The 10th annual Boston College Arts Fest begins this afternoon in O'Neill Plaza. This year's festival marks its 10th anniversary, complete with free birthday cake. The main tent will be larger than in past years, and the planners are expecting a larger crowd draw than in the past. A series of collaborative sculptures in the shape of large Roman numeral 10s have appeared across campus in celebration of the festival's anniversary. The sculptures resulted from the collaborative efforts of staff and student volunteers. Also, the exteriors of the festival tents are the canvas for a "Retrospective Exhibition" that will commemorate the past nine years of the festival, with banners demonstrating how much the Arts Festival has grown in sucha short period of time.
Arts Fest activities will highlight the many talents of BC students, from poetry readings to performances by Synergy, a winner of the ALC Showdown.
At 7:30 p.m. today, the main tent will host the winners of BC's Battle of the Bands competition: Kiss the Chef, Code: Motion, and Hobbes will compete to perform as the opening act at Modstock.
On Saturday, student jazz ensemble BC bOp! and gospel choir Voices of Imani will share the stage in the main tent, marking the first time the groups have performed together.
"They will be performing excerpts from Duke Ellington's 'Sacred Concerts,'" said Arts Fest Director Cathi Fournier. "These works are very well known but rarely performed because of their scope and complexity, so it should be a treat for all." The concert will also serve as a celebration for Hubert Walters, Voices of Imani choir director, who is retiring.
In addition to the wide array of musical and dance performances, there will also be a live performance of a selection from the Broadway hit musical Urinetown. The excerpt is directed by last year's winner of the Arts Council's Alumni Award for artistic achievement, Paul Daigneault, BC '87.
On Friday, "Free Friday Flicks" will be featured in Devlin. The best of BC's student film projects will be shown, including Eat Drink Talk Think: Perspectives from Behind the Counter, the winner of the Baldwin Award for viewers' choice and best picture of the year.
In O'Neill Plaza on Friday evening, there will be a viewing of The Visitor, a film about a college professor who travels to New York City to attend a conference to find a couple living in his apartment. The film is by Tom McCarthy, BC '88, who is this year's recipient of the Alumni Award.
On Saturday, the closing day of Arts Fest, the a cappella showcase will begin at 1:15 p.m. Coed vocal group the Bostonians and all-male group the Heightsmen will be featured in their final performances of this school year. This year, Arts Fest will feature activities for people of all ages, including "The Emperor's New Clothes" for children ages 7 and older. "The students' energy, commitment, talent - it all amazes me," Fournier said. "We have such talented artists here at Boston College, and it's a pleasure to promote their work."
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!