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I used to sit in English classes to raise my hand and offer unique insights. I trusted that anything I had to say was soaked in wisdom, dressed in metaphor, or threaded with powerful analysis. I molded my English courses to fit the palm of my hand, and continuously fought battles against myself to be the most obscure, most gifted, English-y student I could be. And more often than not, I failed terribly. I wasn’t proud enough to be the best, but I wasn’t humble enough to remain unnoticed.

English Seven taught me that my poetry was a gift, not a skill. English Eight taught me that poetry was...

The minute, hour, day, and week before my interview, I felt a little nervous but excited to meet the person I had to interview because I wasn't really prepared, and I thought, “This is somebody with a lot of experience, I don't want to mess anything up!”

I surprised myself with the interview because even though I had prepared at the last minute for Mr. Gordon Geballe, I ended up asking him many questions. I was so proud of myself and grateful to him for answering everything. He told me a great deal about what he does and how he enjoys his volunteer job but works for Yale and loves every...

When we were told that we were going to be interviewing board members, at first I didn’t know how to feel because I knew it wasn’t going to be easy; at the same time, if I followed the directions I was given, it wouldn’t be too hard. The week before the interview I felt okay and I thought about it but it wasn’t an overwhelmed kind of thinking. The day before the interview I felt a little nervous because I thought “Okay, so I know and have the questions I want to ask but how is it going to go?” I didn’t know what to expect even thought we talked about the process and everything. The hour...

When I first started to interview Ruby, I was nervous. It felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. But I tried not to look at it as me doing it for me but for the people who I’m doing it for.

The interview with Ruby went great. I was afraid that she would talk too quickly, but she explained everything very slowly and knowledgeably. I also thought that Ruby would give me less information than I was looking for, but she gave me enough information to last for years.

While I was interviewing Ruby, I expected her to be less fidgety. She surprised me because she has that special tendency that no...

I honestly felt extremely nervous before I interviewed one of the board members of the Festival. Usually, I do not like to talk in front of people because I sometimes stutter when I speak, especially when I am really anxious about something. I did not know what might occur during the interview process. At the time, I did not know we fellows had to interview the Board members and this added to my anxiety.

I was surprised to find out that I actually knew the person I was assigned to interview: Andrea-Jackson Brooks, who lives across the street from me in the Hill section of New Haven,...

Artist Statement – Diamond Davis

I describe myself as a freewill dancer because when I dance, it helps me express myself, and it helps me keep my mind in tact. I feel relaxed when I dance. I have been dancing since I was eight years old; I learned while watching music videos and television.

I chose dancing because I was inspired by a lot of people, such as my mother, who loves to praise dance (a type of worship). My cousin likes to dance to hip-hop and that’s how I became interested in dancing to hip-hop. When my family and I used to live in New York, my mother and I did a lot of...

On December 21, 2010 the Fall 2010 Festival Fellows graduated from the program with an official citation from the city of New Haven Board of Alderman. See the pictures below of the group of proud graduates with their awards, presented by Festival board member Andrea Jackson-Brooks. Their citation reads: "The Board of Aldermen of the City of New Haven congratulate you on completing the International Festival of Arts & Ideas Fellowship Program specifically designed to give high school juniors and seniors exposure to careers in the arts, as they prepare to pursue college and/or enter the...

Artist Statement
Inez Bell

I continue to miss the target at describing what poetry means to me. I do not believe it is something that I can fully discuss in a two to three page essay, in an artist statement, or even in a poem itself. However, I do believe that it is and will continue to be what makes it okay to think and to feel. Sometimes, it is scary to approach writing, because, writing makes me feel vulnerable -- as it should. Blank pages open me up, whether or not I want to be that way. I fear poetry because I cannot always harness it the way I’d like to, and a lot of the time, that...

Artist Statement
Earl Ali-Randall

I am a dancer; and, I have been inspired to dance by all the graduates from my performing arts school, Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). When I am dancing, I feel as if no one is seeing me. I love being able to express myself and my emotions with my instrument, my body.

My favorite genre is West African dance because I love the culture. When I say that “My work has turned out really well,” I mean I put my heart and soul into what I have accomplished. As a choreographer, I use such methods as cannon, ABA, unison and accumulation (Trisha Brown’s method...

Shaina Vega
Festival Fellow

I am a drawer and painter because life and colors are my inspiration. Drawing and painting helps me understand life more, helps me see the "bigger picture" of why people kill themselves, why they become religious or why they decide to bring life into this world without real reason. My goals and aspirations are to show everyone all over the world my drawings and paintings so they can see what I feel and understand my creativity.

I would like for people to imagine or feel themselves floating on the lines or colors of my artwork. Some of my art represents the funny,...

Written by Shaina Vega

I thought the "Hot Club of San Francisco" and the Gypsy Jazz Music inspired by Django Reinhardt was creative and interesting. I hadn't seen a silent film before, so I felt like it was a great experience for me to have taken the time to see this awesome performance.

The staff was kind; they showed us to our seats and were not rude at all; they were on point with what they had to do. The location of the theatre was a good distance -- I haven't really traveled to Fairfield often, so it was nice to visit there, even for a little while – but, the theatre was a little cold....

Written by Earl Ali-Randall

When I first walked into the theatre, I noticed there were more older people in the audience than younger ones, and the majority of them were Caucasian. We [IFAI] fellows were the only African American people there. I think that the location where the show was held, Fairfield, Connecticut, had a lot to do with this issue.

There were many empty seats. I felt very uncomfortable sitting there for such a long time; the aisles were too tight. I also thought the 15-minute intermission was too long. I noticed the audience laughed at some elements in the show that to me...