By JULES SHINKLE
BG Independent News
The exuberant sounds of brass and drums ricocheted through the halls of Saturday’s ArtsX, BGSU’s annual arts showcase. “Process” was the theme this year, exemplified by the guest artist ensemble – Gabriel Brass Band.
The New Orleans-style parade band was hard to miss, having marched through both the Wolfe Center for the Arts and the Fine Arts Center over the course of the evening. Those on the receiving end of the trumpets and trombones were beckoned to join the second line trailing behind. It was a joyous processional.
One of the best parts of ArtsX is the sheer variety of disciplines on display. The Wolfe Center lobby alone housed a puppeteer, stilt walkers, sea shantees, dance teams, and more. Its central staircase was lined with costumes from recent theater productions. There’s something for everybody at ArtsX.
After the Gabriel Brass Band, the BGSU student-led GAME (Game and Anime Music Ensemble) took the main stage. The main set featured an orchestra trading songs with a rock band, followed by a second set of smaller ensembles made up of GAME members (collectively known as Side Quests). Impressively, the video game scores and anime theme songs performed were transcribed and orchestrated by GAME itself.
In the adjacent Fines Arts Center, dozens of art clubs had set up shop. Prints, photographs, glass and ceramics were on sale to raise funds for their respective clubs. The print-making studio held their traditional custom screen printed T-shirt sale.
Curious visitors were rewarded for exploring beyond the main thoroughfares. Tucked away in classrooms were exhibits focused on a single student’s artwork. The glassmakers and metalworkers held demonstrations of their process.
The School of Art’s ongoing exhibitions were in their last throes before the semester’s close. It was the public’s last chance to catch the 2025 BFA Thesis Exhibition in addition to the final weekend the “Italy in the Artist’s Imagination” gallery would stay up.
The bustling atmosphere kept people flowing through the buildings, many looking down to consult a map and program. The amount of art to experience made it nearly impossible for one person to see and hear it all – luckily, a number of the performing groups and studios are regulars at ArtsX.
Behind every work of art is a process. Many of Saturday’s exhibitions were made to grant insight into that process, giving the audience a peek behind the curtain. From massive backdrop paintings for an opera to long form improv comedy, ArtsX visitors were invited to consider just what it takes for art to come together.
