Claire Aichholzer
Staff Writer
Everyone on campus has heard of Party on the Green and next semester most students are sure to attend Springfest. This spring, however, the event that should be marked on every calendar is the Wooster Jam. Put on by the College’s Center for Entrepreneurship, the two-day event gives students, alumni, staff and community members the opportunity to show their artistic talents. Unlike Party on the Green and Springfest, the Wooster Jam showcases everything from improv comedy and bands, to street performers and laser artists.
“It really reminds me of an art fair,” said Aviva Neff ’14, the current coordinator for performing art submissions. Though Neff was not a part of the Jam staff in 2011, she had the opportunity to showcase her work in the Film and Video Arts exhibit.
“It was really surreal to have people who I didn’t know gathered in a room watching me act in a short action movie. It’s definitely something worth bragging about,” said Neff.
Cello player Abby VanLeuven ’14 also had the opportunity to play at the Jam with her band, formerly known as the Swift Taylors, now Mangoshine. “The variety of people at the Jam was interesting,” said VanLeuven. “We’re used to playing for solely college students at the UG, but there were professors, members of the community and Wooster students [present].” VanLeuven and the band hope to perform again this coming spring.
The Wooster Jam also provides an opportunity for the College, the City of Wooster and other Ohio colleges to connect. This year, one of the festival’s goals is to bring in acts from Oberlin College, Denison College and Wittenberg University.
In addition, the Jam will be collaborating with the Wooster Ethnic Fair on Saturday, April 20, creating a strong and direct bond between the city and The College of Wooster. This link has potential to ease relations between the two.
“We are trying to bridge the gap between the community and the College by allowing anyone to participate in the Jam whether they are college students or members of the Wooster community” said Sarah Abboud ’12.
The event will take place on April 20 and 21 on the Wayne County Fairgrounds. There will be a free shuttle going to and from the event. Students who are interested in participating in Wooster Jam should apply by March 2.
“I think that other than the joy of performing or exhibiting your art, it is so important to remind the College and the community how integral the arts are,” said Neff. “We need to sing, dance, create, and enjoy each other’s creative outbursts in order to live.”