jennacpsarts-blog

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Today (4/5), I went to the Clarice to see my dear friend and fellow Arts Scholar Sarah Kim’s violin recital! I had previously seen Sarah perform with an ensemble, but this was my first time watching her play solo. Sarah played a total of seven songs by early twentieth century composers Josef Suk and Jean Sibelius. While I don’t know much about classical music, I enjoyed the dynamic and mostly fast-paced music that Sarah played. The music was also emotional at times, when Sarah utilized high notes and techniques like trilling and vibrato. I know how much time and energy Sarah puts into her music and it was exciting  to see the culmination of all of her hard work this semester! 

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On Saturday (3/23), I went to see the movie Five Feet Apart. I hadn’t read the book, so I didn’t have many expectations for the movie. However, I ended up getting really into it. The main characters have cystic fibrosis (CF), meaning they can’t be closer than six feet away from each other, but the movie is called Five Feet Apart because the protagonist decides she is going to “shed” the last foot in order to take back ownership from her disease. I found this theme very powerful, and it reflects the larger portrayal of chronic illness. The film didn’t glamorize CF — we often saw characters deal with difficult medicine regiments and unexpected surgeries — and so it ended up teaching me a lot. There were a lot of emotional twists and turns, and the actors’ chemistry helped the shock and sadness feel very real for the audience. I also enjoyed the small details throughout the movie, enhanced by tight cinematography shots, that showed the thought the filmmakers put into Five Feet Apart. While this movie was heartwrenching, I did find myself enjoying the small moments of humor at the same time. 

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Tonight (3/20), I saw Fleetwood Mac with my family. As a lifelong fan, I had high expectations for the night — and they were definitely exceeded. Stevie Nicks is one of my favorite singers, and her energy was magnetic during female-empowering hits like “Rhiannon” and “Gold Dust Woman.” And while the group flawlessly performed classics such as “Dreams,” “The Chain,” and “Landslide,” they also added unique elements to the setlist. During “Black Magic Woman,” the musicians riffed and improvised with each other for a while, a nod to the song’s bluesy feel. Additionally, the band covered “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Freefallin,” putting their own beautiful spin on these iconic songs. Even the stage lighting and graphics set a breathtaking ambiance. The audience’s love for the music was palpable in the room, creating a strong common experience between all of us. It was truly amazing to hear live the songs that made up my childhood!

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Today (2/7), I went to a panel discussion at the Driskell Center called “Managing Artists.” Three artist managers — including Rodney Moore, who represents Dr. Driskell – spoke about what their job entails and the type of skills that students should have when looking to go into art management. I never realized how much work goes into gallery exhibitions beyond the actual creation of the art, but the managers detailed what it’s like to negotiate with curators before exhibitions and the process of strategically choosing which opportunities would be best for their artist. Even something as seemingly simple as shipping art pieces presents huge logistical challenges for these managers. They also discussed the importance of business knowledge when protecting their artist’s intellectual property rights, working alongside appraisers and being involved in auctions. However, I felt that the most impactful part of the discussion was when the managers showed different pieces created by artists they represent and talked about the works — you could tell how much passion they have for art and for their job. I was very impressed by this panel and I enjoyed learning a lot about a different dimension of the art world!

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Today (2/2), I went to the Clarice to watch a Second Season production that encompassed a dance piece followed by a one-woman play. The dance piece was called “Fuse,” which delved into the brain and how we visualize and process information. I am a big fan of modern dance, so I really enjoyed the fluid and striking movements that made up the piece. The costumes and stage lighting were minimalist and allowed the audience to focus purely on the choreography. The dancers worked well as a unit and clearly had strong technique, which made “Fuse” very attention-grabbing and enjoyable overall. Next was “Hapa,” a play about the juxtaposition between Hawaii’s image as a beautiful, relaxing tourist destination and the struggles of islanders that are often rooted in colonialism. The actress directly addressed the audience as though we were tourists at a Hawaiian resort, even “teaching” us how to hula. These light-hearted moments were mixed with the writer-actress’s family stories, including her grandmother’s experience as a pineapple plantation worker. Since I don’t know much about Hawaiian history or culture, this production was eye-opening and showed how there is much more to Hawaii than what we see on the surface. While these two pieces were pretty different, I enjoyed them both in multiple ways and I’m glad I could make it to another Second Season event!

