WarmheARTed finals-week greetings to all the study bugs cuddled up in Clemons- one reading day down and we’re already pARTway done (where IS December 16th?). If you’re anything like me, I’m certain you could use a procrastination break. Take a couple minutes and reflect on Student Arts initiatives from this past semester instead of studying for Econ.
…if you’re sick of reading already (my eyes hurt), please remember ONE THING. This coming March (the week following Spring Break), get ready for an arts celebration unlike any other. ARTS MADNESS is taking over UVA, featuring a myriad of CIO performances, a career fair, an art auction, our annual Arts Network reception, short courses, and so SO much more. We certainly hope you’ll pARTicipate.
Now, a look back on the fall-
1. ARTS ADVOCATES was a huge success. Appointed members of each dorm association encourage their peers to take advantage of arts events around grounds, as well as educate them on opportunities like UVa’s free ticket program and Final Fridays at the Art Museum. Many of the advocates are already involved with acapella, FYP, and other performance groups, and their willingness to share their artistic passion with others is truly refreshing and inspiring. They make this old third year feel ten years younger.
2. Responding to a post on SpeakUpUVa, we spoke to the Old Cabell secret-holders and requested Wi-Fi in the practice rooms, as well as the extension of hours on Sundays. The practice modules are now open three hours earlier at 11 AM. Please take advantage of this benevolence on Old Cabell’s behalf- we want this change to stick around! http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2011/10/17/old-cabell-expands-hours/
3. During what was possibly one of the best weekends of the semester, UVa beat Georgia Tech at our Homecomings game and celebrated by storming the field. I’m convinced this victory was due in large pART to the enormous undergrad support resuscitated by student groups like StudCo and UPC. In a week filled with spirited events, Student Arts sponsored a mural contest on the Free Expression wall at the downtown mall. We also organized a banner contest for the first year dorms; the winners received recognition on the jumbotron and on the field during the game (congratulations again to Watson-Webb for their stunning effort). Ohill windows were also painted thanks to a pARTnership with Building and Grounds.
4. Pumpkin and face painting during Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn is always a favorite committee event. Though some committee members were more skillful than others, we all enjoyed decorating the cheeks of tots in cute costumes with a repertoire of images that was limited to non-challenging shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, and heARTs. One bright young lass requested that I paint happiness on her cheek; I’m still trying to figure out what that would look like.
5. The 2011 Independent Student Art Project Fund supported the artistic vision of six talented artists who will use the funding to enrich the UVa community with their projects. In the interest in the length of this post, look for another note from us in near future with more detail about the recipients and their projects.
6. We are committed to a dialogue about the lack of student performance space at UVa, and we fully intend to carry this conversation into the spring semester.
When we weren’t busy doing the serious stuff, our committee did what it does best- take advantage of the trillions of performances and art events that we have at our fingertips here at UVa. We laughed at the Whethermen, cried at Parade, bought 23 tickets to the VA Film Festival, ate our weight in cheese on Final Fridays, did our holiday shopping at UPC’s Artisan Bazaar, and let the Virginia Gentlemen serenade us with their beautiful voices. Come next semester, we encourage you to do the same- let’s kickstART 2011 with full immersion in the world of art, leading up to mid-march and the epic week of Arts Madness. Have a fantastic break!
