Semester 3

Arts TRYathlon #1: Choose Your Own Adventure

UMD STAMP Gallery: Lights Off / At 8 PM Exhibition

Monday, October 6th, 2025

STAMP Student Union, College Park, MD

#visualart #fineart #exhibition

Having walked past the STAMP Gallery often, I was excited to finally view this exhibition up close. The artists and artworks in this show were all adept at communicating the message and theme of memory to the audience, despite the large variety of mediums that were on display. To begin, the artwork in the photo above (Jerrell Gibbs, "Untitled," 2024, oil on canvas) took a direct yet imaginative approach to the feeling of memory loss. By blurring the left and right figures, the artist successfully communicates how those people appear in her own memory, and relates to the universal human idea of not being able to recognize versions of yourself. It asserts that navigating memory can be anxiety-inducing through the harsh brushstrokes that make up the main figure's worried expression. Painting isn't the only way the artists in this show communicated the theme of memory, though. One piece that stood out to me was a metal animal trap with rusty teeth. It was connected to a translucent pink chain and placed on a pink tiled base. The contrast of the violent metal trap and the pink surroundings communicate that even a single memory can be both destructive and joyful at the same time. It portrays the metaphor of memory being a trap for your mind without the use of written language. Beyond these two examples, throughout the hour I spent at the show, I learned to appreciate how art can use differing languages or lenses, often interweaving them in the same work or across the exhibition, to come to similar messages about memory. It works well because memory is a complex subject, and requires the universal yet unique languages of art (which we have had meaningful discussions about in Arts Scholars) in order to communicate it.

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

UMD Art Gallery: Yu Youren: Water on the Petal and Highlights from the Collection

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

Art and Sociology Building, College Park, MD

#visualart #fineart #calligraphy #exhibition

After visiting the STAMP Galllery earlier in the semester, I decided to view the UMD Art Gallery in order to compare the shows and learn more about the importance of exhibition set-up and process (building on the first-year Arts Scholars project). I admired the differences in lighting and details in the style of informative wall plaques that mimicked the tone of the exhibition's themes. Beyond comparing the events, I was drawn to the Yu Youren: Water on the Petal exhibition at the UMD Art Gallery. I enjoyed following the ways in which Chinese culture influenced the style of his pieces. Yu Youren was a Chinese calligrapher. I was mesmerized by the large scale of his works, his artistic lettering, and the intentionality of his brushstrokes. His artistic production was shaped by Chinese culture because he chose to express ideas through both written language and a traditonal Chinese calligraphy style. The words he writes are shaped by calligraphy in this style being rooted in Chinese history and culture for centuries. It changes the meaning of the words; for example, if he expresses political commentary, the viewer is forced to imagine it through the perspective of a culture that is likely different from their own. On that same note, artistic consumption is shaped by culture in this case because a viewer may have stereotypic ideas about Chinese tradition. Instead of viewing the work as meaningful, they may brush off the use of calligraphy as being too simple or mundane, not aware of the years of practice that go into the craftsmanship, or that this style carries the weight of a culture far too often ignored in American spaces. A significant part of the beauty of the artwork is in the restoration of culturally-important art forms or practices.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

Maker Mixer: DIY Suncatchers, Hosted by TA Vanessa of Arts Scholars

Friday, October 3rd, 2025

Bel Air Hall Lounge, College Park, MD

#visualart #craft

This was the first Arts-tryathalon event I had attended this semester, where I was able to reconnect with my creativity and the Arts Scholars community. On the idea of community, a cornerstone of the Scholars program, these artworks had an unexpected avenue to building and strengthening one, as well as motivating all participants to unlock their full artistic problem-solving abilities. There were more people at the event than was expected, which lead to some materials being scarce. However, in the pursuit of artisitic endeavors, I watched everyone use effective collaboration skills to ensure that everyone got the materials they needed. The unintended side effect was that in communicating with each participant, stronger bonds and a stronger community was formed. I witnessed other people talking through their ideas and improving their suncatcher designs as a result, which was a creative benefit of the community aspect. Being in that environment after problem-solving together also lead to increased comfort and expression. The best artworks are made in this relaxed flow state, in my experience. I personally found myself motivated by the unique perspectives of my peers' suncatcher designs and was happy to follow-through on my own "strange" ideas with my peers around me to help out if I hit a road-block. Lastly, having limited materials had the benefit of forcing our suncatchers to be minimal yet effective, teaching us to make the most out of our design without relying on an excess of eye-catching mediums.

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