At Gaines, we often use this time of year to regroup, reflect and get ahead of the next term The theme for the year is Movements We have focused much of our programming and the junior seminar around this idea broadly conceived to include both dance and social movements As we learn to live with Covid, we thought it a good time to think about the body in all its capacities
Our first big engagement with the theme was a public conversation with choreographer and dancer, Bill T Jones I was most impressed by the way Jones engaged with the fellows, along with some students from the Dance program at UK, in their private audience He asked them to come together in a tight circle and think about the power of being closely connected as humans. For a group of students who have spent so much time in isolation, the call to be close was a first uneasy. Once they were more tightly gathered, he began to sway and without words, they joined him. In a kind of moving meditation, he encouraged them to think about who they want to be in the world and to bravely pursue those dreams. He reaffirmed to them that often succeeding is not a solitary act but is instead linked to a good relationship with our own humanity and that of others. When we invite luminaries to campus, we are always unsure how these events will unfold. From his body of work as a choreographer and consistent fight for social justice, Jones set a tone for the year that has left me, and the people gathered, thinking about how we want to move/maneuver in the world.
For the juniors, this theme will mean learning from a political economist, a sports historian, a choreographer of traditional Indian dance, and a poet who focuses on the body and breath, among other tremendous faculty members at UK We try each year to seek out professors in the junior seminar who will give the fellows a creative take on their work even as they expose them to traditional concepts One of the highlights in the fall was Archaeology professor Elena Sesma Dr Sesma lead the University of Kentucky Campus Archaeology project which held its first-ever on-campus field school at the Gaines Center last summer She and her students excavated the area behind the Bingham-Davis house to look for artifacts that would expand our understanding of the space the Gaines Center occupies and those who lived there before us To witness the careful work of the field school and then see Dr Sesma have the fellows do a material culture analysis of the contents of their pockets and bookbags this fall demonstrates the way the Gaines Center supports the larger educational mission of the university while continuing to provide an important and unique experience for the fellows
We are in a good stride but there are some ways we are still finding our footing. We made a commitment to continue in a hybrid format for our major programs that would allow for in-person and virtual attendance. This has not been as smooth as we, more likely I, imagined But we keep trying We know that for reasons of health or just for those of you who are no longer in Lexington that such a connection is important. Troubleshooting how to do this effectively reminds us of our human limits, but as Bill T. Jones encouraged, we continue to dream about how to be better in the ways the Gaines Center moves in the world. We will find our rhythm on this as we have with the other tasks we undertake throughout the year.
There will be much to do in the New Year for us all. Please continue to reach out to me or Dr. Chelsea Brislin or Catherine Brereton with your thoughts on how we can do better, and notes of a job well done. We are a small staff trying to make a big impact and we have benefitted from your feedback and memories We hope that at some point in the coming weeks you will also have a moment to regroup, reflect and get a little ahead of what is next
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
byKateWalker'24
It would be an understatement to say that I was speechless when I found out that Bill T. Jones would be our guest for the 2022 Bale Boone Symposium. This dance pioneer, who I had learned about in my dance classes, would be in Lexington, Kentucky: wow. As both a junior Gaines Fellow, and Dance major at the University of Kentucky, I was excited to embark on this special opportunity for connection and learning. It is truly priceless to be granted the opportunity to meet and engage with someone who is as prevalent and important in a field as Bill T. Jones. I continue to be grateful for the space that the Bale Boone Symposium supplies for inquiry and growth.
As a dancer of 17 years, I was aware of the immense value and importance of having Bill T. Jones as our guest. The incredible impact Bill T. Jones has made on the fields of dance, theatre, and social action art are inspiring and beyond notable What sets educational experiences of this kind apart from one another is the opportunity for curiosity and questioning to unfold At the Bale Boone Symposium, I was able to deepen my understanding through direct connection with Bill T. Jones. I was blessed with the chance to speak with Mr. Jones in a small group of Gaines Fellows and dancers prior to the symposium This was a great, intimate discussion where I gained deeper insight on the value of art and ways that dance mimics and impacts society.
