Semester 1

Arts TRYathlon #1: NextNOW

Event Logistics

Friday, September 6, 2024, Dekelboum Concert Hall, An Evening With Elizabeth Gillies

As a young individual coming of age in the 2010s, one show I loved dearly, was the well-known, 2010 hit Nickelodeon series Victorious. Set in Los Angeles, California following the storyline of young talented teens with the dream to become famous, the series engaged my interests as a child. It gave me a feeling of relief, the chance to become a part of another world. I spent hours watching Victorious, laughing the night away, and singing along to the songs with my sisters in our room. When I heard that Elizabeth Gillies was coming to College Park to speak at NextNow Fest, I knew I had to go to reignite the nostalgia of my childhood. As I listened to Gillies speak of her experiences, coming of age in the industry, one thing she said that stuck with me was “Cherish the moment. Avan and I would sit in our trailer and talk about becoming the biggest Hollywood stars and we did not focus on the moment we were living in. It was such a special time.” As a lover of art, I get the opportunity to look through a lens and travel to any part of time. I get to watch the beauty and experiences from another timeline and cherish the moment. While Gillies spoke, I got a chance to reminisce on my days as a child. All I wanted was to be a teenager and now I would give anything to be 7 again. As an Arts Scholar, I get the opportunity to cherish the art of our time and the past. This presentation reminded me to take a moment and cherish the moment I live in because one does realize how much you will miss it once it is gone. 

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

Event Logistics 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Parren J. Mitchell Art Sociology Art Gallery

#visualart, #exhibit 

As a lover of art, I long to walk the walls of an art museum or gallery, at any chance filled with voices and stories from different artists, perspectives, and cultures. Each piece of artistry explores a theme that is significant in many different ways. In Art Scholars, we are taught to carefully listen and examine art in all its forms to understand the complex message shared by the artist. For my Artventure, I chose to visit the Parren J. Mitchell Art Sociology Art Gallery. As I walked through the dimly lit Art gallery, I was able to observe the different art pieces in all their complexity. Enhanced with different perspectives held by each artist as the viewer, I had the opportunity to see the intersection between culture, art, understanding, and history, whether it is socially or the upbringing of an individual. Although the exhibit was filled with silence and the sound of my shoe hitting the floor, as I walked through the exhibit and viewed the art, I was able to hear the voices of the artists through the expressive message of their art. Even if I did not understand the piece at first, I remained still and stared at the painting in depth. I would analyze the overall painting with the color choice, the background information, and the specific subject placement within the painting. This art exhibit is special, not only for the amplified voices it shares with visual art but also for its ability to grant an observer a broader understanding of art and perspective. 

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

Event Logistics  

(Thursday, October 24th, Bel Air Lounge, Craft & Chat: Magic with Mehndi)

#visualart

When I first saw the event Magic with Mehni, I knew I would make it a priority to attend. When I was a child, my sister and I loved henna and would use creativity, art, and design work to make our hands look as beautiful as possible. Celebrated worldwide, Mehni also known as Henna originated in Northern Africa, centuries ago and is today used as a symbol of beauty to celebrate the union of two individuals in marriage, being a symbol of prosperity, positivity, and good health. During this Craft and Chat, we learned about the history and significance of Mehndi, and how we can incorporate Mehndi into our daily lives on bags, hands, shirts, and more. The possibilities are endless with Mehndi and it is a way of beautifying anything and everything. As someone who loves learning about different cultures and traditions, I was thrilled to be a part of the “Magic with Mendhi” Craft and Chat. I hope to one day place emphasis on diverse cultures and explore their experiences and traditions. As a film major, I hope to continue to have an open mind and explore different cultures in media and art to see the different ways art can be integrated into daily life. The magic of Mehndi is incredibly beautiful and it was wonderful to see the art of henna transform a plain bag into something colorful and unique.