UNIVERSITY life truly dulls our senses. Natty Light, the routine of classes, and dining hall cuisine acutely diminish our awareness of the surroundings. Even the Lawn, in all of its usual splendor, leaves much to be desired these days.
Fortunately, there is a respite from the monotony. Recent increases in the amount of public arts displays around Grounds color everyone's day. Although there is the Artspace in Newcomb Hall and the Bayly Museum right on Rugby Road, most students do not encounter this media very often. Perhaps the Comics page of The Cavalier Daily is the extent of our intended exposure. But for anyone who has been in Cabell Hall since summer can attest to, that may be changing.
The entrance lobby in Old Cabell Hall now boasts a beautifully colorful and rich mural, placed on the walls this past summer. The display itself is a welcome addition to the lobby, brightening the entire wall. More interesting, though, is the story the mural illustrates.
At first glace, it is clear that the painting is inspired by elements of the University -- the colors, structures, and characters all evoke thoughts of U.Va. In fact, the mural centers around one main figure, a female student. She is shown experiencing various events in her life at the University. Its rite-of-passage tone is particularly significant in this year, the 30th that women have been students at U.Va.
This unique addition to a heavily used building in our midst is commendable. It would be wonderful to have such projects commissioned for many buildings around Grounds, particularly those that primarily serve an academic purpose. Not only do these public art displays enable students to encounter art more frequently, they add to the value and beauty of our buildings. The interest in art among students is not low; oftentimes it is just accessibility that limits our exposure to such displays. Thus, by permanently putting pieces in places with a high volume of student traffic, appreciation will grow.
Another venue for such displays has recently been created by the Student Arts Committee of Student Council. A prototype for an "Online Creative Community" has been developed and will be housed at http://www.thelightbulb.org. This site will enable student artists to display pieces via the Internet. So when you need a break from writing that 15-page paper, you can check out artwork by your peers. This project highlights the need for a place in which student artists can easily exhibit their work and peers can easily view it.
There are also several ways of informing ourselves about ongoing art-related events. The ART$ Dollars that we automatically get every year -- which are often underutilized -- allow for a membership Bayly Art Museum. To activate this, just go to: http://www.virginia.edu/~bayly/bayly.
Html. Becoming a member includes subscription to the Museum newsletter and even a discount in the gift shop. Additionally, the Student Council Arts Committee has also just announced a new mailing list containing arts information. "Artslovers@Virginia.edu" will include a weekly calendar of performances, displays, readings and arts-related discussions around Grounds. This type of posting is convenient and supportive of the University arts community. U.Va is blessed to have an active student population and often, because there is so much going on, events get lost in the wash. The targeted focus of this email combats this problem well.
It is important to remember that many of these events are of little or no cost to students because of the ARTSDollars program. The benefits extend to students and artists alike. Remember them next time you see a poster for an event that looks interesting. Chances are, you can go for free.
The University is a beautiful place. In the monotony of everyday life, however, it is easy to overlook and miss much of the public and performance art around Grounds. Take advantage of the many existing and new opportunities that provide information on these events and attend them. There will always be time to grab a drink with friends or catch up on email. Art is often a fleeting spectacle. Support permanent displays around Grounds and take part in passing ones; there won't be anything monotonous about it.
(Katherine Martini's column appears Mondays in The Cavalier Daily.)
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