Art fosters change

This quarter I have been in a voice and speech training class through the School of Theater. The class discusses the importance of communicating in a coherent way, namely through the delivery of speech. But what I’ve realized is that making your voice heard doesn’t always mean the literal way, as in the poetry and speech exercises in my class, but also pertains to what artists strive to do with every piece of art they create.

As I was sitting in my English class last week listening to student presentations and one of my peers cited this quote from former National Endowment for the Arts board member Bill Strickland:

“Creativity is the catalyst for change.”

This statement got me thinking about the massive amounts of art we take in every day that cause a stir, or at least make us step back and think about our society or our actions in general.

In high school, I performed in social action plays with a local theater company, and developing the passion and proximity to the subjects we were addressing to the audience really pushed me to develop my voice on stage, literally in my vocal performance and figuratively as an actor trying to portray such deep and difficult topics.

Art that aims to create some sort of social change is abundant on a college campus, putting students, faculty and staff and the surrounding community in a unique position to hear the voices of countless young artists.

This quarter, student artists have performed such crowd-shocking, yet poignant shows such as “The Vagina Monologues,” a series of one-act, one person scenes exploring the ups and downs women face, and more tame yet comical performances by Ohio University’s improvisation troupe, Black Sheep, Inc.

Black Sheep, Inc. performing in the Front Room.

Students that are not involved in a group or in a specific production often take advantage of open mic nights at venues like Donkey Coffee and the Front Room. My friend and roommate Jenna Siska discussed this on her blog.

No matter what your passion, I challenge you to make your voice heard, across the room as in my voice class, or across the world if you have that kind of ambition.

My top art experiences at Ohio University

As you can see from one of my most recent posts, I have been fortunate in that I’ve gotten to experience a lot of different art in a lot of different places. But some of my most memorable art experiences have happened right here on the Ohio University campus. I’ve compiled a Top 5 list to commemorate some of these experiences:

5) McCracken Art Expo: As an intern for the College of Education, I helped plan and promote the third annual McCracken Art Extravaganza Silent Auction. Students from South Elementary School had their art on display in the halls of McCracken and visitors could bid on the artwork. It was such a neat experience getting to see the excitement on the children’s faces when they saw their work displayed and sold.

Photo from http://www.coe.ohiou.edu

4) “No. 6: Portraits in an Appalachian Coal Mining Town”: Last year, a friend of mine whom I used to do theater with in Charleston, WV, choreographed a dance about the difficult life of miners and their families in Appalachia as her senior thesis for the Honors Tutorial College. I usually have a difficult time understanding modern dance, but this piece told an amazing story.


Photo by Sean Howlett

3) “Rent”: I saw the Broadway tour of “Rent” during the winter of my freshman year. The show, brought to Athens by the OHIO Performing Arts Series, showcased a lot of issues our generation faces, and was performed by an amazing cast of artists. The show, which premiered on Broadway in 1996, was made into a movie in 2005, which attracted a new generation of Rent lovers, another testament to its broad themes and brilliant artistic strengths.

Photo from www.broadwayworld.com

2) “Glee”: The first episode of this hit show choir dramedy aired in early September 2009, right after the start of fall quarter. My roommates and I started watching it together and it has proven an awesome bonding experience, not to mention we’re addicted to the music. The show pretty much explains my life in high school, as I was a four-year member of show choir and can really identify with the scenarios in “Glee.” Our viewing party numbers increased as the quarter went on, and we are anxiously awaiting the show’s return in April.

Photo from perezhilton.com

1) Spring Awakening: As a theater minor, I am required to do a certain amount of practicum work to obtain my degree. Winter quarter of my freshman year I took part in a costume practicum where I made costumes for the main stage show, “Spring Awakening.” I have traditionally been a performer only, so it was an awesome experience getting to see the behind the scenes workings of a show and getting to see garments I made on stage in action.

Photo from samantha-patterson.com

I look forward to experiencing much more art during my final year and a half at OHIO.

What arts experiences have you had on campus?

"Marisol" proves another School of Theater success

Photo courtesy of The Post

I recently posted a video showcasing the behind the scenes aspects of putting on the School of Theater’s production, “Marisol,” written by Jose Rivera. I finally got the chance last Thursday to see the show in its entirely, and was thoroughly impressed.

The show was set in New York City at a time where the “global body” was sick. Apples and coffee were extinct and people were being murdered in the streets.

