When Big Blue Door first started we used to link pretty often to essays and news in the arts and entertainment world, but as our core programming expanded, we couldn’t take up so much space on our webpage. But Ted Gioia is a music critic and culture writer whose work is often thought-provoking, and he just put out an interesting essay called ‘State of the Culture‘ that I think is worth reading. I certainly don’t vouch for all of it, but it captures some of why Big Blue Door came into being.
When Jen and I moved back to Charlottesville with our recently-born daughter to start Big Blue Door we didn’t come with firebrand political convictions, but we did come believing people today need to share their lived experiences and true natures. Sometimes we’ve heard improv described comically as theater for those with short attention spans, but in my decade of teaching I can vouch that improv instead teaches real listening, understanding, and patience. We believed ten years ago and we believe now that people want something more than what cyberculture offers.
With that in mind we’re very excited to announce that every Friday from March 15th through May 3rd McGuffey Art Center will be experimenting with evening hours! McGuffey has always had monthly ‘First Friday’ events but the building is expanding hours now to offer open studios, workshops, and 7pm $10 shows (including 6 shows by Big Blue Door in our upstairs studio). As far as the shows, every one will be different but all will have beverages, new friends to meet, and an entire art center to explore.
Big Blue Door 
Very insightful and a bit frightening. Thanks for sending.
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div dir=”ltr”> No small task raising kids