Event on campus aims to make souls breathe

BROOKINGS — It’s a big question that often has small answers:

What makes your soul breathe?

The right song up loud with the windows down? A walk with the dog? Drawing chalk pictures in the driveway? A cup of coffee on the porch?

In a time when it’s easier than ever to live inside our own heads — or in our telephones — maybe it’s important to schedule some time to simply be in the moment.

Say, on May 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sylvan Green on the South Dakota State University campus.

Billed as “What Makes Your Soul Breathe? A one-day arts happening invites the public to play, create, and participate,” it is a first of its kind.

Let Erik Ritter — an instructor at the SDSU School of Design and the organizer of the event along with Melissa Hauschild-Mork — explain:
“It’s a free, public arts happening built around participation rather than observation. Live painting, dance, wearable art, and open-ended creative moments where people can step in and take part.”

In other words: Stop doomscrolling. Look up from your phone. Get out of your head. And maybe choose to participate in some planned art projects.

The idea started to germinate more than a year ago.

“Melissa and I, we had some talks about how we wanted to incorporate visual art with the dance program. So we had the event, the spring dance concert last year, where I made this giant, 15-foot tree, and the dancers interacted with the tree. And so we’re bringing that as a nucleus of the activity and the visuals of it,” Ritter said.

According to a release announcing Soul Breathe:

“This multidisciplinary event combines the talents of four SDSU departments and features live dance performances, evolving paintings created on-site, live music and wearable art that moves through the crowd. But the real focus is the audience. Visitors won’t just watch, they’ll participate. Expect hands-on opportunities to create your own artwork, contribute to collaborative pieces and even leave with something you’ve made.”

Ritter continues. “And then working with students on asking that question, what makes your soul breathe? We came up with this May 2 extravaganza that has all these different satellite things that are happening. They’re occurring on Sylvan green at the same time, from one to three,” he said.

All activities are free and open to the public of all ages. Materials are provided, and no prior art experience is needed, just a willingness to engage. There is no charge for the event and participants are asked to assemble on the front steps of the South Dakota Art Museum at 1 p.m.
“Bring your curiosity. Bring a friend. And be ready to leave with more than you arrived with,” the release reads.

There’s also a preview event at the Brookings Arts Council on Saturday, April 25 from 2-4 p.m.. Interested participants can attend and decorate a ceramic vessel that will be part of the proceedings — and take their art home with them when the May 2 event ends.

As for the event itself, there will be dance, music, art, ceramics, sound bowls — a veritable cornucopia of activity. But the idea, Ritter says, more than any big statement, is simply to get people to share the same moment — circle the present, he calls it — and take that first step of doing, making or participating.

“Hopefully it’s a nice day to be part of the artwork,” Ritter said. “You’re not just an artist when you’re making art, you’re an artist throughout and I say everyone’s an artist. 90 percent of the public don’t believe that at all. So we’re trying to maybe convert some people.”

Ritter acknowledges describing the event is nearly impossible. But that’s half the fun.

“And we’re not exactly sure what’s gonna happen, but I like it. We’re making it up as we go. We’re still making it up as we go,” he said. “It’s something we’re giving something to the world that it never had before.”

Or, as the release describes it: “At its core, What Makes Your Soul Breathe is about access, joy and discovery. It removes the barrier between artist and audience, offering a space where creativity is immediate, social and shared.

Whether you stay for five minutes or the full two hours, the experience is designed to be welcoming, energizing and unpredictable.”

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and welcomes story tips and comments at BrookingsBeacon@@gmail.com