Studio Shift, a project spearheaded by Rhonda Gilmore and designed to promote the sesquicentennial celebration of Cornell University, saw students proudly show their Big Red spirit by decorating dozens of trees with red ribbons, expressing school spirit through ribbon-tying and other memorable displays along East Avenue and Tower Road, Arts Quad, Martha Van Rensselaer Hall and Human Ecology Building.
This inspiring project, “Studio Shift”, was spearheaded by Rhonda Gilmore, senior lecturer in design and environmental analysis. She sought to provide students with an opportunity to engage in the Charter Day Weekend festivities, marking this special moment in time for them.
Studio Shift students are proud to be celebrating Cornell’s 150th Birthday in a fun and lighthearted way by handing out red ribbons in libraries and dining halls. They encourage their peers to tie the ribbons on their backpacks, take pictures and post them online using #TheNext150. This is a great way for the community to come together and show their school spirit!
In addition to the ribbon-tying project, students have also planned four other sesquicentennial displays for Martha Van Rensselaer Hall and Human Ecology Building (HEB), including “Cornell 150” spelled in ribbons on the pedestrian bridge leading to HEB, Post-it Notes arranged into “Cornell 150” along a hallway outside Martha’s Cafe, a staircase installation inspired by the words of Cornell’s charter, and 150-themed pennants featuring historical photos from the college. All of these displays are sure to be interesting and fun for everyone!
Furthermore, the students are now developing a comprehensive exhibit for Reunion celebrating the temporary installations they have created. By planning and executing these temporal displays, the students have gained an invaluable skill that will serve them well in their future careers as modern designers.
The creative displays generated by Studio Shift and other students have provided the Cornell community with a unique opportunity for celebrating its sesquicentennial. With the decorations displayed on East Avenue and Tower Road, people are reminded of their collective pride and united spirit. Dining halls and libraries were filled with red ribbons, quickly becoming a trending #TheNext150 used on social media to proudly show off Big Red Spirit. Furthermore, displays at Martha Van Rens field Hall and Human ecology Building featuring 150- themed pennants, remembering historical photos or quoting the word of Cornell’s charter is sure to give the school a worthy celebratory appreciation. It is clear to see that this special anniversary has been embraced with excitement and determination.
Clearly, Studio Shift, spearheaded by Rhonda Gilmore, has provided the Cornell community with a unique opportunity to celebrate its sesquicentennial. With decorations on East Avenue and Tower Road and in libraries and dining halls throughout campus, students have shown their school spirit through ribbon-tying and other memorable displays. In addition to these installations, they are now developing an exhibit for the Reunion to commemorate this special anniversary. The creative displays generated by Studio Shift truly demonstrate how much Big Red Spirit lives within our community!
