Latest / Pop of Culture / S03 E10 - We Get All C's

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S03 E10 - We Get All C's · Pop of Culture

• 1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:01,260 - Support for "Pop of Culture" 2 00:00:01,260 --> 00:00:02,700 comes from Stallings Wealth Management, 3 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:04,320 Daniel Stallings Financial Advisor, 4 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,270 Securities and Advisory Services offered 5 00:00:06,270 --> 00:00:09,630 through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, 6 00:00:09,630 --> 00:00:12,060 a broker/dealer and registered investment advisor. 7 00:00:12,060 --> 00:00:13,500 Cetera is under separate ownership 8 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:14,801 from any other named entity. 9 00:00:14,801 --> 00:00:16,110 (upbeat music) 10 00:00:16,110 --> 00:00:19,860 - This week on "Pop of Culture," we get all Cs. 11 00:00:19,860 --> 00:00:24,450 We catch up with Curtis L. Crisler, Indiana's Poet Laureate. 12 00:00:24,450 --> 00:00:26,400 - What is the Indiana Chitlin Circuit? 13 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,830 Why are you talking chitlins? You know, 14 00:00:28,830 --> 00:00:32,520 and it's like, well, we'll break it down for you. 15 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,680 - We'll converse with the cast 16 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,710 of Ball State's production of Cats. 17 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:41,520 And we'll hear our latest story behind the song. 18 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,500 That's an S. 19 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:44,460 Oh, okay. 20 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:49,260 Yeah. Well, you know what does start with C? Coming up. 21 00:00:49,260 --> 00:00:50,850 - Support for "Pop Up Culture" 22 00:00:50,850 --> 00:00:54,540 comes from Stalling's Wealth Management, 23 00:00:54,540 --> 00:00:59,540 the Innovation Connector, and from you. 24 00:00:59,790 --> 00:01:02,550 With state and federal money eliminated, 25 00:01:02,550 --> 00:01:05,490 you are the difference in keeping local programming 26 00:01:05,490 --> 00:01:07,233 on the air at IPR. 27 00:01:08,190 --> 00:01:10,583 Become a member today at indianapublicradio.org. 28 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,230 - From IPR, this is "Pop of Culture." 29 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:17,220 I'm Kara DuQuette. 30 00:01:17,220 --> 00:01:18,780 - And I'm Michelle Kinsey. 31 00:01:18,780 --> 00:01:20,700 If you're a regular pop listener, 32 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:22,980 you've heard Indiana's Poet Laureate, 33 00:01:22,980 --> 00:01:24,750 Curtis Crisler, before. 34 00:01:24,750 --> 00:01:26,970 - He's been selected for a second term 35 00:01:26,970 --> 00:01:28,680 as the state's Poet Laureate 36 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,380 and he was on Ball State's campus recently 37 00:01:31,380 --> 00:01:36,150 so we asked him to come into the IPR studios for an update. 38 00:01:36,150 --> 00:01:38,520 Curtis, thank you so much for making the time. 39 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:39,960 - Oh, thank you for having me, Kara. 40 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:42,900 I love being here. - Excellent. 41 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:47,520 Well, I know how the Indiana's Poet Laureate is selected 42 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,610 by committee through the Indiana Arts Commission, 43 00:01:50,610 --> 00:01:53,370 but you've been selected for two consecutive terms. 44 00:01:53,370 --> 00:01:54,487 Congratulations. - Thank you, 45 00:01:54,487 --> 00:01:56,907 thank you so much. - Oh yeah. 46 00:01:56,907 --> 00:02:00,450 And for those of us who aren't exactly sure, 47 00:02:00,450 --> 00:02:05,163 will you share with us what does a Poet Laureate do? 48 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,813 - We spread poetry throughout Indiana, 49 00:02:10,830 --> 00:02:14,490 basically looking to address creative endeavors 50 00:02:14,490 --> 00:02:17,910 throughout the state and helping people understand 51 00:02:17,910 --> 00:02:19,140 what poetry is all about. 52 00:02:19,140 --> 00:02:24,140 So I'm all around, northwest, south, all parts of Indiana, 53 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,410 trying to connect with them through what I call 54 00:02:28,410 --> 00:02:30,630 the Pop-Up Indiana Chitlin Circuit, 55 00:02:30,630 --> 00:02:35,610 which is this thing from my urban midwestern sensibilities 56 00:02:35,610 --> 00:02:40,500 aspect of how black people have come to the Midwest. 57 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:43,830 So it's been working really well. 58 00:02:43,830 --> 00:02:47,130 And so I think that's why I got the second term. (chuckles) 59 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:49,890 - Excellent, well I love the idea of spreading poetry 60 00:02:49,890 --> 00:02:51,270 throughout Indiana. 61 00:02:51,270 --> 00:02:55,953 And I know you've reimagined Indiana's Chitlin Circuit. 62 00:02:55,953 --> 00:02:56,910 - Yes. - And so, 63 00:02:56,910 --> 00:02:58,740 can you take a minute to tell us 64 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:02,940 what Chitlins are for people who don't know, 65 00:03:02,940 --> 00:03:07,170 and also what the Indiana Chitlin Circuit was now 66 00:03:07,170 --> 00:03:10,110 and your reimagining of it today. 67 00:03:10,110 --> 00:03:15,110 - So the chitlins are the intestine of the pig. 68 00:03:15,780 --> 00:03:20,780 And in slavery, slaves were giving the leftovers 69 00:03:21,090 --> 00:03:23,760 of what the masters and stuff ate. 70 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,350 So most of the stuff they got 71 00:03:25,350 --> 00:03:28,020 were the guts and things of that nature. 72 00:03:28,020 --> 00:03:32,940 And somehow it became this thing where they used it. 73 00:03:32,940 --> 00:03:35,130 And now it's one of those things 74 00:03:35,130 --> 00:03:35,963 where you put your hot sauce on it 75 00:03:35,963 --> 00:03:37,860 and all that kind of stuff. 76 00:03:37,860 --> 00:03:40,560 They really stink when you're cooking them, 77 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,560 but it became a delicacy in a sense, 78 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,780 and it's part of a soul food thing. 79 00:03:45,780 --> 00:03:50,780 So the Chitlin circuit happened for, 80 00:03:51,420 --> 00:03:54,660 it's kind of like the green book, 81 00:03:54,660 --> 00:03:57,210 where for blacks to be safe, 82 00:03:57,210 --> 00:03:59,610 there are places on the map that, you know, 83 00:03:59,610 --> 00:04:02,190 there's a book for them and go to this house, 84 00:04:02,190 --> 00:04:05,520 go to this person, that kind of thing. 85 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,560 And so the Chitlin circuit is where the jute joints 86 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,780 and stuff were, the after-hour joints. 87 00:04:09,780 --> 00:04:14,220 So what they would do is they would have a circuit 88 00:04:14,220 --> 00:04:16,470 and people would come on the circuit 89 00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:20,750 and they fed you chitlins and things of that nature, 90 00:04:20,750 --> 00:04:23,550 soul food, they paid you a little money, 91 00:04:23,550 --> 00:04:26,340 they let you sell your wares if you had a record out 92 00:04:26,340 --> 00:04:27,543 or something like that. 93 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,480 Then you jammed with them. 94 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,870 You would do solos, you would jam with the host 95 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:34,920 and stuff like that. 96 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:36,540 They might put you up for the night, 97 00:04:36,540 --> 00:04:39,660 and then you went to the next stop in the circuit. 98 00:04:39,660 --> 00:04:44,460 And so this was before people started getting big 99 00:04:44,460 --> 00:04:46,950 and going to Carnegie Hall and things like that. 100 00:04:46,950 --> 00:04:48,540 So when they were going to Carnegie Hall 101 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:49,800 and stuff like that, 102 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,800 the Chitlin Circuit got turned on itself and got a bad rep. 103 00:04:55,140 --> 00:04:57,300 And people are like, "You're doing that Chitlin Circuit?" 104 00:04:57,300 --> 00:04:59,790 But when it started out, that was all we had. 105 00:04:59,790 --> 00:05:04,103 So what I did was do this with poetry. 106 00:05:04,103 --> 00:05:07,320 You can do it with just three poets. 107 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,630 And we have a round robin 108 00:05:09,630 --> 00:05:13,890 where each person feeds off of the first person. 109 00:05:13,890 --> 00:05:16,020 The first person sets the tone. 110 00:05:16,020 --> 00:05:18,600 They read a poem and the other two are feeding off of it. 111 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,690 And we're just going to the mic for 20 minutes 112 00:05:21,690 --> 00:05:23,850 off of what that first person did. 113 00:05:23,850 --> 00:05:25,830 So you don't know what's going to happen. 114 00:05:25,830 --> 00:05:27,720 It's kind of upsetting for a lot of poets 115 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,040 because we're like musicians. 116 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,480 We come with a set list. 117 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,010 We're going to read this, this and this, 118 00:05:35,010 --> 00:05:37,440 that blows that to hell, so. 119 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:38,640 But it's fun. 120 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,590 But the people who are really anal retentive, 121 00:05:40,590 --> 00:05:42,600 it's kind of harder for them. 122 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,120 Until they do it, they don't understand it. 123 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,040 So it's that. 124 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,630 Then we have the second set, which is each of us do a solo, 125 00:05:51,630 --> 00:05:53,100 a 10-minute solo. 126 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:57,690 And then third set, we read a poem line by line, 127 00:05:57,690 --> 00:06:00,120 each person reading a line until we get to the end 128 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:01,800 and we read the line together. 