The SHSU academic fall semester may be complete, but LEAP students are continuing to learn, in and out of classrooms. Accordingly, a group of LEAP students participated in a ceramics class this Monday, March 15, led by Professor Lauren Clay at the Dana G. Hoyt Fine Arts Building as an early participation in the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, which will occur March 4, 2026.
Our participation is the first phase of a three-phase fundraiser. As described by Professor Clay, our purpose Monday was to (1) shape our bowl, learning how to mold wet clay, explore the many options for designs and ornamentation, and to prepare for the kiln.
We will return in January to (2) glaze the bowl, and in March, some of us (3) will volunteer for the Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center–a project we have assisted with since the program’s inception in 2008.
For our initial session, Professor Clay…
…demonstrated “underglaze transferring,” which involves creating a design on one medium and transferring it to the ceramic before shaping and kilning.
Thus, we created our design and waited for the design to dry…
…smoothed our clay, completed the transfer, and then put the clay over a mold to complete the bowl.
Not all of us did the transfer process; Professor Yawn, for example, had much trouble with his transfer, and proceeded without ornamentation.
Others, however, engaged fully in their creativity, exploring floral designs, innovative clay designs, or using laces or others props.
With the right imagination and dexterity, the possibilities are endless, and some of us were thrilled with our designs. I, on the other hand, didn’t feel like I quite got the hang of it, but was nonetheless satisfied with it as a first effort.
This participation also gave me the chance to see the beautiful Hoyt Fine Arts Building, making me wish I had explored this building earlier in my college career. And while the building was a little on the cool side, the experience itself left a warm feeling in all of us, a fitting outcome for participation in a worthy cause.
As part of the LEAP Center’s ongoing work to expose students to the broader culture, a group of alumni and current students gathered in Houston to see Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Originally released in 1980, the film is being re-released on IMAX theatres across the country as part of its 45th anniversary.
For about half those attending, it was a first exposure to a Stanley Kubrick film. Accordingly, we began with a brief background of Kubrick and his films. Of all the great directors, Kubrick produced the fewest films (13 over a 45-year career), a fact that has not deterred scholars from giving as much thought and ink to Kubrick’s work as that of Hitchcock, Welles, Spielberg, or Martin Scorsese.
Of Kubrick’s films, “The Shining” has received perhaps the most attention. The film is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title, and it was met with a mixed critical reception on its release, although its stature has grown, and it is now considered a horror classic.
It embodies several cinematic traits of the Kubrick oeuvre: a longish running time, attention-grabbing visuals, riffs on various literary themes, and an enigmatic approach to storytelling that occasionally leaves viewers unsure what they just watched. All of these were on display in “The Shining.”
In this viewing, the visuals were most prominent, perhaps because we were watching this on an IMAX screen. The opening scenes, shot from a helicopter, including a scene where we (perceiving things through the camera) seem to pass the Torrance family on the “sidewinder” road…
…on the way to the Overlook Hotel.
Kubrick also made full use of the Steadi-Cam, which had been introduced on film in 1976. Kubrick used it throughout “The Shining,” and he innovated with it, devising an apparatus that could shoot from about 18 inches above the ground–most notably used in the film to follow Danny on his tricycle, as he traversed the maze-like corridors of The Overlook.
Kubrick’s films are often sprawling affairs and they are deeply studied by scholars and enthusiasts, so it’s no surprise that all manner of symbols and themes have been “discovered” in the director’s body of work. This is probably most true in “The Shining,” as reflected in the interesting and bizarre theories expressed in the documentary Room 237.
Professor Robert Kolker, an author of several Kubrick books and an expert on cinema, suggests that the film can be seen through an Oedipal lens (spoiler alert). Danny’s “shining” is a type of oracular vision not unlike that of the prophecies offered at Delphi, including the one offered to Oedipus. And while Danny wasn’t as close to his mother as was Oedipus, she serves as his caretaker and protector; in the end, she carries him to safety, saving his life.
Danny doesn’t proactively kill his father at a crossroads as does Oedipus, he does leave his lame father to die of exposure in a labyrinth. Of note: Jack Torrance suffers from a foot/ankle injury following a fall down stairs; he literally embodies the term “Oedipus,” which means “swollen foot.”
Whether such messages were intentional or not (it’s worth noting that Kubrick mentioned he read a lot of Freud prior to filming “The Shining”), the film is replete with sufficient ambiguities to provide fodder for the active imagination.
