050211 Wooster Jam Session showcases communitys artistic talent
By Sharon Haught
April 26, 2011
254
Summary: From poets to potters, the Wooster Jam Session showcased the artistic side of the community.
Combine hundreds of local visual and performing artists with thousands of visitors anxious to see their creative endeavors and whats the result?
The Wooster Jam Session.
On April 22 and 23 the Wayne County Fairgrounds became the site of one of the largest gatherings of fine, performing and film artists in the region as the College of Woosters Center for Entrepreneurship ushered in what it hopes will become an annual showcase of the areas creative talents.
According to information provided by the COWs John Finn, the multimedia celebration of exhibited and performed art and music celebrate(s) and showcase(s) the richness, diversity and quality of artists associated with the college and the community.
Finn noted that the Jam Session was conceived by James Levin, director of the colleges Center of Entrepreneurship and the founder and artistic director of the highly acclaimed Ingenuity Festival, which takes place in downtown Cleveland each year.
According to information provided by Levin, the idea for holding the Jam Session was conceived when his team was struck by the rich abundance in this region – from the visual arts of painting, drawling, sculpture, photography and mosaic to the performing arts ranging from hip-hop to opera, from theatrical plays to clogging.
The hundreds of artists who participated in this years event bore out Levins observation of the range and depth of talent in the community.
Peppered throughout five buildings at the fairgrounds were simultaneous performances by bands, solo musicians, dancers, actors, poets, magicians, film makers, painters, potters and other visual artists.
On the musical side visitors had the opportunity to hear a wide range of musical styles including the cool jazz of Standard Time, the energetic bluegrass of Northwest Territory, the a capella pop tunes of COWs A Round of Monkeys, the rock of The Unsung Heroes, traditional operetta of the Ohio Light Opera and the haunting sounds of bagpipes and electronic violins.
Nearby visitors soaked up the performing arts by taking in a series of plays written and produced by COW students and faculty members, watching performances by the COWs student improv sketch-comedy group Dont Throw Shoes, listening to poetry readings and watching films.
For visitors who preferred the visual arts, dozens of artists including renown local potter Jim Spires, members of W.A.G.E. and 120 Artist CoOp and caricature artist Sam Sutton were on hand demonstrating and exhibiting their creations.
Visitors to the Jam Session even had the opportunity to create some art of their own by adding their creative touches to a community mural and sidewalk chalk drawing or crafting their own mosaic tile coaster.
According to Levin, in addition to showcasing the talents of local artists, the Jam Session helped connect the college with the greater community and dovetailed perfectly with the mission of the colleges Center for Entrepreneurship.
One objective of the Center is to fan embers of creativity into a combustion of innovative productivity, whether the result is a new profit-making venture or an artistic endeavor or organization, Levin noted.
For the 17 students from the college who were part of the events staff, the Jam Session provided the unique opportunity to see entrepreneurship in action.
The Jam Session is an excellent means for teaching students the entrepreneurial skills involved in creating a large scale event of this kind, said Levin adding that the process of organizing and staging the event aligns with one of the colleges strategic initiatives – bringing theory to practice.
Proceeds from the event were donated to the Viola Startzman Free Clinic and the Wayne County Fair Board.
For more information on the College of Wooster Center for Entrepreneurship log on to www.wooster.edu.
