VOLUME V – Irony and Art

Dear South Jersey,

It’s been a while, I know. We’ve got some catching up to do. So, I’ll be posting up two blogs this week. More on the second blog later. Let’s get down to business on what I think it quite the ironic situation (well, for me at least).

About seven years ago, I walked into an old, rickety building in hopes of starting my journalism career out. Have you ever read the “Teen Voice” section of the Burlington County Times? I’m not quite sure if they still do it, but when I was involved, it was a monthly section placed in the newspaper that featured the writing of some of South Jersey’s most eager high school journalism students.

Given the opportunity, I wrote a few articles for the section before heading off to Penn State University to prepare for the real thing. It’s very funny to look back at those articles now.

I’m still young and fresh in the business and make a few mistakes here and there, but it’s great to go through your progressions and see how you’ve evolved in your life. It’s almost like hearing my first radio show, compared to my last. I’ll be keeping that first one locked in a vault somewhere for my great grandchildren to find, someday – that is if they can find a device that still plays minidiscs by then.

Anyway, I digress. Walking out of that rickety building for the last time, I never knew what would become of it. I always figured the Times would have two locations… The one in Willingboro and the one in Medford, which was the one I am referring to.

Little did I know, walking into the Medford Arts Center last week that I was walking into that same building. It was like a time warp I wasn’t even aware of!

You see, back in 1997, a group was appointed by the township to be a cultural arts commission in Medford. That lasted about 12 years before a new regime was formed.

“Funds were low, so they formed ‘Friend of Cultural Arts,’” said Janet Jackson Gould, whom I met with on Jan. 20. What a kind and knowledgeable lady she is, by the way.

Despite the formation of this group, there was never a physical location for them to call home. Then, on Apr. 1, 2009, the old Times building was leased as the Medford Arts Center. The township has been helping with the lease, gradually giving the MAC more fiscal responsibility, and as soon as next year, the MAC will be paying the full lease.

It only took the crew less than two months to renovate the inside, and the Medford Arts Center was born.

So, there is my experience with irony, South Jersey. Just a little story I wanted to share with you all… But, let’s talk about the MAC itself.

Again, when you think volunteerism, I know I’m usually thinking about donating money, or ladling soup out in a soup kitchen. However, I think the type of volunteerism that can be done here is a tribute to the community, itself.

The poor or misfortune will not most likely benefit from something like this, but here we get the opportunity to save something that is truly remarkable: the arts. The arts were such a prominent part of the human culture for thousands of years.

Now, we see painting being replaced (or supplemented) by Photoshop and other programs. Now, we see music being chopped, screwed and even created by computers and devices, instead of woodwinds and brass. Now, the silver screen and the boob tube are prime forms of entertainment, as opposed to the theater and the stage. Now, real journalism has been ravaged by Tweeting (thanks Adam Schefter).

These are not terrible things, by any means (except that last one). However, I, like many other people, enjoy exploring where we came from and keeping these things alive. Hell, in such a tough economy where Americans are BEGGING for jobs, can’t we create them by giving the small town artists and musicians a shot?

So what can you do to help the Medford Arts Center out? Well, the main volunteer opportunities would be to serve as a host when the showrooms are open to the public, which is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Duties would include welcoming people, answering questions and sharing information about other events that the MAC sponsors.

You can also serve on committees, such as the Exhibits Committee, the Performing Arts Committee or the Literary Committee. There are also nine shows put on every year where about 135 artists have hung their photos.

I’ll be certainly finding out more about volunteer opportunities when I visit the next show, which is on Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. I’ll report back after that. For now, check out some of the other things that the MAC does!

New Jersey School of Music – Group music lessons on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights

Jazz Concerts – Every other month on select Friday evenings. Next concert is on Feb. 4 (this Friday)

Classical Music Concerts – Select Sunday afternoons. Call the Center for more information (609-654-6033)

Word Play and More – Summer camp for 8-13 year olds

South Jersey Acoustical Roots Music Society – Blue grass and folk music seminars. Offer lessons and speeches by seasoned veterans, as well as jams for entertainment

Mixed Media Arts – Monthly social meetings about the arts

40 piece Symphony Orchestra – Held at St. Peter’s Church on May 1

Next up is YMCA Camp Ockinickon, which I visited on Monday. There are going to be some wonderful opportunities there, as well, so you don’t want to miss my next blog!

Stay safe, South Jersey.

Yours,

Kevin Haslam