By Amanda Respess 

T he Georgia College & State University Department of Art is expanded its annual ArtOber event this year to include five academic departments and a silent auction. The interdisciplinary celebration of the arts is tonight was held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 29, in Ennis Hall on the GCSU campus. 

The departments of Art, Communication, English, Music and Theatre & Dance came together to offer hands-on demonstrations, live music, dance, readings, exhibits, an ice cream social and more. 

"The division of fine arts and communication within the College of Arts & Sciences is dynamic," said Matt Forrest, professor of Art and interim chair of the department. "We all have a lot of connections, not only within our disciplines, but to the whole campus and to the community."

Over 200 guests streamed through the four floors of Ennis Hall, including students, faculty, staff, community guests and families with children. 

Students, faculty, alumni and visiting artists from the Department of Art gave demonstrations in printmaking, painting and silkscreen. Faculty members Seth Cook and Kris Johnson set up a camera obscura by creating a completely dark room with one tiny circle cut open to the light from outside. Both Cook and Johnson teach photography classes.

"I think that it's kind of taken for granted how cameras are understood, especially nowadays because cameras are everywhere," Cook explained. "But constructing this for people to step inside and actually see it gives them an idea of the type of science that is at work when cameras are functioning." 

Johnson agrees. "The science of photography has been a long journey. There's a lot going on with the underlying intersection between art, science and technology. Photography is physics. It's chemistry. It's also now computer science and data science," he said.

The Department of Communication screened student-made short films and gave storytelling performances. The English Department is also contributed readings by MFA students and faculty, as well as a workshop by the Poetry Club. 

The Department of Theatre & Dance gave visitors a sneak peek into their upcoming production “MLM is for Murder,” which debuts Nov. 5 at the Campus Black Box Theatre. Dance students and community dance participants also performed selections from the annual Nutcracker. Live music by students from the Music Department included performances by the Sax Quartet and Flute Orchestra. 

ArtOber included a silent auction – a new feature for this year’s event. Auction items were contributed by each of the participating departments, and the auction proceeds go back to each department’s foundation fund. 

Finally, ArtOber guests enjoyed a sweet treat sponsored by the Department of Art. Guests were served ice cream in hand-made pottery bowls which they could take home as a keepsake.

Header Images: ArtOber exhibits, demonstrations and performances took place on every floor of Ennis Hall. Photos by Anna Gay Leavitt.