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Today (11/11), I attended the Fall Choral Collage at the Clarice, which featured the UMD Treble Choir and the UMD Men’s Chorus. I know little about choral singing, so I didn’t really know what to expect. However, I really enjoyed this event! The singers performed a diverse set of music, including pieces from Armenia, Norway, Georgia and more. Each work was unique and focused on a different theme, whether that be spirituality, love, or the power of nature, which displayed the emotional and musical range of the performers. Overall, I’m happy I could come support my talented peers at the Clarice and experience a wide range of beautiful choral music. 

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Today (10/27), I went to the Phillips Collection for the first time. While I enjoyed the famous impressionist paintings such as Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, I really loved the modern art on display. I recognized some of the work in the museum from my art history class last semester, including Asheville by Willem de Kooning (left). I love this period of mid-twentieth century American art, because artists were really starting to experiment with conceptual ideas about what our society considers to be “real” or “good” art. Although there were many American artists represented, the Phillips Collection had a Nordic artists exhibit that I found to be very compelling, because I know little about Scandinavian art and culture. One work I really enjoyed was Torbjørn Rødland’s Golden Tears (right). I like this color print’s unique aesthetic, and I also appreciate how the artist is making a statement on gender roles and expectations through female archetypes. The collection represented a range of artists belonging to many different movements and styles, and it was a great experience to see them all juxtaposed together.

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Tonight (20/9), I went to the Clarice to see the plays “Lost Sons” and “Rockfish” in one sitting, as presented through Second Season. 

The first piece was “Lost Sons,” a play showing how mass incarceration and gun violence impacts the black community. The most compelling part of the show was when they demonstrated what the family’s life would be like had their father not been given a 25-year sentence, which proved how deep these societal issues cut into families. While the writing did have some funny moments, the play was emotionally compelling and had the entire audience considering how we view race and incarceration in America.

“Rockfish” was the second piece, and although it was lighter than the first play, it still carried complex messages. The play showed a girl exploring her half-Chinese identity through a variety of media, including video, audio, dance, and even some singing. Interviews of her family members describing their years in China played while she danced through beautiful stage lighting, painting a picture of what it’s like to try and connect to your family heritage and history. While both plays were very different, they both carried the themes of identity and family in ways that I will not soon forget. 

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Today (10/7), I went to Greenbelt with my roommate to see A Star Is Born. I thought the movie was very, very good. The story was relatable through the themes of success, love, family, loss, and authenticity, and I thought the writing was incredible. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga had a lot of chemistry and carried out this great writing very well; they embodied their characters and at times made me forget they were acting. The music, written by Gaga, showed her range between genres, from upbeat pop to country-folk to love ballads. The film certainly cemented her, if she wasn’t already, as one of the greatest icons of my generation and perhaps American pop culture as a whole. Overall, a great movie and an awesome way to avoid my homework on a Sunday!

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On Saturday (9/1), I went to the National Gallery of Art in D.C. I spent about two hours in the museum, making sure to visit exhibits that I would not usually spend time in. One such place was the long hallway with Roman statues framed by plants, including the work above. While I usually prefer painting and prints over sculpture, the way the artist made marble look like real human form and textured cloth was very impressive. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of bright green plants next to a cold marble sculpture; it almost suggested that the art form is just as “real” as a living thing. 

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Tonight (3/14), I attended Writers Here and Now, a lecture series hosted by the Department of English and the MFA Creative Writing program, in Tawes with some friends. Two writers read their work out loud for us; some were short stories and others were poems. The first writer was John Keene, who read a story called “Cold,” which laced music with the experience of being black in America. His story had such a lively rhythm, like the old-time songs he referenced, but his social message cut deep and was certainly palpable in the audience. The second writer, who is pictured above, was a poet named Matthew Olzmann. On the surface, his poems were absurd, including topics like all the people named Bruce Wayne in America or writing letters to a whale. However, while he used these bizarre and often funny themes to draw the listener in, his poems truly reflected on human nature and love, which I found to be such an amazing dichotomy. I was very tired from midterms before coming to this event, but I was fixed on every word the writers read and was truly transported by their work! This reading definitely made my week. 

