Semester 3

Arts TRYathlon #1: NextNOW

Event Logistics (9/10/2024, Bel Air Lounge, Craft and Chat: Artistic Impressions Mural)

(#Mural #visualart)

For my First TRYathlon of Sophomore year, I went to the Craft and Chat hosted by TA Conell. When I got there, he had two large pieces of brown paper laid out for everyone to begin painting and decorating. He purposely gave minimal instructions so everyone had full creative freedom with whatever they wanted to do. Since I am currently taking an Astronomy course, I had the idea to make colorful circles that reminded me of planets. A Mural about art at UMD makes me think about the universal application of art for students from all over, which is why I thought that planets would be especially fitting in this mural. I was very proud of my little abstract planets! It was fun to work with the different colors available and mix them to create different combinations. My favorite was the bright green and yellow one I made. I enjoyed this activity a lot, it was especially fun to look around the table and see everyone working and planning. It was a good activity to meet some of the freshmen while we listened to music and passed around art supplies. Seeing the end product with everyone's different art styles and mediums was very special.

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

Event Logistics (10/9/2024, Craft & Chat, Friendship Bracelet Making)

(#crafts)

For my second TRYathlon of sophomore year, I decided to attend a Craft and Chat hosted by TA Melody where we were going to be making friendship bracelets. I knew I wanted to go to this Craft and Chat because making friendship bracelets sounded like a fun and easy activity. However, I ended up being more stressed than excited to attend because it happened to fall on an extremely busy and stress-filled day for me. When I got there, I learned that we were going to be making bracelets with a special technique called kumihimo. I actually remember making these kinds of friendship bracelets with my mom-mom when I was little. She would introduce all different types of crafts to my sister and I when we were little. When I made the kumihimo bracelets with my mom-mom, I remember being very intrigued by the technique but I ended up messing up and quickly becoming very frustrated. I also remember it taking very long. During the Craft and Chat, it was a little confusing at first but everyone ended up picking it up very quickly. The technique is so simple but it creates such an intricate end product that looks really impressive. It was relaxing and I loved how the colors of the string I chose came together.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

Event Logistics (11/3/2024, Met Opera on Demand Student Access, Der Rosenkavalier)

(#music)

For my third TRYathlon of sophomore year, I got inspiration from the Arts Scholars website to watch an opera from the Met Opera on Demand Student Access. Although I do not know much about it, I have a great appreciation for opera because The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite movies of all time. My grandma took me to see the play when I was in elementary school and I have probably watched the movie version once a month since then. I watched the performance Der Rosenkavalier. I only watched the first act, as the entire performance was 3 hours and 20 minutes. It was not in English but it was not difficult to follow along. Opera is such an emotional performance that most everything made sense. This inspires me for my Capstone project, because sometimes you might be conveying a theme through art that some don't entirely understand, but it will impact your audience regardless if they can feel the emotion that you put into it. The story was a romantic fairy tale and the singing, background music, and set design was amazing. The introduction at the beginning gives the musicians in the symphony a spotlight and it reminded me of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra that I got to see in the Clarice for an Arts Scholars field trip last year.

Page updated

Report abuse