The Arts at CC Events and Newsletter – Block 8

BLOCK 8 – 2022 

In This Newsletter:
1. Thoughts from the Director 

2. Reflections on the Arts in Block 7 and Welcome “A Year in The Arts Party” 

3. Block 8 Arts Opportunities  

4. What’s it like to work at The Arts at CC?: Reflections from Student Interns  

5. Keep in Touch!: Find Us in Cornerstone, Worner, and the Mail Center

From left, Will Broder ’23 and Caeleigh O’Connor ’23 perform in “Opera Scenes 2022: Opera for Everyone!” Friday, April 8, 2022. Photo by Erin Mullins ’24 

Thoughts from Ryan Raul Bañagale, Director of The Arts at CC

A recurrent refrain in my class on American Musical Theatre is that such productions “reflect and refract” the cultures of their past and our present. While they entertain, they also reveal much about who we are, how perspectives shift, and what role art plays in exploring and expressing identity.

Now that we’ve reached Block 8 and — for some — the final block of their CC career, I ask us all to take a moment to reflect on what The Arts at CC has meant over the course of this semester, year, or collegiate experience. How have encounters with the arts — visual, sonic, literary, digital, and interdisciplinary — reflected and/or refracted your lived experience? How have they contributed to who you have become at CC?  

Our final newsletter of the year offers a few reflections from the staff and students of The Arts at CC Office. I would like to thank them not only for bringing a continued awareness to the amazing arts opportunities across campus, but also for working frequently and tirelessly behind the scenes to make things happen. The same can be said for all involved in the arts departments, programs, student groups, and the FAC! 

We wish you the very best as you journey out into the summer and beyond! 

Sincerely, 
Ryan Raul Bañagale 
Director of The Arts at CC 
Associate Professor, Music 

Dance Workshop Spring 2022 Production on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Photo by Katya Nicolayevsky

Reflections on the Arts in Block 7 and Welcome “A Year in The Arts Party” 
Block 7 was a treat in the arts: 24-hour TWIT improv show on the first weekend and the “Sunbutter” sketch comedy show on the following weekend transposed Taylor Theatre into a sleepless laughter hub. Second through third week, the “Forever Foreign Series” and “The MacLean Symposium” culminated in a series of critical dialogues. The Pulitzer prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen shared insights on refugees, language, and the contested meaning of America in his keynote address. Scholar Ma Vang and poet Mai Der Vang discussed Hmong refugee epistemologies, history, and literature. Poet Divya Victor and CC’s book artist Aaron Cohick had a conversation on grief, community, and collaboration in Divya Victor’s poetry collection ‘CURB’. Last but not least, the series culminated in Professor Aline Lo, the main organizer of the MacLean Symposium, having a conversation with the award-winning author of “Minor Feelings,” Cathy Park Hong to speak on Asian American literature, history, and futurity. 

In addition to the literary arts events, the performing arts were also full of highlights. As the lights dimmed in Kathryn Mohrman Theatre, loud “Woo-hoo!” and whispers of excitement echoed off the walls, and all eyes were on stage as the curtains opened for the spring production of Dance Workshop. Community, energy, and support were felt from backstage to the audience. Furthermore, DanSix — a collaboration between Dance faculty member Patrizia Herminjard and 10 student artists — had a successful premier of the “The Garden, a kinetic poem,” a screendance film exploring the relationship between poetry and movement, in Cornerstone Screening Room. This past block, Packard Hall was filled with extraordinary concerts from “Opera Scenes” to Summer Music Festival Intermezzo Season with Mark Fewer, John Novacek, and Idris Goodwin where spoken word and music intersected, and many more. 

We hope you continue to encounter and enjoy the arts with us. The Arts at CC invites you to join “A Year in the Arts Party” on the third Friday of Block 8, May 13, 8-10 p.m. in Cornerstone Main Space. Enjoy some food, live music, student art exhibit, and good company, as we reflect and celebrate the arts at the end of the year! 

