Category: Stories In Focus

Jillian Sokso Attains Competitive Artist Residency

Post author By Leah Williams
Post date November 22, 2013

Professor Jillian Sokso, Associate Professor of Art, has recently returned from a two week residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). With the help of the faculty development committee Sokso was able to achieve the great honor of attending the VCCA.

For over forty years, the VCCA has supported the work of about 350 artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers; composers and writers. Typically there are 23 fellows in residency at one time. This includes anyone from a renowned artist to an eager young artist at the beginning of their professional career. Sokso, ever so humbly, said “I am still baffled I was able to get in, it was gratifying being among that caliber of people” as she reminisced about her time at VCCA.

The VCCA provides artists with their own bedroom, three meals a day, and a private studio allowing for the artists to work for hours, days, or weeks completely uninterrupted. “My studio was 700 square feet, had large windows and a skylight,” said Sokso. The VCCA is also surrounded by 400 acres of rolling Blue Ridge farmland, a view Sokso was able to enjoy from her studio.

Artist who have done a residency at VCCA say they were able to accomplish more work there in a matter of weeks than they would have in a year at home. “Time. Time was the most precious commodity and richest blessing,” said Sokso. The VCCA provides a quiet and creative environment for the artists, allowing them to get away from everything as well as giving them the opportunity to be surrounded by more than 20 other highly talented artists which allows for in-depth discussions and new ideas for artists to ponder. “Writers would host readings in their studios and visual artists would invite the fellows to their studio for art critiques,” said Sokso. Along with completing sculptures, an artist book, and a series of 24 drawings, Sokso was also able to trade prints with a printmaker from Virginia.

Past fellows of VCCA include recipients of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy in Rome, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, as well as winners of National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and MacArthur genius awards. Due to the great accomplishments of past fellows, VCCA has become a highly desired residency, making admissions extremely competitive. According to one of their fellows, the VCAA is “one of the most important sources of art in the world.”

Despite her talent and amazing accomplishment of being accepted into the VCCA, Sokso was nothing but humble throughout the interview. She continually expressed her gratitude to the faculty development committee who made it financially possible for her to attend, as well as the Dean’s office that helped provide a stand-in instructor for her students.

Sokso has now set her sights on VCCA’s satellite program in France which requires fellows to have first been to VCCA. “I would like to apply to the program in France, it’s more of a narrow pool and would be a challenge to get in.”

Tags american academy, artists, blue ridge, guggenheim, national endowment for the arts, printmaking, pulitzer prizes, studio, time, vcca, virginia center for the creative arts

Stories In Focus

Behind the Scenes: Life as a Resident Director

Post author By Shelby Weil
Post date November 22, 2013

Living in a dorm allows you to experience an instant bond among your floormates, your RA, and even your RD. The RDs here at Houghton College include Jon Craton (Roth), Jason Stephens (Shen), Ashley Dean (Lambein), and Laura Cunningham (Gillette). This is Jon, Jason, and Laura’s first year here at Houghton, while it is Ashley’s third year as an RD here.

Many students wonder what their RD does all day since they do not have the typical 8am to 5pm work day. Their job is two-fold: administrative and relational. For administrative work, they send emails, send maintenance requests, and attend meetings. For the relational part, they connect with the students themselves and interact with their RAs, empowering them to reach out to their floors.

Jon Craton, the RD of Roth, is very passionate about what he does. The one factor that drew him to Houghton is the factor that others despised: that Houghton is located in a rural area. What challenges Jon to do his job is to see “students where they are, but then have a vision for what they can become, and then do what [he] can to help them get there.”

Craton, who mentioned to me that he still plays with legos, jokingly stated that he likes to think he can do anything. “I like to be a superhero. That’s actually part of the RD job description. Be a superhero.” Craton realized, though, that he cannot do everything, to which he emphasizes the importance of being vulnerable, and said, “As an RD, I want people to be able to watch me, whether that is in my relationship with Karin or how I work or how I interact with them and I want them to be able to see that and learn from it and look up to it. But I also have to be myself and if we’re honest, I’m not perfect.” Craton knows that in order to develop deep relationships with students, there is a give and take, as well being real, vulnerable, and being true to yourself.

Jason Stephens, the RD of Shen, understands that RDs “don’t always see the rewards immediately, but when you do see it, it makes your job super meaningful.” When asked what motivates him to do his job, he responded, “I think what motivates me the most is having students come to me and share their residential life experience and sharing how they have grown.” It’s these small moments that Stephens loves.

