Last night we were honored to attend the Alabama Humanities Alliance colloquium—honoring Brittany Howard and Jason Isbell as Alabama Himanities Fellows of 2024.
WLRH was proud to be among the sponsors and attendees, listening to NPR‘s Ann Powers moderate a discussion about their Alabama roots and influences in their lives and their music. Of the red clay, Brittany said, ‘I’m made of that stuff!’
We were treated to an acoustic performance by each to end the evening. Both artists are on tour so getting them together, in #huntsvilleal for this special ceremony and discussion proved challenging.
Thank you Alabama Humanities Alliance and Phillip Jordan for having us be a part! #humanities#publicradio#WeLoveLocal#WeLiveRightHere
Meet Claudia Huenchuleo Paquien! In this blog, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts graduate shares, "The certificate—through the more theoretical classes such as art history and theory of art—gave me the foundation to begin exploring art based on conceptual research and identity politics from my Mapuche heritage." Read her story ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dQQmcz#StudentStories#IndigenousArt
As a media historian, I wish we would learn from history. And yet, some of the same ugly patterns keep repeating themselves, generation after generation. So, let me introduce you to my grandfathers; you'll understand why when you read my new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eTSd_Z6i
VOCES8, the VOCES8 US Scholars and Lyyra combine to perform Blake Morgan's new work, 'Polaris' at St Luke's United Methodist Church, Houston, TX.
Blake writes: For centuries, Polaris (also known as the North Star or the Polar Star) has hung high in the night sky, serving mankind as a trustworthy point of reference; for navigation to lands afar, for inspiration as a symbol of steadfastness, and for illumination as we make or find home again.
In this composition, the star itself is depicted musically by the repetition of a Middle C — flickering in and out of focus, gradually growing brighter and then fading again, sometimes unseen or unheard, but ever constant. This particular note has always fascinated me; it is one of the only unison pitches shared between the standard singing/speaking registers of all four choral voice parts. This repeating Middle C is not always a consonant member of the harmony sounding beneath it; indeed, the “tonic” chord (G Major) and the steadily looping drone (the suspended 4th of it) are polarised from one another by nature, but it is that star itself — the continuous flickering of Middle C — which shepherds the listener through the journey of progressions and illuminates the way. This note serves as the compass and musical axis for the entire piece. Similarly, when I first read Andrea’s poem, I was struck immediately by the unique portrait of “home” she paints; it is not always a place or a person, nor is it confined to being a physical thing at all. Home can be a feeling — a sensation we take with us to any corner of the world. Sometimes we just need to search the sky for our very own North Star, and follow the glow.
“... home is wherever I sail / Beneath your sight.”
The work sets a new text by Andrea Haines:
TEXT
Polaris
The celestial compass gleaming bright
So I may go travel and strive
Even by night.
Polaris
Here, a steadfast consort I behold
A glittering eye of the heav’ns
Usher my soul.
Polaris
Lending mesmerising winks of light
So home is wherever I sail
Beneath your sight.
My Polaris.
Courtesy VOCES8
Our next subject area is Popular Culture! 💥 🎞 🤳 🍿
Popular culture includes film, music, television, folklore, crafts, mass media, youth culture, and other forms of communication; in studying literature and popular culture, students enhance and develop critical visual learning skills as they consider what they read, watch, and listen to, while analyzing these popular mediums as reflections of society's values and ideals. Students may take courses cross-listed with Art History or Communication Arts, or attend colloquia and workshops hosted by the Center for Visual Cultures!
Some Fall 2024 courses that engage with popular culture include "Beowulf to Tolkien" with Martin Foys; "Arab American Literature and Pop Culture" with Ramzi Fawaz; "Narco-Narratives" with Oscar Useche; "Fairies to Steampunk" with Nancy Marshall; "Truth and Crime" with Ralph Grunewald; "A Discovery of Witches" with Ron Harris; and more!
Issue 10 of 'Burlington Contemporary Journal' is now live and free to read.
It includes an artist commission by Catherine Yass and seven peer-reviewed articles presenting new academic research on contemporary art. In the most wide-ranging issue yet, articles are connected by disruption: they challenge Western art-historical narratives, upend disciplinary and genre classifications and break through temporal barriers to reformulate the links between past and present.
https://bit.ly/BCJ_10
https://lnkd.in/gbcMhUMN
The newest conversation is up. We talk about the collaboration between art and science.
Listen and enjoy and spread the link.
KLCC
Here is an opportunity to learn more about GR River Park projects and to voice your preferences in development!
Read all about it, or go directly to the questionaire: https://lnkd.in/gr4Mh6kg
A fascinating read!
As you might know, there's alot happening both in and around the Grand River these days. I've been directly involved over the past few years in how we can center arts, culture and arts organizations as part of the City's future. So, if you're in GR and have a few minutes, take the time to complete this survey...
https://lnkd.in/eqaHbCGJ
Thank you for joining us — and, especially, for your partnership on this and many things! We appreciate y’all, WLRH friends!