Communiversity showcases artistic talents of APU students
Seven Palms transformed into an eclectic art display on Friday evening as steam rose from the coffee cups of attendees listening to live jazz and gazing over the artwork of APU students.
Visual artists featured their artwork for sale at the Jazz. Art. Coffee. event which was organized by Communiversity. The event, which takes place once every semester, featured artwork in mediums such as ink, spray paint and macrame.
Attendees drifted in to admire the artwork, listen to live jazz music and drink free, handcrafted coffee without leaving the comfort of campus.
Jazz ensemble performing at the event on Friday. Photo by Justine Brown.
The atmosphere was intended to be laid-back for people to be able to spend the evening relaxing with friends, said Jeslin Preap, one of the performing arts interns who organized the event.
“We wanted to find a way to include as many departments as we could… and give [student artists and musicians] an opportunity to showcase their art and perform,” Preap said. “We wanted to include as many different pockets as we could to reach many different groups of APU [students] that might not come together [otherwise].”
Preap took part in organizing other Comuniversity events such as Fall Fest and Open Mic Night, and feels that Jazz. Art. Coffee. offers a more easygoing ambiance than some of the larger events.
Joshua Cheng, a psychology major and musician, said he enjoyed spending the evening talking with friends while listening to the jazz musicians perform in the background.
“I think this is a great chance to showcase student talent,” Cheng said. “You could go your whole college career without going to a musical… or one of the concerts that the music department puts on. Here we get a chance to see the artwork that sometimes shows up in the big hallways of Duke on a smaller scale. You get to listen to the jazz that one of the jazz bands has been working on… and see the talent that students have.”
Ella O’Neill, an artist present at the event, offered a workshop to attendees hoping to learn the craft of macrame. O’Neill sells her wall decor and plant hangers on Etsy and was excited to present her work at Jazz. Art. Coffee.
“I don’t really talk about [my artwork] that much… It’s good to get your pieces out there,” O’Neill said. “It’s a little bit scary for me to present everything, and hopefully, people take well to that, but sometimes they don’t. [Tonight] everyone has seemed so supportive of [my work] and of everyone else.”
Jazz. Art. Coffee. will hold its next event on Feb. 22, 2019.