The University of New Orleans School of the Arts fall season is packed with powerful performances and exhibits, such as renowned artist Dread Scott’s “The Power of Resistance,” the popular Jazz at the Sandbar series—featuring famed pianists Ellis Marsalis and Roberto Carcasses, and “Dark Nights,” a coming-of-age musical set in the late 1990s.
The School of the Arts brings together five arts disciplines: arts administration, film, music, theatre and visual arts, and ranks among the leading cultural and arts education centers in the Gulf South.
Most of the productions are on campus or at the UNO-St. Claude Gallery. They are designed to challenge, enlighten, entertain and provoke further conversations.
“The programming by the School of the Arts is intended to highlight creativity and individuality by presenting new works by students, faculty, alumni, and guest artists, alongside important works of the past,” said Charles Taylor, School of the Arts director. “This juxtaposition of new and classic work provides audiences and our students with the opportunity to experience art as a living process, and to understand new works as part of a continuum that spans the history of mankind.”
Some highlights from this season include:
• UNO-St. Claude Gallery: World-renowned artist Dread Scott’s exhibit, “The Power of Resistance,” Oct. 12-Dec. 1. Political, radical, incendiary: such has been Dread Scott’s artistic practice for the past 30 years, with works that bridge art and activism by intimately connecting the visual with the social. Curated by UNO assistant professor of art history Anna Mecugni, “The Power of Resistance” brings together a selection of prints and video works from the past two decades.
• Musical Excursions: Spektral Quartet. The Grammy-nominated group performs as part of the renowned classical new music series Nov. 7.
• Jazz at the Sandbar: Pianist Roberto Carcasses is the bandleader for a popular band called Interactivo, and will play Nov. 6. Karrin Allyson, a five-time Grammy nominated singer performs Nov. 20. As always, Ellis Marsalis will kick off the season on Oct. 2. Jazz at the Sandbar pairs UNO music students with world-class jazz players in an intimate nightclub setting.
• Theatre: “Dark Nights: The Musical,” is a large production featuring musical talent from across the University and a collaboration with the music department. It is written and directed by theatre faculty member Kalo Gow.
• Prospect New Orleans Series: Wayne Gonzales and Naama Tsabar will be guest lecturers for the Prospect New Orleans series. The School of the Arts is collaborating with Prospect New Orleans, a citywide contemporary art triennial that presents artwork by local, national and international artists in both traditional and highly unexpected environments. The series features past and present Prospect artists in public presentations about their work and engagement with graduate fine arts students.
Season passes are available for purchase this year at multiple levels. As in the past, all students are admitted free to ticketed performances.
“We believe that students of all ages should have access to our events as part of their education in the arts,” Taylor said.
To buy tickets and learn more about the full season, visit sotaperformances.uno.edu. All proceeds go toward funding scholarships for School of the Arts students.