There are some imponderables in the film; it does, after all, involve the supernatural. But even in the logic of the supernatural, what is the purpose of the bathroom scene…
…in which Nicholson embraces a young, naked and beautiful woman, only to find her decay into a rotting but living corpse? Why is there a parlor full of fully-dressed corpses in the hotel? And what about the scene involving a man in a bare-backed bear costume and a man in a tuxedo?
This latter question was posed by many in our group (answered by none), and such questions may reflect Kubrick’s very approach to filmmaking: “if you can get people to the point where they have to think a moment what it is you’re getting at, and then discover it, the thrill of discovery goes right through the heart.”
While we probably didn’t reach “discovery” on many of the scenes, we did “think a moment” or more on the film and its many scenes. The experience offered an accessible and exciting introduction to Stanley Kubrick and his work, gave us all an excuse to get together during the holiday break, and provided us endless material for reflection (and, for some of us, concern…)!
LEAP has taken us to several museums this year—the Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Art Museum, and many others scattered throughout the semester. Each visit has offered something different, but our last museum trip of the semester to the Asia Society Texas felt like the perfect way to close out what’s been a great streak of cultural experiences!
Asia Society Texas Center is located in Houston’s Museum District. Designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the building is modern, clean, and flooded with natural light; it manages to feel both contemporary and welcoming.
We started our tour at the Brown Foundation Performing Arts Theatre. The theater itself seats 273 in steel-gray chairs made by the same manufacturer as Ferrari, and the stage is beautiful Appalachian white oak.
Next came one of the coolest parts: the “LEO Bullet Train,” an immersive digital journey through Asia.
The rectangular room has screens shaped like train windows, and as the “ride” progresses, videos of different Asian countries scroll past bustling cityscapes, serene landscapes, cultural landmarks, daily life. It’s a clever way to experience Asia’s vast diversity without leaving Houston.
After the train ride, we explored the Pokémon exhibition. At first glance, it might seem unexpected for a cultural center, but the exhibit makes a compelling case for Pokémon as a significant example of Japanese cultural influence worldwide.
For many of us who grew up with Pokémon, seeing it in this academic context was both amusing and fascinating – a reminder that cultural exchange happens in many forms, and something that shaped our childhood also introduced us to Japanese design, language, and values.
We then played with an interactive screen where you could share your favorite part of the museum…
…and we all had fun with that.
Next was a series of interactive displays highlighting the different Asian countries…
To cap it all off, we explored the interactive food screens, a playful way to learn about Asian cuisine.
This visit was a fitting end to our museum series this semester- combining accessibility, engaging exhibits, hands-on experiences, and cultural depth.
With finals and papers (mostly) complete, LEAP students signed up for an adventure, an exploration of Houston. This exploration involved one of the City’s parks, a culinary adventure, and a foray into the world of architecture, all in the spirit of fun, education, and engagement.
While Houston’s larger parks receive a lot of attention, Smither Park is a gem. Designed by former SHSU professor Dan Phillips, Smither Park reflects the designer’s beliefs in organic processes. “Through the use of color and composition,” Phillips once told a LEAP group on a tour, “you employ repetition to create a pattern, and soon you’ve created art.”
The art was on display throughout the Park, and the students enjoyed the process of finding art in each station, pathway, and niche.
Each student had their own favorite, but simply seeing the creativity of the designs (did you know a spatula could be a dragonfly wing?) was part of the wonder of the experience.
Indeed, it was the majority of the student’s favorite event of the day.
Houston is gaining a reputation for its food scene, and one of the places receiving more than its share of notices is Cochinita & Co., whose chef, Victoria Elizondo, has twice been named a James Beard semi-finalist. The attentive staff–we were recognized upon entering (“Is this SHSU’s group of Pre-Law students?”)–helped us with menu selections. Mikaela went with vegan tacos; Professor Yawn went with the Cochinita Pibil tacos; Moya went with chicken tacos; Sofia went with the excellent Posole; and Katie, needing a pick-me-up, had a Latte with her lunch. We all tried the elote and guacamole, and Mikaela got some pastries to go (allegedly to “share” with her family).