Stephens is all about building personal relationships. After his wife, Kendra Stephens, goes to bed around 11pm, he walks around the building and hangs out with the guys – he tries to do this about five times a week. After that, he has about an hour to himself, whether that is watching West Wing, reflecting, or just relaxing. He finally tucks himself into bed around 2am, only to wake up at 8am. Stephens strives “to be on the floor with no other purpose than to just say hi to the guys. I’m there just to be a presence on their floor and get to know them.”

Stephens enjoys his Saturday morning drives to McDonald’s with Kendra Stephens for their weekly breakfast together. He realizes the importance of relaxing to prevent burnout. What made Stephens want to become an RA and ultimately an RD was his relationship with his RA when he was a freshman in college. “My RA my very first day took me under his wing. It really made me feel like I was at home.” Jason hopes to help students grow and develop holistically in a lot of different areas.

Ashley Dean, RD of Lambein, sees the importance of knowing the names of the girls living in her dorm, even if she does not have one-on-one interactions with all of them. Dean attended Houghton College as a student, moving right into the RD role after graduating in 2011. Even though she had originally planned on leaving Houghton after graduation, she says, “I wanted to invest back in this place and this department specifically that played such a key role in my development.”

With a smile, Dean talked about how she “loves students’ a-ha moments. When students can point out areas where they have grown, I like that.” And through the growth of students and herself, Dean strives to be open and honest with her residents.

Even though Dean and her husband, Nathan Dean, are married now, they still embrace the child within them. For Halloween, Dean was a fish while Nathan Dean was a fisherman. They also like to turn their apartment into a fort and have a movie night in the living room.

Laura Cunningham, the RD of Gillette, likes trying new things and new adventures, which is what brought her from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to rural New York. Being an RD is the first experience Cunningham has ever had with student development. Cunningham received her degree in Christian ministries and spiritual formation and leadership after attending Asbury University and Spring Arbor University. Cunningham explains that what really drew her to the RD role was that students are “connected in so many different ways: academics, social, spiritual. So it is great to watch that unfold and support and empower you as you are experiencing those things.”

Cunningham loves that her job as RD is people-focused; she loves getting to know students and RAs and then supporting them all. Cunningham understands that her RAs are students and that sometimes one-on-ones can be rescheduled until after a big test or project is completed.

Cunningham, in jeans and a sweatshirt, playing with her tea in front of her, speaks very intelligently. Through conversation with her, I wrote down four books that I know need to read. She also knows her strengths, listing some as ‘individualization,’ ‘connectedness,’ and ‘learner.’ She draws upon what she knows and loves to see the bigger picture, looking at how things are interconnected. She said, “For now, this is where God has led me.”

The RDs of the dorms are passionate about what they do. They realize the potential that college students have and they want to be here for encouragement, to be a listening ear, and to help us out with tough situations. But more importantly, Craton, Stephens, Dean, and Cunningham have a desire to get to know us as people.

Tags administrative, rd, res life, resident director, stephens

Stories In Focus

Home for the Holidays? International Students and Breaks

Post author By Leah Williams
Post date November 22, 2013

A homecooked meal, relaxing with your family, and the simplicity of being home are things most of us take for granted. International students on the other hand will not be experiencing these luxuries for the upcoming Thanksgiving break. Rather than with their families, most international students spend their Thanksgiving breaks with friends or host families.

Houghton’s intercultural student program has set up programs for the international students who do not have the option of going home with friends. “Internationals who want host families are connected with a family who will ‘friend’ and provide some home atmosphere for them,” said Margo Kettelkamp, intercultural student program coordinator. Senior Danny Kim, a student from South Korea, said “Houghton has done a great job with adapting international students to the campus and making sure there are places for the students who don’t have anywhere to go during breaks.”

Senior Paul Seddon, a student from the United Kingdom, was previously unaccustomed to celebrating Thanksgiving, “It was strange at first but I enjoy it now.” It was the extreme extent to which we celebrate holidays which took Kim off guard. “Thanksgiving I understand, Christmas, of course. But why on the Fourth of July do you all need to get together and eat a hamburger, hot dog, sausage, and everything else in sight to celebrate our founding fathers? That’s something about one of your holiday’s that confuses me.”

