1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

‘Pitch Perfect’ project: Transy students reviving Grace Notes

Transylvania University and the community at large once again will be graced with the voices of the school’s female a cappella group. With auditions next week, first-year student Karisma Keeton and sophomore Emily Maddix are working together to help revive the Grace Notes after a brief hiatus for the group. Both are members of the university’s choirs and look forward to also having a smaller group that performs more pop-oriented music—think Britney Spears as opposed to Bach. “It’s really exciting to be able to come together in a smaller group,” Maddix said. The format will allow students to pick fun pieces they wouldn’t necessarily be able to perform in a more strict choral setting. Additionally, the smaller size allows them to travel more easily and often, said Keeton, who also founded a female a cappella group in high school. “We were both really excited because we wanted to get this started again—we think it will be a good addition to campus.” Another perk of this “Pitch Perfect” type of ensemble is that each singer knows her voice will be heard—almost like they’re singing solo. “That sounds a little scary at first, but it’s actually really fulfilling,” Keeton said. Grace Notes has performed at a variety of venues, including opening day at Keeneland and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony on campus. The new group may sing at the university’s upcoming “Cabaret.” Regan MacNay, Transy’s new assistant professor of

Transylvania Data Viz Thursdays to feature transformative field of data visualization

The application of data visualization is transforming a wide variety of professions—and our understanding of each other. It is being used to replace vertebrae, explore human relationships and translate complex realities into a single clarifying graphic. On three consecutive Thursdays beginning Jan. 24, Transylvania University will host discussions with professionals who use data visualization in the fields of art, journalism and life sciences. These Data Viz talks, which are part of Transylvania’s Creative Intelligence Series, are free and open to the public. They are supported by our Digital Liberal Arts initiative and coincide with the Morlan Gallery’s “Data, Mine” exhibition.   Jan. 24: “Data, Mine” Art Talk & ExhibitionArtists Hasan Elahi and Laurie Frick use data visualization to explore relationships, surveillance, migration and the politics of landscape. They’ve appeared on the TED Talk stage, The Colbert Report, National Public Radio and WIRED magazine. Now you can see their work in the Morlan Gallery (beginning Jan. 16) and attend their talk, “You’re Being Followed: A Discussion about Data Prediction, Privacy, and Digital Tracking,” which will be moderated by Emily Goodman, assistant professor of art history. Carrick Theater on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. (reception to follow in Morlan Gallery) Jan. 31: Data Visualization with Tim Meko of The Washington PostAs the Post’s deputy graphics director, Meko uses data, design and code to distill the most complicated information into decipherable and often stunning visuals. The Transy alumnus will talk about his work and how he taps

Transylvania’s Morlan Gallery to feature renowned data visualization artists Jan. 16-Feb. 19

The upcoming “Data, Mine” exhibition at Transylvania University’s Morlan Gallery will offer artistic takes on an issue seemingly ripped from today’s headlines: What’s to do with all that information computers dig up on us? Running Jan. 16 to Feb. 19, the show will feature the works of nationally renowned data visualization artists Hasan Elahi and Laurie Frick. Elahi, who is a University of Maryland art professor, started an elaborate project in self-surveillance in the early 2000s when he was mistakenly put on a terrorist watch list. His work examines issues of surveillance, citizenship, migration, transport and challenges of borders and frontiers. Frick, an artist with a business background, anticipates the future of data and envisions a time when personal data is a unique glimpse into our hidden personality. She is currently mining data from the OkCupid dating site to create visual patterns helping people to better understand one another. The exhibition is part of Transylvania’s New Frontiers feature event series, which asks the public to go beyond the familiar and explore ideas, art and music. Elahi and Frick will visit Transylvania on Thursday, Jan. 24, for a free lecture titled “You’re Being Followed: A Discussion about Data Prediction, Privacy, and Digital Tracking.” Emily Goodman, a Transylvania assistant professor of art history, will moderate the conversation beginning at 6 p.m. in Carrick Theater. A reception for the artists will follow in Morlan Gallery. Coinciding with the “Data, Mine” exhibition, Transylvania’s Creative