Giant’s Choice for Homecoming Creates Controversy

By RIVES KUHAR

This October, the University of Mary Washington’s students and alumni will celebrate homecoming with a performance by David Garibaldi and his CMYKs, a group that combines graffiti, music and dance into one show.

Giant Productions, UMW’s student entertainment committee, will host Garibaldi Oct. 19 as he uses paint to transform a canvas into an art piece to the beat of dance music.

After performing for Fortune 500 companies, such as Disney and AT&T, Garibaldi is more than prepared to help celebrate UMW pride by jumping around on stage and throwing paint to create a very large, loud statement of music and color.

“When we’re on stage, it’s like a controlled chaos,” Garibaldi said during his performance on America’s Got Talent.

Giant started working on plans for homecoming in May. When arrangements with other bands fell through, the group knew they needed something fresh and different to bring to the table. The plan is to have the event on ball circle, where remixed songs and black lights will accompany a long art performance resembling a rave.

To Lonnie Southall, senior and president of Giant, Garibaldi is the full package.

“People asked for DJs, and we brought them a DJ that paints. People wanted to dance, we brought dance with live art,” Southall said.
Jenna Randall, junior and vice president of Giant, is looking forward to the nontraditional role Garibaldi will fill.

“UMW is traditionally a very opening and accepting community. What better place to try something that is nontraditional,” Randall said.

However, some students, such as senior and sociology major Kyle Johnson, didn’t anticipate that this year’s homecoming celebration would include a former graffiti artist.

“It’s just not what [students] expected,” said Johnson. “We usually look forward to having some sort of band. If [Giant] wanted to change it up they should’ve asked the students if they’d be in favor of it or not, and I don’t think they would’ve been.”

David Hart, junior and member of Giant, urged students to give Garibaldi a shot and be willing to be surprised.

“We’re taking a risk with it, but it’s a gamble that we think will be very successful,” Hart said.

After watching a short clip of Garibaldi on YouTube, senior and anthropology major, Michael Kessler, is looking forward to Garibaldi’s performance.

“I don’t ever go to school dances because I don’t like them, but I probably will go to see [Garibaldi] because I actually find him very interesting and I really enjoy watching him do his work,” Kessler said.