Along with adapting to celebrating our holidays international students also have to go without celebrating theirs. Kim misses Hangul Day, the holiday celebrating the Korean written language. Seddon misses Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th when, in the early 17th century, Guy Fawkes planted gunpowder under Parliament but was caught. Also, on November 11th, the United Kingdom celebrates Remembrance Day. “It’s similar to veterans day, except 11 minutes after 11 we have a minute of silence for our veterans,” said Seddon. Then, with a smile, Seddon added “There’s also Pancake Day, it’s the day before Ash Wednesday, everyone uses all their eggs, flour and milk and make pancakes. It’s called Shrove Tuesday.”

One group of international students that are often overlooked as internationals are the Canadian students on campus. While some of them live close enough to be able to travel home for the weekend if they wish, they still experience the feelings of not being “at home.” Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on the second Monday of November. Senior Sarah Munkittrick said, “It would be nice if October break could be extended to a week so we could celebrate Thanksgiving with our families.” Munkittrick also said, “Houghton does do a lot for the Canadians during Thanksgiving; there’s a special meal, a chapel, and dessert at the Lucky’s. It’s just nice to be home though.”

While celebrating holiday’s away from home is something most international students have grown used to, it is not always easy. “After a while you can start to feel like a bit of an intrusion being at someone’s house for so long,” said Seddon. As Kim spoke about the challenges of being away from home he paused, then thoughtfully said “No one can listen as well and make my comfort food like my mom and there’s no one who loves me unconditionally.” With a slight chuckle, he added, “like my dogs.”

Tags canadian thanksgiving, christmas, fourth of july, guy fawkes day, hangul day, host families, international students, pancake, remembrance day, shrove tuesday, thanksgiving

Stories In Focus

The Howards: A Houghton Legacy of Love and Learning

Post author By Glenn Hampson
Post date November 22, 2013

It is fascinating to watch professors David and Irmgard Howard together, and it is difficult to explain why. If you ever have the privilege to sit down with the two of them and have a conversation, this feeling will make sense to you as well.

For example, if there is a question presented to them that requires both partners to answer, there will be a slight pause when the Howard’s look at each other. This is the part that is hard to explain, because you can feel the presence of the information highway that is passing between David and Irmgard, a connection that slows down time and allows the two of them to non-verbally communicate with each other before answering the question. Perhaps that’s just the power two people gain with forty-five plus years of marriage.

The Howards have been teaching here, David in History and Irmgard in Chemistry, since 1970. This effectively makes them the most experienced faculty couple here on campus. The swing set near the science building used to be the place where their home stood. There, David and Irmgard raised four children while continuing to teach at the college. “I was teaching full-time and she part-time,” said David. “This allowed us to switch off with child care, so we never really had to hire a babysitter. We always had a parent right there with the kids. We lived within walking distance to our job as well, so it was as convenient as you could possibly imagine.”

“Houghton College arranged our schedules so that we could…” Irmgard began, but then was cut off by her husband. “Well, we arranged our schedules and they agreed to it,” said David, and both professors shared a laugh. “Right, we could always switch off,” finished Irma.

Remnants of this schedule remained in the class schedule until very recently. Some science labs used to begin at 2:15pm instead of 2:00pm like it is done now. This was so one Howard could run home to take care of the kids while the other Howard ran to begin the next set of classes. One couple affected the schedule of a whole college for almost forty years.

When asked if the school has changed over the years in terms of hiring both men and women as professors over the years, the Howard’s explained that the college has employed married couples since they started back in the 1970’s and has been willing to work with couples and their complex schedules. They also agreed that working as a married couple is not any different today than it was back then.

“My conclusion is that, if you’re not in direct competition with each other, that working together is a great way to strengthen a marriage,” explained David.

After forty-four years of working as a team and teaching at the same school, retirement is on the horizon for at least one Howard, with Irmgard in semi-retirement this semester. As far as the other Howard is concerned, it may still be a while longer before he’s ready to move on.

In response to the question if he was looking forward to retirement as well, David answered with a definite “No.”

Tags featured, history, Houghton, howards

Stories In Focus

Differing Perspectives on the Military Spark Discussions of Conviction and Support

Post author By Abigail Erlanson
Post date November 15, 2013

Courtesy of houghton.edu

Bowing his head over the chapel pulpit on Monday, November 11, Michael Jordan gave thanks for the sacrifices of those in the military, confessed the mistakes of this and every country, and asked earnestly for peace. His prayer observed Veteran’s Day and the Canadian Remembrance Day. Also, whether intentionally or not, it honored those at Houghton involved in the military while showing respect for those here with pacifist convictions. This is a necessity for a college that strives to offer support to individuals with ties to the military but also to recognize those who have other perspectives on Christian involvement in the military.

