Students screen video art projects

from March 2023 Issue

Dancers perform in “Elements” showcase in Rugby Auditorium

By Sabrina H amideh

Students in Honors Senior

Seminar: Video Art showcased their lms in an exhibition in Feldman Horn from Feb. 21 to Feb. 28. e exhibition, titled “SPECIAL TV MICROWAVE COMPUTER,” was made up of a collection of immersive multimedia audiovisual art installations from 17 students, enrolled in the class.

Olivia Rahhal ’23, who resented at the exhibition said she tried to capture students’ experiences with mental health in her installation.

“It was a documentary about how di erent people experience anxiety,” Rahhal said. “I interviewed 11 people and played those interviews on iPads with headphones. I hoped to capture the idea that feeling anxious is more than normal and more than that, that it looks di erent. I feel a lot of anxiety, and knowing that other people also feel it has helped me. e goal was to transmit that feeling to other people and to show people that no matter their circumstances, there is no wrong feeling.”

Rahhal said she put a lot of e ort into the showcase and is glad that other students have had a chance to interact with the piece that she produced.

“It was a fun process, preparing for the showcase,” Rahhal said. “Our class put a lot of e ort into our video projects and installations, and we all feel super proud of what we created. Knowing that I put a lot of work into this project, I was so excited to see classmates and other friends watch and interact with the nal product.”

Nick Guagliano ’23 said while presenting at the showcase was frightening at rst, he is glad that people enjoyed his art installation.

“For me, presenting the showcase was terrifying,” Guagliano said. “Because the [physical] structure of the piece was not the most sound, I was worried about it falling over a viewer’s head. Over the course of the week that it was up, I was making quick xes and changes to the interior of the box, but whenever I saw people sitting inside it, I felt waves of accomplishment rush over me as there were steps throughout its creation that I did not think would work out. I felt proud when things went according to plan.”

Eva Goldrich ’25 said looking at the lms at the exhibition inspired her as an artist.

“I visited the exhibition during class as well as during some lunch periods,” Goldrich said. “I liked being able to see all of the exhibitions as it was inspiring to see how creative people can be with a medium like a video. I do not think that there was one installation that I did not like. Looking at the immense detail in the exhibition, I could see how much time and hard work went into each of the installations. It was a cool, immersive experience.” concert experience.

“You really get to showcase your ability a lot more in the combo concert, and it was just a fun environment to have all my friends there and do what we love,” Vourgourakis said. “ ere are people in Jazz who are really good, and they are people who just started, and we’re all great friends.”

Vourgourakis said he enjoys improvising with his friends on stage and appreciates the creativity they share.

“It was stressful to play in front of an audience, but it's very fun once you're up on stage, and you can feel the music running through your veins,” Vartany said. “ en you hear the crowd cheering for you, and it’s very relaxing, despite it being so energetic.”

Sullivan said he enjoys seeing his students’ hardwork come to fruition in concerts.

“ ese are, in many cases, life-changing performances or moments in time, and I have a bird’s eye view of that,” Sullivan said. “It’s very gratifying for me to see all their hard work pay o and get to play in front of an extremely supportive audience.”

Sullivan said he enjoys passing down his passion for musical instruments to his students and helping them grow as musicians.

“It’s gratifying to share this passion that I developed when I was in high school and see this process unfold with my current students,” Sullivan said. “It’s great to show them recordings and repertoire and then have them cling on to it, go into the room next door and start working on it.”

Bassist Manos Vourgourakis ’25 said performing with his peers in a smaller group allowed him to have a more dynamic

“Especially if you’re in a group with people you know well and you like playing with, you can go o of each other and react to what’s happening,” Vourgourakis said. “It’s just always new, so although you’re playing the same songs, the experience is always a little bit di erent because of improvisation.”

George Ma ’25 attended the concert and said he wants to attend another in the future.

“It was so emotional,” Ma said. “I wanted to cry, and it made me happy. It was an incredible concert, and I’d love to go again. e build-up to the Jazz band at the end was spectacular.”

Ma said he appreciated the solo performances.

“All of the soloists were very talented and they immersed me in the concert,” Ma said. “I especially enjoyed [Aiden Daneshrad’s ’24] alto saxophone performance.”

Studio Jazz Band and Jazz Band will perform in Italy during a ten-day trip from March 25 to April 3. Sullivan said overseas trips like these allow the musicians to grow closer and improve their performances on stage.

“Little things like being in the hotel, long bus rides and going out to these big group dinners really unite a group,” Sullivan said. “ at unity translates to the stage and to the rehearsal space. When you have a group that gets along with each other, they also play well together.”

@mobamba

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