Semester 2

Arts TRYathlon #1: Choose Your Own Adventure

February 13, 2024, Bel Air Lounge, Valentines Day Chocolate Making

#chocolate, #valentinesday, #teamwork

This tryathalon experience was something I initially thought to be unorthodox when looked at artistically. I have always believed that baking was an artistic activity, however in my mind that was typically only associated with high end pastries and cakes you see on TV. This event, especially when paired with my Alternative Art workshop, reminded me that many things are artistic outside of the traditional sense. This experience also helped me to apply the skills of teamwork I have been developing throughout the past semester, most notably in my ENES100 robot project, as well as the group curation we did in CPSA100. During the event, my group was able to communicate well and collaborate on the different steps of melting, swirling, and decorating chocolate hearts to create an end product that was not only pleasing to the eye but also delicious. Farthing this sense of community outside of the Bel Air Lounge, I was able to pass my share of the chocolates on as a gift to my girlfriend for Valentine’s day. Overall, this experience was a surprisingly fun and unexpected opportunity to do something positive as a group with people I likely wouldn’t have spoken much to otherwise. I look forward to the next community event to try something else that’s new to me!

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

March 13, 2024, Clarice Choral Rehearsal Room, Interview with Meshell Ndegeocello

#BASS, #thoughtfulthinking, #professionalopinion

When I left Bel Air to attend this talk, I had absolutely no idea what I was in for. Upon reaching the room the talk would take place in, Meshell almost immediately approached me to shake my hand and ask about my major, as well as musical history. This unexpected gesture of kindness and curiosity was very refreshing when compared to other events I had attended within the past few days, like an overly formal communications professional lecture that felt distant, impersonal, and boring. This experience however, captivated me and left me genuinely enthralled in the discussion taking place before me. Most interestingly to me, Meshell spoke quite a lot about the connection that music provides between all people, and how she believes no one group owns the right to create something over another. I found these words particularly thought provoking when the conversation moved on to technology, a topic very relevant today in music, and equally as applicable to my major. Hearing an actual musical creator’s perspective on generative use of artificial intelligence got me thinking about my own hobbies and interests that link engineering and science into music and art. After the event was over, I was compelled to wait around after and have a conversation with Meshell, and we just talked about creating analog circuitry and audio effects, something I have been exploring lately as I learn more about the science and physics behind sound and electricity. Overall, I really enjoyed the event and the opportunity to listen and talk to someone so influential in the world of modern music.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

March 28, 2024, Bel Air Picnic Tables, Trinkets and S'mores

#community, #egghunt, #smoresnsunset

This Art Scholars event was yet another chance to talk to some of my arts peers who I had previously not really interacted with all while enjoying some s’mores and Easter festivities. What I believe set this one apart from the others food based events (like valentines chocolate making, for example), was the location being outside. I feel like this event happily showed that spring is finally here, and the encouragement to spend time outdoors got me excited for what is yet to come in the coming weeks. The egg hunt also encouraged me to explore the Cambridge community with a more attentive eye, allowing me to notice new things about my community. Notably, while looking for the bright pastel colored eggs, I realized that there is much more trash throughout the courtyard than I had ever previously noticed. This was especially important for me to notice because it ties in so perfectly with my COMM107 class, where I am giving a presentation on the importance of stopping plastic pollution this coming Monday. I was inspired to pursue this topic in COMM largely due to my parents raising me with an eye for environmentalism, as well as my recent interest in sustainable energy in the context of engineering summer internships. Regardless of all that, the event was quite fun and a great opportunity to hang out with some arts scholars who do not live in Bel Air.

Page updated

Report abuse