More than 100 art displays filled the University arts buildings Friday evening in a “Wonderland of Talent” for the School of Art’s ninth annual ArtsX event.
The free event gave students and faculty a chance to showcase their music, theater, dance, film and other art skills to the community in a single package at the Fine Arts Center, Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts and Kobacker Hall in the Moore Musical Arts building.
Junior Desiree Holton, a film production major whose award-winning film, “Polaroid,” was showcased at the event, said ArtsX plays an important role by allowing students and faculty to share their artistic message to the largest amount of people as possible.
“The more publicity that you get as an artist and the more that your art is seen, whether it’s a film, a piece of art or a performance, that just boosts your name in the community and also lets more people hear your message, whatever that message is that you’re trying to get across,” Holton said.
Community members were treated to everything from gibberish songs created on the spot to an aerial dance performance from a University instructor in the Eva Marie Saint Theatre.
Erin Garber-Pearson, an instructor in the School of Art, participated in ArtsX for the second year by performing the aerial silk act called “Anastomic Path” with two of her friends. She said she enjoys the opportunity to perform in front of the community.
“We come out here just because it is a free event and it brings all aspects of the art community together, so we love doing it,” Garber-Pearson said. “I think we need more [art events].”
Senior Ilyssa Pelts, a film production major who helped with film presentations, said ArtsX lets all the art departments come together and gain support for their talent.
“It’s a great opportunity and it’s a great way for all the different art departments to mesh a little bit and it’s a great way to support all the arts at Bowling Green,” she said.
One of the event’s highlights was “Cinema Optique!,” a continuous presentation of live action and 3D animated films projected on the south side of the Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts, making it the largest architectural screen in Ohio at 250 feet, according to the School of Art’s website.
The evening also featured a festival series of musical performances from artists like the New York-based a cappella group the New York Polyphone, who sang songs from their album like “I Sing the Birth” in Kobacker Hall. The festival series also included artists like soprano Kisma Jordan, a University alumna and the BG Philharmonia, an orchestral ensemble at the University.
Junior Elsa Vogel, a graphic design major and member of the event’s marketing team, said events like ArtsX let the community see what the University’s art program has to offer.
“The arts are essential to any education program and I think it’s great that we’re able to present an event to show the rest of the public and everyone those things because most people don’t know the great art program we have here,” she said.