129 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,120 And the food would be like whatever the local fare is. 130 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,720 So some people have aspects of food trucks 131 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:10,860 and things like that. 132 00:06:10,860 --> 00:06:15,860 So the whole thing like that is the big culmination of it. 133 00:06:16,950 --> 00:06:21,950 Food, entertainment, and music and bringing it together. 134 00:06:22,290 --> 00:06:24,810 And so I didn't want it to be, "Oh, 135 00:06:24,810 --> 00:06:26,340 it's the Indiana Poet Laureate 136 00:06:26,340 --> 00:06:29,640 and he's coming to Ball State and blah, blah, blah." 137 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,203 Yeah, but you poets there 138 00:06:31,203 --> 00:06:32,036 and I want you to know you have poets there. 139 00:06:33,180 --> 00:06:36,720 So when I leave, I left with everything. 140 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,550 So when I come, some people don't know 141 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:42,330 that the other two poets that I'm doing this with are there. 142 00:06:42,330 --> 00:06:44,190 And then, "Oh, we got poets here too." 143 00:06:44,190 --> 00:06:46,470 And then the scene opens up. 144 00:06:46,470 --> 00:06:48,180 So I'm just trying to build it up 145 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:51,600 so that it's like what the Chitlin circuit was 146 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,010 at the beginning. 147 00:06:53,010 --> 00:06:56,580 - Well it's pretty great that you're calling back 148 00:06:56,580 --> 00:06:58,650 to that community building time 149 00:06:58,650 --> 00:07:01,020 and reimagining it for poetry. 150 00:07:01,020 --> 00:07:03,750 I actually had the pleasure of being at one 151 00:07:03,750 --> 00:07:07,830 of your Chitlin Circuit events two Octobers ago, 152 00:07:07,830 --> 00:07:11,760 and it was in a backyard of Cole Smith 153 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,007 and Emma Dregou. - Oh yes, yes. 154 00:07:13,007 --> 00:07:15,303 - It was a magical evening. 155 00:07:16,830 --> 00:07:20,433 What you were saying about the round robin, 156 00:07:21,300 --> 00:07:23,340 it's pretty great. 157 00:07:23,340 --> 00:07:25,500 Like you did a poem 158 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:30,030 and that inspires the next person's poem, and- 159 00:07:30,030 --> 00:07:31,680 - This has been something I didn't know 160 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,870 how this was going to go. 161 00:07:33,870 --> 00:07:36,450 People are like, "What is the Indiana Chitlin Circuit? 162 00:07:36,450 --> 00:07:38,160 Why are you talking chitlins?" 163 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,000 You know, and it's like, well, we'll break it down for you. 164 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,900 But once, like you said, once you see, you have to see it. 165 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:47,550 And if you're a participant in it, 166 00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:51,330 you have to be a participant in it to understand what it is. 167 00:07:51,330 --> 00:07:54,693 And the thing is, you just have to have enough material. 168 00:07:55,650 --> 00:07:58,770 You have to have enough material for one, the round robin, 169 00:07:58,770 --> 00:08:02,010 but then you're going to do a 10-minute individual set. 170 00:08:02,010 --> 00:08:05,790 So you know, so some people come in and they're like, 171 00:08:05,790 --> 00:08:08,100 this is my 10-minute set and I'll just use, 172 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:09,630 and they're using something for them 173 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:12,600 from their 10-minute set in the round robin 174 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,640 because of the poems, the way they go. 175 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,680 So that's what's so crazy about it. 176 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:21,150 - You talked a little bit about how it feels. 177 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:22,350 Can you talk a little bit more 178 00:08:22,350 --> 00:08:25,050 about how it feels to be a part of this? 179 00:08:25,050 --> 00:08:25,920 You referred to it 180 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:30,870 as magical round robin experience as a poet. 181 00:08:30,870 --> 00:08:34,080 I'm kind of a person in the sense 182 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,380 that nothing happens until it happens. 183 00:08:37,380 --> 00:08:38,700 I wait for it to happen 184 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:42,540 so I'm not like putting myself too far ahead of the cart 185 00:08:42,540 --> 00:08:43,530 or behind the cart. 186 00:08:43,530 --> 00:08:45,330 I'm just like, I'm just going to roll with it. 187 00:08:45,330 --> 00:08:47,910 And then when we get there, we're going to see how it goes. 188 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:49,380 And each one is different. 189 00:08:49,380 --> 00:08:53,190 You could do the same round robin with the same three people 190 00:08:53,190 --> 00:08:55,020 and each time is going to be different 191 00:08:55,020 --> 00:09:00,020 because the poem that first person does sets off everything 192 00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:02,610 and you don't know where you're gonna go with that. 193 00:09:02,610 --> 00:09:03,690 I love that. 194 00:09:03,690 --> 00:09:06,326 I love that and I love seeing their faces 195 00:09:06,326 --> 00:09:09,300 when they're getting it, when they're in it. 196 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:14,300 And we've been all over Indiana and you have country folk, 197 00:09:14,310 --> 00:09:19,310 city folk, urban folk, farmers, it's just, 198 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:25,520 it's amazing to see how people feel after this, 199 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:29,190 especially the people, you know, I don't like poetry, 200 00:09:29,190 --> 00:09:31,650 I never thought, I didn't think, 201 00:09:31,650 --> 00:09:32,940 I thought poetry had to rhyme. 202 00:09:32,940 --> 00:09:34,650 I thought poetry had to be this. 203 00:09:34,650 --> 00:09:38,850 It's like, well, poetry can rhyme, there are rhyming poems, 204 00:09:38,850 --> 00:09:42,030 but for the most part, it doesn't. 205 00:09:42,030 --> 00:09:45,570 It's you're playing on the five sensory attributes 206 00:09:45,570 --> 00:09:47,843 and the figurative language of things, metaphor. 207 00:09:47,843 --> 00:09:50,580 - So talk about the fives and three attributes a little bit. 208 00:09:50,580 --> 00:09:55,230 - Just smelling, touching, hearing, tasting, 209 00:09:55,230 --> 00:09:57,120 you know, those auditory things. 210 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,260 So if I say, what is, I always tell my students, 211 00:10:01,260 --> 00:10:03,150 if I ask, what is love, 212 00:10:03,150 --> 00:10:06,630 we're gonna have 15 different people say love is this. 213 00:10:06,630 --> 00:10:11,340 But if I say love is Sunday afternoon, 214 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:15,420 back porch, grandma's peach cobbler, 215 00:10:15,420 --> 00:10:19,200 and vanilla bean ice cream melting in the sun. 216 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,690 You may hate peach cobbler, 217 00:10:21,690 --> 00:10:24,210 but if you like pie or you like cake, 218 00:10:24,210 --> 00:10:27,360 you can replace that and, you know, fill that in. 219 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,980 So those five sensory attributes get you 220 00:10:31,860 --> 00:10:36,180 next to the person and you can put them in that space. 221 00:10:36,180 --> 00:10:40,200 - Love is supporting Indiana Public Radio 222 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:41,759 in a poet's words. 223 00:10:41,759 --> 00:10:44,472 - (chuckles) That's what we might say during the love fest. 224 00:10:44,472 --> 00:10:45,555 - Exactly. 225 00:10:45,555 --> 00:10:48,180 Oh, that's right, you got the love fest going on, exactly. 226 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:51,390 - Well, I really would like you to talk a little bit 227 00:10:51,390 --> 00:10:53,640 about your sonastic poetry 228 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,790 since you pioneered this expression. 229 00:10:56,790 --> 00:11:00,480 - So a sonastic is taking a persona poem 230 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,710 and ekphrastic poem and putting them together 231 00:11:04,710 --> 00:11:08,910 where you're taking on the embodiment of the narrator. 232 00:11:08,910 --> 00:11:12,720 Sometimes everybody thinks that we're the narrator, 233 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,003 but the I is not necessarily us. 234 00:11:16,830 --> 00:11:19,050 Most of the time, I mean, it is, but it's not. 235 00:11:19,050 --> 00:11:21,390 We can be talking from the perspective 236 00:11:21,390 --> 00:11:23,877 of someone feeling like this. 237 00:11:23,877 --> 00:11:25,890 And you can do your grandfather, 238 00:11:25,890 --> 00:11:29,340 you could do an actor or a singer or something like that. 239 00:11:29,340 --> 00:11:34,247 And then an ekphrastic is when you see a picture 240 00:11:35,190 --> 00:11:37,863 and you write a poem to that picture. 241 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:40,950 - Like a painting or a- - A painting, yeah. 242 00:11:40,950 --> 00:11:44,610 Like, "Ode to a Grecian Iron," that kind of thing. 