“The Christian tradition as a whole has within it two long standing traditions regarding the use of violence and the military—pacifism and just war theory,” explained Shirley Mullen, president of the college. “As a Christian college, I believe we have a responsibility to familiarize students with both of those traditions.”

One way the college does this, while providing for the needs of students in or aspiring to join the military, is through the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) program. The ROTC program on campus began in the late 70s, following years in which Houghton students participated in ROTC through St. Bonaventure University.

“The benefits [of ROTC] are too great in number to achieve an accurate count,” said Alyssa Kiser, a senior cadet in the Houghton ROTC program. Formerly part of a high school JROTC unit, Kiser said “[JROTC] taught me to be honest, be courageous, and how to be proud of not only my achievements, but the achievement of the team working together to reach a goal.” Kiser said the benefits of her college ROTC involvement include “a four-year scholarship awarded right out of high school (for contracted cadets), a monthly stipend (for contracted cadets), relationships with people from all over the United States and abroad, a guaranteed job after graduation, and skills that will last a lifetime.”

Others at Houghton do not share this enthusiasm about ROTC. “There have been some in our community and some in our alumni constituency who believe that we should not have ROTC on campus,” Mullen commented. “My own position on this is the following: If we were a college of one of the Peace Denominations, then we would not have ROTC…But the Wesleyan Methodist denomination has historically had within itself both pacifist and just war advocates. So our denomination does not dictate our position on this issue…In supporting ROTC, I have always encouraged our ROTC group to be proactive in creating a forum where these issues can be discussed. So that the presence of ROTC is, itself, an educational opportunity for students at a Christian liberal arts college.”

Connie Finney, professor of education, is among those who question the role of ROTC at a liberal arts college. Finney described herself as “not personally against the military, but…against some of the ways it functions.” While making it clear that she respects and cares about the individuals involved in the ROTC program, Finney commented “The ROTC program being housed at a Christian liberal arts college is a bit puzzling to me in the sense that my understanding of the military is that you are not encouraged to be an independent thinker – you are encouraged to follow orders. It would be difficult to have a well-functioning military otherwise. This does not, in my mind, seem consistent with liberal arts thinking.”

Whatever their views on Christians in the military, Houghton students, faculty and staff are generally supportive of individual members of the college community who are involved with the military. The support takes various forms. It may be prayers in chapel and elsewhere. It may be, as Kiser described, “excusal from classes in understanding of training events for the military, attendance at military functions, silence when performing in color guards (the parading of the National flag), and not disgracing the personnel in uniform.” It may be the respect which John Van Wicklin, faculty advisor for ROTC, said “starts from the President of the College and works its way down.” It may be former ROTC advisor Robert Danner’s challenge to Houghton cadets: “that they be good leaders in the Army, and good witnesses for Christ…”

Tags christian, christian college, military, november 11, pacifist, reserve officer training corp, tradition. rotc, veteran's day, wesleyan methodist

Stories In Focus

Catholic Students at Houghton

Post author By Jory Kauffman
Post date November 15, 2013

Though Houghton College professes Christian Wesleyan religious affiliation, many students enrolled at the school inevitably differ in denomination, tradition, or religion in general. Such differences serve to produce a conversation between contrasting beliefs and a resulting respect for others regardless of his or her religious tradition.

One such presence, differing from the Wesleyan denomination, is students affiliated with Roman Catholicism. Approximately 30 students currently enrolled at Houghton College this fall identified themselves as part of the Catholic religious tradition.

Kayleigh Gurney, Houghton freshman and Catholic, explained some of her experience as a Catholic student in a Protestant institution. Sometimes people will “talk about Roman Catholics as some completely outrageous religion,” she said, but for the most part people at Houghton prove understanding and accepting.

College often serves a time for exploration in a student’s beliefs or practices, an idea that may contribute to the accepting nature of the campus. Andrew Gibson, senior, though raised Catholic, takes the opportunity to attend a Protestant church while at Houghton. “Most of the backgrounds and views are the same,” he said, “so it’s a fairly easy transition to be Catholic at a Protestant school.”