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Today (3/3), I went to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. I am in an American art history class, and we studied some of the presidential portraits, so it was very cool to see them in person and appreciate the work. I was also really excited to see the recently-unveiled portrait of former President Barack Obama. Although the portrait’s background is unusual compared to previous presidents’ depictions, I believe the liveliness and vibrance of this painting really shows Obama’s personality and passion. I got to see Michelle Obama’s portrait as well, and I thought it was absolutely stunning. I had seen both of the new portraits in pictures online, but it was an entirely different thing to experience them in person. I commend these portrait artists for bringing across the essence of the Obama’s in such a visually interesting way! 

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Tonight (2/26), I went with a few friends to the Milk x Honey open mic night presented by Terpoets. The event was held in Milkboy Arthouse, which I had never been to before tonight, and I had also never gone to a poetry reading. So I did not know what to expect going into the event. However, I was completely blown away by the sheer talent of the students who read their poems. Not only were their words so thoughtful and striking, they really brought the poems to life through their oration and emphasis on certain words and syllables. You could just feel the emotion in every single second of the reading. Additionally, I loved the vibe of the place. The low lighting and comfortable seating really created a sense of community and peace for the speakers and the audience alike. I was also amused to realize that people actually DO snap during these open mic events! All in all, I would go to another poetry night like this in a heartbeat. 

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On Friday (2/9), my friends and I went to Greenbelt to see Call Me By Your Name. This film is genuinely one of the best I have seen in a long time; there wasn’t a single moment when I was bored or my mind drifted away. The cinematography was among the most breathtaking I have seen in a long time. The Italian scenery, of course, added so much to the romance. Shades of green, blue and yellow really popped out to me and made the tone of the film that much stronger. Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer had great chemistry and showed a rawness in their characters that I was not expecting at the beginning of the film. Lastly, I love the title of the film; it shows how Elio and Oliver are truly one person through their love for each other. Call Me By Your Name is now my number-one Oscar contender!

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Last night (2/2), two of my friends and I attended Second Season: Tertiary Spaces at the Clarice’s. The MFA dance students gave a compelling, avant-garde performance that was just as much about physical space as it was about the space between us and those we love. I very much enjoyed the interactive side of the event; the performers got everyone in the audience to form a “chain” by trying to hold a stick between your palms and the palms of the people next to you. The stick gave us a manifestation of space and allowed us to think deeper. However, my absolute favorite part of Second Season was the technicality and precision of these dancers’ movements -- they took my breath away with their talent!

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Last night, I went to see the UMD Koto and Gamelan ensembles. The first section of the evening was devoted to the Japanese instrument called koto, pictured above. The music was so peaceful and refined, and it was very centered around nature, which I enjoyed. My favorite song by the Koto ensemble was called “Snowflower” because of the intricate string picking. Later in the evening, they switched gears by bringing out the Balinese Gamelan ensemble, which was much more fast-paced and energetic. A lot of the second group used beautiful gold instruments that sounded like xylophones, but there were also amazing drum players who were honestly enchanting to watch. However, my favorite part of this ensemble was the Indonesian dancer who made the music come to life. The most eye-opening part of this whole evening is when the announcer told us that all the performers were only in their first semester of taking these instruments! We never would have guessed if he hadn’t told us: they were amazing! 

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On Friday night, a friend and I went to the Shakespeare Revue, which was put on by the Maryland Shakespeare Players. They did four scenes and, in between those scenes, two hosts played Shakespeare-related games and engaged the audience. I thought the games were hilarious and the hosts did a great job of getting the viewer’s attention. However, the thing I liked most from the night was the scene from Richard III; the main actor did a great job of portraying Clarence in all his drunken humor. I also thought it was valuable that the director came on stage and explained their scene and the context behind it before the scene was performed. It was interesting to see how much thought each director put into the scene, and it truly showed their love for Shakespeare.