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
As a dance artist, I feel so deeply within myself the importance of dance making, but there was something so meaningful about hearing the reasons why Bill T. Jones has devoted his life to such a craft. In this moment, I felt like I shared inspiration with one of the greats in my field While Mr Jones and I have largely different lived experiences, we both love and live to move with purpose.
Along with speaking with Bill T Jones, I was honored with the ability to perform for Mr. Jones at the top of the Bale Boone Symposium. The performance that took place that evening is one that I will cherish for the rest of my life While I love discussion, there is no better sense of connection through expression for a dance artist than through performance. I become emotional when I think about how special it was to be surrounded by my fellow performers and dance family, with whom I had spent months preparing a dance piece for this program. I also was so greatly held by the support of The Gaines Center for the Humanities and their felt respect for my art My favorite part of being a Gaines Fellow is how it helps develop my research skills and look at the world in a new way. This becomes especially significant to me when I can apply my learning as a Fellow to my approach to creating dance. When these two worlds collide, like they did the night of the Bale Boone symposium, I am in heaven
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
I would like to thank The Gaines Center for the Humanities and Bill T. Jones for making this year’s Bale Boone Symposium so memorable for me and the entire audience that evening Events of this kind are necessary to connect both The Gaines Center for the Humanities with the community, as well as students with icons of their field
Bill T. Jones, Artistic director of New York Live Arts and artistic director/co-founder of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company headlined the 2022 Bale Boone Symposium Jones is recognized for his contributions as a dancer and choreographer. Renowned for provocative performances that blend an eclectic mix of modern and traditional dance, he creates works that challenge us to confront tough subjects and inspire us to greater heights Performances by UK Department of Theatre and Dance and Blackbird Dance Theatre opened the event. You can view the recording of the event by clicking here Due to technical difficulties, the sound is occasionally disrupted; however we encourage you to put on the "closed captioning," which helps. We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through our new hybrid formats.
Photo by Tim Webb Photography
We were happy to return to Asbury for our annual orientation on their low ropes course. A series of challenges tested our Fellows' abilities to collaborate to solve physical and mental problems. The noodle fight was a favorite moment!
"Ilovedhavingthe opportunitytoconnectwith thejuniorfellowsandgetto knowthemonadeeperlevel"
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c h a n g e d o v a s n o n a t t h e b a c k o f 2 1 8 E a x w e l l i n t h e l a t f K e n t u c k y ’ s
We welcomed twelve new Gaines Fellows in Fall 2022, representing six colleges and twelve majors. Our fellows were chosen through a rigorous application process and include first generation students. We couldn't be more delighted to have all of them as part of our program and are excited to see them develop as scholars over the next two years.
Our Fellows never fail to impress us with their achievements. Here are just a few of their accomplishments during the last semester:
Goldwater Scholarship (Isha Chauhan)
Rhodes Scholarship Nominee (Mihir Kale)
College of Design Undergraduate Research Ambassador (Danica Hak)
Kohls Apparel Design Internship (Joshua Miller)
National conference presentations (Isha Chauhan)
Pelissier Scholar (Chris Lucas)
Morgan Stanley Richard B Fisher Scholar (Chris Lucas)
Finalists in the Five Minute Fast Track Research Competition (Lexi Nolletti, Isha Chauhan)
Interior Design Endowed Scholarship (Sophie Gershtenson)
Residential Advisor for Governor's School for the Arts (Kate Walker)
Senior Peer Mentor for College of Fine Arts (Kate Walker)
UK Libraries Diversity Scholar (Jessica Miller)
US Senate Legislative Internship (Nicholas Relich)
Written publications (Luke Schlake, Eriel Burns)
Boston Scholar (Eriel Burns) Delta Scholar (Eriel Burns)
Now in its third year, the Gaines minigrant program continues to thrive. Here's a brief look at some of the upcoming events we are supporting through this initiative. Stay tuned on social media for more details and dates as they become available!