Fortified by food, we ventured into the world of architecture, stopping by The University of St. Thomas, where we visited Philip Johnson’s Academic Mall and Chapel of St. Basil. Johnson’s most notable Houston works are the ones that dot the skyline, but few are as beautiful or as textured as his Chapel. Composed of a Cube, several planes, and a sphere and adorned with rectangles, a triangle, and crosses, the structure is a visual and spiritual delight.
While we each explored the various aspects of the space, we tried to capture some of its magic through photography. Our efforts, however, didn’t quite capture the essence of the structure in the same way we did on our 2024 visit.
Part of the spirit of LEAP is to mix in new explorations while revisiting the seemingly familiar, only to find that return visits allow us to see with new eyes, a reflection of continued growth, an ongoing sense of wonder, and the promise of new possibilities.
With limited resources, LEAP layers its activities, making the most of each opportunity. Accordingly, when a learning activity took students to Houston, LEAP students sought out new experiences.
On the way to Houston, we stopped at SHSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Conroe, where we introduced some of our newer students to alum James Surls. Not in person–but through his art. His work, “Pitcher with Flowers,” was designed in 2014, and it was installed at the College of Osteopathic Medicine in early 2020.
The vase with flowers, according to Surls, represents giving “life to new growth,” and, accordingly, was “perfect for the site.” It was also, we thought, a perfect introduction of Surls’ work to students who might not have gone out of their way to explore art.
We took the same approach to food. We stopped at J.Alexander’s, which serves a wide and rich variety of food. We tried a lot of it! We began with smoked salmon, avocado bombs, and artichokes.
It was Ashton’s first time to try salmon, and for several of the students, it was the first time to try artichokes.
The entrees ranged from the basic (burgers and salad)…
to the moderately interesting–salmon, crab cakes, and pork tenderloin.
In typical LEAP fashion, we sampled from each other’s plates, and this led to Ashton discovering a third dish she had never tried before: crab cakes. It was also her favorite!
Perhaps the favorite course was the dessert, which featured carrot cake (favorites of Michelle and Mike), chocolate cake (Ashton’s favorite), peanut butter pie, and Key Lime pie.
It was a wonderful outing, complemented by the opportunity to try new foods, discuss our experiences at Sam Houston State University, and get to know one another better.
When LEAP Ambassadors have the opportunity to travel, they follow a process that is in line with their approach to education: prepare, experience, and reflect–sometimes called the P.E.R. model. In this manner, the Center promotes learning, while also providing the flexibility and individual discretion to have fun and find their experiences personally rewarding.
In advance of the students’ participation in the Council of State Governments Conference, they prepared by doing various levels of research on the many sites, people, and locations they would explore. For the students, this also involves research the sites, the costs, allocating their own funds, and creating the trip-themed t-shirt.
The central aspect of the learning process, however, is the experience, and there were many on this eight-day trip. To help with the refection, the students write blogs such as this one, of course, but they also select their favorite experiences from a trip–like all LEAP travel–that involved much diversity in experiences, perspectives, and geography.
Restaurants
The overwhelming favorite among restaurants was Boston’s ‘Fox & the Knife,” which is no surprise in that Chef Karen Akunowicz won the “Best Chef: Northeast,” in 2018. The service was impeccable, and the food was even better, with the Carne Cruda Crostini and the Tagliatelle Bolognese standing out as favorites, with the fried chickpeas as a surprise favorite snack.
Another favorite was Track 15 in Providence, Rhode Island, a refurbished railroad station with half a dozen restaurant choices. We made the most of these, and the combination of the food and the environment made this a favorite.
Art Museum
The clear favorite of the art museums was the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, owing no doubt in part to the Van Gogh exhibit on display when we arrived. The students had a chance to see three different Van Gogh self portraits (Olivia has seen 5-6 or at different museums across the country), a giant piece by Dale Chihuly, and explore some others that became favorites.
Most LEAP Ambassadors come into the program with little knowledge of art, and with varying degrees of art affinity. Olivia came in with a love of art, but with very little experience visiting museums. She had only visited one museum in her life–a science museum–and she has now visited approximately 80 museums across 18 states, all of which she visited on LEAP trips.
Favorite ArtPieces
A favorite among both Michelle and Olivia was Rodin’s “Eternal Springtime,” on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Interestingly, Olivia was exposed to this at both the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA, making this her third viewing of a version of this sculpture.
Another favorite was Thomas Cole’s “Expulsion from the Garden of Eden,” a good example of the Hudson River School–appropriate, since we crossed the Hudson River on this trip!