243 00:11:44,610 --> 00:11:48,060 And you're giving life to that painting. 244 00:11:48,060 --> 00:11:51,060 So I put those together. 245 00:11:51,060 --> 00:11:56,003 And my thing is you're able to do this with any thing. 246 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,960 I'm doing it with Stevie Wonder. 247 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:02,610 You could do it for the radio station. 248 00:12:02,610 --> 00:12:05,850 You could do it, you know, I can be David Letterman. 249 00:12:05,850 --> 00:12:09,423 And the thing is to put myself in his position, 250 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,050 we know the things that he's done. 251 00:12:13,050 --> 00:12:16,680 So putting yourself in his position at that time 252 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:21,570 and trying to give credence to what he's addressing 253 00:12:21,570 --> 00:12:24,270 at that time through his sensibility. 254 00:12:24,270 --> 00:12:27,900 So the personification is me being David 255 00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:31,920 and the ekphrastic is me addressing what he's doing 256 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:33,510 and putting those together. 257 00:12:33,510 --> 00:12:36,060 So you're marrying those two. 258 00:12:36,060 --> 00:12:40,410 And the research is finding out as much as you can 259 00:12:40,410 --> 00:12:43,380 about who you're talking about. 260 00:12:43,380 --> 00:12:45,840 And I think with Stevie Wonder, 261 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:50,190 I just looked in my CD collection and album collection 262 00:12:50,190 --> 00:12:53,700 and just read the, what is it called? 263 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:55,215 - The liner notes. - The liner notes 264 00:12:55,215 --> 00:12:56,940 and stuff like that. - Stevie's given us. 265 00:12:56,940 --> 00:13:00,180 - Yeah, and Stevie's been around since, you know. 266 00:13:00,180 --> 00:13:03,390 So what happened was Michael Jackson died 267 00:13:03,390 --> 00:13:04,830 and for some reason I said, 268 00:13:04,830 --> 00:13:07,200 no one's written anything about Stevie. 269 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:12,003 And in doing that, I realized that Michael, 270 00:13:12,870 --> 00:13:17,870 Stevie and Motown were the soundtrack of my life. 271 00:13:18,330 --> 00:13:23,330 There had not been a day in my life Motown was not there. 272 00:13:23,340 --> 00:13:26,850 So I had to write something about Stevie 273 00:13:26,850 --> 00:13:29,370 and then all the sonastic stuff came. 274 00:13:29,370 --> 00:13:31,350 - Well, can I be so bold as to ask you 275 00:13:31,350 --> 00:13:35,490 to share one short poem with us that would be. 276 00:13:35,490 --> 00:13:40,020 - So this is called "Aisha/Life" and I'll read it first 277 00:13:40,020 --> 00:13:42,053 and then I'll tell you where it comes from. 278 00:13:43,507 --> 00:13:45,033 "Aisha/Life. 279 00:13:45,870 --> 00:13:49,350 I lightly place my daughter down in a song, 280 00:13:49,350 --> 00:13:53,193 just like two before me place their son down in a manger. 281 00:13:54,090 --> 00:13:55,563 It is all so tiresome. 282 00:13:56,460 --> 00:14:01,460 But sometimes a child must rest her head, her eyes, 283 00:14:01,590 --> 00:14:04,857 before she masters this bout, this love." 284 00:14:06,420 --> 00:14:07,777 - Beautiful. - And if you ever heard 285 00:14:07,777 --> 00:14:10,996 "Isn't She Lovely," this is where it's going... 286 00:14:10,996 --> 00:14:15,996 ♪ Life is Aisha, the meaning of her name ♪ 287 00:14:18,341 --> 00:14:20,490 ♪ I can't believe what God..." ♪ 288 00:14:20,490 --> 00:14:21,890 You know- - Oh yeah. 289 00:14:21,890 --> 00:14:23,880 It came to mind as you were reading. 290 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,140 - Exactly. And so, 291 00:14:25,140 --> 00:14:29,340 it's trying to capture where they are in that moment 292 00:14:29,340 --> 00:14:31,530 and bring it out, you know? 293 00:14:31,530 --> 00:14:34,260 - Ah, well thank you so much Curtis. 294 00:14:34,260 --> 00:14:35,310 - Thank you for having me. 295 00:14:35,310 --> 00:14:38,133 - I very much appreciate you talking to us today. 296 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:44,480 Curtis L. Crisler is Indiana's Poet Laureate through 2028. 297 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:46,950 He was born and raised in Gary, Indiana 298 00:14:46,950 --> 00:14:49,110 and is currently a Professor of English 299 00:14:49,110 --> 00:14:51,233 at Purdue University Fort Wayne. 300 00:14:51,233 --> 00:14:53,816 (upbeat music) 301 00:15:02,790 --> 00:15:06,030 Every month during First Thursday in downtown Muncie, 302 00:15:06,030 --> 00:15:08,910 visitors can catch the "Songwriter Sessions," 303 00:15:08,910 --> 00:15:11,010 a singer-songwriter showcase build 304 00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:13,710 as an intentional listening opportunity. 305 00:15:13,710 --> 00:15:16,920 It lets songwriters share the meaning behind their words, 306 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,890 and it exposes listeners to local talent. 307 00:15:19,890 --> 00:15:22,260 We're bringing you part of one of those sessions 308 00:15:22,260 --> 00:15:24,960 in our segment, "Story Behind the Song," 309 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,530 recorded live exclusively for IPR. 310 00:15:28,530 --> 00:15:32,240 This month, we have lifelong musician, Annette Miller. 311 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,680 (guitar strumming) 312 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,610 - Hi everybody. 313 00:15:36,610 --> 00:15:38,461 (guitar strumming) 314 00:15:38,461 --> 00:15:42,300 (audience applauding) 315 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:43,563 I'm Annette Miller. 316 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:46,713 Thanks for sticking around. 317 00:15:48,990 --> 00:15:52,413 Okay, so, uh, I never do original songs. 318 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:55,002 Like, ever. 319 00:15:55,002 --> 00:15:56,970 (guitar strumming) 320 00:15:56,970 --> 00:15:59,310 But I write lots of them. 321 00:15:59,310 --> 00:16:00,810 So whenever I'm out and about, 322 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:03,810 numerous relatives make me sing this song. 323 00:16:03,810 --> 00:16:05,550 I actually wrote this song when I lived in Arizona. 324 00:16:05,550 --> 00:16:07,920 I'm from Indiana, originally. 325 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,380 So I wrote this song, I lived in Arizona, 326 00:16:10,380 --> 00:16:13,170 but I am from Fortville, Indiana. 327 00:16:13,170 --> 00:16:15,600 We live just outside that town line 328 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,270 and I was fortunate enough to live across the street 329 00:16:18,270 --> 00:16:23,270 from a very nice old couple that I spent a lot of time with. 330 00:16:23,610 --> 00:16:26,613 Just ride my bike down the lane and that kind of thing. 331 00:16:29,310 --> 00:16:30,687 It's called "Wall to Wall." 332 00:16:31,890 --> 00:16:33,420 It'll bring a tear to a glass eye 333 00:16:33,420 --> 00:16:34,650 if you're hanging on the words 334 00:16:34,650 --> 00:16:36,810 just in case you're listening to the words or anything. 335 00:16:36,810 --> 00:16:37,664 Just saying. 336 00:16:37,664 --> 00:16:40,414 ("Wall to Wall") 337 00:16:44,674 --> 00:16:49,674 ♪ She sits swinging on the front porch of her Indiana farm ♪ 338 00:16:53,201 --> 00:16:58,201 ♪ Just outside the Fortville town line ♪ 339 00:17:01,474 --> 00:17:05,940 ♪ There's a pillow there beside her ♪ 340 00:17:05,940 --> 00:17:10,222 ♪ Where he used to be ♪ 341 00:17:10,222 --> 00:17:15,222 ♪ They'd sit here together each night ♪ 342 00:17:17,998 --> 00:17:22,674 ♪ There's a pipe in on the table ♪ 343 00:17:22,674 --> 00:17:26,362 ♪ By a worn John Deere cap ♪ 344 00:17:26,362 --> 00:17:31,362 ♪ And there are pictures down every hall ♪ 345 00:17:35,113 --> 00:17:39,192 ♪ Though she longs to be with him ♪ 346 00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:44,016 ♪ She knows she's not alone ♪ 347 00:17:44,016 --> 00:17:49,016 ♪ He's with her here now, wall to wall ♪ 348 00:17:51,024 --> 00:17:56,024 ♪ Wall to wall, his memory surrounds her ♪ 349 00:17:59,364 --> 00:18:04,364 ♪ Wall to wall, no he's not really gone ♪ 350 00:18:07,841 --> 00:18:12,841 ♪ When she gets feeling lonely ♪ 351 00:18:13,020 --> 00:18:16,906 ♪ She won't shed a tear ♪ 352 00:18:16,906 --> 00:18:21,906 ♪ She knows he's here, wall to wall ♪ 353 00:18:25,632 --> 00:18:29,726 ♪ She invites friends and neighbors ♪ 354 00:18:29,726 --> 00:18:33,335 ♪ For dinner each day ♪ 355 00:18:33,335 --> 00:18:38,335 ♪ No, she's never cooked dinner for one ♪ 356 00:18:41,882 --> 00:18:46,882 ♪ It's that lingering scent of tobacco and mint ♪ 357 00:18:50,770 --> 00:18:55,770 ♪ That somehow keeps her going on ♪ 358 00:18:58,723 --> 00:19:02,861 ♪ There are clothes in the closet ♪ 359 00:19:02,861 --> 00:19:07,277 ♪ She'll never take down ♪ 360 00:19:07,277 --> 00:19:12,277 ♪ Though his only good suit is now gone ♪ 361 00:19:15,869 --> 00:19:20,300 ♪ Though she gets feeling lonely ♪ 362 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:24,547 ♪ She just has to look around ♪ 363 00:19:24,547 --> 00:19:29,547 ♪ And he's with her again, wall to wall ♪ 364 00:19:31,958 --> 00:19:36,958 ♪ Wall to wall, his memories surround her ♪ 365 00:19:40,219 --> 00:19:45,219 ♪ Wall to wall, though he's not really gone ♪ 366 00:19:48,582 --> 00:19:53,582 ♪ When she gets feeling lonely ♪ 367 00:19:53,791 --> 00:19:57,526 ♪ She won't shed a tear ♪ 368 00:19:57,526 --> 00:20:02,526 ♪ She knows he's here, wall to wall ♪ 369 00:20:05,145 --> 00:20:10,145 ♪ Wall to wall, his memories around her ♪ 370 00:20:13,303 --> 00:20:18,303 ♪ Wall to wall, no he's not really gone ♪ 371 00:20:21,631 --> 00:20:26,631 ♪ When she gets feeling lonely, she won't shed a tear ♪ 372 00:20:30,377 --> 00:20:34,794 ♪ She knows he's here, wall to wall ♪ 373 00:20:43,348 --> 00:20:44,378 Thank you very much. 374 00:20:44,378 --> 00:20:47,551 (audience applauding) 375 00:20:47,551 --> 00:20:48,900 Thank you. 376 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:52,027 - That was Annette Miller with their original song, 377 00:20:52,027 --> 00:20:53,460 "Wall to Wall." 378 00:20:53,460 --> 00:20:57,127 Now here they are with "Not My First Time in Love With You." 379 00:20:57,127 --> 00:21:00,044 (guitar strumming) 380 00:21:02,742 --> 00:21:03,575 - And I might say 381 00:21:03,575 --> 00:21:07,050 that the inspiration behind this song came, I was in a bar. 382 00:21:07,050 --> 00:21:08,880 You guys, there was this guy singing in a bar 383 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,350 and he was singing all these songs. 