Picturesque Suburbia

             

The subject of our first assignment in my Painting class this semester was Suburbia. Each student was assigned to find a picture of a house that they believed best described their impression of suburbia and to from that, make a line drawing.  We compared our images and opinions of the classic suburbs. As a group, we landed on a few generalizations: neighborhoods divided into small lots with simple, similar houses, surrounded by little green yards.  We picked the drawing that was the best match and transferred it onto each of our square panels.  With identical surfaces, we all headed in our own directions, attempting to in a sense, exploit the plane.  As a group of eight, we created final paintings that were incredibly unique, yet held together by the common initial layer. 

Finding Your Place

        Long tables. Round Tables. Cubicles. Chairs. Desks. Couches. Computer Labs. Lounges. Library. Perry Atrium. Hathorn. The Quad. The Amphitheater. Dorm Rooms. Common rooms. The Ronj. Starbucks. The number of choices when it comes to study spots is endless.  Most people have one or two spots that they adore and feel great loyalty to.  My friend Ali can always be found in the basement working at a large table.  Lily is committed to the first floor rows of maroon comfortable chairs.  Shawn and Rachel are peer-writing tutors who are always in the photocopy room. Alex is devoted to the silent second floor cubicles.  Rose tends to do her readings in her room, and Vivi prefers Pettingill.  Whatever suits you best.  With such an active, busy and exciting campus, it is easy to get caught up in the great energy on Bates Campus, but at the heart of it, we are hear to learn.  For this reason, it is crucial that you find the perfect place to be productive.  Work hard, play hard. 

 

 

Culinary Adventures

    

Lewiston and Auburn have several great restaurants which provide the occasionally necessary break form Commons.  This past weekend, my friend’s visiting parents brought several of us out to Fuel.  Cedar plank salmon with fresh pesto, sautéed spinach and tarragon roasted fingerling potatoes is a favorite among my friends.  Other must-visit dining spots are Pat’s Pizza, Gritty’s Pub, Thai Dish, She Doesn’t Like Guthries, Pepper and Spice, Café BonBon, Holly’s Own and Nothing But the Blues.  While Commons is great and the new Commons, opening in three weeks, is bound to be even better, it is wonderful to have other options now and then. 

Bluegrass

        Bates College loves music.  While that is a broad generalization, it is an accurate one.  Whether it is campus bands or visiting artists, we Batesies know good music, and we certainly know how to dance.  Last night, a phenomenal bluegrass band, the Powder Kegs, broke it down in the Silo. They are an old time string band bringing new energy and great talent to a classic musical genre.  When I first arrived, I was shocked to find everyone sitting in chairs.  In my opinion, you do not sit and quietly observe good folk and bluegrass music.  It was only a few songs in when one boy stood up to dance. He was instantly (literally) joined by the rest of the anxious listeners.  Bass, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, banjo and amazing vocals made for great dancing.  

It doesn’t get much better than that,

Emma 

 

Strange Bedfellows

            No better way to kick off a Friday night than to watch a group of wonderfully weird people attempt to make you laugh. Well, at least that is the Strange Bedfellow’s opinion. 

           Our first show in the New Year was a bit different than those of first semester.  We have two terribly missed members that have left us to go abroad, one to Italy and the other to Australia. The chosen venue was our much-loved coffee house, the Ronj, where our current group of six put on a solid improv show.  A strong crowd packed into the purple room at eight for a one hour-long form.  A compilation of scenes tied together man-eating sharks, moldy Tupperware, drunken knitting circles, angry airline security guards and some very ridiculous dance moves. 

 A great show and a great night.

Yours Truly,

Emma

  

Ice Cube

   

Ladies and Gents, 

               We have returned to school and are back in the swing of things. Mid-January, and roughly two feet of snow.  The sporadic days of unexpected heat have created large streams of run off and more slush than is desired. This morning I woke up to snow, walked to class in rain and returned an hour later to a perfectly sunny day.  Snow and sun, a particularly nice balance. This week at Bates is Winter Carnival, crazy, I know.  The last few days have been busy with acapella, chocolate fountains, bingo, karaoke, hypnotism and the ever anticipated puddle jump.  If this doesn’t sound familiar, then listen up.  Members of the Outing Club, second oldest in the nation, cut a large hole in the ice of the “puddle”, or formally Lake Andrews.  People then proceed to jump in, struggle out, sprint back to their dorm and get into a cold, which feels hot, shower.  While it sounds slightly insane, it draws a very large group of participants. Thanks to the human body, adrenaline keeps you oblivious to the cold while in the water.  Personally, it was when my smart-wool socks turned into blocks of ice, that I became marginally concerned. All in all, it is in a word, phenomenal.  

Stay Warm,

Emma 

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