Toro talents were on full display earlier this month during the first annual CAH-nival event. Organized and hosted by the College of Arts and Humanities, the two-day festival kicked off on Mar. 13 in the Laser Recital Hall located in LaCorte Hall.
The event served as a rally for additional university funding for the college, and attracted more than 200 attendees, according to Associated Students, Inc. member Efrain-Adam Contreras.
“I feel like our college deserves to be the highlight of this university considering all the great work that students do,” said Contreras, a history student who represents the College of Arts and Humanities at ASI. “Whether it be student research or art or music, I really feel like it can be built upon.” Contreras added that he organized the event, in part, to support his fellow CAH students.
“For the first time doing this event, I think we were very successful in the amount of people that we did get,” Contreras said. “I hope in the future, we continue off it – having more people get in there and make this event as big as we possibly can.”
Contreras said he hopes CAH-nival will not only draw a bigger crowd, but have even greater representation next year. “Hopefully, they’ll do it a little earlier in the year, considering how much workload students get around this time.
A day of songs and poems
CAH-nival offered Toros an opportunity to express themselves creatively through various forms of art, including dance, spoken word, musical performances, and graphic art. Contreras, who performed a duet of the song “From the Start” by the Icelandic singer Laufey, said he was proud of the students who participated in the event and shared their work. Contreras was so inspired by the other CAH-nival performers, he decided to get on stage, too.
“I wasn’t planning to sing at all, so the fact that I threw myself in there at the end — I think it showed how great other people’s work was,” Contreras said.
One of those students was senior English student Mya Alesha Gibson, who recited three of her poems. The works explore themes related to loneliness, isolation, relationships, trauma, interpersonal communication, and mental health.
Gibson said she felt nervous before taking the mic, but found inspiration by remembering a few of the Black American artists and icons she admired. “Was Maya Angelou nervous? Was Langston [Hughes] nervous? Was Gil Scott Heron nervous?”
Graduate English student Anisa D. Delgado said she also had some butterflies before reciting her poetry in front of the crowd, but considered her performance to be an overall therapeutic experience.
“I think performing at CAH-Nival helped with my professional career, because I haven’t had many experiences involving public speech regarding my personal writing,” Delgado said.
Tyesha Harvey, another senior English student, participated in CAH-nival as a way to challenge herself at an on-campus event. Her poem, “Testimony and Magic,” explored themes of sex, race, and class through the lens of her own past struggles.
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown, I wear it flawlessly,” Harvey recited.
Day One of CAH-nival wrapped up with a performance by criminal justice student Brittany Rolda, who sang “La Malagueña” by Miguel Aceves Mejía. The event not only afforded Rolda an opportunity to share a bit about Mexican culture, but also a bit about herself.
“I often feel free and excited to be able to share my emotions on stage,” Rolda said. “Performing at CAH-nival helped me … feel that emotion and connection.”
Toros showcase artwork, short films
Day Two of CAH-nival was a feature presentation of student artwork and films. For some Toros who showed up to display their work, it was an exhausting but ultimately rewarding experience.
“I was also really nervous beforehand,” said freshman graphic design student Susana Macias, who was exhibiting her artwork for the first time. “I felt really accomplished because I was able to put myself out there, despite how uncomfortable it was.”
Meanwhile, senior Priscila Iniguez screened her short film, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.” The black-and-white movie examines the mundanity and struggle of everyday life to the tune of The Smiths song of the same name. Iniguez co-directed the movie with film and TV production student Miroslava Alvarado.
“I feel that CAH-nival definitely opened my eyes to the opportunities that come with displaying and sharing your work,” said Iniguez, a double major in public relations and film and TV production. “Thanks to all of the encouraging feedback, I will be more inclined to participate in other events similar to this.”
