As a long time Madison resident (30 years now!) I’ve often wished there was more incentive for young people to stay in our community and make a life here. I know when my kids were getting out of college 20 years ago, it was pretty much a given that they would move away and build a life elsewhere.
But a vibrant and sustainable community needs the fresh energy and talent of our younger generations. And that’s why it is so gratifying in the last decade or so to see the trend starting to change. I’m seeing a lot more young people either moving back after a short stint elsewhere, or even better, never leaving.
Maybe it’s a function of the “work from home” movement, that gives them more career options than ever before. Or maybe it’s the elevation of our overall quality of life here in Madison, not the least of which is our emergence as Indiana’s Music City and a center of culture and art. Madison is a fun town now, with things to just about every day of the week, every week of the year.
A case in point is our subject this week, young Annamae Harmon, a lifelong Madison resident, graduate of Christian Academy, and holder of Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from IU Southeast. Annamae is a graphic designer and artist, with a nice career creating automotive marketing assets for a company called Affinitive Advertising. She works from a home office. And she proudly calls Madison her forever home!
“I’m just like any other person when it comes to choosing a place to live,” says Anname. “I just want a peaceful, safe, nurturing environment where I can be myself and do my work. Madison provides all that for me, and more.
“The art scene here in Madison is amazing, really, more like something you’d expect to find in a much larger city. There are so many talented people doing so many cool things. It’s a welcoming place for all types of art, all types of people, and all points of view and expression. I think this smaller, friendlier community is actually better in many ways than a larger, impersonal city might be.
“The art I create on the fine art side, separate from the graphic art I do for work, tends to be more digital and experimental. I’m not really a painter or sculptor. I create moving imagery and moods on a computer that will often include sounds and music. It’s very immersive and evocative.
“A great example is a piece I did recently called ‘Soundscape Zen’ that I entered in an international juried show. It was selected among entries from 80 countries to exhibit at the London Art Biennale, an every other year curated collection of world art. I’m also working locally with the Madison Performing Arts folks on their materials, and I’m on the MPAF board of directors.
“It’s my belief that creative art can literally change how people think and feel. It has the power to mold responses and move people to new ways of feeling. It can be a powerful thing, and that’s what motivates me. I’m so happy to have a career as a working artist, and I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere other than right here in my hometown.”
HOT TIP OF THE WEEK:
Wow, so much jam-packed goodness on our music calendar this week, it’s hard to single anything out. And this is in the middle of winter mind you. Just imagine how much music there will be in Indiana’s Music City when things warm up in the spring! Anyway, let’s go day by day, shall we? On Wednesday I’d make a beeline to Rivertown to see Darryl Hewitt live. Thursday at MadPaddle there is a new open mic night coming online, and House of Jane has a great duo playing original songwriter stuff. Friday is just action packed all over town, and your best bet would be a pub crawl to try to catch as many as you can. Saturday there is a rare performance of The Music of Santana at Red Bicycle Hall, but I also see Robby Cox playing at Tailgators, and he is one of my favorites, especially with a full band. Sunday … you still going on Sunday? You have two choices, an open mic or a live performer. Take your pick!
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