By ROBIN STANTON GERROW
BG Independent News
Movie premieres, improv performance groups and musical ensembles, along with guest artist the Gabriel Brass Band are all on deck for this year’s ArtsX on the campus of Bowling Green State University, 5-9 p.m., Dec. 6.
In addition to several performances by the Gabriel Brass Band, highlights this year also include interactive digital arts exhibits, the return of the Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Nakamoto Gallery and a performance by the Game and Anime Ensemble (GAME) playing music from video games and anime.
“GAME is an enormous ensemble with a large following,” said one of the organizers, Abigail Cloud, a teaching professor and editor of the “Mid-American Review.” “I tried to get in last year, and the room was packed. They are always a lot of fun and are really popular on campus.”
This year’s theme, “Process,” reflects both the idea of the process of creation, but also thinking of the word in terms of the processions of bands.
“Each year kind of has a stamp on it as to what the theme is,” Cloud said. “That has led to having guest artists from one of the disciplines. It could be something unusual, such as an illusionist or a circus artist. This year, Gabriel Brass Band will be performing, and they are a New Orleans-style jazz band, a processional-style jazz band. The theme has started to be integrated with the guest artist, and that guest artist has become a hallmark of ArtsX. Our students can attend a workshop with the guest artist, and then that artist also has an event, a workshop, or a performance in one of the schools in Bowling Green.”
Cloud said one of the exciting parts of the Gabriel Brass Band performance is that they will be moving around both the Fine Arts Center and the Wolfe Center for the Performing Arts, giving everyone a chance to take part.
“The extra fun part of that is that ArtsX participants and guests will be able to learn what it is like to be in a second line, which is the traditional procession,” she said. “We’ll get a real celebration going, and we’ll do it in both buildings so everybody has the opportunity to experience the guest artists.”
After more than 20 years, Cloud said the event has grown from a few arts groups doing activities and sales to an event that spans two buildings and draws about 1,000 attendees.
“It started mainly in the Fine Arts Center for holiday sales from student groups like the Ceramics and Clay Club,” she said. “Then some other student organizations for printmaking and glass wanted to join in and it started to accumulate over the years to involve more of the arts units. Collaboration among the university arts has become stronger, and we’re working on more mutual projects. The student organizations still have the holiday sales; it’s also become exhibitions and activities.”
Cloud said one of the best qualities of ArtsX is how it reaches across campus and the community.
“It’s grown into an event that goes well beyond the border of the university arts programs,” she said. “The calls for proposals are open to any artist on campus. So, an individual artist in the business school can come and exhibit, or you might see a performer majoring in physics. It encompasses all of the arts we have on campus.”