And of course, there were some “comfort favorites” from the Norman Rockwell Museum, including a rendering of Stockbridge, MA, where we stayed; his famous self-portrait; “Freedom from Want,” a copy of which hangs in Huntsville’s Wynne Home Arts Center; and “New Kids in the Neighborhood,” by Norman Rockwell.
Literary Sites
New England is rich in literary landmarks, and Ambassadors carefully planned their travel maximize their exposure to such sites. While many of these involved mere photo ops, they were able to see the homes of Herman Melville, Edith Wharton, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Twain, while also seeing the graves of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, Emerson, and Louisa May Alcott–not to mention Thoreau’s cabin and Walden Pond!
But the favorite literary site of the trip was Mark Twain’s Hartford home.
Our enthusiastic tour guide (Josh), the home’s beauty, and the monumental stature of Mark Twain separated this site from the others we visited.
State Capitols
As students of political science, the Ambassadors made a point of visiting the capitols of the states they were in: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. While it’s perhaps not fair to compare (we didn’t receive full tours of all; some were self tours), the overwhelming favorite was the Rhode Island Capitol building.
Our tour guide, Tony was very knowledgeable, and when a special tour arrived, other staff from the tour office came in to relieve Tony, showing us the Museum portion of the capitol. It was a beautiful building, well complemented by the tour, and we believed, a microcosm of the state’s beauty and interesting history.
Favorite Activities
When the students weren’t engaged in conference activities or scheduled tours, they made time for additional fun and educational activities. Their favorites among these including touring the Breakers and Rosecliff (students were split on their favorite).
Of course, when Parasailing in the Atlantic Ocean is one of your activities, it is likely to be a favorite. It was both students’ first time to parasail, and it was Olivia’s first time on a boat!
They made the most of it!
Concluding Thoughts
“They made the most of it,” might just be the best phrase for capturing LEAP Ambassadors’ approach to their college education. These trips can be difficult, involving much preparation, many activities, a lot of writing, photography, and both writing and photo editing, but this is the work that goes into making the travel rewarding.
This program, however, only works with the help of generous donors and a small group of bright, motivated, and civic-minded students who are truly interested in “making the most of it.”
Introduction Our trip through New England and New York was as much a journey through art and history as it was through towns and landscapes. We ended the day in the capitol (Albany) of one of the largest states in the Union, but we began it in the Rockwellian cottage of Stockbridge, MA–the home town of Norman Rockwell.
LEAP Ambassadors at City Hall
Norman Rockwell Museum
By Michelle Moya
For our first stop in Stockbridge, we visited the Norman Rockwell Museum. Before the trip, I had watched a documentary on Rockwell’s life and career, which gave me a deeper appreciation for what we were about to see. It traced his progression from lighthearted Saturday Evening Post covers to later works that confronted civil rights and human rights, and it gave me a better foundation for understanding the galleries.
The museum’s collection highlights Rockwell’s most iconic pieces, including the Four Freedoms series. Inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 speech, these four paintings—Freedom of Speech, Freedom from Want, Freedom to Worship, and Freedom from Fear—remain some of his most recognizable works. Each takes a sweeping political idea and places it in the context of everyday life.
Freedom of Speech shows an ordinary man rising to speak at a town meeting, who appears to have a modest jacket and steady expression. Freedom from Want was Olivia’s favorite: the Thanksgiving turkey at the center of the table, family gathered in warmth and abundance. Freedom to Worship and Freedom from Fear are quieter but equally moving, offering a reminder of how Rockwell could find dignity in ordinary moments.
My own favorite was Main Street, Stockbridge at Christmas, Rockwell’s portrait of his hometown blanketed in snow and glowing with holiday lights. It is a beautiful painting, and as someone who loves Christmas, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to actually visit Stockbridge during the season. It captures Rockwell at his most nostalgic, and it made me want to see the town in person during my favorite holiday.
Some of Rockwell’s later and more serious work also stood out. The Problem We All Live With, sometimes called his “Board of Education” painting, shows six-year-old Ruby Bridges walking to school, escorted by U.S. Marshals. The white wall behind her, scrawled with a racial slur and marked by a thrown tomato, makes the scene even more striking.