It was an apocalyptic scenario, and the guardian angels of the world were planning an uprising against a “senile” god. You can read more about the plot in this New York Times review from 1993, when the play premiered in New York City.

The School of Theater never fails to put on a great show. The costumes were great, the set amazing and the acting was above par as usual.

I’ve seen countless School of Theater productions since coming to OHIO and something that stands out to me is the energy between the characters. Growing up in theater, I’ve seen and taken part in a lot of shows that have individually dynamic characters but together they simply clash. The relationships, close or otherwise, in School of Theater productions, are consistently believable and stand out.

What I really love about seeing live theater is how it forces you to collectively experience things with other members of the audience. I love listening to the people beside me whispering about what’s happening on stage, and even chime in every once in a while.

I also love when theater addresses current and relevant issues, which is often, but it’s particularly great when several days after the show you are still trying to wrap your head around the ideas.

“Marisol” was a very dense show and boggled my mind. Luckily for me, my instructor for Voice and Speech Training, Casiha Felt, just happened to play the lead role in “Marisol” and let us ask questions about the show in class on Tuesday. It was neat hearing others' opinions of the show and I loved hearing Casiha’s point of view.

I think most plays and art forms in general are supposed to be interpreted however the audiences sees them, but for me this does not necessarily mean only one audience member’s interpretation. What’s so great about being on a college campus is the fact that I know a lot of the students who are frequent theatergoers and therefore have the opportunity to discuss it with them. I look at every opinion as a way to broaden my understanding of the particular piece.

I encourage you to take in as much art as you can, because I think it helps you make sense of the world and what is going on around you. In this particular show, a main theme was addressing the fact that people tend to avert personal responsibility because they think a higher power will take care of everything, Jose Rivera makes the point that we must take responsibility into our own hands and not sit back and “watch the world burn” in the case of “Marisol.” This really hit home for me in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, because it seems that sometimes we turn our heads and pretend that others don’t need our help, when in fact there is so much more we can do.

These are only my opinions--I would love to hear what YOU think.

Art outside of Athens

While in college, particularly at Ohio University, students find themselves separated from the rest of the world, sometimes in a form of isolation. Athens is such a small town and, while it provides plenty of unique artistic experiences to students, university employees and the community, it is important to remember that there is a lot of great art happening outside our city as well.

Sometimes, you just need to get away from the weekend party going and barhopping and experience new places. I’ve compiled a map of some of my favorite places I’ve been to experience art.


View Art Across America in a larger map

Finding art where I least expected it

As I’ve grown up, I keep refining my definition of “art” and what it takes to be an “artist” and questioning whether or not I can describe myself as an “artist.” Yes, I love performing and I have done so for as long as I can remember, but I’m beginning to realize that performing or painting or directing or dancing are not the only things that qualify as art.

I’ve talked a lot about this in my blog (see “What does art mean to you?”) and have been amazed at the responses I’ve gotten from fellow students about their definitions of art, and the responses have really opened up my eyes to something I never realized before.

My new definition of “art”: there is no definition. Art is everywhere, and usually in places where we least expect it. I’ve heard time and again in my journalism classes that journalism is about telling a story, and I listen and nod my head that I agree, and it finally hit me: this is my new art.

Art is all about telling a story. Everyone has a story, but tells it in a different way. As I’ve gotten more involved in my major and really had the chance to experience pretty technical writing, I’ve started to find the art of crafting a message. The feeling that I get when I piece together the words just right to encompass the story in the best possible way, I feel like I just painted a Mona Lisa.

I truly miss performing on stage and wouldn’t trade the experiences I had growing up in the theater, but I know I’m starting a new chapter of my life. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I may not have time to participate in theater for a while, but I’ve found I love public relations almost as much as I love being on stage.

I think whatever our true passion is in life is becomes our art. Some of us may take longer to figure it out, while others of us are lucky to find our niche quickly.

I challenge you to find your art, and don’t let anyone else define it for you.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. What is your art?

Revisiting the meaning of art

In a previous post I discussed the different ways people view art. I’ve received a few more answers from fellow Ohio University students since then and would like to share them with you.

