TRYathlon

Semester 4

As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of three art events during all four semesters. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.

TRYathlon I: Juried Student Show

Event Logistics February 16, 2024, The Stamp Gallery

Pentathlon category #visualart

I once again returned to the Stamp Gallery to see the newest Juried Student Show that is on display from February 5th-24th. Usually this show, which is made up entirely of graduate and undergraduate students, is during the winter semester. However, because of a few different circumstances the show was pushed to the beginning of this spring semester, which I for one am very happy about since it means I and so many others get to see the amazing work our peers create. This show has many different kinds of art throughout including sculpture, mixed media, and painting. I loved all of the different styles I got to see, everything was very unique and personal. According to the juror for the show, Professor Joshua Shannon, a common theme he noticed when reviewing all the submitted pieces was the body, either human or animal, so he decided to base the show around that. While walking around, I was reminded of a lot of the principles of our capstone projects. All of us have different mediums that interest us and different ideas we are researching, but we all still work together to create a cohesive final product. I also was reminded of the support I feel in my Scholars group as I supported my other peers who had their art displayed. We all work together even when we are separate and not conscious of it, the same way this exhibit seemed to come together.

TRYathlon II : The Little Mermaid

Event Logistics March 15th 2024, Washington Hall

Pentathlon category #film

With only three of us left in the suite as our other roommates had already gone home for break, my roommates and I thought we would take the opportunity to have a fun night in. After lots of debate over what movie we should watch, we finally decided on the new Little Mermaid movie. I had seen it when it first came out, but my roommate Nell hadn’t gotten the chance to enjoy it for herself, so I was very excited to experience it again with her. The Little Mermaid was my favorite princess movie when I was younger, so I loved when it was redone with Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel. Upon watching the movie again I was reminded of how perfect I thought she was as Ariel when I saw it in the theater. It felt really special and personal to sing along at home with my friends just like when we were little, and to realize that something we loved so much when we were young is continuing to be loved by young people today. It reminded me of something we talk about often in scholars: how we are all connected through art and how art can be passed down from person to person and be adapted over and over. The Little Mermaid story has been around for more than a hundred years and yet is still as beloved as when it first was written, and has been morphed in many ways to transcend time. I am so grateful to get to be around to experience this process.

TRYathlon 3: Pen Pals

Event Logistics March 27, 2024, Bel Air Hall

Pentathlon category #presentation #writing #artscholars

Although I grew up writing letters and postcards back and forth with my grandfather and long distance friends, it hasn’t been something I've had time to do recently. It always feels much easier to call or text- but there is something so personal about receiving a letter in the mail. It means that they cared enough to sit down and physically write up a page or more for you to receive. So, when I saw there was going to be a craft and chat centered around pen palling, I was stoked. It was so fun to get to use all the different materials such as stickers, washi tape, markers, etc. as well as to hang out with some of my fellow scholars. I ended up starting a letter to one of my close friends that lives out in California now- it felt really nice to have time to just sit and actually think about what to say. With school being busy I don’t have much time to do that anymore. This also reminded me of how much I love the community that Art Scholars has given me, and how nice it is to just sit and craft together in a no pressure environment.