Convergence Research | In These Precedented Times + Exposure

Date:

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | 6pm-7pm

Location:

Blaffer Art Museum

Format:

Join us for October’s two-part Convergence Research with Billion Tekleab, James Pickens, Will Jones, Kolbye Sangi, and Jasmine Farris.

In These Precedented Times
featuring Billion Tekleab and James Pickens

In These Precedented Times considers Black futurity and Afro-pessimism, from a womanist perspective, and the polarity of our states as questionably human and questionably Black. We will incorporate Afro-centric forms of music and dance within the tradition of war, specifically using drums and spiritual rituals. Using Black jazz tradition, movement and the building of objects, which might be thought of as sculpture or tools, we seek to understand our means of liberation out of the constructed dynamics we exist in.

Exposure
featuring Will Jones, Kolbye Sangi, and Jasmine Farris

Exposure is a multidisciplinary project that combines aspects of fashion, videography, audio and interpretive movement to create an immersive experience that leaves the audience with more questions than answers. Through the breaking of norms and usual artistic tradition, Exposure hopes to challenge what is conventionally thought of artistic expression and poses a new attempt at what this expression can accomplish. Deeply inspired by the works of Marina Abhramović, and pulling from the aesthetics of Richard Kern, this project hopes to build upon this foundation, as well as attempting to push the boundaries even further.

About Convergence Research:

Convergence Research is a collaboration between the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts and the Blaffer Art Museum that supports students and faculty in the McGovern College of the Arts to explore connection and collaboration between the disciplines in the arts and beyond. It is a platform for experimentation and research with the goal of providing opportunities to push the boundaries of the artistic disciplines. Convergence Research promotes interdisciplinary inquiry and techniques to stimulate creative process and cultivate works that are performative, temporary and in any stage of process. This season Convergence Research is curated by Mitchell Center Graduate Assistant Anna Barr.

Free and open to all!

Image: Will Jones wears clothing designed in collaboration with Kolbye Sangi. Image courtesy of the artist.