“I think if you are creating something unique with the intention of presenting it to an audience and want to have an active dialogue about, that is art. Art cannot be personal - at all - you can't create something and then never let anyone see it. Art has to be shared. It's essential.” –Conor Hogan, senior telecommunications major
“In high school we had a revolving dark room door and I loved how every time you entered and exited, it was like coming and going into two different worlds. I've never felt so comfortable doing something before, like I was always meant to do it. Art means everything to me, particularly photography.” –Jen Lin, junior photography and French major

“Art is a form of expression. It can take place in any format (even though it's mostly considered "art" if it falls under the fine arts categories of music, painting, sculpture, etc.) But it goes beyond that. Art comes from being passionate about what it is that inspires you. I believe it is completely possible to be an artist in your own right, in your own way, in your own field, professionally and recreationally.” –Sam Browning, junior public relations major

I really like all of the responses I’ve gotten and believe in all of them. As a theater minor I've taken numerous theater and fine arts classes and there is one thing that is repeated over and over again: art is not created in a vacuum. Not only does it define us as artists, but it defines the world around us.

My art of choice: musicals.

Art is in the eye of the beholder

I recently visited the Multicultural Gallery in Baker University Center, which is currently home to the second annual “Women of Appalachia” art exhibit. The display is a collaborative of Appalachian women who have come together to celebrate their creations, but also to provide a place of comfort and companionship to each other in a unique way. (For more background on the group, visit their Web site.)

I got to the gallery around 11 a.m. and was the only person visiting it at the time. The first thing I noticed was how open it seemed—there were two sets of doors open and, while there was a lot of art on display, the room was free of clutter and created a very inviting atmosphere.

It was neat experiencing the exhibit as the only observer. I’ve visited many galleries with friends or family, and somehow I always feel rushed to move on to the next display at the same pace as those I am with, which doesn’t allow me to take in the art as fully as I would like. My experience in the Multicultural Gallery was refreshing in that I observed at my own pace, spent more time with pieces I connected with and skipped over those that didn’t seem to speak to me artistically.

Below is a sample of the art displayed in the gallery:



While the pieces were all very different, the general feeling I got from all the art was a feeling of strength, pride and support that accompanies the camaraderie between the women behind the art.

What does art mean to you?

It is my belief that we all view art in a different way, but it can be equally beneficial to everyone just the same. Some of us may listen to music to get us through a rough week at school or work, some of us sing in the shower to pump ourselves up for the day ahead and some of us may play piano or guitar or another instrument to relieve stress.

In an effort to better understand how my peers experience art, I sent out a message on Facebook to Ohio University students asking a simple question: What does art mean to you? Here are some of the responses:

“Art is a form of self-expression that communicates how you see the world.” – Sandi Combs, public relations major

“For me, art is very malleable—it can either be very personal, or very public. It can be used to express emotion, or to make a political statement. It is almost always powerful.” – Rue Khalsa, Carr Van Anda major

“Art is a blurring of the line that segregates the mundane and the divine. In whatever form it is expressed, art is the manifestation of inspiration, summoned from the infinite void of potential. When given form, it then serves as a conduit for others to experience that mystic spark, ultimately reconnecting the observer to the observed to the source. By this definition, art, for me, can be anything from a masterpiece on a wall, to the dancing of trees in the wind, to the elegant lines of a lover's moonlit body.” – Scott Eardley, chemical engineering major

“Art is a creative way of expressing yourself, or getting behind others’ feelings.” – Devin Hughes, public relations major

"Art is the expression of emotion and personality to tell a story." – Jenna Siska, magazine journalism major

"Art is an expression of creativity that shows who you are inside. I don't think that what is art to one person is necessarily art to someone else." – Annie White, public relations major

For me, art is an escape. Whether it is a performance, a form of visual art or simply listening to your iPod while you study, it is my opinion that art can make us feel virtually any emotion, and is one of the most powerful things in our lives because of that.

It's Showtime!

John F. Kennedy once said, “We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”

From a young age, art has been my truth, my escape and my true passion. My life would not be complete without it. Whether on stage myself or in the audience, I have never been happier than when I am experiencing art.

Art is the one thing in my life that remains constant. It is always there, ever-present to challenge me to think in new ways.

I am creating this blog not only because I want to share my love of art with others, but because I want to explore the uniqueness of experiencing the arts on a college campus. Whether it is through the ways we view art, the specific types of art, or participating in art ourselves, I believe we, as college students, will never experience the arts in the same way ever again, and my blog will be a way to preserve that experience.

In this blog, I hope to push myself to look critically at art and to find it in places I have not discovered before.

It is my opinion that art is not reaching its full potential if it cannot be discussed, critiqued and shared. I hope that you will join me in this discussion because I believe we can all help each other view art in new and exciting ways. After all, “all the world’s a stage,” and the spotlight is waiting for each of us.