Kaleidoscope XX Showcase Celebrates 20 Years of Creative Student Work
Students from Carnegie Mellon University's BXA Intercollege Degree Programs will showcase a variety of creative work and performances at their annual Kaleidoscope exhibition from 4-7 p.m., April 27 in room 214 of the College of Fine Arts.
The work featured in the show, titled "Kaleidoscope XX," represents BXA's three integrated degrees — Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts (BCSA), Bachelor of Humanities and Arts (BHA) and Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) — and celebrates 20 years of displaying interdisciplinary projects to the public.
Kaleidoscope is student run and offers an opportunity for students to develop event planning and marketing skills. For the first time, BXA is awarding these student leaders with paid internships to produce the exhibition.
"I not only hope to learn how to organize and curate a show, but also to gain a deeper understanding about the work my BXA family makes and new modes of interdisciplinary intersections," said intern Odelia Cheng, a BSA junior with concentrations in biological sciences and art.
Work in the show includes all CFA artistic disciplines — architecture, art, design, drama and music. Many of the works are informed by students' academic concentrations as well. The content differs from traditional exhibitions due to the integrated, duel interests BXA students pursue to study.
BSA junior Odelia Cheng's art explores biologicial themes. Vision is part of a series.
"There are so many ways to strengthen your artistic practice through BXA," said Isobel Stephen, a sophomore BHA intern studying cognitive neuroscience and art. "Kaleidoscope is a showcase of this individuality."
"I am fascinated with the interdisciplinary intersections people choose to explore in their work and how they decide to combine them," Cheng said. "BXAers make some really amazing stuff, and I cannot help but feel pride for the things my peers have accomplished and made. As students studying multiple fields, we have the unique position of mastery over different disciplines."
With this in mind, BXA students have prepared a diverse array of visual work for the community to view including virtual reality experiences, video installations, 2-D and 3-D art, digital pieces, photography, zines and many other creative projects. BXA seminars II and III also will display their final course projects.
In honor of celebrating the 20-year milestone of Kaleidoscope, the interns said they seek to entertain visitors with DJ and acapella performances, poetry readings, a selfie-photo booth, swag and refreshments. The show will culminate with BSA senior Valerie Senavsky's capstone project that delights both the ears and eyes — a whimsical musical performance in which she has engineered her French horn to blow bubbles while being played.