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Students take a stand for campus fine arts

Emerging artists and authors gathered at the at Dewey’s lounge on Friday evening to wrap up Fine Arts Friday, an all-day affair that celebrated the University of Alberta’s Fine Arts.

Arts students showcased their original work at the Spoken Word Gallery, showing off their talents and drawing attention to some of the programs that the U of A offers.

“Unity founded through the arts is an aspect of student life that is often overlooked,” said Kathryn Orydzuk, event coordinator from the Collective Body of Arts Students (CBAS).

Students from any discipline were able to submit artwork to be displayed during the event, which was geared to demonstrate faculty unity between the social sciences, the humanities, interdisciplinary studies and the fine arts at the student level.

“I feel that social sciences and humanities students get to be separated from the fine arts students, but that doesn’t have to be the case,” Orydzuk said.

“It is important that students become aware of the vast amount of culture we have on campus.”

Orydzuk believes that getting involved with student life on campus is an important aspect of the university experience, explaining that events like Fine Arts Friday are one of the many ways of getting involved on campus.

Dorothy Roberts, a CBAS board member, highlighted the event as a way to showcase the variety of programs available at the university.

“I think that people don’t realize some of the amazing programs we have (at the U of A),” Roberts said.

“We have one of the best BFA acting programs in the country. Our musicians are incredibly talented and I think that we need to have more emphasis on the fact that these programs exist.”

A wide range of topics and artistic styles were brought together for Fine Arts Friday, but organizers hope to broaden the event even further next year, possibly with buskers and dramatic stage fighters performing around campus.

“I’m in the writing program at the U of A, and I think there is so much talent that people don’t know about,” Roberts said.

“I wanted to help organize an event that would showcase all of that talent. I’m lucky enough to be in the program and to have written some things that people might want to hear, so I figured, why not?”

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