Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day fall within a few days of each other this year. The CU Art Museum is adding another reason to celebrate with the opening of three new exhibitions this Friday, Feb. 12. The opening festivities will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at the CU Art Museum, located in the Visual Arts Complex. Admission is free.
The evening will include a variety of performances and activity stations, along with the opening of three new exhibits.听
Exhibits:
Be Here Now听is the second exhibition in a series subtitled听Conversations Between Objects, which provokes a dialogue between artworks that span different time periods and geographic locations.听
Our inaugural artist-in-residence explores the human impulse to collect and throw things away.听
This exhibition showcases artifacts dating to China鈥檚 prehistoric beginnings through its classic imperial dynasties.听
Activity Stations:
- 5 to听7 p.m.鈥擱efreshments including Tibetan momo (dumplings), King cake听and Valentines Day cake
- 5 to听7 p.m.鈥擬ardi Gras mask-making activity
- 5 to听7听p.m.鈥擧aiku writing station听
- 5 to听9 p.m.鈥擝efore I Die Wall activity
Performances:
Trio Las Dahlias
6 to 6:30 p.m.
Trio Las Dahlias is听an all female Mexican trio:听Teresita听Lozano (flute and vocals), Valeria Carlos (guitar and vocals) and Roberta Maldonado (percussion and vocals). The group aims to collect, preserve and promote the classic Mexican songs they were raised with and inherited. Their听goal is to erase cultural, racial, linguistic and political borders by evoking the voices of their heritage, as well as to express the long historical strength and struggle of women in Mexican music and Mexican culture. They believe the passion, humor, and pathos of this music transcends cultural barriers so that others may enjoy and share in its significance. The group is听named after the dahlia flower, the national flower of Mexico.听
Everybody Likes to Dance, by Las Hermanas Iglesias
7 p.m.
Las Hermanas invited their parents to curate a song reminiscent of music they grew up dancing to in their respective countries. Their father, Bienvenido, chose a Dominican Merengue and their mother, Bodhild chose a Norwegian Pols. The artists then asked five musician/DJS to each create a mashup of the songs. After learning each of the dances, the artists developed a new choreography, a fusion of steps between the two traditions. A nod to Andy Warhol鈥檚 Dance Diagram series from the early 鈥�60s in which "readymade" diagrams of ballroom dance steps were displayed on the floor, Las Hermanas created a dance diagram of their new choreography. The artwork operates as both a floor piece and a functional dance floor for viewers to try out the steps. A takeaway poster of the dance diagram accompanies the project.
Side By Side Dance Co.
7:15 p.m.
Side听by听Side听Dance Company develops Colorado youth from a multitude of cultural backgrounds to become leaders, creators, and successful builders of communities. Through dance and a variety of community events, they strive to inspire, teach and empower individuals from all walks of life.听Their听mission is to inspire others to follow their dreams, reach out to one another and live their lives to the fullest. This mission is carried out in all that they organize 鈥� community workshops, performances, festivals and full length productions. Arts enrich life: whether one is a mover, painter, musician or witness. Reaching those outside of our dance community is critical in spreading their message and enriching as many lives as they can. The听mission comes to life through the art of storytelling. Performing provides an opportunity for dancers to take their audience on a journey, to bring them to distant places and familiar feelings. Because of it鈥檚 power in bringing people together,听Side听by听Side听wholeheartedly believes in and promotes the story found in us all. Featured dancers:听Vanessa Weingarten,听Maggie Shomaker,听Poet Lyon,听Donovan Noland,听Helen Noland,听Sasha Gordon,听Ken Yeng,听Raymundo Valenzuela,听Alvie Saucedo and Linsey Jolly.
Dance Party led by听
7:30 to 8:45 p.m.
Pinata breaking
8:45 p.m.
For more information, visit the
