2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
YU Community Prepares for Arts Festival 2008
Dovi Grossman
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Arts and Culture
Catering to the diversity of the students' background there will be a Sephardic event, with discussions about Sephardic culture set up in a Middle Eastern atmosphere. Also, there will be various shiurim leading up to and during the festival about art in the Torah and the rabbis' views on art in general, as well as a kumzitz workshop, for those of a more yeshivish inclination (and for others as well).
A little bit more off the beaten path, the festival team is working to set up a harmonica workshop to teach people the simple yet beautiful art of music. There is also an architectural aspect to the festival as there may be a tour of Muss Hall and its historical and architectural background. For those who like to be in the limelight or just enjoy free food and entertainment there will be an open-mic night at Dougie Doug's, perfect for my friend Liron. Many other events, competitions, and discussions are being planned but have not yet been finalized.
The main event of the arts festival is the gallery which will be an opportunity for the art students to exhibit their art. This art will include photography, sculptures and drawings, and is headed up by Yitzy Feigenbaum who is collecting the art for display. The aim of the gallery is to give students in YC, and specifically in the arts department, the chance to feel accomplished about their work and for the student body to truly be able to appreciate and create interest in the art department.
There are so many different events in the arts festival, that there will be things happening on both the Beren and WILF campuses at the same time. For those who are looking to find their artsy "bashert," a difficult choice will have to be made whether to attend the Beren or WILF events. Sort of like the seforim sale, the arts festival is an opportunity to mingle with the sophisticated colleagues of the Beren campus. Instead of sidling up to somebody at the seforim sale, glancing over at the cookbook they are perusing, and saying, "Do you enjoy cooking as much as I do?" students can now stare endlessly at a modern painting and say to the nearest person, "This reminds me of dark times mixed with lightness and a touch of sadness, sort of like a René Iché, Van Gogh, and Passantino all mixed as one" (something that cannot be done when looking over the latest Matisyahu CD).
There is a minority of students that believes that to round out their college experience they must dabble in a little bit of everything. These urbane forward thinkers understand the value of having a broader education. An argument that is made against art is that students just do not enjoy it. The students in the art class in YU gain an appreciation of art that helps them enjoy it. Like a good wine, a taste must be developed to open the mind to the more delicate intricacies of the arts. The goal of the festival is to offer that little taste to each student so that a better educated and more discerning student will result.
A little bit more off the beaten path, the festival team is working to set up a harmonica workshop to teach people the simple yet beautiful art of music. There is also an architectural aspect to the festival as there may be a tour of Muss Hall and its historical and architectural background. For those who like to be in the limelight or just enjoy free food and entertainment there will be an open-mic night at Dougie Doug's, perfect for my friend Liron. Many other events, competitions, and discussions are being planned but have not yet been finalized.
The main event of the arts festival is the gallery which will be an opportunity for the art students to exhibit their art. This art will include photography, sculptures and drawings, and is headed up by Yitzy Feigenbaum who is collecting the art for display. The aim of the gallery is to give students in YC, and specifically in the arts department, the chance to feel accomplished about their work and for the student body to truly be able to appreciate and create interest in the art department.
There are so many different events in the arts festival, that there will be things happening on both the Beren and WILF campuses at the same time. For those who are looking to find their artsy "bashert," a difficult choice will have to be made whether to attend the Beren or WILF events. Sort of like the seforim sale, the arts festival is an opportunity to mingle with the sophisticated colleagues of the Beren campus. Instead of sidling up to somebody at the seforim sale, glancing over at the cookbook they are perusing, and saying, "Do you enjoy cooking as much as I do?" students can now stare endlessly at a modern painting and say to the nearest person, "This reminds me of dark times mixed with lightness and a touch of sadness, sort of like a René Iché, Van Gogh, and Passantino all mixed as one" (something that cannot be done when looking over the latest Matisyahu CD).
There is a minority of students that believes that to round out their college experience they must dabble in a little bit of everything. These urbane forward thinkers understand the value of having a broader education. An argument that is made against art is that students just do not enjoy it. The students in the art class in YU gain an appreciation of art that helps them enjoy it. Like a good wine, a taste must be developed to open the mind to the more delicate intricacies of the arts. The goal of the festival is to offer that little taste to each student so that a better educated and more discerning student will result.
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Philippe Koutouzis
Philippe Koutouzis
posted 4/09/08 @ 1:32 PM EST
Dear Mr Grossman,
I am pleasantly surprised to read the name of René Iché (1897-1954) in your article. I love the work of this French sculptor. Forgotten in modern art history even though he was very important. (Continued…)
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