For anyone roaming South Campus Thursday night, rhythmic drumbeats and twinkling lights might have greeted you from Tempel Green. There, the student organization Souled Out sponsored a gathering of musicians and visual artists to liven up the area. For many, the appeal of stabbing holes in a soda can coupled with upbeat music was enough to spark interest. The event, titled “Light Up Your Life,” invited passersby to engage in the arts. Throughout the night, students stopped to sing, dance and craft glow stick lanterns. Others simply observed the festivities.
Souled Out is an organization born from the efforts of Candace Taylor ’13, also the founder of Conn’s latest a cappella group, Miss Conduct. Originally, Taylor created the organization to make her group Miss Conduct nonexclusive. She sought to combine her interests in dance, theater, music and visual arts in a larger program, one designed to engage a variety of students in the community.
Due to her trip abroad last semester, the organization remained dormant until this year. Souled Out has reappeared this fall on the club scene in full swing. The executive board has two members for visual arts and two members for performing arts who collaborate to plan events centered around artistic education and community outreach. Sometimes, the goal is simply to provide a scene for artistic expression, as seen in Thursday night’s festivities.
According to Taylor, Souled Out plans to enrich the public in ways beyond that of entertainment. This year, Souled Out will sponsor larger gatherings geared towards connecting and educating Connecticut College students and the New London community as well. Through the media of dance, song and music, Souled Out plans to technically educate in the arts. By hosting events that teach basic skills in a variety of areas, Souled Out provides a basis for individuals to build upon their artistic knowledge. Fostering creativity is one of their methods of forging connections with members of the larger New London area.
However, Souled Out is about more than providing an opportunity for artistic expression and education. Another motive is spreading awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence issues. “We’re going to sing certain songs and then break down the lyrics,” Taylor explained. Through music, groups like Miss Conduct will perform songs that speak to the mistreatment of women and children in abusive, domestic situations. In this way, Conn students will use music to educate the New London public in an engaging manner.
Souled Out encompasses a variety of components, each working to satisfy a variety of goals. By employing the talents of Conn students, Souled Out aims to serve the community through artistic expression. “There are tons of community service options here,” said Taylor. “I kind of really wanted it to be more grassroots, from the student body.”
Using art as a spearhead certainly makes Souled Out a unique community service organization as well, providing different opportunities from OVCS. With the multiple motives of artistic expression, education and engagement, Souled Out is sure to provide some exciting events for the upcoming year.
