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Personal Essay – Inez Bell

I used to sit in English classes to raise my hand and offer unique insights. I trusted that anything I had to say was soaked in wisdom, dressed in metaphor, or threaded with powerful analysis. I...

Reflection of Board Interview – Shaina Vega

The minute, hour, day, and week before my interview, I felt a little nervous but excited to meet the person I had to interview because I wasn't really prepared, and I thought, “This is somebody with...

Reflection of Board Interview – Sharon Dickey

When we were told that we were going to be interviewing board members, at first I didn’t know how to feel because I knew it wasn’t going to be easy; at the same time, if I followed the directions I...

Reflection of Board Interview – Diamond Davis

When I first started to interview Ruby, I was nervous. It felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. But I tried not to look at it as me doing it for me but for the people who I’m doing it for.
The...

Reflection of Board Interview – Earl Ali-Randall

I honestly felt extremely nervous before I interviewed one of the board members of the Festival. Usually, I do not like to talk in front of people because I sometimes stutter when I speak, especially...

Artist Statements by Diamond Davis & Sharon Dickey

Artist Statement – Diamond Davis
I describe myself as a freewill dancer because when I dance, it helps me express myself, and it helps me keep my mind in tact. I feel relaxed when I dance. I have...

Fall 2010 Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program graduation

On December 21, 2010 the Fall 2010 Festival Fellows graduated from the program with an official citation from the city of New Haven Board of Alderman. See the pictures below of the group of proud...

Artist Statement by Fellow Inez Bell

Artist Statement
Inez Bell
I continue to miss the target at describing what poetry means to me. I do not believe it is something that I can fully discuss in a two to three page essay, in an artist...

Artist Statement by Fellow Earl Ali-Randall

Artist Statement
Earl Ali-Randall
I am a dancer; and, I have been inspired to dance by all the graduates from my performing arts school, Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). When I am dancing, I...

Artist Statement by Fellow Shaina Vega

Shaina Vega
Festival Fellow
I am a drawer and painter because life and colors are my inspiration. Drawing and painting helps me understand life more, helps me see the "bigger picture" of why people...

Reflections on the Hot Club of San Francisco’s Silent Surrealism

Written by Shaina Vega
I thought the "Hot Club of San Francisco" and the Gypsy Jazz Music inspired by Django Reinhardt was creative and interesting. I hadn't seen a silent film before, so I felt like...

Reflections on the Hot Club of San Francisco’s Silent Surrealism

Written by Earl Ali-Randall
When I first walked into the theatre, I noticed there were more older people in the audience than younger ones, and the majority of them were Caucasian. We [IFAI] fellows...

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