384 00:21:10,350 --> 00:21:12,330 It was like he was singing all this meat. 385 00:21:12,330 --> 00:21:14,340 He was talking about meat and the punchline was, 386 00:21:14,340 --> 00:21:16,650 and I'm walking out the door and he's singing about, 387 00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:18,900 it's not my first time at the barbecue. 388 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:21,330 And I was like, what the holy heck? 389 00:21:21,330 --> 00:21:23,727 And, but I misheard it the first time. 390 00:21:23,727 --> 00:21:25,647 And I went, "Did he say, 391 00:21:25,647 --> 00:21:27,450 'Is that my first time in love with you?'" 392 00:21:27,450 --> 00:21:30,030 And then it pretty much wrote itself 393 00:21:30,030 --> 00:21:31,529 before I even got to the parking lot. 394 00:21:31,529 --> 00:21:34,446 (guitar strumming) 395 00:21:35,550 --> 00:21:37,078 And it's nothing like the other one. 396 00:21:37,078 --> 00:21:41,144 ("Not My First Time in Love With You") 397 00:21:41,144 --> 00:21:46,144 ♪ Clean in your eye gets me right from the start ♪ 398 00:21:48,895 --> 00:21:53,895 ♪ That familiar old smile on your face warms my heart ♪ 399 00:21:57,337 --> 00:22:02,337 ♪ Makes me forget what we're doing apart ♪ 400 00:22:05,043 --> 00:22:10,043 ♪ It's not my first time in love with you ♪ 401 00:22:13,780 --> 00:22:18,780 ♪ You say that she's left and you're coming back home ♪ 402 00:22:21,902 --> 00:22:26,902 ♪ To build back the family you left here alone. ♪ 403 00:22:29,990 --> 00:22:34,990 ♪ Why don't I believe you'll be staying here long ♪ 404 00:22:37,778 --> 00:22:42,778 ♪ It's not my first time in love with you ♪ 405 00:22:46,111 --> 00:22:48,569 ♪ It's not the first time ♪ 406 00:22:48,569 --> 00:22:53,569 ♪ She's left and you've come back to me ♪ 407 00:22:54,488 --> 00:22:59,488 ♪ And I welcome you back in my heart ♪ 408 00:23:02,562 --> 00:23:06,786 ♪ And it won't be the last time ♪ 409 00:23:06,786 --> 00:23:10,830 ♪ You'll come back, you'll see ♪ 410 00:23:10,830 --> 00:23:15,830 ♪ Our love just grows stronger apart ♪ 411 00:23:18,622 --> 00:23:23,622 ♪ How I wish I could come to my senses before ♪ 412 00:23:27,472 --> 00:23:32,472 ♪ You tired of my kisses and leave me once more ♪ 413 00:23:35,173 --> 00:23:40,173 ♪ But you'll miss me and come back to my open door ♪ 414 00:23:43,088 --> 00:23:48,088 ♪ It's not my first time in love with you ♪ 415 00:23:51,243 --> 00:23:56,243 ♪ It's not my first time in love with you ♪ 416 00:23:58,364 --> 00:24:03,364 ♪ No, it's not the first time in love with you ♪ 417 00:24:13,274 --> 00:24:14,107 Thank you. 418 00:24:14,107 --> 00:24:15,780 (audience applauding) 419 00:24:15,780 --> 00:24:18,330 Kind of a doormat of a girl song right there. 420 00:24:18,330 --> 00:24:20,820 - That was "Not My First Time in Love With You" 421 00:24:20,820 --> 00:24:24,060 by musician and radio DJ, Annette Miller. 422 00:24:24,060 --> 00:24:27,360 Story behind the song comes from the "Songwriter Sessions," 423 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:31,260 created by The Fierce and produced by Josh Eisenhart. 424 00:24:31,260 --> 00:24:33,570 Full disclosure, I'm a member of The Fierce 425 00:24:33,570 --> 00:24:35,283 and the host of the sessions. 426 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,280 Ball State Theater and Dance is producing 427 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,450 the iconic musical "Cats" for one weekend only. 428 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:49,080 - We are in the IPR studios talking with Vivian VerHulst 429 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,180 and Avery Nienhuis. 430 00:24:51,180 --> 00:24:53,550 Vivian will be playing Grizabella 431 00:24:53,550 --> 00:24:56,850 and Avery will be playing Rum Tum Tugger. 432 00:24:56,850 --> 00:25:01,140 And I want to ask, what was your reaction 433 00:25:01,140 --> 00:25:02,550 when you first got cast? 434 00:25:02,550 --> 00:25:04,500 Whoever wants to go first. 435 00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:07,743 - The audition process was a special one. 436 00:25:08,820 --> 00:25:12,150 We have a terrific team who are very professional 437 00:25:12,150 --> 00:25:15,780 and to be in that room is, I'm so grateful for. 438 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:17,070 It's a gift, honestly. 439 00:25:17,070 --> 00:25:20,010 And so being in that callback room was a great gift 440 00:25:20,010 --> 00:25:21,570 and I was terrified. 441 00:25:21,570 --> 00:25:24,660 'Cause they treated it like a professional audition. 442 00:25:24,660 --> 00:25:29,040 And so I like love cats, like the species, you know? 443 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,290 So like the idea of this feels like, 444 00:25:31,290 --> 00:25:32,730 this sounds a little silly, 445 00:25:32,730 --> 00:25:35,790 but it feels like a spiritual thing for me too, you know, 446 00:25:35,790 --> 00:25:38,400 and like, I probably could not have played this, 447 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,320 I know I could not have played this role 448 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,480 without the training that I've gotten from Ball State too. 449 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,240 So it just felt like a really good full circle moment 450 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:47,820 of like, "Wow, I get to do this, 451 00:25:47,820 --> 00:25:49,350 and I feel spiritually connected to it." 452 00:25:49,350 --> 00:25:53,280 And yeah, so super grateful and shocked. (chuckles) 453 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:54,630 - Excellent. 454 00:25:54,630 --> 00:25:58,260 - No, I definitely, less of a connection to cats 455 00:25:58,260 --> 00:26:00,420 as a species, but definitely- 456 00:26:00,420 --> 00:26:02,370 - Really? - No, I've just always been 457 00:26:02,370 --> 00:26:03,833 a dog person, but I mean, 458 00:26:03,833 --> 00:26:07,770 now I'm basically living with a cat and they're great, 459 00:26:07,770 --> 00:26:09,030 I love cats. 460 00:26:09,030 --> 00:26:12,030 But definitely more of a, I grew up on Cats, the musical, 461 00:26:12,030 --> 00:26:13,263 there's a pro shot. 462 00:26:14,220 --> 00:26:15,600 And like- - What's a pro shot? 463 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,970 - So a pro shot is basically just like a movie 464 00:26:17,970 --> 00:26:20,010 of a live performance. - Oh, okay. 465 00:26:20,010 --> 00:26:22,860 - And so it's not quite the same thing of what we do, 466 00:26:22,860 --> 00:26:25,290 but it still gives you an essence. 467 00:26:25,290 --> 00:26:28,710 And so like, there are a few from my childhood 468 00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:31,711 that I remember of like "Phantom of the Opera," 469 00:26:31,711 --> 00:26:34,380 "Joseph" and "Technicolor Dreamcoat" 470 00:26:34,380 --> 00:26:38,640 of just like pro shot/movies that like my mom would show me 471 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,370 that like definitely led me towards theater 472 00:26:41,370 --> 00:26:43,950 and a career performance. 473 00:26:43,950 --> 00:26:45,340 And "Cats" was one of them 474 00:26:46,710 --> 00:26:49,470 even though it terrified me as a child. 475 00:26:49,470 --> 00:26:50,940 I mean, if you come see the show 476 00:26:50,940 --> 00:26:52,560 and it's kind of intimidating. 477 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:57,560 But Rum Tum Tugger was definitely such a character 478 00:26:57,660 --> 00:27:02,660 and a very magnetic presence, I would say, 479 00:27:02,730 --> 00:27:04,350 that just getting the opportunity 480 00:27:04,350 --> 00:27:07,170 to kind of recreate that character from my childhood 481 00:27:07,170 --> 00:27:10,530 was just an awesome opportunity. 482 00:27:10,530 --> 00:27:11,880 And that's something I've discovered now 483 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:13,770 through the rehearsal process of like, 484 00:27:13,770 --> 00:27:15,900 wow, I really connected to this as a child 485 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:17,280 and just enjoyed this so much. 486 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,200 And now like, getting to recreate that 487 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,720 and bring it to life has been so fun. 488 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,630 And that's just, I was ecstatic when I saw. 489 00:27:24,630 --> 00:27:26,430 - Well, how did you develop your character? 490 00:27:26,430 --> 00:27:29,160 Was it totally based on this pro shot or? 491 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,140 - There's, yeah, there's a lot of that. 492 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:33,420 It's kind of one of the difficult things about theater 493 00:27:33,420 --> 00:27:36,180 and just creating a lot of things constantly, 494 00:27:36,180 --> 00:27:39,390 like different theaters are doing the shows over and over. 495 00:27:39,390 --> 00:27:41,160 Broadway is constantly reviving places. 496 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,130 So like, you have to be able to create that character 497 00:27:44,130 --> 00:27:47,940 without just copy pasting of what other people have done. 498 00:27:47,940 --> 00:27:48,900 And that's a common trap 499 00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:50,880 that I think a lot of us fall into of like, 500 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:52,380 and that's how a lot of people learn. 501 00:27:52,380 --> 00:27:55,890 I mean, it's just mimicry of seeing what other people do 502 00:27:55,890 --> 00:27:57,120 and being like, I wanna do that, 503 00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:58,860 so I will do what they're doing. 