Jerry Zolten, center, performs at 3 Dots Downtown during 2/22/22 Tuesday Defrost
By Charani Gauravaram, Art Coordinator ~
Located at the corner of Beaver and Pugh Streets in downtown State College, 3 Dots Downtown hosts a weekly event called Tuesday Defrost, a “weekly celebration of the smorgasbord of music, community, art and culture of Centre County,” according to its website. I attended on February 22 and was able to experience an incredible glimpse into artistic performances of diverse cultures.
Jim Colbert, a talented singer-songwriter, kicked off the event by hosting an open mic session. He performed various original songs and covers, while others contributed their own rap, poetry and singing performances.
The second part of the Tuesday Defrost event consisted of a deep history lesson on the origins of rock music and the contributions of legendary African American artists to the world of rock, presented by host Jerry Zolten, Associate Professor of Communication Arts & Sciences and American Studies at Penn State Altoona, and author of the book “Great God A’Mighty! The Dixie Hummingbirds: Celebrating the Rise of Soul Gospel Music.” Zolten provided a visual presentation on various black artists, including Chuck Berry, the Flamingoes and Muddy Waters, emphasizing these artists’ impact on rock, blues and other music genres.
Zolten went on to perform his own songs, accompanied by friends Richard Sleigh and Andy Tolins. I felt like I was sitting around a campfire with my friends as I listened to their performance, and the cozy sofas and chairs arranged throughout the room reminded me of being comfortably at home with my family.
Tuesday Defrost is an event for people of all ages to come together to enjoy each other’s company weekly. Every Tuesday offers a different opportunity to celebrate all forms of art and artists, from vinyl record painting to poetry workshops. It’s perfectly set at 3 Dots Downtown, a place where art is appreciated and encouraged, and paintings are hung on every wall of the building. The event fulfills 3 Dots’ mission, which is “to inspire a more vibrant community by elevating the humanities, promoting local arts, cultivating innovative experiences and offering an inclusive public space for civic engagement.”
The Tuesday Defrost event creates a safe space for anyone who wants to express their art and allows everyone to feel like a part of a community, offers a wonderful way to relax one’s mind away from a hectic life and meet new people from all walks of life.
The calendar of 3 Dots events includes not only the weekly Tuesday Defrost, but also a weekly global poetry workshop, a listening series, jazz and other musical performances, drag shows, dance parties, and more. See the full calendar of events here.
Charani is a freshman majoring in advertising and public relations. She is from Mumbai, India and is KLIO’s art director. She has always had a love for art, and over quarantine, she started to pursue the world of digital art. Charani is a marketing and communications intern at Invent Penn State and a member of Valley Magazine’s PR team.