By Alicia Stemper Poet Emilio Taiveaho is a first generation immigrant. Born in Quito to a Finnish father and an Ecuadorian mother, he also has three younger sisters living in Finland. They cannot speak to each other in words; body language is the only language they have in common. “My life is an interesting story… Read More →
Vitamin O Artist of the Month: Leigh Stringfellow
By Alicia Stemper/Vitamin O Although it is easy to immediately make beautiful music on the harp, mastering the instrument is difficult. Musician Leigh Stringfellow has loved the harp since she saw one at age four; she started playing at nine. The strings are the same as the white keys on a piano. Therefore, in addition… Read More →
A look at Eris Swanstrom, a Raleigh-based artist at Festifall this year
Vitamin O Artists of the Month: North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble
By Alicia Stemper Founded in 1982, North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE) is a repertoire company with roughly 40 dancers, all age 18 or younger. Surprisingly, founder and artistic director Gene Medler did not start dancing until age 28. He quipped, “I didn’t want to blossom too young.” Likewise, regarding NCYTE’s nationwide and international reputation,… Read More →
Meet the man behind the RedBall bouncing around Chapel Hill
Vitamin O Artist of the Month: Sol Ramirez & 123 Puppetry
By Alicia Stemper/Vitamin O After becoming interested in puppetry at age three, Sol Ramirez founded 123 Puppetry while still in elementary school. Puppetry includes a much greater variety of form than the classic sock puppet. Explains Sol, “Anything with movement can be considered a puppet.” Sol has also been a “full-on member” of the well-known… Read More →
Vitamin O ArtSpace of the Month: Will Ford’s CLOUDSPILL
By Alicia Stemper/Vitamin O “This is just a structure to house art. It also just so happens to be an artistic structure.” Will Ford spent nine months designing a barn that will function as “one giant creative space.” He named it CLOUDSPILL; the barn sits in a natural bowl “where the clouds spill into the… Read More →
It’s “The Ruling Grade,” Charlie Brown
By Molly Weybright When Charlie Brown set out to record an album in his senior year at UNC, he was doing it to fulfill a dream, and hopefully have some fun along the way. “It was really special to finish the project and to feel like it was authentic and it was true to how… Read More →