Engage the Arts 2023 | Urban Arts Space

Arts Scholars Engage the Arts Exhibition

During their fall Seminar, first-year Arts Scholars experienced and then reflected on various academic discussions, workshops, and tours. The culminating Engage the Arts project was a multimedia academic exercise that encouraged Arts Scholars to do the following: tap into their creative identities, incorporate new ideas, and work collaboratively in small groups to bring an original story to life through art.

Learn more about Ohio State's Arts Scholars program here.

"Uncolored"

Jacob Behrend, Miles France, Maggie Harkins, Greta Hickman, and Caroline King

A tired, down-on-her-luck university student notices that things just can’t seem to go her way. That is, until she finds herself stumbling into an alternate universe with nobody else in it—or so she thinks.

"Uncolored" is a short film that utilizes dialogue, effects, and film techniques to explore philosophy and existentialism in film. It took inspiration in topic and aesthetic from A24 films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and exhibits on display at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

"Into the Woods"

Lincoln Ahn, Madelyn Campbell, Graci Jackson, and Kathrina Noma

In this short film, a young woman walks and dances through The Ohio State University campus. As she does, she enjoys the nature around her and frequently takes mindful moments. This project combines some of the best talents of the participants and combines four main elements in the creative process: the short film, music composition, creative writing, and dance. Everything in this short film is original work and was inspired by nature, mindfulness, and the hero’s journey. This short film was made to inspire people to get out into nature and have their own personal experience and relationship with it. Not only this, but it was made to demonstrate the power multimedia performance and film can have in inspiring people in the arts and beyond.

Read a PDF version of "The Gordon Conspiracy" here!

"The Gordon Conspiracy"

Bijou Burgardt, Aaron Cole, Jaaron Dean, and Grace Kim

Arts Scholars leaders Roman Suer and Gordon Goodwin are known to be close friends and hang out often. But when Brutus starts appearing in places where Roman was supposed to be, Gordon has a theory: Is Roman being controlled by Brutus? "The Gordon Conspiracy" follows Gordon Goodwin as he tries to unravel the mystery between Roman and Brutus. The comic shows the life of an Arts Scholar at The Ohio State University.

The Gordon Conspiracy Panel 1: Day 1 Someone says off-page, "Alright! Thanks a lot, Gordon. See you at the next Art Scholars meeting." Gordon walks down the hall, and Brutus bumps into him. Gordon: "Hey! How rude."

Panel 2: Brutus walks away as Gordon shouts, “Hey!!!” Roman appears, and Gordon says, “Oh! Hello Roman!” Roman asks, “What’s up?” Gordon: “Have you seen Brutus?” Roman: “Nope… Just you…” Gordon thinks about Roman saying, “Hi guys” on a different occasion.

Panel 3: Gordon: “Roman, are you re—” Roman: “I can’t.” Gordon: “Oh…OK.” Images of Brutus doing the O-H-I-O in front of a crowd. Gordon thinks, “Brutus!!! Roman and Brutus are NEVER together!!!” Gordon texts Roman: “Hey want to hang out at olentangy river?” Roman texts back: “I’m busy sorry (heart).” Gordon sees Brutus on the riverfront. Gordon’s friend asks: “Hi Roman! Will you be at my birthday party Friday?” Roman: “Won’t be able to make it sorry.” Brutus is at the birthday party.

Panel 4: Day 4 Roman addressing people from a stage: “Welcome to another session…subject. But first we’re going already but blah, blah-blah. For Art Scholars, today we’re going to talk about announcements. You guys blahbity-blahbity, blah-blah… Talk about [insert art-related] should have seen the emails. Please make sure to finish your assignment on time and now we welcome…” Gordon follows Roman through a forest, thinking, “I bet he doesn’t know I’m there,” while Roman is thinking, “Is someone behind me?”

Panel 5: Day 5 Gordon thinking/narrating: Roman has to be Brutus, there’s no other possibility! A hand throwing away a ball of paper in a trash can. Gordon is depicted wearing a tin-foil hat with an investigation board showing that ROMAN = BRUTUS. More narrative/thought boxes: Is Roman being forced to be Brutus? Or is he doing this willingly? Every time Brutus is around, so is Roman. There’s a clear connection between the two. So how can I expose the truth and save Roman before he’s Brutus forever?

Panel 6: Day 6 Gordon is shown physically training, including stairs, karate, and rock climbing. He heads toward the Shoe (Ohio Stadium).

Panel 7: Day 7 – Gordon confronts Brutus, tackling him and removing his head. Inside is a squirrel. It’s further revealed to be a pyramid of at least ten squirrels. Gordon and Roman are confused. Gordon asks Roman, “Wait, what are you doing here?” Roman: “I’m here to enjoy the game.” Gordon: “But I thought that you were in the Brutus this whole time? Where were you when I wanted to hang out?” Roman: “Sorry, Gordon. I was finishing up the point reports. You know how they pile up.” Gordon: “I’m sorry, Roman

"Brain"

Ella Bowman, Megan Callow, Claire Lindway, Sydney Jones-Rumph, Willow Mauldin, and Catie Mitchell

We open to the average college student: consumed by doing schoolwork, balancing her social life, staying healthy, getting involved, and discovering who she is. What happens when she prioritizes her studying over all else? Inspired by A24 film production, "Brain” depicts the horrors of quite literally losing one’s mind in striving for academic rigor and success. Is it possible to be too invested in academics?

"Baker Hall West: A Very Special Documentary Picture Show"

Jasmine Acuña, Lucas Blair, Cora Hernandez, Nate Johnson, and McKinley Roza

Take a tour of the famous Baker Hall West at The Ohio State University. This picture show encapsulates the infamous Arts Scholars dorm in all its glory. For this film, we mostly used improv to form jokes, as opposed to sticking to a script. This helped our jokes fit the type of humor we were going for, as well as helped the flow of our film.

Engage the Arts is presented in partnership with Urban Arts Space's Hybrid Arts Lab, a multi-venue learning lab that experiments with how art is imagined, made, viewed, and understood.