Though students like Gibson participate in a different religious tradition, others continue to pursue the tradition they know. A family from Buffalo recognized the need for a ministry to provide a link between Catholic students at the college and a Catholic church. Consequentially, the family requested that Saint Patrick’s Catholic Parish in Fillmore initiate such a ministry.

Officially beginning in 2007 and initially aimed at engaging students affiliated with the Catholic tradition, the ministry surprisingly brought in equal numbers of Catholic and non-Catholic Houghton students from the start. The result, according to the ministry’s website, was a “dynamic, organic, and personal Campus Ministry,” in which Catholic students desiring a connection with a parish community and non-Catholic students interested in exploring the Catholic tradition might come together with a “mutual respect for each other” and their differing religious traditions.

Debra Fitzgerald, current campus minister to Catholic students at Houghton College along with her husband, Dan, first encountered the ministry through her children attending Houghton. When the previous campus minister left the position, Fitzgerald had been actively involved and the former minister subsequently recommended her to take over.

Through her experience in the ministry, Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of the church’s availability to college students interested or involved in the Catholic tradition. “We try to incorporate the students into the life of the parish,” she said, “so that they feel like they have a church home while they’re away at school.”

While the main focus of the ministry lies in providing transportation between Houghton and the Fillmore Parish every Sunday for Mass, on Holy Days, and on Saturdays for Confession, the ministry also provides access to other related events.

Consistently focusing first on the needs of the students, Fitzgerald proves attentive to their busy schedules and academic concerns. “We’re fulfilling the needs that the students have without piling things onto them,” she said.

As a result of such a focus, events such as Donut Hour on Sundays after Mass, a time when students eat donuts and drink coffee provided by the church while socializing with each other as well as local parish members, often promote a low-obligation atmosphere, while intentionally building relationships between the church and the students.

Fitzgerald encourages both Catholic and non-Catholic students to take advantage of the ministry, to produce even more conversations and relationships between different religious traditions. She believes there is more opportunity and understanding now than before, especially between Catholics and Protestants.

“Houghton has a very good atmosphere in terms of social morality and seriousness of study, as well as respect for the whole Christian tradition,” said Fitzgerald.

Tags catholic, college, kroman catholic, protestant, wesleyan

Stories In Focus

Album Review: The Head and the Heart, “Let’s Be Still”

Post author By Anthony Burdo
Post date November 15, 2013

Within all creative fields there often develops a certain amount of tension between an artist’s existing work and any new direction their muse leads them in. I consider it an accomplishment of high order then, when that tension between continuity with the past, and artistic growth, are skillfully and harmoniously reconciled.

Let’s Be Still, the sophomore record recently released by indie folk-rock group The Head and the Heart, is a wonderful example of just such balance. This album retains all the best elements from the band’s previous, eponymous release, including among other things foot-stomping drums, driving, percussive piano, and soft, clear vocal harmonies. But by no means has The Head and the Heart grown artistically static. Their latest album features a range of styles that exemplify the wealth of musicianship possessed of each of the six band members.

The interlude “Springtime,” provides an elegant framework for Charity Thielen’s haunting vocals, echoing the lofty sound of Fleet Foxes, and her gorgeous violin weaves brilliantly and seamlessly throughout the album. Even bassist Chris Zasche is given some little time to shine through the playful bass line of “Shake.” Despite having great musicianship, the members of The Head and the Heart keep things very simple. There are no mind-blowing solos, or amazing feats of technical prowess. Rather, subtlety is the style of The Head and the Heart, who are content to add layer upon careful layer of rhythm and harmony so that each song is very much a unified whole.

The Head and the Heart’s story resonates with many aspiring musicians who have struggled with choosing between a dream and realistic future. Formed in 2011 in Seattle, although the band members hail from all over the country, The Head and the Heart rose to success because the six musicians decided to pursue their passion for music. No one could describe this journey better than front man Josiah Johnson: “It’s terrifying and it’s never perfect, but it’s some kind of beauty just realizing that you might screw up, but you’re going with it anyway.”

And go with it they have; Let’s Be Still has a bigger sound than the band’s last album, doubtless the consequence of extensive touring with groups the likes of Dr. Dog, Vampire Weekend, and My Morning Jacket. Fortunately success has not made this album any less intimate or relatable than it’s predecessor.

