Arts and Entertainment

Be prepared to be surprised, provoked, and delighted with the art and the entertainment that has been curated for this year’s conference. Thanks to Chair Jane M. Saks and the 2013 Arts Task Force, art is infused throughout the conference. Here’s a taste of what’s ahead:

Redmoon

Sunday, April 7, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at Art Institute Event

Founded in 1990, Redmoon transforms streets, stages, and architectural landmarks, bridging international, economic, cultural, and generational boundaries with a unique brand of Spectacle: a public art form that is equal parts pageantry, gadgetry, puppetry, robust physical performance, and visual art.

Black Ensemble

Sunday, April 7, 7:30–7:50 p.m. at Art Institute Event

Black Ensemble Theater was founded in 1976 by actress, producer, and playwright Jackie Taylor, and has grown from a small community arts organization to a vibrant nationally and internationally renowned arts institution. A leader and innovator in the African-American and mainstream arts communities, Black Ensemble Theater is recognized as one of the most diverse theaters in the country, producing excellent musical theater.

Industry of the Ordinary

Throughout the Conference

Through sculpture, text, photography, video, sound, and performance, Industry of the Ordinary is dedicated to an exploration and celebration of the customary, the everyday, and the usual. Their emphasis is on challenging pejorative notions of the ordinary and, in doing so, moving beyond the quotidian.

Match of the Day II, 2005
Photo Credit: Greg Stimac

Question Bridge

Throughout the Conference in Resource Central

Question Bridge originated in 1996, when artist Chris Johnson was looking for a way to use media art to generate a meaningful conversation around class and generational divisions within San Diego’s African-American community. Mediated through the lens of a video camera, 10 members of the black community were given a format to openly express their deeply felt beliefs and values through candid question and answer exchanges. None of the questions or answers were prompted. A decade later, Hank Willis Thomas approached Johnson about collaborating to establish a similar project focused on African-American men. Over the past four years, Johnson, Thomas, Bayeté Ross Smith, and Kamal Sinclair have collected questions and answers in 11 cities, including: New York; Chicago; Oakland, Calif.; San Francisco; Birmingham, Ala.; Atlanta; New Orleans; and Philadelphia. The resulting video project contains 1,500 plus exchanges.

Soul Children of Chicago

Sunday, April 7, 11:25–11:35 a.m. and 1:20–1:30 p.m. (in conjunction with the opening plenary)

Walter Whitman developed this world-class performance group with a single-minded purpose: to utilize music as the motivator and catalyst to inspire young people throughout the world to have faith in themselves, each other, and God. To this day, the group continues to serve the community as a nondenominational, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of our youth.

Louder Than a Bomb

Sunday, April 7, 2:30–2:40 p.m. (in conjunction with the Safe Communities workshop), and Tuesday, April 9, 8–8:10 a.m. (in conjunction with the breakfast plenary)

Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) was founded in 2001 by Kevin Coval and Anna West. It is the largest youth poetry festival in the world, featuring more than 100 ZIP codes within the Chicagoland area. LTAB was created to give youth around the city of Chicago a platform to share their stories. The festival has since become a “bridge” for young people from many different backgrounds to come together and find a common ground through their narratives.

American Chamber Opera

Sunday, April 7, 2:30–2:45 p.m. (in conjunction with the Chicago Cultural Plan session)

The American Chamber Opera was founded in 2011 by Jonathan Cambry, Karrah Cambry, and Benjamin De Los Monteros with the goal of making opera accessible to performers and audiences alike. Its mission is to ensure opera’s survival and growth by redefining traditional opera in a way that makes it accessible to performers and audiences alike. American Chamber Opera achieves its mission by performing full-length opera and oratorio that has been translated into English while still conveying a true sense of the composer’s intent. In keeping with the goal of revitalizing contemporary interest in opera, the company looks to find young artists with exceptional talent to perform the lead roles in their productions in order to provide a venue for younger performers to hone their artistry, integrate fashion into every production, and introduce opera to the next generation.

Muntu Dancers

Tuesday, April 9, 11:30 a.m.–noon (in conjunction with the Closing Plenary)

Founded in 1972, the Chicago-based Muntu Dance Theatre performs authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music, and folklore. A colorful and dynamic company, Muntu brings its audiences out of their seats and into the aisles with its unique synthesis of dance, rhythm and song. The company is highly regarded for its innovative repertory, preserving traditional African dance while creating new works that build on African, Caribbean, and African-American cultural traditions. However, Muntu is more than just a performing company. It is also a company of teachers. Muntu's core programs include professional performances both at home and abroad, comprehensive community arts programs, classes for the public, and professional training for emerging new young artists.