University Libraries hosts Interdisciplinary Arts Festival

Join Ohio University Libraries and the School of Interdisciplinary Arts (IARTS) Nov. 14-18 in Alden Library and Glidden Hall for the “Interdisciplinary Arts BFA Capstone Festival.”

The creative work showcases the culmination of six performance and installation projects by students in the new capstone course, IARTS 4710, which enables upper-level students pursuing a BFA in IARTS flexibility to explore multiple areas of concentration.

“The capstone project is a way for the students to develop their portfolio and take a step toward their desired career path,” Dr. Garrett Field, associate professor of ethnomusicology/musicology and advisor to students in the new undergraduate program, said. “We have students who want to explore theater and music, or students who want to compose music for film, [and] for those students, this program gives them more flexibility to explore a variety of areas.”

The IARTS Festival is a celebration of individual student work and an acknowledgement of the collaborative work that enabled a sparking of ideas for final capstone projects. One such collaboration was with Michele Jennings, art librarian, and a team of University Libraries’ librarians who introduced a vast array of thought-provoking primary resources.

“[Jennings] led a workshop called, ‘Archival Literacy for Artists,’ [and] she brought in lorraine wochna, Carla Williams, Dr. Miriam Intrator, Laura Smith, Greta Suiter and William Kimok. It was such an amazing [meeting],” said Field.

Jennings, Williams and wochna met again with the six capstone students to discuss the logistics of their creative work and to help finalize projects, which meant for Williams, a pianist and harpsichordist, accompanying Aliyah Graham in her capstone project, “One-Woman Cabaret,” on Nov. 15 from 4:30-5 p.m. in the Music and Dance Library in Glidden Hall. 

The five other student performances and installations include:

• Abe Haprian: "The Hedgehog's Dilemma,” a music-video installation about the challenges of human intimacy, Nov. 14 from 4-8 p.m. in room 255 in Alden Library.
• Reagan Bramlish: "We Always Do (Survive),” a music-video photojournalism project about mental health and poverty, Nov. 16 from 10-11 a.m. in room 251 in Alden Library.
• Elliott Nagler:"Biojacked: The Art of Roleplay,” an improvisatory role-playing game designed by Nagler, Nov. 16 from 5-6 p.m. in room 251 in Alden Library.
• Nathan Stanley: “Worse than Alright,” a live performance of scenes from his play about friends who meet for the first time after one attempted suicide, Nov. 17 from 4-5 p.m. in room 513 in Alden Library.
• Angela Joy Baldasare: “Moments Alone,” a song installation with headphones for listeners to experience the songs Baldasare wrote, produced and performed, Nov. 18 from 3-6 p.m. in room 318 in Alden Library.

Although this is the first time for the “Interdisciplinary Arts BFA Capstone Festival,” the University Libraries’ librarians working on the student projects were pleased with the collaborative process and eager to engage with the capstone students again.

Field underscores that sentiment, “I am so blessed. They [librarians] are like these angels helping me out here.”

For more information, contact Michele Jennings or Dr. Garrett Field.