There were lighter touches as well. The museum includes some of Rockwell’s early commercial work, such as advertisements for Edison Mazda Lamps published in The Saturday Evening Post. These remind visitors that Rockwell was as much an illustrator as a painter, and that his storytelling instincts carried across everything he created.
A special highlight was the I Spy exhibition by Walter Wick, whose intricate dioramas and search-and-find photographs were a fun, interactive touch for children and adults. The exhibit encouraged visitors to slow down and look closely, much like Rockwell’s paintings.
It was interesting to see how the Norman Rockwell Museum fully captures the range of his career. In one place, you can see the playful, the iconic, and the deeply serious. Between Olivia’s favorite “Freedom from Want” and my own liking to “Main Street, Stockbridge at Christmas,” it was clear how Rockwell continues to connect with people in different ways.
Mass MoCA
by Olivia Discon
Our final (pure) art stop of the trip was Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), a museum housed in a former industrial complex that has been repurposed into one of the largest centers for contemporary art in the country.
The building itself is a bit of a maze (ed. note: she got lost), but that only added to the fun of exploring it.
We started with James Turrell’s Roden Crater-inspired exhibit, which featured several surreal experiences centered on light and perception. One room, completely blacked out, challenged visitors to sit in total darkness for 15 minutes. While Professor Yawn and Stephanie lasted the full time, Moya and I called it quits after approximately eight minutes. In the silence, I started to see faint colors—likely just the brain reacting like when you rub your eyes too hard—but still interesting.
Other Turrell works played with color and depth perception.
One installation allowed us to walk into what looked like a glowing square of color—an endless void of pinks, greens, and yellows.
We also stepped into one of his classic Skyspaces, where the ceiling frames the sky in a way that turns shifting clouds and colors into living art.
Beyond Turrell, the museum offered much more. Louise Bourgeois’s exhibit was a highlight for me, especially her piece Entangled, which captured so much emotion through abstract form.
Sol LeWitt’s sprawling wall drawings filled a labyrinthine gallery with bold patterns in both black-and-white and vibrant colors.
We even wandered into a “music room” filled with instruments past their prime—though that didn’t stop us from making enough noise to temporarily damage our own hearing.
Mass MoCA was a perfect way to end the art portion of our trip: immersive, challenging, and just plain fun.
New York State Capitol
by Olivia Discon
For our final state of the trip, we made our way up to New York. Driving past the Hudson River on the way into Albany felt especially fitting, since the river inspired the Hudson River School painters and many transcendentalist writers, both of which we’ve touched on during this trip.
Our last stop was the New York State Capitol, one of only nine state capitols without a dome. Built over more than three decades and designed by multiple architects, the building makes up for its lack of dome with incredible stonework and elaborate detail. The grand staircase was particularly striking, lit by lamps with exposed bulbs, a symbol of modernity in its time.
Although the House and Senate chambers were closed, we managed to peek through the glass doors. The stained glass in the Assembly chamber stood out as especially beautiful, making it one of my favorite legislative chambers we’ve seen so far. The Capitol also houses the Hall of Governors, a portrait gallery of past governors—including four who went on to serve as U.S. presidents.
Art is woven throughout the building as well. We saw numerous New York landscapes and scenes…
…along with modern sculptures outside in the Empire State Plaza. Among the recognizable artists were George Rickey, Alexander Calder…
Claes Oldenburg….
…and Ellsworth Kelly.
The New York State Capitol was a wonderful conclusion to our trip. Between the history, the architecture, and the art, it was a reminder of how much one place can tell us about both state and national identity.
Concluding Thoughts
Taken together, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MoCA, and the New York State Capitol highlighted the remarkable range of American creativity and civic expression.
Rockwell’s art reminded us of the power of storytelling in everyday life, while Mass MoCA challenged us to step outside the familiar and embrace new ways of seeing.
The New York State Capitol, with its blend of politics, history, and art, grounded the trip in the institutions that shape public life.
Each stop added its own layer to our journey, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for how art and architecture reflect the spirit of their time—and continue to inspire today.
It was a day to remember: we had already luxuriated in the extravagance of the Newport Mansions; enjoyed the sun, the wind, and the rush of parasailing. And still we had much to do. We wanted to spend a little time on the beach on Aquindeck Island, seeing wildlife and enjoying the coastal breeze; trying some of Rhode Island’s tastier dinner spots; and witnessing first-hand the famed installation art Waterfire.