504 00:27:58,860 --> 00:27:59,780 So there is an element of that, 505 00:27:59,780 --> 00:28:02,190 of just like watching and recreating, 506 00:28:02,190 --> 00:28:03,363 but there's also- 507 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:05,783 - Bringing yourself 508 00:28:05,783 --> 00:28:06,616 to the role. - Bringing yourself 509 00:28:06,616 --> 00:28:08,580 as a huge part of it. - A huge thing at Ball State 510 00:28:08,580 --> 00:28:11,010 is like, we don't do like museum theater, 511 00:28:11,010 --> 00:28:12,840 and I think that should be a huge thing everywhere, 512 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,490 you know, because why would you like, 513 00:28:14,490 --> 00:28:15,987 want to see the same thing twice, you know? 514 00:28:15,987 --> 00:28:18,750 And I think also when taking on a character, 515 00:28:18,750 --> 00:28:20,790 Like it will inherently be different 516 00:28:20,790 --> 00:28:23,460 because you are different and that's a beautiful thing. 517 00:28:23,460 --> 00:28:24,390 - But I mean, there's still, 518 00:28:24,390 --> 00:28:26,040 there's a lot of different elements of that, 519 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,250 of like finding what you know and bringing into it. 520 00:28:29,250 --> 00:28:31,290 And that is so beautiful. 521 00:28:31,290 --> 00:28:33,180 Rum Tum Tugger is very much based off 522 00:28:33,180 --> 00:28:37,380 of a kind of a lot of like '80s pop rock icons. 523 00:28:37,380 --> 00:28:39,780 So we were looking, even in the costume design, 524 00:28:39,780 --> 00:28:42,930 we're looking at Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, 525 00:28:42,930 --> 00:28:44,820 a big thing that we emphasize a lot. 526 00:28:44,820 --> 00:28:47,310 One of our professors, Veronica Santoyo, 527 00:28:47,310 --> 00:28:49,020 we take a movement class with her 528 00:28:49,020 --> 00:28:51,390 of like really learning how to use your body 529 00:28:51,390 --> 00:28:56,130 and kind of articulate a lot of story through body movement. 530 00:28:56,130 --> 00:28:57,960 And so like kind of figuring out 531 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,270 how does my character walk through the space? 532 00:29:00,270 --> 00:29:01,260 How are they perceived? 533 00:29:01,260 --> 00:29:04,620 How does, how am I, how would I pick up this item? 534 00:29:04,620 --> 00:29:06,120 But then how would my character pick up this item? 535 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,850 - Well, the funny thing is we all had to kind of film out, 536 00:29:08,850 --> 00:29:11,790 like fill out like a character form if that makes sense. 537 00:29:11,790 --> 00:29:13,020 And actually Avery and I were together 538 00:29:13,020 --> 00:29:14,315 when the form came out. 539 00:29:14,315 --> 00:29:15,330 - We were driving home- - We were driving back 540 00:29:15,330 --> 00:29:17,100 to Michigan because we're both from Michigan. 541 00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,380 And so the form came out and so we were like, 542 00:29:19,380 --> 00:29:21,600 okay, looking at these questions 543 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:23,370 and something just like hit me. 544 00:29:23,370 --> 00:29:26,610 I was like, okay, if the show is set in 1930s London, 545 00:29:26,610 --> 00:29:28,560 our production of it in a theater, 546 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:30,090 I started doing some research on, 547 00:29:30,090 --> 00:29:33,540 okay, if you know, it's, Grizabella is the glamour cat 548 00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:34,650 and what does that mean? 549 00:29:34,650 --> 00:29:36,660 And to me that meant like, oh, she was a performer. 550 00:29:36,660 --> 00:29:40,050 And like, I started researching like British actresses 551 00:29:40,050 --> 00:29:41,460 and I came across Vivian Leigh, 552 00:29:41,460 --> 00:29:43,920 who's actually the actress that I was named after. 553 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:47,550 So a lot of my interpretation of Grizabella 554 00:29:47,550 --> 00:29:50,580 like comes from the inspiration of Vivian Leigh, 555 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:51,960 the actress. 556 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,320 So yeah, and it feels like a personal thing as well. 557 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,530 And she's a queen, so I love it. 558 00:29:58,530 --> 00:30:00,600 - What did you find most challenging 559 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:02,460 or have you found most challenging 560 00:30:02,460 --> 00:30:04,110 about preparing for the role? 561 00:30:04,110 --> 00:30:05,730 - Yeah, I think the biggest thing 562 00:30:05,730 --> 00:30:07,170 that's the most challenging thing 563 00:30:07,170 --> 00:30:09,540 is just the pressure of it all, you know? 564 00:30:09,540 --> 00:30:13,350 Like, I mean, that's the song that a lot of people know 565 00:30:13,350 --> 00:30:14,970 from the show and also half, 566 00:30:14,970 --> 00:30:16,080 a lot of my story happens- - Yeah, so you know 567 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,820 nothing else, right? 568 00:30:17,820 --> 00:30:20,610 - Yeah, a lot of my story actually happens off stage. 569 00:30:20,610 --> 00:30:24,180 And so like as an actor, I think I've been really practicing 570 00:30:24,180 --> 00:30:28,260 how to like find that arc within my 15 minutes 571 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:32,550 of stage time, you know, and with going in 572 00:30:32,550 --> 00:30:34,920 with a really big intention, every time I walk on that stage 573 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:37,890 it has to be within my arc and move forward. 574 00:30:37,890 --> 00:30:39,360 It can't be the same thing every time. 575 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,750 So I think like preparing the character 576 00:30:42,750 --> 00:30:45,510 and watching it go on a journey has been like the thing 577 00:30:45,510 --> 00:30:47,520 that I've focused on the most. 578 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,440 - Excellent. And we were we were referring 579 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,430 to memories, the song. 580 00:30:51,430 --> 00:30:52,410 - Yeah. (laughs) - That's maybe 581 00:30:52,410 --> 00:30:54,780 the one thing you know about Cats, if nothing else. 582 00:30:54,780 --> 00:30:55,830 - Yes, yeah. - Absolutely. 583 00:30:55,830 --> 00:30:59,970 - And Avery, so I'm curious what has been the most fun thing 584 00:30:59,970 --> 00:31:04,950 that you've done when you've been developing Rum Tum Tugger 585 00:31:04,950 --> 00:31:06,750 and the Rockstar Cat? 586 00:31:06,750 --> 00:31:08,310 Because I know Cats is more about, 587 00:31:08,310 --> 00:31:10,920 it's more character driven than anything else. 588 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:14,010 - Well, that's, I mean, I'm glad you feel that 589 00:31:14,010 --> 00:31:16,740 because it's a very common understanding 590 00:31:16,740 --> 00:31:19,140 from a lot of people of like, oh, cats is just spectacle. 591 00:31:19,140 --> 00:31:20,370 Cats is just dance. 592 00:31:20,370 --> 00:31:21,450 And like that's- - Like what's the story? 593 00:31:21,450 --> 00:31:22,740 I don't know, yeah. - There's so many people 594 00:31:22,740 --> 00:31:24,420 who still today very much believe that, 595 00:31:24,420 --> 00:31:26,550 but our director and choreographer, Anne Beck, 596 00:31:26,550 --> 00:31:28,380 who is- - Brilliant. 597 00:31:28,380 --> 00:31:30,915 - Queen and just all things Cats 598 00:31:30,915 --> 00:31:31,980 and has done it for so many, 599 00:31:31,980 --> 00:31:35,190 is very focused on the character of it. 600 00:31:35,190 --> 00:31:39,810 And she's very emphasizing on, 601 00:31:39,810 --> 00:31:42,090 we want them to be able to take a story from it, 602 00:31:42,090 --> 00:31:44,430 not just great dancing and singing, 603 00:31:44,430 --> 00:31:46,440 which there will be- - There will be, yeah. 604 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:48,960 - So you're both triple threats. 605 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:50,737 I saw a little pet right there. 606 00:31:50,737 --> 00:31:51,972 (all laughing) 607 00:31:51,972 --> 00:31:54,656 - That's what we're training to be here for, yes! 608 00:31:54,656 --> 00:31:55,489 - Of course. 609 00:31:55,489 --> 00:31:57,930 It's been, I know you kind of asked me 610 00:31:57,930 --> 00:31:58,920 what's been the most fun part, 611 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:00,300 and that's kind of a double-edged sword. 612 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:03,180 The most fun has also been the most difficult, 613 00:32:03,180 --> 00:32:05,373 for me, is the choreography. 614 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,210 I've come a long way in my dance ability, 615 00:32:09,210 --> 00:32:11,160 but I'm still a long way to go. 616 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:14,370 And this "Cats" is very much 617 00:32:14,370 --> 00:32:15,900 not necessarily in my wheelhouse. 618 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,720 And it's pushed me so much, 619 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:20,760 not only just to like getting steps, 620 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:24,360 but like we said, portraying story through movement. 621 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:28,170 Because I mean, a very common phrase in theater 622 00:32:28,170 --> 00:32:31,560 is you start to sing because the emotions 623 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:33,540 are too overwhelming to talk. 624 00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:34,470 And then you start to dance 625 00:32:34,470 --> 00:32:37,080 because the emotions are too overwhelming to sing. 626 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:39,180 And so it's kind of that idea of just like, 627 00:32:39,180 --> 00:32:41,370 we dance for more of a reason than just to dance. 