Native American Student Union Pow Wow on Saturday, April 16, 2022 in Tava Quad. There were intertribal dances and dance contests. Mexica Azteca Dancer: Grupo Tlaloc opened the dance portion of the event. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III

Block 8 Arts Opportunities
Ongoing: 

February 11 – July 2, Diago: The Pasts of this Afro-Cuban Present (Fine Arts Center) 

March 4 – June 18, Black Sound Series (Lane Screening Room, Fine Arts Center) 

April 8 – July 30, “Birds of America:” Conversations on Audubon Reframing (Fine Arts Center) 

April 21 – May 15, The Legend of Georgia McBride: a Music-filled Comedy (Fine Arts Center) 

April 29 – 30, 7 pm: A Night of Broadway: An Original Comedic Musical Revue (Taylor Theatre) 
Week 1:  

April 27, 5 pm: Visiting Writers Series: Layli Long Soldier & Douglas Kearney (Cornerstone Screening Room) 

April 29, 3 pm: Improv Practice Space (Cossitt Hall Gym) 

April 30, 1:30 pm: Contact Improvisation Jam (Cossitt Hall South Studio) 

Week 2: 

May 1, 3 pm: Chamber Chorus Concert (Packard Hall) 

May 3, 7:30 pm: Concert Band Concert (Celeste Theatre) 

May 5, 3 pm: English Literature Track Senior Theses Readings (Timothy Fuller Event Space (Tutt Library) 

May 5, 7:30 pm: Bluegrass Ensemble Concert (Packard Hall) 

May 6, 3 pm: Improv Practice Space (Cossitt Hall Gym) 

May 6, 10 pm: Dragstravaganza: Drag Show (Fine Arts Center) 

May 7, 7:30 pm: Veronika String Quartet (Packard Hall) 

May 7, 7:30 pm: Celecia K-Dance Workshop (Cossitt Hall Gym) 

Week 3: 

May 8, 3 pm: Collegium Musicum Concert (Packard Hall) 

May 10, 7:30 pm: Chamber Orchestra Concert (Packard Hall) 

May 11, 12:15 pm: Music at Midday (Packard Hall) 

May 12, 7:30 pm: Tiger Jazz Concert (Packard Hall) 
May 12, 7 pm: Fashion Show (Cornerstone Main Space)

May 13, 3 pm: Improv Practice Space (Cossitt Hall, Gym) 

May 13, 8 pm: A Year in The Arts Party (Cornerstone Main Space) 

May 14: Llamapalooza Music Festival (Tava Quad) 

Week 4: 

May 15, 3 pm: Gamelan Ensemble Concert (Packard Hall) 

May 17, 4 pm: Art Department Open House (TBD) 

Join The Arts at CC Office for music, dance, and celebration of all things arts at CC on third Friday this block!

What’s it Like to Work at The Arts at CC?: Reflections From Student Interns 

“I love being an Arts at CC intern because it allows me to connect with all the amazing arts things that students and departments do around campus. Before I started working for the office, I never knew about events unless other people told me or it was highly advertised, so spreading information about the arts has been a very important way of uniting and bringing more students into the arts community on campus.” — Lily Price ’23 

“This job gives me the opportunity to meet and learn from artists and to connect with peers doing art things I believe in. That is an invaluable thing for me here at CC.” — anya quesnel ’23 

“One thing I particularly enjoyed was attending different events on campus which are related to the arts and writing about them for The Arts at CC Instagram. So far, most of my effort has gone into organizing the Open Arts Jam Session in Block 7, since music is very important to me, and I feel passionate about contributing to the creation of a space for students to engage in music and relax. Being involved and informed about all the events on campus as an intern at the The Arts at CC Office has been so helpful for the connection I now feel to the community on campus, especially the arts community. I enjoy being involved and knowing more about what different departments at CC are doing that is connected to the arts. I am so happy that the office exists now because it is a space that brings all the arts in the community together. Working as an Arts intern this semester has significantly improved my experience at CC.” — Barbara Bilic ’24 

“The interns have great style and musical taste.” — Ojo, The Arts at CC mascot, aka our beloved dog. 

Keep in touch!

Find Us in Cornerstone, Worner, and outside the Mail Center!

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