Announcing "Trigger" and More!

The first two months of 2011 found a busy Status Hat!    We've expanded our editorial team to 5, with the addition of Christopher Lowe as editor of “Trigger”, a Status Hat biannual publication debuting July 1, 2011. We're quite excited by this new, collaborative project which, at it it's core, explores narrative in the arts. We bring together an intriguing mix of artists and writers for the first edition, some who's work has appeared in previous editions of Status Hat. Participants of the project will be generating new pieces for our inaugural publication, feeding off each other's work as, well, a “trigger”. It will be a good project to dig into, as we examine how these artists got from point A to point B in their process. My gut feeling is I'm going to learn a few things enroute. Read more in our March fund-raising page (Pass The Hat!)

We were also honored to participate in a "Media Arts and Creative Careers" panel at University of Virginia last Friday, February 25, 2011. I was the sole member of the panel that wasn't a UVA alum, but felt welcomed nonetheless! Individuals from The Hook, one of our local alternative weeklies, Redlight Management, a music management company, and local sports-reporting media (online and radio) were among the other panelists. In recommending steps to fulfilling work in media and creative careers, we formed an echo-chamber rather quickly. Students at University of Virginia receive an exceptional liberal arts education, which gives them skills and abilities to do almost anything in their lives; getting out there and obtaining work experience on the ground floor is of vital importance though, to supplement the breadth of one's education. Everyone on the panel seemed to agree small jobs or internships they had worked at early on contributed to their career path in ways they would have never expected -- and where potential opportunities arise can't be calculated. Opportunities arise from being present in one's life and going out and talking to people, making contact, and pitching in. It also helps to stay involved in work and projects you are excited about! I've only spoken at a couple of these in the past, but I am always inspired to see students imagining possibilities!

Cheers ~~
Carli Castellani, Artistic Director
March 1, 2011