Chicago’s Arts in the Dark parade turns the city into a stage for its arts community, bringing performance, visual art and elaborate costumes into the streets for an annual Halloween celebration.
This year, more than 150 Columbia students are preparing to participate in the parade on Saturday, Oct. 24, with illuminated puppets, wearable architecture, costumes and performances. Among them are students in the Big Chicago course “Carnival Art: Chicago Stories,” who are creating a prairie-inspired contribution that highlights Chicago’s natural landscape.
Handmade insect wings, a bug shell and a cicada are among the pieces students are making for the project, taught by Gabriela Díaz de Sabatés, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Culture.
For Peyton Vines, a first-year musical theatre major, the class project offers a reminder that Chicago’s natural environment remains part of the city alongside its buildings.
“The whole message is kind of like, hey, it’s still here,” Vines said.
Díaz de Sabatés said the course helps students get to know Chicago and one another as they adjust to college. Preparing for the parade has become another opportunity to build that sense of community.
“We want to make them feel comfortable,” Díaz de Sabatés said. “We want them to learn academically, give them as much information as possible, as much support and as many tools as possible to have not only a professional, successful life, but also a good life.”
Aster Gardner, a first-year acting for stage and screen major, described the value of creating next to classmates.
“Just making things with friends is always a lot of fun,” Gardner said.
Aubree Romaine, a first-year musical theatre major, said the project has brought enjoyment back to working with her hands.
“Honestly, I forgot how fun it is to craft until I’m given the opportunity to, or when I have to,” Romaine said.
First-years West Dorignac and Isabelle Rector constructed a cicada inspired by their class visit to Northerly Island. Their challenges include assembling the insect and making sure spectators recognize what it is.
“Just figuring out the logistics of how to put it together and make it look like a cicada,” Rector said. “Because I’m sure this is going to be mistaken for a cockroach or something like that.”
Adrianna Gutierrez, a sophomore photography major and peer mentor for the class, helped students translate their ideas into real creations while leaving the creative decisions to them.
“I really want their ideas to be their own,” Gutierrez said.
For Gutierrez, participating also exposes students to Chicago’s diversity and the ways people celebrate their backgrounds.
“I think that’s the most important part, being proud of where you came from and what your background is,” Gutierrez said.
That collaboration extends beyond the parade route.
Created to Achieve Success, a student organization that helps classmates obtain textbooks and course materials, are leading a haunted house project. A smaller version will appear at Columbia’s official afterparty of the parade, with a separate campus haunted house planned for the following week.
“We’re in here every day for at least two weeks,” said Jerry Brindisi, a professor and dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Students are building structures, promoting the attraction and preparing makeup, costumes and performances. A team is using the haunted house as a case study, connecting coursework with the functional requirements of producing an event.
Brindisi described the challenge of turning the white gallery space, where the campus haunted house will be held, into a dark environment. He also emphasized the support from the School of Fashion, the School of Design, the library, ShopColumbia, the Makerspace, student and parent volunteers, security and faculty.
“I mean, this is really created by students for students, right?” Brindisi said.
The preparation gives audiences a chance to see what students have been discovering and creating together. Gutierrez hopes students leave the event proud of their work and eager to participate again.
The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. on Columbus Drive. Columbia’s free afterparty runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Student Center, with the haunted house, games, a speed painting battle and student DJs. Afterparty registration is required. More information can be found here.
Copy edited by Isaac Russo