Lyrically, the album comes across as honest and a little wistful, just take these lines from the title-track “Let’s Be Still:” “The world’s just spinning/ A little too fast/ If things don’t slow down soon we might not last.” The need to take time out of life and, well, “be still,” is a theme throughout the album, and cannot be missed as it is reiterated from song to song. Other lines come across feeling less poetic, though losing none of their raw honesty, as in “Fire/Fear:” when the singer left standing alone with his mistakes, laments: “You look at me, as cold as a stone/ There’s no way to write what’s been done wrong/ You left me a fool.” Followed up by some mournful falsetto, the result is a flood of melancholy washing over the listener. In “Fire/Fear” and “Cruel” are both rife with the band’s country-rock influence, expressed in the yearning refrains of the almost-ballads. Weeping slide-guitar and husky violin tones texture “Cruel,” balancing the more up-beat tracks like “Shake” and “My Friends.”

Though The Head and the Heart have risen to moderate success (by any definition) they have not been swept away, and far from it, the Let’s Be Still is a sure sign the band has their feet are firmly planted on the ground. Let’s Be Still is contemplative and reflective. Fittingly enough, listening to it is a great way to step back from the speed of everyday life, relax, and, well– you know.

Tags charity thielen, chris zasche, dr. dog, fire/fear, fleet foxes, head and the heart, indie folk rock, let's be still, my friends, my morning jacket, percussive piano, seattle, shake, springtime, vampire weekend

Stories In Focus

Visiting Artist: Tatiana Ginsberg, Master Papermaker

Post author By Rachel Wright
Post date November 15, 2013

This Friday, November 13th, Houghton College will host an exhibition by Tatiana Ginsberg, a master artist in papermaking, printmaking, installation media, and drawing. This exhibition was brought to Houghton because of Ginsberg’s expertise and talent. She was a Fulbright scholar to Japan, where she studied various techniques and styles which influence her work. She also studied with Tim Barrett, an internationally-acclaimed papermaker and paper historian, at the University of Iowa, who won a Macarthur ‘Genius’ grant for his work. Ginsberg has also taught many workshops on papermaking, the use of natural dyes, and Japanese-style paper.

The exhibit, I Fear We Must Go, features a combination of drawings and text which reflect upon the story of Robert Wilson and his crews’ Antarctic expedition of 1911-1912. It was during this excursion that the first British explorers reached the South Pole. However, as the group separated more and more throughout their journey, only five of their members were able to arrive at the South Pole. Upon reaching their destination, they found a Norwegian flag planted at the site, which took away much of the glory of completing this goal. None of these five men survived the journey back, and their bodies were found the next year along with Robert Wilson’s collection of letters and journal entries detailing the events of their expedition.

Hung about the room are several huge pieces of handmade paper with detailed, coloured pencil drawings upon them. These abaca sheets are immense, and required hours of work; additionally Ginsberg required the assistance of another person to complete the process. Ginsberg said of her work, “I think through materials, and making my own paper is the most important of these.” This brings the creation of the piece to the very beginning of the composition, when the paper upon which her forms are composed was made.

The drawings are affixed simply to the walls with magnets, to give the paper room to expand and contract as it will, without tearing or being compromised. The quality and texture of the paper is simple and organic, with subtle irregular curves throughout each. This gives the pieces an intimate, anthropomorphic quality, as they represent the men who died in the ice of Antarctica.

The drawings are of the “shadows of leaves,” leaves which have been eaten by insects and rotted away and have lace-like, well-worn forms. The many layers of colour carefully used in each one creates a watery, fluid effect, which changes the colours drastically as the viewer steps closer to the piece. Each leaf was chosen carefully, with the intent of reflecting the person it represents accurately – gingko, sycamore, and so on.

Ginsberg has also arranged several phrases, sentences and paragraphs from Robert Wilson’s letters around the room to bring some context to the drawings. On one wall, the majority of a letter from March 16, 1912 is placed along with the latitude at which it was written: 79.5 degrees. These texts are extraordinarily moving, and bring the viewer to consider the full consequence of such an experience.

Ginsberg said that “even if you don’t know what inspired” [her], she hopes that this exhibition will be influential regardless, that “people may find it a contemplative space.” By placing text on the floor of the Ortlip Gallery, a makeshift path is created throughout the pieces, guiding the viewers in their own excursion within the exhibition. The usage of soft lighting encourages visitors to come close to the drawings and examine their every detail. Through the simplicity of her composition, Ginsberg has created an opportunity for profound consideration of her work.

