Student & Faculty Voices
We asked staff and students from both University of Maryland and Bowie State University to share thoughts on their experience during the Next Now festival.
The Art of Community: Student Culture Piece
Written By Itoroh Umoh
What is the meaning of the prompt to you?
The tragic death that happened to Bowie State student Richard Collins caused an uproar amongst many students, faculty members, and community. Collins, at the age of 23, was days away from graduating from Bowie State University when he was murdered by an University of Maryland student while waiting at an UMD bus stop. Some students and people within the community were devastated that this type of tragedy could occur on a college campus.
The incident that occurred between Bowie State, a historically black college, and University of Maryland - which is a predominantly white institution, definitely evoked unwanted racial tension between the two schools. A few students from Bowie State wondered if it was even safe to go near the UMD campus again. To diffuse any friction, Bowie State decided to unite with UMD on the NextNow Project.
The NextNow Fest is an inspiring arts experience that celebrates imagination, creativity, and community. This project would give a sense of how people felt towards what transpired: by using creativity and art. Margaret Walker, who is a professor at UMD, believes that art can bring the community together. Racism can be an uneasy topic to talk about and art is another way for people to convey their feelings rather than talking. Walker believes art speaks louder than words and people will instantly gravitate towards the pictures from the event. "Art gives the person the ability to express how they feel when they're uncomfortable putting it into words,” said Walker.
"Art gives the person the ability to express how they feel when they're uncomfortable putting it into words,” said Walker.
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Hopefully, the project will bring the two campuses together. Emily Garcia, a junior at the University of Maryland, is one of the people that hoped the project would indeed do that. The NextNow fest was one of the first projects that Garcia worked on after transferring to UMD. She wanted to continue working on this project even during the pandemic to bring awareness. “Art is a great tool when bringing people together and with the creative atmosphere, that is what art is prone to do," says Garcia. The beautiful images that were created by the Next Now team were plastered on some parts of the University of Maryland campus; while students walked to class, hoping to capture people's attention.
Student and Faculty Perspectives. Quotes collected by Jazmin Braxton
What role did you play in the festival?
"The prompt made me think about what is important to me, specifically how people and my friends and family have helped me so much."
-Maria
University of Maryland Student
The theme of this Community-Based Art Education activity helps all participants to focus on the same thoughts that unified the community."
Nicole Yang
Art can build. Art can heal. Art can liberate and its our job to create opportunities to make that happen for students!
Jen White-Johnson
"The pandemic is a new norm that affects the whole world. While we are facing the same challenge, it doesn’t matter where you are from and what your nationality is.
Nicole Yang
"I worked the main room, cleaning supplies and talking to people who came in, complimenting their artwork."
-Maria
University of Maryland Student
I was working at the receiving table. I got a chance to talk to each participant. I briefly explained to each one of them to focus on the theme, to brainstorm for the ideas from the list, and most importantly to submit their artwork so it can be included in the digital collages.
Nicole Yang
"I worked on my laptop during the duration of the festival created live collage banner designs that were projected on a screen for everyone to see"
-Jazmin Braxton
Bowie State University Student
"I helped to organize the project and my students, then stepped back to allow the students to take on the role of arts facilitator, which they did very successfully, I believe. "
Margaret Walker
Describe your experience during the project:
"I had so much fun working with our group and helping the community participants. I felt the energy coming from each individual. That energy bounced from one person to another.
Nicole Yang
It’s like a glue that creates a wholesome atmosphere, a collaborative effort, and a unity as ONE."
Nicole Yang
"I had fun during the festival because I got to do things I usually never get to. I talked to strangers about art, made art in a relaxing way that didn’t need to be perfect, I got to see cool costumes and listen to live music."
-Maria
So happy that Next Now fest continues to hold space for creative collaborations between both schools! Students need the agency and space to collectively express their joys, sorrows, and protest!
Jennifer White-Johnson