Students create imaginative works for annual spring arts festival on campus

Chicago’s campus will once again be transformed into an art gallery next week for the annual Festival of the Arts.

FOTA 2007 will kick off Saturday, May 12, with a launch party in the Hutchinson Courtyard and a fashion show featuring eight student designers. The festival will end Sunday, May 20.

College student artwork, including both visual and performance art, will be featured on the Main Quadrangles and in campus buildings. Paintings, book illustrations, dance performances, photographic portraits and sculpture are just some of the artistic genres that will be on display.

“We are really excited about FOTA’s Spring Festival,” said College fourth-year Kristine Khouri, who serves as co-director of the festival. “We have gone for quality over quantity, making the process a bit more competitive this year.”

With more than 70 proposals received this year, FOTA organizers opted to decrease the amount of art displayed around campus for the festival, accepting about 40 proposals. The organizers expanded programming and events beyond the Spring Festival, featuring speakers, performances and installations during the entire school year.

“We have so many substantial projects this year,” Khouri added. “It’s going to be really exceptional, I’m sure.”

FOTA has been an annual student-run tradition at the University since 1963. This year, Khouri noted that FOTA has put a focus on year-round arts programs and events on campus, with the festival serving as the school year’s grand finale.

A detailed schedule and additional information about FOTA 2007 is available at http://fota.uchicago.edu.