Tags antarctic, british, fulbright scholar, i fear we must go, japan, macarthur genius, rleafs, robert wilson, south pole, tatiana ginsberg, tim barrett, university of iowa

Stories In Focus

Franciscan Friars Welcomed with Open Arms

Post author By Ashley Cartwright
Post date November 9, 2013

This week Houghton welcomed back the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a group of both friars and sisters that have visited every few years since 1989. With their distinctive gray habits and cord around their waist, they were hard to miss. They seemed to be everywhere this week, engaging with students in the classroom as well as on campus.

The Friary began in the Bronx of New York, where they continue to meet the material and spiritual needs of the homeless in the New York area; needs such as setting up soup kitchens, providing food, counseling, clothing, and shelter for homeless people. Over the years they have been blessed, growing into multiple friaries and having the opportunity to travel, and visit places such as Houghton.

The friars and sisters enjoyed hanging out in the lounges, dining halls, and eating meals with the students. “They are accessible to our students, that is one of the gifts they bring,” said Michael Lastoria, Director of Counseling Services, and coordinator of the Franciscan Friars visits.

According to Lastoria, the friars and sisters are very knowledgeable and love to talk to the students about many topics such as the Reformation, social injustice, Roman Catholicism, the new Pope Francis, and a number of other things. Lastoria said, “both theologically and spiritually, they are a gifted group”.

At every meal the friars and sisters sat with students to engage them in conversations. On one of those nights during dinner, two of the sisters, Sister Mary Pieta and Sister Maria Grace, sat engaging in conversation with a table full of students.

Sister Mary Pieta, originally from Kansas, has been part of the convent for eight years. She attended a college very similar to Houghton, and during her junior year she began to enter in a deeper relationship with Jesus. “Feeling like my heart couldn’t be satisfied by anything but him, I had to give my life to him there wasn’t any other option. It was an impulsive love, someone who had given himself so totally for me,” she said with great passion and joy on her face.

The Franciscan Renewal was formed in the spring of 1987 by a group of friars with the intention of a communal reform within the Catholic Church. The friars observed a rise in theological confusion and false teachings made by the Catholic Church during the 1970s and 1980s. This crisis was causing a major decline in religious life, so the friars made the decision to start the renewal.

This community is made up of friars and sisters, embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ, adhering to the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, and keeping to the root of the Capuchin tradition. They show a strong passion in assisting the poor and the homeless as well as evangelizing to others.

Currently, the convent that Sister Mary Pieta and Sister Maria Grace both live in has a food pantry which distributes food to about 200 people. “You are always giving food, but it’s always with a prayer, meeting their physical needs but hopefully also reaching to their spiritual needs as well,” said Pieta. They also have a Bible study, where they read scripture, pray, and have discussions with their neighbors. In addition to food pantries and Bible studies, their convent frequently participates in home visits, including those to nursing homes.

Lastoria said “I just love the spiritual activity that I see going on, the livelihood, and the energy that they bring to campus, how they interact with the students. It’s a breath of fresh air.”

The friars and sisters had many opportunities to connect with the Houghton community this week. They were our special guests in chapel on both Wednesday and Friday with both services being led by father Glenn Sudano, one of the original members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. During worship, the friars and sisters shared their musical and vocal talents, showing the great passion they have for their faith.

They expressed their Catholic faith by sharing an instructional sacrament of the mass with communion, which was one of the things Dean Jordan was looking forward to the most. In their words, this instructional mass “kind of unpacks it and helps people to see, and say ok this is what they’re doing and this is why they are saying this.”

After the mass, the friars held a jam session located in Java 101 where students, faculty, and staff were given the opportunity to worship alongside their new friar friends.

Jordan was excited to have them and said, “I think it’s important for our students to learn a little bit about what that subset of Christianity is like, I want them to see people who have given everything to follow Jesus in a way that most Protestants don’t grow up thinking about it.

Sister Pieta expressed how it was a great joy to come and visit Houghton, and said it was a pleasure to be with the students, learn about them, the school, and its traditions. She also expressed how she hoped that her and her sisters and the brothers were joyful witnesses to the Houghton community and said, “There is something unique and special about the brothers and the sisters and priests because we’re are consecrated and totally given over to Christ, so just even that witness of seeing someone who has given themselves totally and fully over to the Lord. Hopefully we hope [sic] to be an inspiration to you all; that it’s possible to live radically to Jesus in that way.”

Tags bronx, franciscan friars, franciscan renewal, glenn sudano, reformation, roman catholicism, soup kitchens