few covers. If they are playing a 45-minute set, they will play two or three covers as well as all of their original songs.

The group has started to talk about having Guinto take over all of the vocals, so they have begun to write their new pieces with her in mind. "One of us will come in with a structure and we'll decide whether or not it will work," said Comfort. He, Guinto and Russell all write original music, but Russell enjoys writing the lyrics the most. Russell said he finds inspiration for his music from watching concerts or music documentaries. After he finds his inspiration, he will write lyrics and create a melody, then add the guitar part later on. The group usually starts their rehearsals with a song they know, then will try out some new music, and then end with a song they have been working on for a bit. “If there is ever a conflict, we’ll all stop playing music and talk it out for a bit,” said Russell. Scott, their mentor, helps facilitate the group’s practices and makes sure they are all in agreement. The group has been working on a number of new original songs but they are still waiting to find time to finish them all up. “Music wasn’t as big for me at my old school, but over here, I’m in the recording studio at 7:00 am, so here music is definitely my thing,” said Russell. The group plans to stick together through high school and decide how they want to continue when they get to college.

@blueavenueofficial @Blue Avenue @Kian Russell

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The Ties keep it tight

by Allison Fitz

The Ties band, now an Upper School activity, practices Tuesday - Friday before school. Members (from left) Gloria Qi, Mary Belisle, Anna Salam, Kelsey Seo, and Christy Choi. Photo by Allison Fitz

Assembling a high school rock band presents many challenges, especially at Annie Wright Upper School for Girls, where one hasn’t existed for several years. Last year, then sophomores Anna Salam and Kelsey Seo fought the chances and created a new Upper School rock band, The Ties.

but it could be a great opportunity for people who feel their type of music isn’t available in activities or clubs at AWS... Musical experience is not needed. You don’t need to know how to read music or anything like that,” wrote Salam in an email sent in September 2016. This method brought low traction.

Salam and Seo started the recruitment process by sending mass emails, embedded with cheesy rock jokes and encouraging words. “I have no idea what it will look like or when it will start,

“That one didn’t go so well,” said Salam. “Yeah, people would say they wanted to join...but they never emailed us back,” said Seo. She added that some people thought of it more as “goofing around,”

and that wasn’t the intent of the band. Next came announcing their need for members at Monday Morning Meeting. This spread the word, but still didn’t form a band. Eventually after a few additions and losses, the band had a steady roster: Juniors Anna Salam (bass), Kelsey Seo (drums), Gloria Qi (keyboard), and Vivian Yip (guitar); sophomore Christy Choi (guitar); and freshman Mary Belisle (vocals). Each brings a distinct identity to The Ties.

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"I think it’s safe to say that we probably wouldn’t all spend time together if it weren’t for band. Not because we don’t like each other, but we never would have been exposed to each other.” Under the leadership of guitar instructor Leon Christian, rock band is now a recognized Upper School activity. Their Tuesday - Friday 7:00 am practice schedule, the only available time for all members, breaks conventionalities of the activity program, which usually takes place after school.

Christian selects songs, teaches band members how to play them, and educates the group on music history. With these skills, he has taken on a mentorship role. “When we are lost in the middle of practice, he redirects us.” said Seo. Belisle then deemed him an “unlimited bank of knowledge.” The band’s name was originally a “backup” among the long list of possibilities. After a month of deliberation, they “went with it,” according to Salam. The choice highlights their school connection, as class specific colored ribbons (called “ties”) are an Upper School for Girls uniform requirement. Their style? Mostly classic rock, as that’s what genre they study, but they are transitioning to more modern rock. So far they have only covered songs, but original pieces are in their future.

Developing a signature stage presence is another common goal of the band, and they believe more performance experience is how they’re going to get there. All but one of their performances have happened on Annie Wright campus - at school music recitals, spirit assemblies and open mics. They are, however, looking to expand their venues. Last year they performed at Charles Wright’s annual “Band Aid” fundraiser for Mary Bridge children’s hospital, and they are seeking other outside music platforms. Even with technical difficulties, as they experienced at the February 7 spirit assembly, performing is a highlight for the band. “It shows what we’ve been doing and how much time and effort we put in,” said Seo.

Junior Anna Haddad took these seemingly "extraterrestrial" photos last summer at Yellowstone National Park. According to Haddad, photography "captures the moment and small details that sometimes the naked eye skims over.”

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Gettel brings her talents to the Upper School by Maeve Hunt

Grammy-nominated and chart topping musician Elizabeth Gettel has been teaching as an Annie Wright private music instructor and Middle School teacher for over 18 years. This year she began working with the Upper School, directing musicals and running the Theatre 360 activity. Gettel developed her love for music at a young age from watching cartoons, strangely enough. Once she watched the “Mighty Mouse” cartoon with classical music playing in the background, she was hooked. After attending Kindergarten in a convent, she began taking piano lessons. From then on she competed and performed through high school and college.

Gettel directs two upper school students in the Theatre 360 activity. Photo by Maeve Hunt

A few years later she received performance degrees from University of Southern California and her music career took off. She starting by performing classical pieces, but over time she began to write and play her own songs. She then started a recording career. Her albums and songs became successful both nationally and internationally. She began to receive mail from fans and read critiques from many different countries, which showed her how far her music had reached.

With her extensive background in directing, writing and performing musicals in Los Angeles, Gettel wanted to use her passion as a contribution to the school. A few years ago the need came up for a musical theatre director for the Upper School, and Gettel happily agreed to use her knowledge and experience to make musicals a success.

Another success was this past year with her new album Souvenir D'Italia. The album was a hit and ended up in the semi-finals for a Grammy Award. In addition, it is currently up for album of the year across the globe in the new age genre. It's also up for best piano with instrumental.

Just this year, Gettel started teaching the Theatre 360 activity, which is an after-school program that teaches students about acting and theatre techniques. “I love, love, love working with Upper School...it's fantastic; they are just so talented and so much fun...I am just having a wonderful time,” she said.

Gettel first joined Annie Wright Schools in 1999. “I originally came here to help Mr. Orr one day a week, which turned into two days a week, three days a week and eventually full time,” she said. She started out teaching private lessons and working with Middle School music classes.

When asked what her favorite part is about working with Upper School, Gettel responded, “The kids. They are amazing, and I just enjoy their minds, their work ethic, their talent and their company. It’s been the highlight of my year, truly."

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How to get art credit by Jade Cheatham

The stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high school graduation requirements include one fine arts or performing arts credit. Although it may seem to be difficult for some to get art credits, there are several ways to obtain them at Annie Wright. Annie Wright students can earn Fine Arts credits by taking any of the elective or IB arts courses. These include art and music. In addition, being part of an Annie Wright theatre production, including acting, directing, stage managing and set design, earns credits. Taking consignment music lessons, assuming there is at least two hours per week of total engagement between lessons and practice, is another option. Outside of school, students can earn art credits by enrolling in a course via an accredited institution in art or theatre or take dance classes or music lessons. Students may choose whether dance lessons will be counted as a PE credit or an arts credit. The only limitation to securing art credits is that there is no way to get art credits by yourself. You must have a teacher present to receive the art credit. Unlike PE, you cannot do an independent art study.

artwork by Addie Weeks

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Elizabeth Gettel's album covers

This detail from the mural 5 stages, depicting the artists' version of the five stages of grief, was second choice for the cover of this issue. The mural, by artists Saiyare Refaei and Tiffanny Hammonds, was part of a $20,000 grant through Spaceworks to support artwork at vacant commercial spaces in Tacoma. The mural is at 953 Market Street. - Kaitlin Tan