628 00:32:41,370 --> 00:32:45,720 And so figuring out how to articulate all of that emotion 629 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:47,250 and bring all of that into the movement, 630 00:32:47,250 --> 00:32:51,030 and then also being able to keep that up every night. 631 00:32:51,030 --> 00:32:53,610 - Did either one of you find any hidden talents 632 00:32:53,610 --> 00:32:57,240 as you were preparing? - No. (laughs) 633 00:32:57,240 --> 00:32:59,070 A lot of the times when I watch Cats, 634 00:32:59,070 --> 00:33:02,010 like when I watch other like, Grizabellas or whatever, 635 00:33:02,010 --> 00:33:04,770 like she stands a lot of the show and she does whatever. 636 00:33:04,770 --> 00:33:07,050 And like, I was like, I don't want to do that. 637 00:33:07,050 --> 00:33:09,600 I want to explore what that like, 638 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:11,760 sounds weird, but what that crawling feels like. 639 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:15,450 And like this whole idea of like what, 640 00:33:15,450 --> 00:33:17,100 the feeling of like what she used to be 641 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:18,900 and how she like still believes 642 00:33:18,900 --> 00:33:21,360 that she can be that, you know? 643 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:24,390 And I think I've had a really fun time 644 00:33:24,390 --> 00:33:28,020 with like eye movements and like connection. 645 00:33:28,020 --> 00:33:33,020 I think I found like a secret talent in just like cat-isms. 646 00:33:33,270 --> 00:33:34,230 I don't know if that makes sense. 647 00:33:34,230 --> 00:33:36,147 Like when I like, sounds so silly. 648 00:33:36,147 --> 00:33:37,530 - No- - But like when I really- 649 00:33:37,530 --> 00:33:38,743 - I mean not to me, I mean- 650 00:33:38,743 --> 00:33:40,466 - Me either, I'm on board. 651 00:33:40,466 --> 00:33:42,270 (all laughing) 652 00:33:42,270 --> 00:33:44,067 - I think because I love cats 653 00:33:44,067 --> 00:33:45,990 and I just feel like they're like my spiritual animal 654 00:33:45,990 --> 00:33:48,120 and they've always been like my guardian angels 655 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,440 my whole life, I just feel like 656 00:33:51,510 --> 00:33:53,910 when I'm able to connect with that, 657 00:33:53,910 --> 00:33:56,070 it's like a little secret hidden talent 658 00:33:56,070 --> 00:33:57,120 that like I've found of like, 659 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:58,710 oh, I feel comfortable in this space. 660 00:33:58,710 --> 00:34:02,400 Like I understand them and they understand me. 661 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,170 - That's a little jewel we can look for 662 00:34:04,170 --> 00:34:05,670 when we go to see it. - Yes, please do. 663 00:34:05,670 --> 00:34:08,499 - And where can we see "Cats"? 664 00:34:08,499 --> 00:34:10,503 - Emen's Auditorium! 665 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:13,440 Yes! - What day? 666 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,300 - March 20th through the 22nd. 667 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:16,740 - And is there anything else you wanted 668 00:34:16,740 --> 00:34:18,540 to tell us about "Cats"? 669 00:34:18,540 --> 00:34:20,340 - Leave your preconceived notions at the door. 670 00:34:20,340 --> 00:34:21,210 - I agree. - Nice. 671 00:34:21,210 --> 00:34:22,740 - There's so much more to take away from "Cats" 672 00:34:22,740 --> 00:34:25,230 than just singing, dancing, and cats. 673 00:34:25,230 --> 00:34:27,210 - Yeah, it's a story of redemption, 674 00:34:27,210 --> 00:34:30,210 and hope, and forgiveness. 675 00:34:30,210 --> 00:34:31,470 Yeah, and I think our production 676 00:34:31,470 --> 00:34:33,360 does a really wonderful job at that. 677 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:36,183 - Well, thank you both so much for talking to us today. 678 00:34:37,050 --> 00:34:39,600 We've been speaking with Vivian VerHulst 679 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:41,700 and Avery Nienhuis. 680 00:34:41,700 --> 00:34:45,990 They are Grizabella and Rum Tum Tugger, respectively. 681 00:34:45,990 --> 00:34:48,690 And they're going to be in the upcoming performance 682 00:34:48,690 --> 00:34:52,530 of Ball State's Theater and Dance, "Cats." 683 00:34:52,530 --> 00:34:53,580 I'm Kara DuQuette. 684 00:34:53,580 --> 00:34:55,290 - And I'm Michelle Kinsey. 685 00:34:55,290 --> 00:34:58,170 If you need something to entertain your cats, 686 00:34:58,170 --> 00:35:00,960 how about local arts and culture coverage? 687 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:03,420 Paw your way over to the Pop of Culture podcast 688 00:35:03,420 --> 00:35:06,180 on indianapublicradio.org, YouTube, 689 00:35:06,180 --> 00:35:08,434 or wherever you get your podcasts. 690 00:35:08,434 --> 00:35:11,184 (ethereal music) 691 00:35:19,290 --> 00:35:21,300 This week for "What Are You Working On?," 692 00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:24,450 we're going to listen back to an uplifting interview 693 00:35:24,450 --> 00:35:26,940 with balloon artist, Samantha Rowe. 694 00:35:26,940 --> 00:35:29,520 Here's our co-host, Maya Doss. 695 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:32,250 - Today on WAYWO, I have Samantha Rowe, 696 00:35:32,250 --> 00:35:34,800 a balloon artist who owns Blank Space Balloon Art 697 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,480 in Modoc, Indiana. 698 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,460 What are you working on, Samantha? 699 00:35:38,460 --> 00:35:39,780 - Oh, great, thanks for having me. 700 00:35:39,780 --> 00:35:41,100 I'm so excited to be here. 701 00:35:41,100 --> 00:35:42,210 - Of course. 702 00:35:42,210 --> 00:35:43,380 - So right now, 703 00:35:43,380 --> 00:35:47,790 we are planning graduation open houses for people. 704 00:35:47,790 --> 00:35:50,518 I've got some Valentine's Day specials. 705 00:35:50,518 --> 00:35:51,351 - So sweet. 706 00:35:51,351 --> 00:35:54,930 - So I made bouquet out of heart balloons. 707 00:35:54,930 --> 00:35:58,110 If you can imagine flowers in a bouquet, 708 00:35:58,110 --> 00:36:00,960 but switch the flowers out with heart balloons. 709 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:02,730 - That's adorable! 710 00:36:02,730 --> 00:36:05,220 - I added little butterflies in one of them, 711 00:36:05,220 --> 00:36:07,740 and they're kind of wrapped in floral paper. 712 00:36:07,740 --> 00:36:11,700 We're also doing some senior night options for people. 713 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:14,640 So it's just a small little stack of balloons 714 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:16,080 on top of each other. 715 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:18,750 With a basketball, for example, 716 00:36:18,750 --> 00:36:20,880 I have the cutest little foil number balloons 717 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,830 that go on the basketballs, 718 00:36:22,830 --> 00:36:26,550 just to add a little pop to the senior night tables. 719 00:36:26,550 --> 00:36:28,233 Virtually anything that anybody asks me to do, 720 00:36:28,233 --> 00:36:32,550 I am 100% up for the challenge of making new things 721 00:36:32,550 --> 00:36:35,040 and creating art out of balloons. 722 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,840 - That's awesome to hear that you're willing 723 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:38,010 to like push yourself 724 00:36:38,010 --> 00:36:39,900 and expand new horizons with balloon art. 725 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:41,220 - Yes. 726 00:36:41,220 --> 00:36:43,470 - Balloon sculpture is your specialty. 727 00:36:43,470 --> 00:36:45,720 What is your favorite sculpture you've ever made? 728 00:36:45,720 --> 00:36:46,553 - Oh my goodness. 729 00:36:46,553 --> 00:36:48,900 So the hair salon that I go to, 730 00:36:48,900 --> 00:36:51,000 their name is Deep Roots Salon. 731 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,197 And my mom was like, "It would be really cool 732 00:36:53,197 --> 00:36:55,800 "if you figured out how to make a tree out of balloons." 733 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,567 And I was like, "I don't know if I can do that, 734 00:36:58,567 --> 00:36:59,640 "but we'll see." 735 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:00,570 So I did. 736 00:37:00,570 --> 00:37:04,260 So she recently celebrated a big milestone in her business. 737 00:37:04,260 --> 00:37:06,690 And so I made a tree out of balloons. 738 00:37:06,690 --> 00:37:08,160 I would say that was my first time 739 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:10,530 actually sculpting something. 740 00:37:10,530 --> 00:37:12,510 And then from there, it kind of took off. 741 00:37:12,510 --> 00:37:16,560 So since that point, I've made a palm tree. 742 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:18,990 I made a giant diamond ring, 743 00:37:18,990 --> 00:37:21,390 which was one of my favorites. 744 00:37:21,390 --> 00:37:24,840 The biggest one that we just wrapped up last November 745 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:29,040 was an Eiffel Tower with a water fountain 746 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:30,720 in front of the Eiffel Tower, 747 00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:33,840 and then we had streetlights that were around the room. 748 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:35,970 It was incredible. 749 00:37:35,970 --> 00:37:38,100 - Was that a project that made you feel really proud 750 00:37:38,100 --> 00:37:39,270 of being a balloon artist? 751 00:37:39,270 --> 00:37:42,450 - Yes, it was something that challenged me. 752 00:37:42,450 --> 00:37:46,200 It was something, you know, when the organization 753 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:48,300 came to me and asked if I could do it, 754 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:51,390 I was like, "Yes, I will figure it out." 755 00:37:51,390 --> 00:37:53,670 What started small in my head 756 00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:56,083 ended up being about 15 feet tall. 757 00:37:56,083 --> 00:37:57,810 - Wow. (laughs) 758 00:37:57,810 --> 00:37:59,250 Really the Eiffel Tower. 