Arts Amplified – Arts Across Campus
by Bailey Basham, Messenger Staff Writer
Arts Amplified is the latest project to come from the University Art Gallery. This week, the exhibit will be presented in conjunction with the theatre department’s performance of “Eurydice,” a play written by Sarah Ruhl focused on retelling the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of Eurydice, his wife. The story follows Eurydice as she chooses between returning to earth with Orpheus or remaining in the underworld with her father.
The performance, which will be directed by senior Nathaniel Klein, will run through April 2 in the Tennessee Williams Center.
“The Arts Amplified series was launched this academic year to activate campus with moments of surprise and fun, to offer students more opportunities to perform and to show their work and to encourage collaboration and conversation between different disciplines in the arts,” said Shelley MacLaren, director of the University Art Gallery. “Among other things, the series has brought us tap dancing in the arcade outside Guerry, Shakespeare in the University Art Gallery and screenings of short student films in dialogue with the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra concert before the holidays.”
MacLaren said this week, she and the others working on Arts Amplified are delighted to present a small exhibition of paintings by three senior art majors in the lobby of the Tennessee Williams Center, all offered in dialogue with “Eurydice.”
“Considering the possible themes of the play – divided loyalties, family relationships, loss, moments of decision – three of our senior art majors, Emilea Thrasher, Ellie Pedersen and Megan Vlahoplus – have offered individual paintings for a pop-up exhibition in the lobby of the Tennessee Williams Center, to be on view while the play is running,” MacLaren said.
MacLaren posed two questions to encourage reflection: How do the students’ works change how you think about the play? How does the play change how you see their works?
“Eurydice” will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 1, in the Tennessee Williams Center and again at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2. Tickets are free and available for reservation at </www.eventbrite.com/e/eurydice-tickets-302910652917>.