Nick Anania resembles the very definition of easy going. His friendliness and nonchalance make hanging out with Nick like listening to Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Much like Bob Marley music, though, Nick’s got a lot to say underneath the sunny peacefulness that marks his everyday interactions. Nick is super culturally literate, a talented artist, and a world traveller, yet he’s also good humored and easy to talk to. Plus, he’s capable of peeling an orange in all one piece. And you can find him all over Wikipedia! Read on to learn Nick’s take on the best zoo animals, skinny dipping, and why he’s the humblest internet celebrity you’ll ever meet.
Name: Nick AnaniaAge: 21Year: SeniorMajor: Studio Art with English & History minorsActivities: Guitarist in French Club, illustrator for The Collegian, poster artist, WKCO executive staff, HIKASpirit animal: A deer because they’re shy but they don’t need to be. They can kick you really hard if they want to, but they’re cool.
HCK: What was your inspiration for putting pictures of yourself on Wikipedia?NA: I had the idea that it would be funny to put pictures of myself on Wikipedia a few weeks before, but I’m in a web media art class and we needed a web based project, so that’s when I actually did it.
How did you choose what words to supply pictures for?I did words that didn’t have good pictures already. A big decision [of what to photograph] was [based on] what I already had in my backpack, like frown, tin whistle, scissors, and backpack. I did some more, like one for chair, but they’ve been taken down.
What were some words that had good pictures already?The [Wikipedia] page for high five has a bunch of pictures where it looks like two people had a similar idea to mine.
Are you going to continue the project?I would like to do more–enough that it becomes bizarre and people will ask, “why is he doing this?” My ultimate goal is to have a Wikipedia page about my being on Wikipedia.
What are some songs that would be on the soundtrack of your life?This cover of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Man Man. It speaks to me, it’s helped me through some emotional times. Also this mariachi song being played to this beluga whale, so I have one happy and one sad song.
What’s one thing that most people at Kenyon don’t know about you?Besides the US, I’ve lived in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Berlin twice, and now in Surinam.
Is there anything still on your Kenyon Bucket List that you want to do before you graduate?I want to build a tire swing, play a set of electronic music, and make lawn furniture for behind my Taft– there’s a lot of stuff.
Favorite smell?Petrichor- that earthy smell after it rains. I also like the smell of tennis balls [inteviewer’s note: he used to play tennis].
Who would play you in a movie about your life?Probably the guy from Goodbye Lenin, Daniel Brühl. He was also in Inglorious Bastards.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?Well, I’ll be 31. I’ll probably have 600 children, and an antarctic base [as a vacation home].
What zoo animal would you own?An elephant. It would be very rewarding- they have a high capacity for feeling emotion- they grieve, they have friends. The way they walk is delightful!
What is your favorite Peirce Meal?That’s easy- make a quesadilla with a plain tortilla, provolone cheese, and banana peppers. Then put sriracha on top.
As an art major, do you doodle? What do your doodles look like?I do. I draw a lot of hands, cubes, sometimes if I’m in class I draw the desk I’m sitting at.
[You can check out examples from Nick’s sketchbook here.]
What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you at Kenyon?There was this one night around the end of last year when I had to hide from the sheriff while nude in Kokosing. Then a transfer student, someone who I thought of as a very transcendent kind of guy, was visiting and he randomly appeared by the side of the road.
That sounds pretty mystical.Yeah, it was! We all were like, “he has returned!” Then we were all singing in my apartment and got free pizza from a delivery man who never found an NCA. We made him come inside and sang him a song my roommate Rhodes and I made up for him.