759 00:37:59,250 --> 00:38:03,180 - Yes, it was much bigger than I imagined it would be, 760 00:38:03,180 --> 00:38:05,760 but it also needed to fill the space in the room. 761 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:08,400 So I was very happy with how it turned out. 762 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:09,540 - That's amazing. 763 00:38:09,540 --> 00:38:11,670 What would you say were some challenges you faced 764 00:38:11,670 --> 00:38:14,130 while trying to do something so large? 765 00:38:14,130 --> 00:38:17,160 - I think figuring out the framework 766 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:19,770 is maybe not my strong suit. 767 00:38:19,770 --> 00:38:22,770 So I have family that help me. 768 00:38:22,770 --> 00:38:24,870 So my dad helps me transport, 769 00:38:24,870 --> 00:38:26,280 especially with the Eiffel Tower. 770 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:28,230 I took my idea to my husband 771 00:38:28,230 --> 00:38:31,320 and he can basically weld anything that I want. 772 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,270 So he was like, "Okay, let me think about this." 773 00:38:33,270 --> 00:38:37,350 And he built my frame bigger than I needed it to be, 774 00:38:37,350 --> 00:38:38,790 but it ended up working out 775 00:38:38,790 --> 00:38:40,860 because then I could just wrap the frame with the balloons. 776 00:38:40,860 --> 00:38:44,280 And once I got going and figured out my method, 777 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:47,970 then it's super quick in my mind 778 00:38:47,970 --> 00:38:49,590 for somebody that works with balloons all the time. 779 00:38:49,590 --> 00:38:51,270 Now, somebody that didn't work with balloons, 780 00:38:51,270 --> 00:38:53,550 they would be like, "No, thank you." 781 00:38:53,550 --> 00:38:57,660 But it's an art, definitely, and it's a learning curve 782 00:38:57,660 --> 00:39:00,120 because you have to have the right balloons 783 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:04,080 and you have to have them inflated to the right amount. 784 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:07,230 So, like, if they over-inflate, they'll pop. 785 00:39:07,230 --> 00:39:08,550 - Oh, yeah. - So you have to under-inflate 786 00:39:08,550 --> 00:39:10,350 everything to give room for expansion. 787 00:39:10,350 --> 00:39:12,060 So I've definitely learned a lot of things 788 00:39:12,060 --> 00:39:14,100 along the way that I did not know before. 789 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:15,270 - So when it comes to, like, 790 00:39:15,270 --> 00:39:16,920 installing such a large sculpture, 791 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:19,410 do you bring in the base and then you build it there, 792 00:39:19,410 --> 00:39:22,260 or do you transport it with the balloons on it? 793 00:39:22,260 --> 00:39:23,820 - Kind of both. 794 00:39:23,820 --> 00:39:28,110 So if I can transport everything made ahead of time, 795 00:39:28,110 --> 00:39:29,850 I try to do that as much as possible 796 00:39:29,850 --> 00:39:31,800 just because it saves me time on site. 797 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,990 So the Eiffel Tower, for example, 798 00:39:33,990 --> 00:39:37,440 I had four separate legs, and then I had a top, 799 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:38,730 so I had five pieces. 800 00:39:38,730 --> 00:39:41,370 So I had my top completely ready to go. 801 00:39:41,370 --> 00:39:44,280 I had my legs maybe 75% of the way prepped, 802 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,370 so all I had to do when I got there was assemble, 803 00:39:47,370 --> 00:39:50,790 and then I was able to finish it once it was assembled. 804 00:39:50,790 --> 00:39:52,290 - That's really cool. 805 00:39:52,290 --> 00:39:54,720 It's something that I've really never heard about before, 806 00:39:54,720 --> 00:39:57,870 so when I saw your website and saw the huge Eiffel Tower, 807 00:39:57,870 --> 00:39:59,670 I was like, "Wow, she means business." 808 00:39:59,670 --> 00:40:00,820 - You know, yes. 809 00:40:00,820 --> 00:40:04,710 I don't do anything halfway. 810 00:40:04,710 --> 00:40:07,290 I like to go above and beyond for people 811 00:40:07,290 --> 00:40:09,543 because I don't want them to be disappointed. 812 00:40:10,620 --> 00:40:13,590 I like setting that up and then going and getting them 813 00:40:13,590 --> 00:40:14,467 and being like, "Okay, I'm done. 814 00:40:14,467 --> 00:40:15,930 "I'm ready for you to see it." 815 00:40:15,930 --> 00:40:19,590 Because I wanna step back and watch their reaction 816 00:40:19,590 --> 00:40:21,270 to what I've promised. 817 00:40:21,270 --> 00:40:22,530 - That's really cool. 818 00:40:22,530 --> 00:40:25,200 I've also seen that you do things like arches, tabletops, 819 00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,090 and you mentioned your senior stacks. 820 00:40:27,090 --> 00:40:29,130 How do you decide how to arrange the balloons, 821 00:40:29,130 --> 00:40:31,050 what colors to use? 822 00:40:31,050 --> 00:40:33,237 - I work with the customer, first of all, 823 00:40:33,237 --> 00:40:35,557 and I ask them, "What are your preferences? 824 00:40:35,557 --> 00:40:37,477 "Do you have color choices? 825 00:40:37,477 --> 00:40:39,210 "Do you have ideas that you've liked?" 826 00:40:39,210 --> 00:40:41,730 And I have them send me those ideas. 827 00:40:41,730 --> 00:40:44,130 Some people will say, "Here's what I've seen," 828 00:40:44,130 --> 00:40:45,810 and I'll kind of mock something up 829 00:40:45,810 --> 00:40:47,730 so they have some sort of visual 830 00:40:47,730 --> 00:40:49,890 before they see the final product. 831 00:40:49,890 --> 00:40:51,247 Other people will say, "You know what? 832 00:40:51,247 --> 00:40:52,080 "I don't care. 833 00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:54,547 "Here's the theme, I trust you. 834 00:40:54,547 --> 00:40:55,980 "Do what you want with it." 835 00:40:55,980 --> 00:40:56,813 - I bet that's fun. 836 00:40:56,813 --> 00:41:00,150 - I love those because then I get to play. 837 00:41:00,150 --> 00:41:02,550 And I'm blessed, I work out of my home, 838 00:41:02,550 --> 00:41:04,620 so I'm very blessed that we have a full basement 839 00:41:04,620 --> 00:41:06,510 that has kind of turned into my studio. 840 00:41:06,510 --> 00:41:07,800 - Oh, nice. - So I can just 841 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:11,010 go downstairs anytime and I like to call it "therapy," 842 00:41:11,010 --> 00:41:13,620 because it has kind of turned into therapy. 843 00:41:13,620 --> 00:41:16,350 But I just play with balloons and I figure things out. 844 00:41:16,350 --> 00:41:17,640 It took me a couple days to figure out 845 00:41:17,640 --> 00:41:19,190 how to do the balloon fountain. 846 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:23,310 So that was trial and error a few different times. 847 00:41:23,310 --> 00:41:25,830 But I'm fortunate enough that I can do that 848 00:41:25,830 --> 00:41:27,900 and not mess it up the first time. 849 00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:30,750 - What led you to making with balloons in the first place? 850 00:41:30,750 --> 00:41:32,520 I'm curious. - Oh, my goodness. 851 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:34,083 So it was kind of by accident. 852 00:41:35,100 --> 00:41:36,360 I have one daughter, 853 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:39,270 and I always have gone over the top for her birthdays. 854 00:41:39,270 --> 00:41:41,220 And so, she was turning 16. 855 00:41:41,220 --> 00:41:43,290 We're big Taylor Swift fans in our house, 856 00:41:43,290 --> 00:41:45,900 so we did an "Eros" tour birthday party. 857 00:41:45,900 --> 00:41:48,270 - Oh, nice. - And I got this wild idea. 858 00:41:48,270 --> 00:41:50,490 I was like, "Let's make a balloon arch." 859 00:41:50,490 --> 00:41:52,470 Never done it before. 860 00:41:52,470 --> 00:41:53,790 Ordered the cheapest stuff. 861 00:41:53,790 --> 00:41:57,750 It took me three days to build half an arch, 862 00:41:57,750 --> 00:41:59,227 and I was like, "This is wild. 863 00:41:59,227 --> 00:42:00,764 "Why did I decide to do this?" 864 00:42:00,764 --> 00:42:01,597 (Maya laughing) 865 00:42:01,597 --> 00:42:03,270 Well, then, people came over and they loved it. 866 00:42:03,270 --> 00:42:04,650 - I'm sure. - And then, my neighbor 867 00:42:04,650 --> 00:42:05,670 was like, "Hey, that's amazing. 868 00:42:05,670 --> 00:42:06,870 if I order the supplies, 869 00:42:06,870 --> 00:42:08,670 will you do my graduation open house?" 870 00:42:08,670 --> 00:42:10,530 Because she was graduating that year. 871 00:42:10,530 --> 00:42:11,880 And I was like, "Yeah, no problem." 872 00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:13,440 So we did that. 873 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:15,660 I posted a picture on my Facebook, 874 00:42:15,660 --> 00:42:18,480 and it kind of just went wild from there. 875 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:19,710 People started messaging me. 876 00:42:19,710 --> 00:42:21,900 They were like, hey, we don't like working with balloons. 877 00:42:21,900 --> 00:42:25,620 We would seriously pay you to do this for us. 878 00:42:25,620 --> 00:42:29,490 And I was like, "Okay, could I do this as a thing, 879 00:42:29,490 --> 00:42:31,440 as a side hustle?" 880 00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:33,840 And it's kind of expanded from there. 881 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:36,840 I've been able to meet so many people, 882 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,850 been able to create so many things, 883 00:42:38,850 --> 00:42:40,290 bring so much happiness, 884 00:42:40,290 --> 00:42:43,890 and, you know, really up people's photos 885 00:42:43,890 --> 00:42:44,850 when they're taking them, 886 00:42:44,850 --> 00:42:47,130 and they fall in love with their backdrops 887 00:42:47,130 --> 00:42:49,380 and those memories. 888 00:42:49,380 --> 00:42:51,270 It just kind of has spiraled. 