Spring Forward

A Mask Pageant and Celebration
January 11 – May 1

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Intentionally, the event was composed to provide humor, joy, relief, and hope to participating students and audience.

Under the creative direction of Frank Maugeri, Lecturer in Theater & Performance Studies and celebrated designer of artistic pageants, processions, and celebrations, Spring Forward aims to be a hopeful collaboration between creative teams of students, art faculty, and prominent artists for the design and construction of large-scale masks, song and more, on May 1st, the date of ancient festivals of spring.

Students were invited to develop creative team and submit a design for the Spring Forward pageant and procession! We are seeking collaborators for a student-led, interdisciplinary, university-wide pageant and celebration of spring – no previous design experience required. Interested students will have the opportunity to work with industry professionals from all over the globe and collaboratively design and construct unique large-scale transforming masks, site-based dance and performance, intricate costumes, unique sculptural spectacle, and parade objects, and more! These student-driven projects came together in an outdoor procession and pageant on the first of May 2021, as well as an online archive that will showcase and commemorate all student designs and creations.

Students across the College were invited to contribute to the design and creation of large-scale transforming masks by forming a Creative Team and submitting a proposal for a shadow box. Students from Theater & Performance Studies, Visual Arts, Music, Creative Writing, Cinema & Media Studies, Media Art & Design will collaborate on designing and creating costumes, narrative dance performances, ritual soundscapes, and pageant devices.

Student Ambassadors

Featured
Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab
Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab

Performance Ambassador. Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab is a first-year from Minneapolis, MN whose major is currently undecided.

Lilly Hackworth
Lilly Hackworth

Circus Ambassador. Lilly Hackworth has been involved in circus since starting college and is in her second year as circus ringleader (aka co-president). She primarily does partner acrobatics and aerial silks and has choreographed for both. In her spare time, you can find her out by the lake or playing Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis on the piano.

Jaden Hamilton
Jaden Hamilton

Video and Photography Ambassador. Jaden Hamilton is a first year at UChicago from Topeka, Kansas. He is planning to major in Public Policy and Cinema and Media Studies. He’s passionate about storytelling and filmmaking and hopes to develop his videography skills through this experience. In his free time, you can catch him playing music, making cringey TikToks, and keeping up with the latest US and International News.

Emily Her
Emily Her

Design Ambassador. Emily Her is a senior at the University of Chicago, completing her Bachelors’ degree in Economics with a Visual Arts minor. As a marketing and advertising designer, she has worked with over 40 companies to develop their branding language and direction. Emily’s artistic style incorporates the whimsical with the big and the bold for a bigger than life experience.

Rebecca Husk
Rebecca Husk

Event Coordinator. Rebecca Husk is an experience designer currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Digital Humanities. Her work ranges from large immersive spectacle (like Spring Forward!) to puzzle design to alternate reality games and more. When not crafting or designing, catch her ranting about Batman villains or staying up too late playing board games. www.rebeccahusk.com

Carolyn Johansen
Carolyn Johansen

Costume Ambassador. Carolyn Johansen is a second year in the College, double majoring in Economics and Chemistry. She began sewing in elementary school, inspired by her grandmother and older sister. Since then, she has taught sewing lessons, completed custom sewing orders, and outfitted herself for events like prom and graduation. While in high school in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Carolyn took several courses in fashion illustration, draping, and construction at the Fashion Institute of Technology. At UChicago, Carolyn designs for MODA and plays flute in the Wind Ensemble.

Angelie Miranda
Angelie Miranda

Music Ambassador. Angelie Miranda is a first year from Chesapeake, Virginia. She is majoring in Statistics and is excited to be serving as the Music Ambassador on the Spring Forward team. When not emailing musicians and sound technicians, she can be found learning to play her new kalimba.

Renee Wehrle
Renee Wehrle

Poetry Ambassador. Renee Wehrle is a fourth year student studying English Literature and Creative Writing.