By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Magician Stuart MacDonald thanked the audience at his second Arts X show Saturday for attending the performance. “You are half the show,” he said.
That holds true, and even more so, for Arts X, the sprawling art extravaganza. Sometimes it’s hard to determine theater professor Michael Ellison, dressed in high 19th century fashion, is a living sculpture, or just an attendee.
Certainly Grace Mason with her high concept makeup looks like part of the show, but she was just visiting. “This is my usual look.” A digital arts student she was on her way to see animations by her sister and a friend when she stopped to check out the wares being sold by the Glass Student Organization.
“If I’m able to afford anything I’d love to support other artists,” she said.
Karlie Overstake, who was serving as a clerk at the glass sale, said she just loves seeing all the creativity on display.
“This is just a collection of the best art at BGSU both by students and our distinguished faculty,”said Meghan Cullen, a May graduate from the College of Musical Arts.
Sophi Hachtel, a senior at Bowling Green High School, is considering attending BGSU next year to study art.
She was impressed by the art in the Faculty Exhibit. “All the pieces have different emotions,” she said. “You can tell so much thought and energy was put into each one.”
Sawyer Stippich, a creative writing major, said: “It’s so inspiring for writers.” Last year a friend wrote a poem after watching the glass blowing at work in their studio during Arts X.
And it’s just a time to hang out with friends, a break from the usual school work.
With more than 80 activities planned it’s impossible to take in everything, and impossible not to encounter creativity around every corner. That may be the Game and Anime Music Ensemble— GAME — playing music from video games, or Gage Stephens with a mandarin rat snake wrapped around his arm.
The biology major was strolling through the crowds displaying Bokin, a snake from the university’s herpetarium. “They’re considered living art because of the different colors and patterns they display,” Stephens, a biology major and glass minor, said.
Dennis Wojkiewicz, the faculty member who was instrumental in launching the event 15 years ago, said it gets better every year.
This year because of the change in the semester schedule, the event was moved one week later, which put it at the beginning of finals week, instead of two weeks before.
That allows Arts X to include students’ final projects, so they don’t have to worry about getting ready for Arts X and then finals.
Arts X helped pioneer the university’s efforts to have more unity in its arts activities. Wojtkiewicz said that in preparing for Arts X he works with people from creative writing, dance, theater and film, and music. “I don’t know if I’d have contact with any of those people if we didn’t have this spurring us on. It can’t help but be beneficial for all the programs.”
