My mother hates fruit. She also hates vegetables. That is, unless they are covered in bleu cheese and bacon. For these reasons, I grew up in a house where steamed broccoli covered in Velveeta or garlic mashed potatoes were served alongside our steak or ribs. My father would often say that my siblings and I were going to grow up with the worst eating habits. Today, my mother often laughs at this statement when she reflects on the way things turned out. I am a product of the slow food movement. Kind of. Maybe Diane just makes … [Read more...]
Is Opera a Sustainable Art Form?
In a recent post on her blog, Jumper, Diane Ragsdale shares an excerpt from her keynote address on the topic, "Is Opera a Sustainable Art Form?" from the Opera Europa conference in February. Referencing Alexey A. Voinov's Paradoxes of Sustainability, Ragsdale eloquently asks us to consider where our motivations lie and what we are truly trying to save when we preach of a need for sustainability: "Forest fires naturally occur and burn down portions of ecosystems so that the forest ecosystem as a whole can persist. If we begin to prevent forest … [Read more...]
Video: Diane Ragsdale on Surviving the Cultural Change (Version 4.0)
This video is of Diane Ragsdale's keynote "Surviving the Cultural Change (Version 4.0)" at the Arts Alliance Illinois Members' Meeting on June 21, 2010. In this speech she challenges arts organizations to adapt to the cultural changes that have been taking place. Which of Diane's suggestions resonate with you? What are you doing (or going to do) to adapt to the cultural changes taking place? Watch Diane Ragsdale on Surviving the Cultural Change (Version 4.0). … [Read more...]