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Arts & Life
The Clarion | September 11,2019
BC alumnus in the Big Apple
By Chloe McGee
Arts & Life Editor
Upon graduating with a degree in Art from
Brevard College, 2018 alumnus Thomas Ruple
packed his bags to pursue a career as an artist in
one of the world’s most iconic metropolises—
New York City.
Before moving to New York City, Ruple
had only visited the city twice. The first was
a two-day trip with his family and the second
was a four-day trip when he was a student at
Brevard College.
“I used those four days to really fall in love
with it here, and that was enough to convince
me to make the move after graduation,” said
Ruple.
Ruple and his cat Walden currently reside in
Harlem—a Manhattan neighborhood known
for its rich history and artistic movement
known as the Harlem Renaissance. He rents
an additional studio space nearby to paint at.
Ruple finds it important to have “separation
between work and leisure” and “would hate to
accidentally kill [his] cat with all the fumes,”
he says.
Before coming to Brevard College, Ruple
lived his entire life in Columbia, South Carolina
with his parents. “It’s definitely different
than Harlem,” he said, but that may be an
understatement.
Painting is Ruple’s medium of choice, as he
works almost exclusively with oil paints, but he
also dabbles in drawing using graphite pencils.
Ruple and his work is inspired by
contemporary, Caravaggio-influenced artist
Roberto Ferri, Caravaggio himself and
American painter John Singer Sargent.
In his free time, Ruple spends his time
“walking around midtown or lower Manhattan,
looking at the architecture, or swinging through
a gallery or museum space,” he said.
Ruple enjoys visiting art museums in New
York City such as the Met, the Museum of
Modem Art and the Frick. However, as an avid
traveler, Ruple has had the opportunity to see and
fall in love with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
Since moving to Manhattan, Ruple has
participated in an exhibition and sold several
of his pieces.
Ruple’s current pursuit as an artist is to perfect
his technique in regards to a concept that he has
recently begun to develop.
As for long-term goals, Ruple says that he
hopes to continue his educational career and
receive a Master’s degree in Fine Art.
“I feel like higher learning is where the world
begins to change. After I get my MFA, I’d love
to be an art professor and continue to live in that
progress that is found on college campuses,”
said Ruple.
While Ruple appreciates the lively and
“progressive” atmosphere in Manhattan,
“a con to the city is definitely how fast
everything goes,” he said, “There’s a whole
lot of weird shit that goes on up here and it
tires you out after a while, but if you stop to
catch your breath, you get left behind.”
Ruple believes that the art department
at Brevard College did a “great job” in
preparing him for life outside of school.
“They taught me how to be self-motivated
and professional, and I’m finding that a lot
of folks out here lack the skills that Brevard
College taught,” said Ruple.
“It really doesn’t hurt to exert any
connections you can find when making
a big move. More often than not, people
would love to help you out. Also, take money
seriously but try not to worry about it too,
too much,” said Ruple in his advice to future
college graduates.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Ruple
Ruple is photographed sitting in front of one of his own paintings.
Review of Lana del Rey's album 'Norman Rockwell!'
As many may know, Lana Del Rey’s new
album, “Norman p*****=i=g Rockwell!” came
out recently and is her sixth studio album. It
has 14 songs and is just as chill and relaxing as
any of her other albums.
One of the first singles released from the
album was a sublime cover of “Doin’ Time.”
Rey’s cover has more of a relaxing sound
and is much more of an easy listen than the
original. Her soothing voice melts all of the
words together perfectly and doesn’t sound too
butchered or like she is trying hard like so many
other covers. It could easily be a Rey original.
This isn’t Rey’s best album, but it also isn’t her
worst. There was a normal dosage of melancholy
tones and lyrics throughout all of the songs.
There was no drastic change between moods
within the 14 songs on the album, everything
was fairly steady and had the signature Rey
pessimistic vibe.
I am not too disappointed with “Norman
F******g Rockwell!” It is not Rey’s best work.
In my opinion, “Ultra Violet” or “Bom to Die”
are her two best albums. I am excited for her
next album, in hopes that there will be different
changes in moods in the songs and hopefully
another cover as good as “Doin’ Time” and for
Rey to keep her very real, pessimistic vibes in
the songs.
— Lande Simpson