Aquindeck Island
You might be forgiven if you think that Rhode Island is surrounded by water. That is, after all, the definition of an island. But the state of Rhode Island isn’t an island. Originally, Rhode Island consisted of settlements such as Newport and Portsmouth, which are, in fact, on an island, plus the territory on the mainland (Providence). This, then, is the Rhode Island in the State’s name, which was technically, “Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations.”
No one, however, used the full name of the island. Still, the State stuck with “Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations” for some 300 years, only changing its name officially in 2020.
Nonetheless, Rhode Islanders do have quick access to the shore; in fact, by our calculations, everyone in the state can get to the ocean or a bay in less than 35 minutes. It may not be an island, but it can fairly call itself “The Ocean State.”
Accordingly, as part of our Rhode Island explorations, we spent considerable time alternating between land and sea–and, as we noted in our prior blog, the air.
But we also wanted a closer, more tactile feel of the Rhode Island Coastline. So we drove along Ocean Drive, walking on the rocks; traipsing along the shore, where the wet waves tickled our feet; and overall gaining a different sensory perspective of Rhode Island.
We saw more evidence of the wealth that populates the coastline…
…and we observed and listened to some of the coastal wildlife.
It was, as the photos attest, a very different experience than the beaches with which we were familiar (e.g., Galveston).
All this touring, parasailing, beachcombing, and wildlife watching helped us build up a hunger, which made (most of) us think of seafood. To that end, we researched restaurants en route to our evening conference destination, and we found Track 15, a food court on the river.
Track 15
What kind of dining establishment, you ask, is named “Track 15?” In this case, it is a dining destination at the former Union Station (1898), which housed 14 separate railroad tracks. The food court, then, is an extension of a key transportation hub in Providence’s history, the 15th Track.
The 15th Track doubles as a “third place,” a place that brings people together while also allowing the past and present to intermingle. The restaurants are adjacent to Providence’s Waterplace Park, an urban park where the land and sea merge and people gather, coming together. Even the experience of dining is reimagined, bringing the past to the present: some of the eating establishments offer menus in the shape of arrival/departure boards of the old railroad stations; and the table tops on which we and others ate were made from wood recycled from the old rail cars.
True to Rhode Island’s proximity to the sea, we enjoyed an excellent (small) seafood platter (clams, mussels and shrimp), fish, and a lobster roll.
But we mixed it up a bit, and we also tried some pasta; true to the spirit of being in a former transportation hub, we also wanted some food more common to other places.
The food was excellent. The pasta was hand-rolled and featured subtle flavors that came together just right. The lobster was creamy and fluffy; the fish buttery and flaky; and the seafood platter a surprising variety of flavors: the clams were sweet and light; the mussels more tender and briny; and the oysters clean and less salty than one would imagine.
We also enjoyed the people watching. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and the latter features games, versatile seating, and alcoves. People played cornhole; mothers danced and laughed with daughters; and others just relaxed and listened, delighting in the nice weather.
Following this enjoyable sensory experience, we ambled on to our next stop, Waterplace Park.
Waterfire
To end our day, we attended a reception in downtown Providence organized for us by the Council of State Governments and operated by WaterFire , a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing city life through visual and performance art.
We set up stations and split into two groups to capture different photos and videos of the evening. Hundreds of people were in attendance, including legislators, conference participants, local residents, and passersby.
As the crowd filled the beautiful space, the event began with a ceremonial gong. An eclectic playlist emanated from speakers in the park. Myriad musical styles were represented: African, Latino, 60s Rock, Classical, Rap, and Alt-Contemporary. The music was selected consciously, offering a global scope to the ceremony, reflecting the goal of bringing people together.
The installation sculpture incorporates the world’s four elements. humans sit on the earth surrounding the water. The Fire Dancer enters…
…while fire starters and fire tenders light logs on fire, and as the wind sweeps along the river, sparks fly in the air.
Conceived as performance art, the ceremony is multi-sensory: the sound of the music, the touch of the wind and the heat on the skin, the smell of the fire, and, of course, the visual spectacle of a fire coming forth from water.
The event was effective in stimulating our senses, while also playing with our expectations. What we all agreed on was that it was a thought-provoking and interesting event that brought strangers and friends together while highlighting the beauty of Providence, Rhode Island.
It was a sense-sational way to end a full day in Providence, Rhode Island.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 