Partnered with the MSU Science Festival, the Spartan Wellness event, “Student Night: Dreams” held on April 19, 7-9 p.m. at the Broad Art Museum and consists of tables full of supplies for pillow-making, embroidering, and pillowcase decorating. The Museum’s website says, “sleep and the dreams it conjures have inspired artists and scientists for centuries. What fills your head at night?”
MSU freshman Billy Couturier, wanted to get out and do something fun to get away from “being trapped in your dorm and being forced to study 24/7.” MSU freshman Abby Seitz who describes the dorms as a “concrete box,” tagged along to hangout and enjoy the arts and crafts.
Sarah Moore
The exhibition, “The Nightly News II,” at the MSU Broad Art Museum on April 19, displays anonymous dreams via video, such as, “the moon extended and the earth fell into the sun.”In addition to crafts and snacks, students had the opportunity to participate in the exhibition: “The Nightly News II” created by Taiwanese-American artist Candy Chang in collaboration with James A. Reeves. Six bean bags point toward a looped video containing hand-written descriptions of dreams from unknown individuals.
“Themes have emerged: we’re chased, we’re challenged, we’re threatened. We can’t get away, our teeth fall out, and we are strangers in a strange land. Devoted to these intensely private yet universally recognizable symbols delivered to us each night by forces beyond our understanding,
‘The Nightly News’ shows us that we’re all deeply weird creatures bound together by nerves, fantasy, and the unknown,” according to Candy Chang’s website. The project was first developed at the American School in London.
With pencil and paper available in the room, students are encouraged to describe a recurring dream or a dream they had last night–some were depicted with a drawing or a few words.
MSU Freshman Kalise Gerst says, “some of the dreams were really funny then others were super serious which was really interesting.” Gerst heard about the event through her friend and agreed to go to hang out and de-stress from finals preparation.
Some students came in groups, others came alone.
MSU junior and student intern working with the museum Dede Gorkowski shares an important intention of Spartan Wellness events, she says, “especially after the tragedies of this past semester it is really important to try and rebuild that community.”
Similarly, MSU junior and intern Tony Cox appreciates the “free space to be creative as well as get work done,” and he gives credit to the comfortable setting and free snacks.
The stress relief was delivered as many students stayed until 9 p.m. when the event was scheduled to end. The Exhibition “The Nightly News II” will be open until May 28 at the MSU Art Broad Museum, and Spartan Wellness events can be found at the museum’s website with the necessary information.