The Seventh Wonder of BYU Campus

This semester I have had to come to terms with the fact that I basically live in the dearly beloved HFAC. Although I wish this was an understatement, I have realized that the HFAC is not a bad building to have to "live" in. Since I spend every day of the week here, I have noticed that this building is its own community from the music majors who sit by the entrance staircase to the TMA students who work at the far staircase (when you study there every day, you realize that we've separated ourselves accordingly). Additionally, after seeing several friends, acquaintances, and faculty members run around the building and constantly go up and down the stairs, the feeling that this building is alive with creativity struck me and has not left me since. Similarly, when you spend hours on end and day after day here, it becomes pretty obvious that many interesting events in this larger-than-life building go unnoticed. So with my photo essay, I tried to give a voice to artists who could be viewed (or at least I view them) as the unsung heroes of the HFAC.

This assignment helped me realize exactly what parts of my life are included in my community. As a result, I've been able to understand this community and interact with it on a more personal and less passive level. Taking pictures really prompts a different connection or perception of your subjects. The music students I photographed were more than willing to rehearse as my camera clicked obnoxiously. I also noticed how courteous HFAC students and faculty members are about photography -- many passersby were afraid to ruin my shots (maybe this trait isn't limited to HFAC attendees, but I like to think that they just understand art). I really enjoyed taking a building I reside in every day and allowing it to become something more than just a place.

Enter the Harris Fine Arts Center, a building on BYU campus that looks just as typical as its other buildings.

The hallways and classrooms appear like any other building's rooms...

But the main open corridor of the HFAC hints at the creativity contained within its walls. Not sure why this text decided to be all linky.

It's not unusual to see dedicated music students practice together on their own time.

But the underbelly of the HFAC holds many secrets. What kind of secrets, you ask?

Take this scenic design, for example.

Or this advanced make up student who made a life cast of her sister.

Or even these costumes created by the costume shop.

However, no matter the medium, there is always some kind of performance waiting to be appreciated.