Semester 3

Arts TRYathlon #1: NextNOW

Silent Disc-Glow (September 5th at the Clarice)

#music

For my first TRYathlon of the year, I went to the Silent Disco hosted by the Clarice for Next Now Fest. Big crowds aren’t always my favorite, but I ended up having more fun than I expected. I was able to go with a group of friends (and fellow Arts Scholars Peer Mentors!), which made the whole experience more enjoyable. Just a few days before, I had a conversation with one of my friends where she brought up how listening to music can feel so personal sometimes, almost to the point of being isolating. Being able to listen to music on your own without anyone else being able to hear what’s in your headphones can be liberating, but it can also put you in a bubble. This event felt like the opposite. Everyone was listening to what they chose, but people were still able to come together through it. There were moments where everyone was tuned into something different, but then the whole courtyard would turn into a sea of a single color. It felt like a perfect blend between staying within my comfort zone and branching out to connect with others. As I’ve experienced more music-centered events, I’ve found myself enjoying them more. As someone who is typically fairly reserved and quiet, I’ve found them to be an opportunity to relax more than I normally would otherwise. Having this positive experience has made me want to actively seek out more events like this one and I hope to find them in the future.

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

Homecoming Comedy Show (October 13th at the Xfinity Center) - Note: phones not accessible during the event (no pictures could be taken for selfie)

#comedy #presentation

For my second TRYathlon event, I attended the Homecoming Comedy Show with John Mulaney. As soon as the show was announced, I knew I had to try to get tickets. I had already seen all of his recorded shows and was thrilled by the idea of getting to see him perform live. I had never been to a live standup show before so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into it. The experience itself felt most comparable to a concert- a group of people all excited to watch someone perform being able to appreciate a show together. Being able to laugh alone can be fun, but being in a sea of people all smiling and laughing together was far better. It also made me think back on what one of the speakers in the Professionals panel said: art can be candy. While all art serves a purpose, sometimes the purpose of said art can simply be bringing joy to an audience. While a comedy show may not evoke the same reactions as the great works of the Renaissance, they are both important in their own ways. Not all art has to make you cry or fuel the next revolution. Some art can make you smile, and that’s just as important.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

Magic with Mehndi (October 24th in the Bel Air Lounge)

#visualart

For my third TRYathlon event, I attended TA Nivi’s “Magic with Mehndi” Craft and Chat. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect going into it, as I wasn’t very familiar with what mehndi was. After seeing a few examples of what it looked like, I got nervous; I knew I couldn’t recreate such complex and intricate designs like that. Thankfully, Nivi pulled out stencils and canvas bags and I was flooded with relief. I hadn’t considered the other possible ways of making these designs, and this was a welcome alternative. Filling the stencils was calming- a process that struck just the right balance between focus and relaxation. It was also interesting to see how such a complex form of art could be simplified to become so accessible. Traditional mehndi takes so much time, focus, and skill. These bags and stencils made it so that anyone could participate. This twist on a traditional medium made me consider how so many specialized forms of art can be broken down in a way that allows anyone access. Access to the tools and skills required to participate in any artform are the biggest barriers, and seeing how these barriers can be broken down was exciting and has made me want to see what else is actually more within reach than I previously thought.

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