CHELSEA
AVI
Currently, I am the co-chair of the complex litigation and arbitration group at Paul Hastings. Paul Hastings is a large top-15 international law firm with revenues of 1.5 billion dollars and about a thousand attorneys. Before that I was ten years at Gibson Dunn as a litigation partner specializing in exactly the same things that I do now. I was involved in many of Gibson Dunn’s noteworthy matters such as representing the Office of the Governor of New Jersey in the internal investigation relating to the Bridgegate matter or representing Draft Kings the online sports company. I also represented individuals in criminal defense trials before the department of justice, some of which were very contentious and wonderful experiences. Previously I was a federal prosecutor for seven years at the US attorney’s office in Manhattan where I prosecuted everything from organized crime to insider trading cases. I went straight from UK to Harvard Law School—in my year UK had one of the highest admission rates to Harvard Law School. Of the ten Gaines Fellows in my year, four of us applied to Harvard Law School and all four of us got in.
AVI
Every day I drop off my kids to go to school. I’m very involved in their academics, but I’m usually in the office by 8am responding to emails, dealing with client issues, editing documents, dealing with the crises of the day. Covid was a rebalance for me—I learned that I could work from home after hours rather than at the office. I still work long hours—it’s typical that my weeks are 60 hours or more. But I much prefer that to having no work. The legal industry is a competitive market—you have to stay in demand, I think as long as I can find balance for my kids and their academic and nonacademic pursuits, I want to be there for them. They’re 11, 10, and 6. I have them only for a handful of years so I don’t want to give up these years with them. Then there are times when I’m on trial, and when I’m on trial it’s all encompassing. I’ll need three or four months to prepare, so if the trial lasts for two months it will be five or six month period where I’m very much in the office and don’t see much of my family. Trials can be very physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing—and there are times after a trial when I will need to recharge, sometimes for weeks or months.
How did your experience with the humanities in the Gaines program and with Dr. Betts prepare you for the career you have now?
AVI I think a humanities education is certainly helpful. One of the things I look for when I work with colleagues, which I admire, is creativity—an ability to think outside the box, to use analogies, to represent our clients in the most effective way—and having an understanding of the humanities helps in that regard. Understanding how certain principles apply, whether they’re from the study of English, Art or History, and it makes you think more creatively about problem solving. That creativity is not always very logical; sometimes you have to think outside the syllogism and find a creative solution to the client’s very complicated business problems. And I do think that the humanities education—where you are forced to look at problems from different angles—did help me prepare to look at a problem holistically and not just in the very narrow way that the client sometimes thinks about a problem.
One of the things I look for when I work with colleagues, which I admire, is creativity—an ability to think outside the box
Fellows? AVI
A few things: you have to fund your passion; you have to work in a field that you are passionate about. If you don’t find passion and excitement in what you do, you’ll get burnt out, you won’t succeed.
There’s also a generational desire to skip the line sometimes, to jump to the top of the ladder before you’re ready; to inherit the reigns very quickly. There are so many 20-year-olds directing start-ups and becoming unicorns at a very young age, which I think informs this desire, and while that’s fine for some individuals who can do that, you still have to put in the time to develop expertise. It takes hundreds and thousands of hours to develop real expertise. You have to do the hard work, and you have to be willing to do that.
Finally, you need to find a mentor. It’s not just mentorship in your job—it’s mentorship in your life. I’m blessed to have people who are older than me who have mentored me through the maze of NY,
have mentored me in my career, what to do, what to seek, but also how to get my kids into school. Dr. Betts once told me, “I don’t know if you’ll ever be a great man, but you’ll be a good man.” There’s a moral compass that you should live by, and it’s more important to live by that moral compass than it is to achieve fame and celebrity and “greatness”. I still think about this.
What advice would you give to current Gaines
who
Dr. Betts once told me, “I don’t know if you’ll ever be a great man, but you’ll be a good man.” There’s a moral compass that you should live by, and it’s more important to live by that moral compass than it is to achieve fame and celebrity and “greatness”.
