Hundreds of art lovers flocked to the Center for the Arts (CFA) for “Spring into Art” last Tuesday. Students sold their work at several tables, and a slew of performers took to the stage in what turned into a spectacular, art-filled night.
Upon walking in, the visitors were greeted with numerous signs and posters directing them to everything that was happening. To find the student art exhibits, follow the blue tape. To see the exhibit by Wuon-Gean Ho, follow the orange tape. This was a creative (and extremely helpful) tool at the event.
For some students, it was a nice break in the never-ending studying that goes along with the end of the semester.
“As a STEM major, I never really get to go to the CFA,” Paula Parsons, a freshman environmental science major, said. ”But I love art and crafting, so this was a really nice activity for me and my friends to take my mind off finals.”
The UB Center for the Arts hosted "Spring into Art" last week.
But for the size of the event, it seemed poorly advertised. There were no signs advertising the event in the weeks and days leading up to it. While the turnout was stellar, more people might have attended if they simply knew about it. It was a lost opportunity for many students.
“I didn’t realize it was so much more than the craft fair part,” Parsons said.
The student art sale was one of the first things viewers saw walking in. Crocheted hats and bags, prints of celebrities like Drake and Taylor Swift and various jewelry-makers lined the walls.
Off to one side, visitors could walk through an exhibit full of artwork created by students. Sculptures, paintings and minimalistic pieces filled the spaces.
The UB Center for the Arts hosted "Spring into Art" last week.
Abby Short’s exhibit, titled “Minimalism,” showcases everyday items found in a grocery store like laundry detergent, popular soda brands and more. She removes the colorful labels that make these brands recognizable and replaces them with a generic, minimalistic design.
Another exciting work was a 3D-printed sculpture, “I Can’t Live Without You,” that was designed by Cosima Herter and Marta de Menezes. Over the coming weeks, a fungus that will be placed in the glass case will eat away at the sculpture until it is completely gone.
In addition, dancers, singer-songwriters and bands took to a stage at the end of the atrium throughout the night, giving guests a chance to relax and enjoy their refreshments.
Standout performances included singer-songwriter and guitarist Ana-Maria Paul and the Zodiaque Dance Company.
Paul performed a cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic, “Dreams,” and an original song, “Picasso and Dora Maar.” Her airy vocals on top of her electric guitar were chilling and echoed throughout the atrium.
The Zodiaque Dance Company’s “A Pulsação” also left audience members in awe.
“I love Spring into Art, and how it brings all the different departments together to showcase what they have been working on during the semester,” Abby Hankinson, one of the Zodiaque performers and a dance major, said.
Another highlight was a performance of “A Cog in the Wheel” by a student group with the Department of Theatre and Dance.
The performance showcased the pressures that people, especially women, face as they are forced to conform to societal norms. The choreography used suit jackets to represent the conformity, each dancer being swallowed and strangled by their respective jacket.
Near the entrance was a screen room showcasing photography, video and other intricate visuals created by students. Visitors could break away from the rush of the crowd and easily immerse themselves in the work.
The UB Center for the Arts hosted "Spring into Art" last week.
The night ended with an artist talk upstairs showcasing British-Chinese printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho’s works in her exhibit, “The Heart’s Sight.”
The prints, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, were the most relatable of her work, showing the intensity, humor and intimacy of that time.
Ho led a small crowd through the exhibition and explained her personal relationship to the work, but also said that she wanted viewers to have their own relationship with it. She repeatedly said that she didn’t want to “tell” anyone how to feel about the work.
The night was full of artists showcasing their talents and sharing their craft with the crowd. It was both exciting and equally inspirational.
Nadia Bangaroo contributed to the reporting of this story.
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at josh.pawlik@ubspectrum.com
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor for The Spectrum. His hobbies include playing guitar, working out and reading. He can be found on Instagram @joshpawlik
