Show Off Your Talent

Do you have a secret talent — a skill you’ve been dying to show off, but wouldn’t necessarily quit your day job for? Now is your chance to flaunt those peacock feathers.

The UCSF Parnassus library is throwing an interactive talent show called Now Playing 2, and organizers are inviting all UCSF faculty, staff and students who are interested in participating to submit their work by April 2. Enter soon, there are only a limited number of slots available!

A committee will review all talent submissions, which can include including anything from performance art, like singing and dancing, to visual art, like poetry and painting.

The entire UCSF community will be able to enjoy these creative talents during the event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 19.

The show will celebrate individuality and promote the library as a place for creativity and stress relief outside the everyday rigor of UCSF.

There are already a few student visual submissions, but no talent submissions so far — if you have a talent, it’s your time to shine.

The show’s attendees can enjoy free refreshments provided by local UCSF vendors as they peruse art displays in the fifth floor Lange Room and enjoy performances on the main floor of the library.

Free UCSF totes will be given out while supplies last, and attendees can pick up a free coloring book from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Stress Reduction Coloring Room, sponsored by Campus Life Services Well. Everyone who participates in the Discovery Challenge, a scavenger hunt-like game, will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. A total of three cards will be given out at random, one to staff, one to faculty and one to students.

Now Playing 2 is the second rendition of this UCSF talent show. In April 2017, the library and UCSF Arts & Events collaborated to produce Now Playing as a fun, interactive event while simultaneously showcasing the library as a resource for creativity and exploration. Ninety students and 117 employees, staff and professors attended the original event.

It included twelve visual artists, eight performers, a Maker’s Lab activity, scavenger hunt and stress reduction coloring.

Among the entries was Department of Neurology Assistant Professor Dr. Bjoern Schwer’s abstract painting entitled “Forest Spirit,” adorned with an array of colors set in contrast with thick black lines that cut and curved across the canvas.

A graduate student in the Neuroscience program, now graduated, Ashley Smart contributed a watercolor painting entitled “Arum,” craftily displaying the flowering plant native to Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia.

“[Now Playing] feels like it gives permission to students to have more in their lives than research,” Smart said.

Those interested in displaying their talent can go to the Call for Talent webpage. Apply by sending an email to artsandevents@ucsf.edu with name, UCSF affiliation, and a description of the piece or showcase. Include a photo, video, or website link if available. Note that all artwork must be able to be placed on a standard easel for exhibition. Performance artists will have access to a small PA system, but will need to be entirely self-sufficient and must bring all other required materials. Accepted artists must sign a liability and media waiver.

Attendees can check the event webpage for latest event updates.

In addition to an open-mind and sense of fun, attendees must bring a UCSF ID to participate.

Hope to see you there!