Semester 4

Arts TRYathlon #1: Choose Your Own Adventure

Event Logistics 2/18/26, The Clarice, Transient

#visualart, #music #dance, #film

Due to university and lack of free time, I was not able to attend an event in person, so I opted to stream something from The Digital Clarice. Transient caught my attention with its pleasing yet monochromatic color palette in its thumbnail photo. True to its thumbnail, the entire film consists of these monochrome colors, set in the same space throughout its entire duration. I found the way the dancers moved in particular hypnotizing, with their movements feeling very fluid and almost natural to them. After reading the short explanation under the film, I can understand why they chose dance as their medium, and I can definitely see how it is expressed through their movements. This piece is supposed to explore the conflicting feelings every person has about their own individuality, and being part of society. I can see this expressed through how the dancers always seem close to each other. In some sections of the film, they grow closer and more intimate, dancing with each other and touching, while in other sections they are completely alone and just dancing by themselves. This clearly parallels the message and theme of the film as a whole. I think this event demonstrates how art can function as a mechanism for building community in the way it shows how people can have their own identities as well as being a part of others. The way it expresses community in the film and how it doesn’t always look like one is how I believe it can function as a way of educating people about how relationships are, and bringing them closer together.

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

Event Logistics 3/15/26, Digital Clarice, Makaya McCraven: This Place That Place (Live)

#music #concert

For this TRYathlon I decided to stream another performance from the Digital Clarice, and chose to listen to the short live performance of This Place That Place by Makaya McCraven. I've attended my fair share of orchestral and classical recitals, so listening and watching to one that featured a jazz song was new to me. Jazz is not something I regularly listen to, so hearing the differences between it and different genres of music I am familiar with was interesting. I particularly appreciated the non-linear feel to the melody and beat, how the rhythms of each instrument didn't line up exactly but still created one cohesive song, and how some instruments like the trombone and clarinet got their own solos. I think this event illustrates the ways art can function as a mechanism for building community in its nature of being a live performance. Because it is essentially a live concert, it's safe to assume that many people in the background were listening to the music as well. People of all different backgrounds gathered to this live to appreciate this form of art, something that they might really enjoy, and want to feel the community of other people around them also enjoying the atmosphere and jazz. I think these live performances are a great way to bring together people who hold similar interests, and naturally spark a sense of community.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Arts Scholars Event

Event Logistics 2/19/26, Maker Mixer, Threads and Trinkets: Patchwork Keychains

#visualart, #crafts #diy

I signed up and attended the Threads and Trinkets Maker Mixer because I love handmaking and collecting small trinkets to keep. A couple of friends kept me company as we all worked on our own individual keychains. It was nice to practice my familiarity with blanket stitches which I used for the outline around the keychain and I ended up being really happy with the one I made, which ended up taking a lot longer than I expected. It's now a nice addition to my bag, and I'm especially fond of the fact that this trinket is something I made by recycling scrap fabric that was otherwise going to go to a landfill. To answer prompt #4, I believe this activity helped me be more social since it's with people and crafts that I am more familiar with. I tend to not speak in events with so many people, but I felt more comfortable with my mind preoccupied with something else rather than focusing all of my energy socializing. With people I know I also felt more at ease since almost everyone in Art Scholars is a familiar face now. It was enjoyable to see our community all working on the same craft and helping others out when they were confused or had difficulty with what they were doing.

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