SPOTLIGHT: Arts Gallery

The 12th andThe 12th and13th floors ofThe 12th and13th floors ofHigh Rise East areThe 12th and13th floors ofHigh Rise East aremore than just a placeThe 12th and13th floors ofHigh Rise East aremore than just a placeto live? Seinfeld is on the tube, cappuccino is being served and the music of a well-tuned piano fills the lounge. It is an ordinary Thursday night for the 24 students living in Arts House. The 15-year-old Living-Learning Program located on the 12th and 13th floors of High Rise East gives its students an educational and social exposure to art and artists. "The goal of Arts House is to give students the opportunity to explore certain types of subjects or issues outside of the classroom," said Brenda Ridley, assistant director for Upperclass Programs in Residence. "They should be able to continue to learn outside the formal academic arena." The students are led by English graduate student and Program Director Joe Murphy and fellow English graduate student and Graduate Fellow Sam Choi. "The point of Arts House is to bring art into everyday life," Murphy said. "It's not just when we see a play -- [art] is potentially around us all the time." Choi said there is no set objective for Arts House. "We don't have a big goal," he said. "The residents expect different things they might not do on their own. We spend a lot of money on the residents to give them opportunities that aren't available to residents of other dorms." Such opportunities are why students say they chose to live in Arts House over regular high rise living. "There are not too many other residences that go to New York City," Choi said. College sophomore Maria Pilch agreed. "I like the opportunity to go to plays," she said, adding that she plans to retain her room for next year. Murphy said Arts House offers a close-knit community within the larger framework of the high rises. "If you're living in the high rises, you're in a building where the doors automatically stay shut and where you take an elevator from the ground floor to your room, so there's not a lot of hanging out that goes on," he said. "The Living-Learning Programs are a way to form a community within that context. The isolation in the high rises can be looked upon more positively as privacy." Students say they also like the facilities that Arts House has to offer. In addition to their piano, students have access to a darkroom for printing photographs, performance space and a dance gallery. But students say they find the social environment the most appealing feature of Arts House. "Arts House is a lot friendlier and warmer than a regular high rise floors," College sophomore Arielle Silver said. Six freshmen chose to live in Arts House rather than the Quad. They say they enjoy the bigger rooms and friendlier atmosphere. "If you want to get away from the Quad, this is it," College and Engineering freshman Ahmed Arastu said. "You don't get lost here." And the freshmen gave other reasons, too. "I have my own bathroom -- the appeal was too much," College freshmen John Adractas said. Arts House began this academic year with a retreat in the Poconos in coordination with the other Living-Learning Programs. The members used this time to meet each other and to form several committees. "At the retreat, we tried to set out what our priorities were," Murphy said. Other trips have included visits to Broadway, the Museum of Modern Art and the Philadelphia Orchestra. "It can be expensive, inconvenient, daunting or confusing for students to actually get into the city and do things," Murphy said. "Our job is to facilitate that interaction with the city." Last Saturday, 25 Arts House residents ventured to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to view the Barnes Collection. Prior to the trip, they watched the movie "Citizen Barnes" to learn about the life of the art collector. The students said they thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit, even though they had to walk to the museum. Arts House also invites artists to perform and give lectures. The group sang with a folklore expert and performed Shakespeare for a London Stage actor. "We prepared a scene from Macbeth for [the actor]," Murphy said. "He acted as a director. He showed us the possible ways we could interpret the lines." Arts House is also working on projects with the Hillel Foundation. They made menorahs for Hanukah, and are planning to construct masks for the Jewish holiday of Purim. And every Thursday is Seinfeld and cappuccino night. According to the residents, Arts House may offer the activities, but students must still get involved themselves. "If you get involved, Arts House lives up to its description," said Wharton and Engineering sophomore Gita Lal, who has been a resident for two years. "But there is no pressure to join any of the activities." But the students living in Arts House are its most interesting feature, according to several residents. One resident is starting a rock band. Another is an accomplished jazz pianist. And a third is a budding architect. Photographers and poets are living next door to a cappella singers and "rockette" dancers. "Many of the students who are in Arts House, and all of the Living-Learning Programs, come from all over and have varied interests," Ridley said. "They can share those interests with other residents and can learn from other residents." The students say they agree that their fellow students form an integral part of the Arts House experience. "Arts House is a great vehicle for meeting people," said College freshman Jim Goetta, who plans to remain in Arts House next year. "The other residents open your mind to art and music." Not all Arts House residents are artists, however. "There are also art enthusiasts living here, as well as students with an academic interest in the arts," Murphy said. Ridley explained that Arts House used to sponsor Arts House Dance and Arts House Theater Company, but these groups are no longer affiliated with Arts House -- though many students from Arts House still participate in Arts House Theater and Arts House Dance. "Relationships are a lot less formal [now]," she said. To be accepted into Arts House, applicants are required to fill out a general Living-Learning form, which has three accompanying essays. Murphy said the essays serve to "weed out" those students who are not serious about the program. There are 34 students living on floors 12 and 13 who are not official members of Arts House, but they are nevertheless encouraged to take part in House activities. "I feel welcomed by the members of Arts House," Nursing sophomore Kristen Chasse said. "I plan on applying next year." Murphy said that there is no real difference between these students and those accepted into Arts House -- except for the fact that these students did not pay the program fee. This program fee of $60 per year is used to pay for the students' trips. The administrative costs are funded by the University. Five of the Arts House residents are exchange students from France attending the University for the year. They have been invited to take part in all Arts House activities. "When we attend the Arts House activities, we get along well with the other residents," Engineering junior Benoit Fraeyman said. Murphy said he feels Arts House will continue to grow in the future. "Arts House has come a long way," he said. "There's a lot of potential in it and I'm excited about the continuation and future of Arts House." Future plans include a park beautification project with the Latin American Living-Learning Program and work with the Anti-Graffiti Network. Arts House is also planning theater performances for local high schools modeled after the workshop given by the London stage actor. According to Murphy, community service will play an important part in the future of Arts House. "We want to work on more community service," he said. "We want to use the arts as a way of interacting with and serving the community outside of Penn." Thirteen students who are currently living in Arts House said they plan to retain their rooms. "Arts House has consistently been able to get people to stay in the program from year to year," Ridley said. "Arts House offers a lot to students, and I'm hoping more students will take advantage of it." Arastu said he hopes for more incoming students to choose Arts House. "Arts House needs more freshmen," he said. Although only five potential applicants attended an open house last Thursday night, Murphy said he hopes for a large influx of people next year.