889 00:42:51,270 --> 00:42:52,710 - I think that's really touching, 890 00:42:52,710 --> 00:42:53,880 like the way you've made it 891 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,343 kind of a community support as well. 892 00:42:57,180 --> 00:42:58,800 So what I'm hearing is balloons 893 00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:02,070 are your love language. - Kind of, yes. 894 00:43:02,070 --> 00:43:04,140 - What's a balloon sculpture you would love to build 895 00:43:04,140 --> 00:43:04,973 in the future? 896 00:43:04,973 --> 00:43:07,433 Like, do you have a dream sculpture you'd like to make? 897 00:43:08,610 --> 00:43:11,520 - A rainbow. - Oh, that's so cute! 898 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:12,630 I would love to see that. 899 00:43:12,630 --> 00:43:15,450 - I keep seeing them. 900 00:43:15,450 --> 00:43:17,970 That's something I have been wanting to try to make. 901 00:43:17,970 --> 00:43:19,140 I've also, a birthday cake. 902 00:43:19,140 --> 00:43:21,720 A giant birthday cake is also something 903 00:43:21,720 --> 00:43:22,680 that I want to try to make. 904 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:24,660 - Would you make it with, like, a slice out of it, 905 00:43:24,660 --> 00:43:26,190 or would you make it, like, a decora? 906 00:43:26,190 --> 00:43:28,740 - I would make a decor, like a three-tiered. 907 00:43:28,740 --> 00:43:30,330 - Wow, yes! - A three-tiered 908 00:43:30,330 --> 00:43:32,910 birthday cake, maybe even with a hole in the middle 909 00:43:32,910 --> 00:43:34,500 for somebody to jump out of. 910 00:43:34,500 --> 00:43:36,058 - That would be fun. - Yes. 911 00:43:36,058 --> 00:43:37,230 - And like it has a little top. 912 00:43:37,230 --> 00:43:38,490 - Yes. 913 00:43:38,490 --> 00:43:40,230 - Where could listeners find your balloon art 914 00:43:40,230 --> 00:43:41,850 if they wanted to check it out themselves? 915 00:43:41,850 --> 00:43:43,380 - So I am on Facebook. 916 00:43:43,380 --> 00:43:44,520 If you go to Facebook 917 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:47,550 and you search for Blank Space Balloon Art, 918 00:43:47,550 --> 00:43:49,320 my business page should pop up. 919 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:54,240 I also have an email that's BlankSpaceBalloonArt@gmail.com. 920 00:43:54,240 --> 00:43:55,290 - Thank you so much. 921 00:43:55,290 --> 00:43:58,440 I've been so happy to have you pop up on the show today. 922 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:00,000 - Thank you so much for having me. 923 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:01,890 This is so exciting. 924 00:44:01,890 --> 00:44:04,050 - Michelle, it's time for the arts calendar. 925 00:44:04,050 --> 00:44:07,050 - It is. First, we're going to talk about something 926 00:44:07,050 --> 00:44:09,090 that's very important. 927 00:44:09,090 --> 00:44:10,230 - Yes. 928 00:44:10,230 --> 00:44:14,130 Minnetrista Museum and Gardens will present "Shared Stories: 929 00:44:14,130 --> 00:44:15,870 Legacy, and Community" 930 00:44:15,870 --> 00:44:20,870 with Joshua Harris Till at 1:00 PM, Sunday, March 15th. 931 00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:24,600 Harris Till will lead a community conversation connected 932 00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:27,150 to the current Minnetrista exhibition, 933 00:44:27,150 --> 00:44:31,470 Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, "Let the World See." 934 00:44:31,470 --> 00:44:32,940 As a cousin of Emmett Till, 935 00:44:32,940 --> 00:44:36,180 Joshua brings a deeply personal lens to the history 936 00:44:36,180 --> 00:44:38,850 and its continued relevance today. 937 00:44:38,850 --> 00:44:42,330 To hear more about the exhibit, check out episode four 938 00:44:42,330 --> 00:44:44,547 of this season of "Pop of Culture." 939 00:44:45,810 --> 00:44:47,700 - Okay, last week we promised 940 00:44:47,700 --> 00:44:50,659 some St. Patrick's Day shenanigans. 941 00:44:50,659 --> 00:44:52,590 - Oh, shenanigans. - So, here we go. 942 00:44:52,590 --> 00:44:55,800 On Tuesday, March 17th, St. Patty's Day, 943 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:57,390 Prairie Creek Sirens will perform 944 00:44:57,390 --> 00:45:00,450 at the Garden Brewing Company in downtown Muncie. 945 00:45:00,450 --> 00:45:03,330 The sirens bring out the best jigs each year 946 00:45:03,330 --> 00:45:05,580 and this year is no exception. 947 00:45:05,580 --> 00:45:07,593 The music begins at six. 948 00:45:08,550 --> 00:45:11,730 Muncie St. Patrick's Day Parade is 6:00 PM, 949 00:45:11,730 --> 00:45:13,500 Tuesday, March 17th. 950 00:45:13,500 --> 00:45:16,170 The parade route will travel down Walnut Street, 951 00:45:16,170 --> 00:45:19,260 downtown, go round the roundabout, 952 00:45:19,260 --> 00:45:21,399 and head back down Mulberry Street. 953 00:45:21,399 --> 00:45:23,103 - Mm-hmm, I'm ready for the candy. 954 00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:27,420 New Castle Main Street, in partnership with Indiana on Tap, 955 00:45:27,420 --> 00:45:29,250 will present the 5th Annual Newcastle 956 00:45:29,250 --> 00:45:31,619 On Tap St. Paddy's Day Festival on March 14th 957 00:45:31,619 --> 00:45:34,680 at the Arts Park Pavilion. 958 00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:37,950 You gotta be 21 or older for this party, my friends. 959 00:45:37,950 --> 00:45:39,780 If you're looking for some fitness, 960 00:45:39,780 --> 00:45:43,650 the St. Paddy's Day 5K is Saturday, March 14th 961 00:45:43,650 --> 00:45:46,500 at Summit Lake State Park in Newcastle. 962 00:45:46,500 --> 00:45:49,295 - That is an interesting St. Paddy's choice. 963 00:45:49,295 --> 00:45:50,880 - It is. - That's great. 964 00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:52,380 Gotta get that fitness in when you can. 965 00:45:52,380 --> 00:45:54,840 - Heck yeah. - You can do multiple things. 966 00:45:54,840 --> 00:45:55,890 - Yes. 967 00:45:55,890 --> 00:45:57,540 Gas City Performing Arts Center 968 00:45:57,540 --> 00:46:01,830 is having a Celtic Magic St. Patrick's Day party on Tuesday, 969 00:46:01,830 --> 00:46:04,110 March 17th at 6:00 PM. 970 00:46:04,110 --> 00:46:06,720 Join magician Daniel GreenWolf 971 00:46:06,720 --> 00:46:10,620 for an evening of Celtic magic, interactive comedy, 972 00:46:10,620 --> 00:46:12,450 and thrilling danger? 973 00:46:12,450 --> 00:46:15,900 Thrilling danger! Hmm. I mean, 974 00:46:15,900 --> 00:46:16,980 that's what it said. - I don't know. 975 00:46:16,980 --> 00:46:18,420 - It said thrilling danger. 976 00:46:18,420 --> 00:46:19,253 Now I'm like, what? 977 00:46:19,253 --> 00:46:20,835 - I'm a little afraid 978 00:46:20,835 --> 00:46:21,780 to find out- - Do I want to go 979 00:46:21,780 --> 00:46:24,380 and see what this thrilling danger is? I think I do. 980 00:46:25,380 --> 00:46:27,990 The Phil Collins Experience is performing Friday, 981 00:46:27,990 --> 00:46:30,660 March 13th at Anderson's Paramount Theater. 982 00:46:30,660 --> 00:46:34,530 Against all odds, the music begins at 7:30 PM. 983 00:46:34,530 --> 00:46:36,840 Chirp Up is Friday and Saturday, 984 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:39,570 March 13th and 14th at Ball State. 985 00:46:39,570 --> 00:46:42,510 The annual Improv Comedy Festival features 986 00:46:42,510 --> 00:46:45,630 more than 11 college and professional troops 987 00:46:45,630 --> 00:46:47,910 from across the Midwest. 988 00:46:47,910 --> 00:46:49,800 The kickoff show is 7:00 PM Friday 989 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:52,170 in the Arts and Journalism Auditorium. 990 00:46:52,170 --> 00:46:57,030 The big show is 7:00 PM Saturday at Proust Hall. 991 00:46:57,030 --> 00:46:59,970 That's a lot of suggestions from the audience. 992 00:46:59,970 --> 00:47:00,870 - Isn't it? - Yes. 993 00:47:00,870 --> 00:47:02,160 - I need a place. 994 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:04,054 I need a food, I need a... 995 00:47:04,054 --> 00:47:06,000 (both laughing) 996 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:08,910 - We also take suggestions from the audience. 997 00:47:08,910 --> 00:47:10,140 Send us your events. 998 00:47:10,140 --> 00:47:13,860 Go to indianapublicradio.org/contact 999 00:47:13,860 --> 00:47:16,346 then click Pop of Culture. 1000 00:47:16,346 --> 00:47:18,929 (upbeat music) 1001 00:47:20,940 --> 00:47:22,920 - Support for Pop Up Culture comes 1002 00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:26,160 from Stalling's Wealth Management, 1003 00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:31,160 the Innovation Connector, and from you. 1004 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:34,170 With state and federal money eliminated, 1005 00:47:34,170 --> 00:47:37,140 you are the difference in keeping local programming 1006 00:47:37,140 --> 00:47:38,913 on the air at IPR. 1007 00:47:39,870 --> 00:47:43,980 Become a member today at indianapublicradio.org. 1008 00:47:43,980 --> 00:47:45,240 - And that's our show. 1009 00:47:45,240 --> 00:47:48,300 Our digital content god is August Wilde. 1010 00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:50,640 - This week was produced by Luke Jones, 1011 00:47:50,640 --> 00:47:54,240 who, sorry cats, is a dog person. 1012 00:47:54,240 --> 00:47:57,570 We had production assistants from Andrew Montavon. 1013 00:47:57,570 --> 00:47:59,970 Our audio fellow is Maya Doss. 1014 00:47:59,970 --> 00:48:02,430 Our show was hosted by me, Michelle Kinsey- 1015 00:48:02,430 --> 00:48:05,580 - And me, Kara DuQuette, who loves cats and dogs. 1016 00:48:05,580 --> 00:48:06,413 - Love it. 1017 00:48:07,560 --> 00:48:09,930 Pop-Up Culture is a production from IPR 1018 00:48:09,930 --> 00:48:12,427 on the campus of Ball State University. 1019 00:48:12,427 --> 00:48:13,420 It was so good. 1020 00:48:13,420 --> 00:48:14,670 It was so good! 1021 00:48:14,670 --> 00:48:16,860 Send us your events 1022 00:48:16,860 --> 00:48:21,120 and go to indianapublicradio.org/contact, 1023 00:48:21,120 --> 00:48:25,604 then click Pop of Culture for sharing your- 1024 00:48:25,604 --> 00:48:27,030 - Journeys with us. 1025 00:48:27,030 --> 00:48:28,500 - Okay, try that again. 1026 00:48:28,500 --> 00:48:30,853 You think? (laughs)