Erie Hall held a student-run art show on Nov. 19, showcasing a number of talented individuals full of musical and artistic abilities. Erie Hall Resident Advisor junior Kiaya Rose Dilsner-Lopez ran the event. She invited local artists around campus and the Geneseo community to participate in the show and to share their special talents. The featured artists were junior Alexis Sammler, junior Chloe Forsell’s mother Mathilde McKennan Forsell, Geneseo Resident Director Sawyer Green and junior Raihan Houssain.
Dilsner-Lopez hand-picked artists that she knew and liked. Sammler, for example, was a big contributor to the art show. Her colorful, detailed and beautiful works of art brightened up the lobby as attendees walked in to enjoy the show.
In order to emphasize the variances in art as a whole, Dilsner-Lopez also invited dance and music groups from campus to participate. The performances ranged from dance groups like Geneseo Bhangra and Knightline to a cappella groups Exit 8, Hips ‘n Harmony and Emmelodics. Local Geneseo band Exile on Court Street wrapped up the show.
Bhangra went up first, dancing energetically and in synch with smiles on all of the members’ faces. They expressively performed to a fun, Bhangra-themed remix. The dancers also played the sapp—a Punjab instrument—as they jumped around to the music.
Following Bhangra were the talented Emmelodics, performing covers of Vampire Weekend’s “Unbelievers” and an interesting, up tempo mashup of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”
Knightline followed Bhangra with a choreographed and synchronized dance number involving high kicks and energetic dance moves. Their multiple kick lines were the highlights of their performance as they danced to Martin Solveig’s “Intoxicated.” The dance group also performs at other events on campus, such as the men’s and women’s home basketball and lacrosse games.
Next, Exit 8 performed a cover of Ed Sheeran’s emotive “I See Fire.” Soloist sophomore Sarah Bissell and the rest of Exit 8 gave a moving performance of the powerful song.
Following Exit 8 was all-girl a cappella group Hips ‘n Harmony singing soulful songs written by women artists including Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
To end the night, Exile on Court Street performed. Two of the five artists were present as they sang and played the guitar and piano with raw emotion and power.
Dilsner-Lopez is an English literature major, so it’s no wonder why she has such an allure to art appreciation. She explained how she organized the event a month ago simply to celebrate art as a whole. Considering the onslaught of recent violent, international events, she emphasized how the show of creative celebration and expression couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I was hoping that [the show] would kind of be a flower to just remind everyone that there are beautiful things that we can create and just to have a positive light out there,” she said. Dilsner-Lopez seems to enjoy holding fulfilling events that motivate and help people feel better about themselves, previously hosting self-identity programs dealing with self-discovery and acceptance.
Dilsner-Lopez noted that she hopes to hold an event like this again in the future, considering the great turnout and amazing atmosphere of the night. The Erie Hall Art Show provided an excellent display of the raw artistic talent here at Geneseo.