The Dresser Gallery set up for the performances
David Scibilia/ The Bona Venture
BY: DAVID SCIBILIA, FEATURES EDITOR
The Dresser Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University is known for its paintings by European and American masters, including one by a student of Rembrandt.
But on April 20, the Dresser Gallery was transformed into an interactive performance space.
Rachel Harris, the executive director of the arts center, chose stools over chairs for this event. Not because they were more comfortable and not because it allowed for more seats. But because viewers would be surrounded by art. They’d have to be turning to watch the performances around them.
The Quick Center Collage — open to the public and Bonaventure students — included a gallery tour with live music and monologues, an origami station, a painting activity and a pottery demonstration by a local artist.
“We had something going on in every gallery,” said Harris. “We planned it in a way where we hoped there was something for everyone.”
Harris said a lot of effort went into the Dresser Galley tour.
“We asked the faculty theater, piano and voice faculty to choose their favorite paintings in the galleries,” said Harris. “Then, if that painting wasn’t in the Dresser [Gallery], we put a print of it on display there.”
Then the seven paintings the students would perform in front of were spread evenly throughout the gallery.
Nic Gelyon, a senior sports media major, performed an excerpt from “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G Major,” by Maurice Ravel in front of the painting “Chatham Square,” by Ernest Lawson.
“I chose to perform this piece because both Chatham Square and the concerto are impressionist pieces and were created at about the same time,” said Gelyon. “When I first looked at the painting, I immediately saw some romance. I saw two people meeting on the train for the first time and falling in love. I saw these same elements of love in the concerto so I knew I had to choose that piece.”
Keeley Reiford, a freshman sports management major performed “Gravity,” by Sara Bareilles in front of “”
“I chose to perform because this was something different than the usual musical theater and choral standards I normally do,” said Reiford. “I love singing so this was a really fun opportunity to perform in front of a crowd.”
Throughout the day there were three opportunities to attend; each tour allowed a maximum of 25 people.
“I think the Dresser tour went great,” said Evelyn Penman, the senior curator. “We nearly reached or reached the maximum capacity each time. We were really happy that there was a big turnout for the [performing] students. They all put a lot of effort into their performances and they were all wonderful.”
In addition to the gallery tour, the Dancer’s Loft ballet studio — a dance studio in Olean, Bonaventure’s dance team, concert band, jazz band and choir all performed.
“We were expecting a great turnout for the dance team and Dancers Loft,” said Penman. “But we were pleasantly surprised with how many people stayed around and took full advantage of the stations we set up.”
Each activity was selected based on the contents of the gallery it was near.
“Outside of the Lane Galley, which has our Asian collection, we had an origami project,” said Harris. “We also had a pottery-throwing demonstration in the [Paul W. Beltz Gallery] by Anne Mormile, whose art is actually displayed in that gallery.”
Penman said that although there aren’t any plans for next year, the event will return.
“We had such great success in both community turnout and student performances that we’re definitely going to do it next year,” said Penman. “We’re hoping to get more community engagement, but nothing is set right now. We wanted to bring the art in our galleries to life and events like this is how we do that.”
Scibild22@bonaventure.edu
