In Hopes That Arts Come First With Students

Many of Harvard's artistic students may dream of big, well-lit galleries, packed houses and a University that isn't as splintered and business-like in its approach to their talents. At least there's one weekend that doesn't provide much room for complaint.

For the past five years the first weekend in May has been "Arts First" at Harvard, a time when artists from just about every field imaginable take over the galleries, halls, theaters, and even lawns of campus.

Originally conceived by current "Master of the Arts" John A. Lithgow '67 (one step down from "Master of the Universe") while serving on the Board of Overseers, the volume of events included in Arts First has grown consistently. An elaborate grid is currently required to list all of the performances and a "Harvard Arts Medal" is awarded annually--this year to John H. Updike '54.

The parade down Mass. Ave., one of the most visible aspects of the weekend, reflects the event's grand scale.

"The parade has really grown since the first time [we did Arts First]," says Myra A. Maman, director of the Office for the Arts. "The first time it was John Lithgow and myself with the Harvard Band walking down the street."

Now you'll see the Harvard Juggling Club, Cambridge school children and a large version of Curious George, among others, following Maman and Lithgow on parade. The sense of inclusion and flexibility that characterizes Arts First weekend may be the key to its popularity among students and Cambridge residents.

"One of the main goals [of Arts First] is to try to solidify the arts community, whether its drama, music, or literary arts, particularly with John Updike coming this year," Danielle Pelot '99, an Arts First volunteer, says.

Vanessa R. Trien, who works in the Office for the Arts, says that the planning group that helps organize the weekend, comprised of students, graduates, faculty and administrators, has a lot to do with the spirit of artistic freedom and community behind it.

"People just tend to offer what their strengths are and are pretty flexible," Trien says. "We haven't really had a conflict of interests."

The most important aspect of the weekend, however, is the opportunity for expression the weekend gives to artists within the Harvard community. Events this year range from On Thin Ice and the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra to "Unintentional Arson" and "Drill Performance and Trick Rifle Maneuvers."

"I think [Arts First] is great in that it creates opportunities for people who usually don't have stamina to create [their] own opportunity for performing," says Natasha M. Sokol '99, who will be playing a Debussy piece for four hands with a friend on Saturday.

Sokol also emphasizes that performers frequently get to play in bigger spaces during the weekend and to attract larger audiences than they might otherwise.

"Playing in Paine Hall for a lot of musicians is like playing in a real concert hall," she says. "If you're not intending to be a serious musician, it's not something you often get the opportunity to do."

Rebecca J. Lowenhaupt '99, who is directing this weekend's production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," says that performing on the steps of Memorial Church helps draw an avid crowd of curious onlookers.

"With this show in particular I think it's perfect for this space, because [The Tempest] is supposed to be a huge spectacle and a pageant," Lowenhaupt says. "It's wonderful to do it during Arts First weekend because people are walking through the Yard expecting to see the arts."

But even with a growing presence on campus,Arts First may draw more Cantabrigians thanstudents.

"I think that it's one of the great strongsuits that we've been able to draw out people fromthe Cambridge community," Pelot says, "but we'dlike to have more support in general from theundergraduate community, especially from peoplethat don't have contact with the arts year-round."

For Maman, who must coordinate the many eventsgoing on during the weekend, the goal is muchsimpler.

"The administrative motto is `No Carnage," shesays.

"Sometimes people are so used up at the end ofa production that they never want to do it again,but that's not what I want," she says

But even with a growing presence on campus,Arts First may draw more Cantabrigians thanstudents.

"I think that it's one of the great strongsuits that we've been able to draw out people fromthe Cambridge community," Pelot says, "but we'dlike to have more support in general from theundergraduate community, especially from peoplethat don't have contact with the arts year-round."

For Maman, who must coordinate the many eventsgoing on during the weekend, the goal is muchsimpler.

"The administrative motto is `No Carnage," shesays.

"Sometimes people are so used up at the end ofa production that they never want to do it again,but that's not what I want," she says