Big Talk

Both Michelle Martin Coleman and Elaine Guinn have experienced the effects of suicide. Both have dedicated their lives to understanding the act and reaching out to people who may be considering it as well as those touched by the loss of a loved one because of it. They are part of Project Stay — its mission: Creating awareness and providing …

He juggles writing verse with trying to get rural electric customers to take a more active role in their energy delivery. Alex Chambers sometimes even combines his two passions, referring to the global climate crisis in his poetry and even, once, writing a poem for an environmental journal. Chambers, an adjunct lecturer at Indiana University, has compiled his first book …

A part of the WonderLab experience since the mid-1990s, Karen Jepson-Innes now leads the science and natural history museum on West 4th Street. Jepson-Innes, a biologist, got together with other like-minded scientists who wanted to bring the wonders and joys of science to both children and adults alike. At first they traveled to schools and other locations, bringing exhibits and …

The Arts Alliance of Greater Bloomington at last has a home it can call its own. The long-standing arts advocacy organization signed a lease this month to occupy a space at the College Mall on the east side. Board president Himsel had tried to persuade the board to seek a brick and mortar site for several years. Then, a chance meeting …

Flow arts mama Paula Chambers and poet-slash-foley artist Tony Brewer are co-producers of the third annual revue inspired by the storied song, dance, magic, and you-name-it traveling extravaganza that defined American entertainment from the late 19th through the mid 20th centuries. Vaudeville gave the nation the likes of the Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, W.C. Fields, and countless burlesque artists. Va-Va-Va …

Gender and sex: Simple topics, right? Not so, especially in light of the changes in popular notions about these topics in the last few years. It seems most people who expound most vociferously on gender and sex know the least about the distinctions between the two or even what each word means. Jen Maher, clinical Associate professor in the Gender …

He started drawing at the age of two and almost immediately knew that’s what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Milton Knight hated school and was discouraged by his parents from making comic books but he taught himself the rudiments of drawing and read, voraciously, about the great artists. He has drawn comics and done animation …

A senior at Indiana University in 2016, Alexi King turned her work at an internship into the Midway Music Festival. Dedicated to promoting and connecting women and those who identify as women through music, the Fest features performers and music professionals from all over the United States. The nonprofit, Midway Music Speaks, with King as founder and creative director and …

As next year’s 100th anniversary of the ratification of 19th Amendment (mandating the women’s vote in all elections in the United States) approached, Monroe County History Center collections manager Hilary Fleck became curious about the role of local women in the fight for the vote. She was warded the May Wright Sewall Fellowship from Indiana Humanities to do research on …

After volunteering for the Lotus Education & Arts Foundation since its inception 26 years ago, appearing as a performer in Lotus Fest, and serving on the organization’s board of directors, Tamara Loewenthal became its chief this past May. Next week, she’ll oversee her first Lotus Fest as 27 international music, dance, and performance acts appear on stages at 12 venues …