The energy set the tone at the second annual USF College of Design, Art & Performance SPOTLIGHT! daylong festival of the arts! Nearly 1,500 attendees gathered on an overcast day to celebrate the 130+ students who showcased their creative talents.
Dean Chris Garvin commented on the significance of the festival:
鈥淪POTLIGHT! epitomized the College of Design, Art & Performance's ability to bring together students, faculty, and staff in a fun, creative environment. By gathering on campus and opening our doors to the community, we created opportunities for conversation while showcasing the range of student talent.
Our college events are FREE and open to the public. We welcome the community to experience performances, lectures, and art exhibitions throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who shared their day with us at the USF Arts District.鈥
As steel pan sounds and whiffs of food guided people through the Arts District, the quick stage transitions kept performances moving nonstop throughout the day and into Theatre 1, where even the rain couldn't dampen our day.
The range of talent spanned genres, rhythmically moving from pep band and ensembles to trombones, operatic singers, hip-hop, and contemporary dance, to sonnets and musical theatre.
Melyssa Okazaki shared, "Spotlight was like stepping into an auditory world of wonder. The steelpan drums and the opera could've held my attention for hours."
Anamary Encinales added, "It was like having a little break where I could eat delicious food and enjoy the performances.
Across the festival, architectural designs, art exhibitions, and large-scale sculptures invited people to explore. A drawing & painting class unfolded in real time, while a pop-up gallery in the Dean's office gave students a chance to engage directly with Dean Garvin.
Felix Nguyen reflected on the day: "I loved the diverse experience. Being able to explore the vast fields within the art world alongside the performances allowed me to become fully immersed in the festival."
During the day, we heard cheering for the performers, oohs and awes for artistic creativity and architectural design, and plenty of smiles during conversations across the Bulls community. 馃挌 馃挍
Erma Ruslanova described the atmosphere: 鈥淵ou could immediately feel the creative energy in the room. From the stunning visual displays to the powerhouse performances, every detail felt intentional and magical. It was an immersive experience bringing the community together for a shared love of the arts.鈥
The outdoor portion of the festival closed with the same big energy, as the world percussion ensemble and commercial music collective performed outside the School of Music. As the final outdoor notes played, a rainbow appeared overhead.
As the evening continued, guests attended a reception before the night's performance. Conversations carried on until the stage was set for the USF Symphony Orchestra, conducted by The Florida Orchestra鈥檚 Music Director Michael Francis, who serves as artist-in-residence at USF.
A little rain, a big rainbow, and a day full of gratitude.
Thank you to everyone who made SPOTLIGHT! possible. From the hours of student and faculty practice to the staff working behind the scenes, and to all who spent part of their day celebrating with us.
We'll see you again next year!
College of Design, Art & Performance: Schools of Art & Art History, Architecture & Community Design, Music, Theatre & Dance, and Graphicstudio, and Contemporary Art Museum.
Explore our FREE events: www.usf.edu/arts