The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Presenting the Arts

What Was I Thinking?

Hello out there! This is Halina Kusleika, the Programming Director for the Center Series at the UMass Fine Arts Center. I wanted to share with you some of the process that went into curating this next season at the FAC.

Programming for a performing arts center within an educational institution requires a delicate balance of many variables, many are quite mundane: What artists or projects are touring and when are they available? Can we fit them in our halls? Can we afford them? Can we partner with colleagues in New England to help maximize the effectiveness of a tour? But most importantly we need to consider if they have high artistic and entertainment value. We have so many constituencies to serve and must also balance the needs and interests of the community with those of our educational partners.

There is a connecting theme to this year’s events. It is a thematic thread woven around the idea of social justice; examining the roles of our individual identities, of race, class, gender and political and cultural systems. I found myself drawn to many projects this year that in some way explored these ideas, some overtly in their subject matter, others simply through the joyous celebration of diverse genres and artists. I won’t go through each individual event here but will highlight a few for you.

Word becomes FleshMarc Bamuthi Joseph’s Word Becomes Flesh was presented here with New WORLD Theater back in 2004. Bamuthi Joseph has reworked his solo piece for an ensemble of six men. Through spoken word and movement, the play explores an African American man’s thoughts and emotions on impending fatherhood. The piece gives “voice to complexities and contradictions surrounding race and gender in America.”

A strong theatrical piece for sure and one that blends perfectly into our educational setting and mission allowing classes from the area colleges and high schools to explore the themes and engage in a greater civic dialogue. The company will be here for a full week conducting workshops with college and high school students in part due to a grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts Expeditions program, (thank you NEFA!).

The piece also blends nicely with the University Museum of Contemporary Arts’ (UMCA) upcoming exhibition Du Bois in Our Time. This unprecedented exhibition focuses on the connection of art to the major issues of our time, centered on the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois and the causes he championed.

PavementKyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion brings us Pavement. His work was inspired by the Pittsburgh, PA neighborhoods of his youth, the film Boyz n the Hood, and the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois.  Through this company of primarily male dancers we see a provocative and truly inspirational work.  These talented young dancers will move you as you are drawn into the piece’s sheer beauty and you will be powerfully confronted with its underlying exploration of the intersection between race and class. If you haven’t done so already, check out the fabulous trailer they made which is on our website. I’m really excited to have Kyle here with this piece!

Sweet Honey in the RockSWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK bring us their tribute to the powerful female legacies of distinct and out-spoken musical icons Odetta, Miriam Makeba and Abbey Lincoln. SWEET HONEY always has at its heart the themes of challenge and change as these women paint a vibrant, joyful musical journey informed by political and social activism.

American IdiotHow does American Idiot fit in with all of this, you may ask? Even the hit Green Day musical’s exploration of the turbulence of youth and decisions to be made by young people connects with the broader themes of identity and social relevancy. What does it mean to be an American? How do you find your identity and your place in this world with so much media bombardment? Ultimately, what is it that is important to you? What do you believe in?

Grace KelleyGrace Kelly continues our third year of celebrating women in jazz, probably the most male dominated artistic form, once again challenging and exploring greater social constructs (and she’s only 22! Kudos to Grace!)

Spirit of UgandaAnd who can resist the Spirit of Uganda with its uplifting traditional music and dance from East Africa? These young ambassadors ranging in age from 10 – 20 share with us their cultural heritage while raising funds and awareness of the many other orphaned children supported and mentored by Empower African Children.

I hope you will find excitement and richness in our offerings. They represent a truly global perspective. Perhaps by reading this you will be inspired to attend an event that you may not have otherwise considered. Engage in deeper connection through pre- and post-performance talks and other outreach opportunities. Consider more deeply the connections we have to one another, the greater conversations that can be had about the complexities of our society and the socio-political constructs that we support or try to transcend. All of this can be found in the power of the arts, sometimes it is subtle and below the surface, sometimes it is spoken fully to the world.

Most of all, I hope that you join our community and enjoy some terrific performances with us this year!

See you on the boards!

Halina