Contemplata – Faculty Perspective

Celebrating the Arts for More Than a Century

By Jeremy Glazier, associate professor of English & Janette Knowles, Ph.D., associate professor of Art

Jeremy Glazier, associate professor of English & Janette Knowles, Ph.D., associate professor of Art

It’s been ten years since the two of us led a group of ODU students to Egypt for a two-week immersive cultural experience. This was the trip of a lifetime; we explored the pyramids, sailed down the Nile, walked among the ruins of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, all while studying the art and literature of one of the world’s great civilizations.

As amazing as that experience was, we realized that one can have an incredible arts experience without ever leaving campus, let alone flying halfway around the world. In fact, opportunities for creativity abound right here on campus and in our community.

ODU hosted a sustainable reception and exhibition featuring the work of internationally known fashion designer Celeste Malvar-Stewart in fall 2019.

The creative arts are experiencing a renaissance at Ohio Dominican. Long a fundamental part of our liberal arts mission, the study and practice of the arts help students develop their full potential as human beings. While critical thinking has long been a buzzword in higher education, creative thinking and problem-solving are increasingly recognized as essential skills for a wide variety of today’s careers.

Students share work from their final portfolios in ODU’s Creative Writing class.

On campus, students have many opportunities to explore the arts, express themselves, and develop their own aesthetic sensibilities. A robust Graphic Design program and a newly established Creative Writing minor are just the tip of the iceberg. Our students also gain valuable hands-on experience assisting with exhibitions in the Wehrle Gallery, such as the recent show of work by internationally known fashion designer Celeste Malvar-Stewart, and by editing Gesture, our campus journal of literature and art.

While Wehrle Hall is home base to our art students, there are places throughout campus that offer space for artistic expression. For example, the Black Student Union hosts open mic nights in the Griffin Student Center, and its Fireplace Lounge offers an intimate setting for our literary club, The Raven, to host Valentine’s Day poetry readings and celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday by reciting sonnets.

Students, faculty and staff celebrate the annual launch of Gesture, ODU’s journal of literature and art.

But we’ve taken it one step farther. Shortly after their arrival in Columbus, President Gervasi and his wife, Jen, began to develop close relationships with leaders of local arts organizations with the purpose of creating opportunities for our students to explore our city’s incredible arts scene – and at no cost to them. Because of these valuable partnerships, our students have experienced the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at the Ohio Theatre, BalletMet at the Davidson Theatre, and exhibitions at the Wexner Center for the Arts. For many students who have gone on these trips, this has served as their introduction to live classical music or their first visit to an art museum.

President Robert and Jen Gervasi accompanied a group of students, faculty and staff to a performance of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s “Spanish Flamenco Festival” at the Palace Theatre in downtown Columbus in March 2019.

It is our hope that these truly unique experiences, both on and off campus, help to provide our students with a foundation for a lifelong appreciation for the arts.