Students will be in the spotlight once again Nov. 6-14 during the third annual Spotlight on the Arts festival.
In addition to the more than 60 events sponsored by the UGA Arts Council during the 2014 festival, nearly two dozen events have been organized and produced by students, including DJs in Snelling Dining Hall, a flash mob, an Alfred Hitchcock film festival, a comedy show and several dramatic productions and musical performances.
In an inaugural event called “4 minutes, 33 seconds: Spotlight on Scholarship,” graduate students in the arts will have a chance to share their research with the community.
Inspired by John Cage’s 1952 composition 4’33”-which challenged audiences to reconsider the function of art and the borders between traditional art disciplines and between artistic practice and philosophy-students will have 4 minutes, 33 seconds to explain their research. Two prizes of $433 will be awarded during the competition, scheduled for Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. in the Chapel.
Students in the Music Business Program from the Terry College of Business are heavily involved in the production and promotion of the Spotlight • Slingshot Concert on College Square. The Nov. 8 concert features an orchestrated performance of Memphis band Big Star’s legendary “Third” album, with an all-star lineup featuring original Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, Mike Mills of R.E.M., Chris Stamey of the dB’s, Mitch Easter of Let’s Active, Pat Sansone of Wilco and Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, both of Big Star and The Posies, along with student musicians.
“There is a lot of talent and a rich culture of the arts here at UGA. It’s great to be able to showcase that,” said Katie Gregg, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic media in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, who has organized the Student Spotlight schedule.
Even as a student in the theatre and film studies department, Gregg said she was surprised to discover the wealth and breadth of student organizations focused on the arts, and she is excited to reveal their talent to the student body this November.
While Student Spotlight events will be held throughout the nine-day festival, many of the performances will be staged Nov. 13 during a “main event” at the Tate Student Center Plaza. That day, students can take a break between classes to watch improv skits, watch actors perform scenes and listen to a singer-songwriter perform original compositions. Students also have a chance to take the conductor’s baton for the Hodgson Wind Ensemble.