TRAVIS WEAGANT
<Editor-in-Chief>
Last Wednesday evening, the JCR bustled with the sounds and sight of many Ozzies sharing their artistic talents. In previous years, Arts Night has been little else but an opportunity for those of us with six strings and a working voice box to show off their repertoire. L&L President Elena Iosef made it a stated goal to diversify the slate of acts available for this year’s attendees to enjoy.
The endeavour was a success. The evening kicked off with the first round of Osgoode’s own art battle: a 20 minute painting frenzy, in which competitors attempt to use their canvas to win over members of the audience, who vote for a winner from among, in this case, four contestants.
Between rounds of painting, attendees were treated to an eclectic musical selection. Osgoode 2L and skilled violinist Pam Hinman and her cellist partner Garrett Knecht (both of whom have performed with the Canadian Opera Company) virtuously performed four classical selections. Later, Zorn Pink and Jason Hayward took the stage and knocked out a few acoustic covers. Before the final round of the art battle, Kate Cash and Jon Ungaro performed acoustic solos. Harjot Atwal capped the set with a fluid and funny but emotional and sincere spoken word piece.
Following the exciting art battle finale, which featured round robin winners Annie Chu and Marie Park, improv comedy team Sujoy Chatterjee and Justin D’Aloisio, with the help of moderator Claire Yick (aka Drew Clairey), elicited many laughs. Zain Atcha followed this act well with two topical rap tracks.
Tom Wilson ended the night with an acoustic set, and was still playing when I left. What I’m glad I didn’t miss, however, was Iosef joining Wilson on tambourine in a joint L&L-Student Caucus performance of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes’ “Home.”
It was also a big night for us here at the Obiter Dicta, with Staff Writer Marie Park emerging victorious from Osgoode’s inaugural art battle, and Layout Editor Wendy Sun winning the photography contest with her entry “Cable Cars,” pictured here. We didn’t judge the contest ourselves; we swear.
Overall, Arts Night 2013 was a great and clear reminder that, despite our common interest in the law, people who go to Osgoode are good at other stuff. Like, really good.
