New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year from all of us at the Indiana Arts Commission. It's that time again for reflection of the events of the past year, both in our personal and professional life. We've caught up with a few of our current Individual Artist Program grant recipients and asked them about their resolutions for 2006. From creative renewal, to organization, to promotion, these people have used this time of contemplation to set goals for their artistic careers. Hopefully the stories of drive and ambition of these artists will be contagious for you and your endeavors this year!

Cathy Morris, Indianapolis
Music
http://www.cathymorris.com/

Like every year I aspire to make "Art with A Purpose" that will hopefully impact individuals and communities of people. Specific to 2006 will be numerous projects including a recording specifically for children, a WICR fundraiser CD of music and the poetry of Rumi, an online music publishing effort and the debut of my husband's airbrush art.

Kit Ehrman, Columbus
Author of the Steve Cline Mystery Series
http://www.kitehrman.com

A Writer's New Year's Resolution - Self Discipline and Organization

The beginning of 2006 will find me hard up against a tight contractual deadline, so it's going to take every ounce of self discipline and endless hours to meet my March 31st deadline, when my editor expects TRIPLE CROSS, the fourth book in the Steve Cline Mystery Series, on her desk.

Afterwards, I'll probably take the next week off and do absolutely nothing work related. Then, it's back to work. With three published books under my belt, a work rhythm has finally begun to take shape. I expect to spend the next two to three months researching and plotting the next book in the series before I start writing again. This is a tough time for me, because self doubt begins to creep in during those non-writing months. Can I pull it off again? Can I create an entire world and interesting story on a blank page?

Besides the writing, there's the endless job of promoting the books that have been published-working to get speaking engagements, book-signings, attending conferences, trying to get media coverage-and that's where organization comes in. And striking a balance. Striking a healthy balance between the creative part (writing) and the business part (promotion) is always tough.

Rachel Slick, Aurora
Mixed media

My new year's art resolution is pretty simple. SELL SOMETHING!

Mei Zhong, D.M.A., Muncie
Music
www.bsu.edu/music/faculty

In the New Year, my top resolution is to finish my publishing contracted book Anthology of Chinese Songs, as well as the CDs of my singing for all songs in the volume. I have contacted some composers to write 20 songs based on Chinese Ancient poems from Tang-Song Dynasties. With the IAC grant, I plan to record all songs from late Spring to summer of this year, after conducting a short research in China. I anticipate the volume II, including the parts of International Phonetic Alphabets, word by word and literary translation, musical analysis and background of the composers and poem writers, be completed by November of 2006. I also will try to finish two chapters of my other publishing contracted book of Vocal Music Education.

G. Bradley Bodine, Lafayette
Composer
http://www.gbradleybodine.com/

My music has become very complex and at times I feel that it may be too challenging for many concertgoers. My works have a reputation for being brutally difficult to perform. The heavy burden I place on performers hinders the number of performances my compositions receive. My New Year's resolution is to simplify both the musical language and performance requirements of my new works in an effort to attract more performers and speak to larger audiences.

Mary Ann Michna, Terra Haute
Visual Arts
http://www.geocities.com/ichna/NewArt.html

My New Year's resolution is to take more road trips. My paintings are based on images and feelings derived from driving American roads.

L. Diane Mann, Merom
Sculpture and Mixed Media

After going through a lightning-source-fire that completely destroyed my studio a year ago, I have been able to remodel our basement into a wonderful studio. It is a walkout facility with five workrooms that I will use. My New Year's Resolution is to work in it some every day through the week, to build up an inventory of art that will enable me to seek gallery representation. Working at home it's easy to get distracted into doing other things. So I plan to be more disciplined with my time. Once I am in the studio, working is not a problem, but sometimes leaving chores behind to get in there is the problem. I plan to make art the priority this next year. After being separated from it for over a year, I realize how fortunate I am to have a place to work again.

Edited by Robyn Kelly, Web Publications Manager: rkelly@iac.in.gov.
The IAC, a public catalyst, partner, and investor in the arts, serves the citizens of Indiana by funding, promoting, and expanding the arts. Funding is provided by the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.