2008 Woodie Awards
Art project to celebrate Miami bicentennial
Vince Alexander
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Community
In preparation for Miami University's 2009 Bicentennial Celebration, Talawanda High School (THS) and the city of Oxford are coming together to create a symbolic fabric bicentennial art project, possibly including a documentary film, with the intention to tell the diverse stories of the Oxford community.
"The idea began through a conversation between Oxford community members and Monica Ways, the director of community engagement for Miami University," said Cliff McNish, Miami's director of diversity and outreach for the School of Fine Arts.
According to Holly Morris, THS's coordinator of community relations, as part of the inspiration for the symbolic fabric, there will be a series of three meeting during which Oxford community members will be encouraged to come together and share stories about living in Oxford and changes of its past. These accounts will be filmed by a Miami student, will serve as records at the Smith Library and may be turned into a documentary.
"These stories could possibly be developed into a documentary and this is where a theme for the bicentennial art celebration will be drawn from," Morris said.
Morris said the meetings will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at Talawanda Middle School, at 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Oxford Senior Citizens Center and the final meeting's schedule is pending but will take place at the Bethel Church in Oxford.
"This collaborative project between Miami and Talawanda art students will commemorate the rich history of Oxford while creating a positive experience to celebrate the bicentennial of Miami University," Morris said.
According to McNish, around eight Miami art students and possibly a half dozen Talawanda art students will be working on the project.
"The students are very enthusiastic as plans continue to expand and create new lengths on their own," McNish said. "This project allows students to engage themselves in a community project."
McNish explained that this project would include a variety of stories from various viewpoints.
"The idea began through a conversation between Oxford community members and Monica Ways, the director of community engagement for Miami University," said Cliff McNish, Miami's director of diversity and outreach for the School of Fine Arts.
According to Holly Morris, THS's coordinator of community relations, as part of the inspiration for the symbolic fabric, there will be a series of three meeting during which Oxford community members will be encouraged to come together and share stories about living in Oxford and changes of its past. These accounts will be filmed by a Miami student, will serve as records at the Smith Library and may be turned into a documentary.
"These stories could possibly be developed into a documentary and this is where a theme for the bicentennial art celebration will be drawn from," Morris said.
Morris said the meetings will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at Talawanda Middle School, at 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Oxford Senior Citizens Center and the final meeting's schedule is pending but will take place at the Bethel Church in Oxford.
"This collaborative project between Miami and Talawanda art students will commemorate the rich history of Oxford while creating a positive experience to celebrate the bicentennial of Miami University," Morris said.
According to McNish, around eight Miami art students and possibly a half dozen Talawanda art students will be working on the project.
"The students are very enthusiastic as plans continue to expand and create new lengths on their own," McNish said. "This project allows students to engage themselves in a community project."
McNish explained that this project would include a variety of stories from various viewpoints.
Be the first to comment on this story