Students present original works at festival

The curtain went up Saturday and Sunday on five original plays written and presented by students at DePauw University.

The plays, which were all 10 minutes in length, were staged as part of a Playwright's Festival -- a popular biannual theatre event -- held in conjunction with the university's ArtsFest 2008, which began Thursday and has an "Art and Borders" theme.

Artsfest, in its seventh year, is an 11-day festival that includes art exhibitions, theatre performances, concerts, lectures, film screenings, creative writing readings, and more.

All events are free except for the theater productions, and open to the community.

Plays presented Saturday and Sunday were: "The Tower," "Bicycle Disguises," "Space Age," and "A Rose is a Rose, is a Rose, is a Rose."

A few of the plays provided amusement to the crowd, while others were sobering.

It was open to more than just theatre majors, said Cameron Parker, student and participant of the festival.

The students involved with the festival ranged from freshmen to seniors.

Artsfest will continue with a concert by the DePauw Jazz Ensemble Sunday.

An array of visual arts will also be offered including decorated campus bicycles outfitted with cameras. Volunteers can ride one, snap some pictures and contribute to Photocycles, a collective art project. This will take place during "The Camp Sessions" at the border field tent on the Green Center lawn during the day today through Friday.

The work of Cuban-American artist Felipe Dulzaides can be seen on the double-sided billboard on U.S. 40 just west of U.S. 231. His exhibit "Nothing Happens Twice" will be available for viewing throughout the festival at the Richard E. Peeler Art Gallery.

Also at the Art Gallery is "Experimental Geography," an exploration of the intersection of geographical study and artistic expression. People are encouraged to add to the exhibit with their own visions of Putnam County.

The Student Arts Council is sponsoring a 24-hour stage on the East College lawn beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. All are welcome to participate with readings, performances, talks, or other performance art activity.

There's more. Several organizations are collaborating to present the Human Race Machine, a creation of art technology that gives viewers the opportunity to picture themselves as a different race. The machine will be available to all daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Memorial Student Union.

Two participatory events offered by visiting professor Kimiko Gunji, a Japanese Tea Ceremony and a Kimono demonstration will highlight Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Visiting Mexican poet Ga'lle Le Calvez will headline "DoubleSpeak," an event at which you'll hear a reading twice, first in its original language and again in translation. Back by popular demand will be two evenings of readings of the work of creative writing faculty and students on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Friday, Nov. 7, respectively.

Finally, one of the best highlights will be the all-community Art Attack party on the first Tuesday of November to watch the local and national election returns. The Green Center's Theta Garden (located off Locust Street) will be decked out with a giant screen television, food, and musical and theatrical entertainment from 8 to 11 p.m.

Brochures for ArtFest 2008 are available all over the DePauw Campus or contact Gigi Fenlon at gfenlon@depauw.edu or call her at (765) 658-4485 to have a brochure sent. A detailed schedule of all ArtsFest 2008: Art & Borders visual, performing, and creative art activity can be found on the DePauw Web site at www.depauw.edu.