For most things in their infancy, from babies to yearly events, the general concept is that crawling, either literal or metaphorical, is an early phase in development.

However, inside the arts buildings on campus this weekend, a growing event will be taking place that has no intention of abandoning the crawl anytime soon.

Students Organizing the Multiple Arts (SOMA) and the Visual Arts Student Alliance (VASA) will host the Second Annual Arts Crawl at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Visual Arts, Patterson and Art buildings. The event, which had its genesis last year, features work from students in the School of Visual Arts and music from local bands.

SOMA president Kelly Murphy (sophomore-English, French, International Studies) said the success of last year's Crawl was a surprise.

"We had a really great attendance, which we weren't necessarily expecting," Murphy said. "It's kind of a chaotic event, which we found last year. But we kind of like it that way. We like the lack of organization. It's just kind of a free-for-all."

Mark Kleback, the drummer for the Bullet Parade, one of this year's performers, attended last year's Crawl and was impressed by the confluence of different artistic mediums.

"I walked in and there wasn't any specific stage but you could hear live music," Kleback (senior-electrical engineering) said. "You would walk through a bunch of galleries and then turn a corner and there would be a band tucked away in a corner. It was interesting. I really enjoyed it last year."

The event will begin outside the Visual Arts building in the sculpture yard with a performance by Tilly and the Wall, an indie pop band from Nebraska. Besides crafting contagious melodies, the band has a very peculiar source for rhythm: tap dancing.

"That's awesome," Kleback said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing that. As a drummer, any crazy percussion is right up my alley. I'd love to see how they pull that off."

Following the Tilly performance, the tour will continue in the Patterson and Arts buildings, which will feature artwork displays and activities on each floor with various local bands performing. "Singing minstrel tour guides" will lead groups to the different buildings, including the Visual Arts building, which Murphy said is "really the one that people wouldn't want to miss."

VASA president Lara Slotnick (senior-art education) said a variety of art forms will be showcased at the crawl, including metal pouring, photo shoots and collaborative dance.

"There's a lot of new elements and some old elements that have since been modified," Slotnick said.

Besides showcasing student artwork and local music, the members of SOMA and VASA are just as concerned with expanding interest in the Penn State art scene with events like this. Murphy said she believes events like the Arts Crawl can enrich the community.

"It's definitely a way for, not just students, but also people from the community to be more exposed to the underground arts culture here at Penn State," Murphy said. "Everyone seems to be more interested in the athletics here at Penn State, so this is definitely a way to expose people to the arts and music that they might not know."

Slotnick is also confident this year's event will win more interest for the arts.

"I think it's definitely going to make the arts more visible within Penn State campus and State College in general," Slotnick said.

Members of local bands are also hoping that the Arts Crawl can rejuvenate interest in the local music scene. Matthew Whittle (junior-secondary education), front man for Matthew and the Judes, said the event is a great way to network with other bands.

"Not only can the bands get their stuff out there, but since there's so many bands playing, they meet the other bands and say, 'Hey, we have this in common, let's put some shows together,' " Whittle said.

Kleback also looks forward to the opportunity to meet new local bands.

"I'm sure we'll be meeting a lot of musicians around town we haven't met before and seeing their style and getting to know other people in the music scene," Kleback said. "Any show where you get to know other bands is always a benefit."