Three South Students Forge a Unique and Passionate Community Through Art
By OLIVER STRICHERZ
Reprinted with permission from The Southerner.
Close your eyes and think about art. Picture the process, the skill, the medium, everything from concept to completion. We may envision this all as something singular, the product of one, yet the creative spirit isn’t powered by that of a lone soul, but rather a community. Creation is nurtured in the hands of community – it takes its final form after the processes of inspiration and construction, both charged by the existence of those around us. Ms. Berger’s first hour painting class is a small, but passionate example of a creative community in action.
Near the door of Ms. Berger’s first hour class sit three students in Painting 2: Junior Elisa Tamay, Junior Merrick Golden, and Senior exchange student Tamara Genart. Through different experiences and connections to art the three students help each other out, share their opinions, and create a collective space to produce works they feel proud of. When reflecting on this group, Golden added “Having a small group away from the big group helps us get more in the zone for painting, to relax and put our ideas on the paper.”… Read the rest “Three South Students Forge a Unique and Passionate Community Through Art”
Throne’s Eye View: Part III, The South Bench
The city has announced it is dismantling Touchstone Plaza at Peavey Park due to deterioration and safety concerns. Also known as “The Thrones,” the Phillips landmark sits at the northeast corner of the park, at the intersection of Franklin and Chicago. The sculptures were the product of a multi-year collaboration between the late artist Rafala Green, community members, and more than 80 local youth employed by the project in the 1990s. “Thrones” is a reference to a poem by Louis Alemayehu mounted on a plaque near the entrance.
As a goodbye, the alley is featuring photos of each of the Plaza’s sculptural elements every month through June.
All photos by Laura Hulscher
Related Images:
Debunking the Five Biggest Homebuying Myths
By NICOLE ROTHSTEIN , a contributing writer for Sunrise Banks.
As homebuying season begins, there are many misconceptions about purchasing a home that can deter potential buyers. To help clarify the process, we asked our mortgage experts at Sunrise Banks to debunk five common homebuying myths.
Myth #1: You Always Need a 20% Down Payment
A common belief is that buyers must put 20% down to secure a mortgage. However, multiple down payment assistance programs make homeownership accessible with much less upfront cash. First-time buyers may qualify for conventional loans with as little as 3% down, FHA loans with 3.5%, and USDA or VA loans that require no down payment. While a larger down payment can eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI), it is not a requirement for securing a loan.
Myth #2: Mortgage Rates Are Directly Tied to the Federal Interest Rate
Many assume mortgage rates fluctuate directly with federal interest rates, but this is not entirely accurate. While federal rate changes impact short-term lending like credit cards and car loans, mortgage rates depend on multiple factors, including inflation, the 10-Year Treasury Note, and overall economic conditions. Buyers who can afford a home should not necessarily delay their purchase based solely on interest rate trends.… Read the rest “Debunking the Five Biggest Homebuying Myths”
