Baton Rouge Community College will present its 10th Annual Arts Fest, March 12-23, throughout three of its locations – Mid City Campus, 201 Community College Drive; Acadian Site, 3250 N. Acadian Thruway E.; and Frazier Site, 555 Julia Street. The fest ival includes art demos, lectures, discussions, creative writing workshops, spoken word performances, student showcases, and live music.
Sponsored by BRCC’s Division of Liberal Arts and the Student Government Association, this year’s festival will celebrate community, throughout a variety of morning, afternoon, and evening events and programming, presented by local and student artists, as well as nationally and internationally renowned visiting artists. All events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public.
The festival will kick off at BRCC Mid City on Monday, March 12 with a breakfast for
BRCC students. Festival highlights include a variety of art and printmaking demonstrations
by professional visiting artists and BRCC professors to be held at Frazier and Acadian;
a series of creative writing workshops and spoken word performances by renowned writers
including local talents, as well as internationally acclaimed visiting artists, Hanif
Abdurraqib and Ebony Stewart; and the Mid City Jazz Festival, which is in its third
year.
Below is a schedule of events. A detailed schedule is available below.
Monday, March 12
Kick-Off Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Bienvenue Student Center, Mid City
The BRCC Art Club will run ceramics and printmaking demonstrations, and music will
be provided by BRCC’s own Dr. Charles Brooks
Silk Screening Workshop/Textile Printing Demo with BRCC Instructor Jerome Rankins,
noon to 2:30 p.m., Old Print Shop, Room 131, Acadian
Students and guests will be able to screen print their own canvas bag and koozie can
holder.
Jerome Rankins, BRCC Adjunct Graphics Instructor and former Istrouma High Graphic Arts Teacher for 15 years will do a demonstration on textile printing. He will be talking about screens, screen preparation; materials needed and proper clean up to preserve your screen.
Chronicling Community with anthropologist Malcolm Shuman, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room
127, Louisiana, Mid City
Local writer and anthropologist Malcolm Shuman will this discussion of the material
culture of three communities—prehistoric, African-American, and European—at one site,
over time. What can we understand about these communities from analyzing the artifacts
they’ve left behind? What was the role of art in each community?
Malcolm Shuman has been practicing archaeology for more than 40 years, and publishing fiction even longer. After serving in the US Army, he earned a doctorate in anthropology from Tulane University in 1974, and has traveled much of the world, carrying out archaeological and anthropological work in the U.S., France and Mexico. MysteriousPress.com has recently re-released fifteen of his novels published in the 1980s and 1990s, including the books in his three mystery series–the Micah Dunn mysteries, set in New Orleans (St. Martin’s Press), the Pete Brady mysteries, set in one of those small north Louisiana towns where murders never (and of course, always) happen (St. Martin’s Press), and the Alan Graham mysteries, featuring a Baton Rouge archaeologist who solves mysteries past and present (Avon Books).
Tuesday, March 13
“Voices of a People’s History of the United States” performed by students from East
St. John High School (Reserve, La.), 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Dumas Conference Room,
Magnolia, Mid City
Voices of a People’s History of the United States brings to life the extraordinary
history of ordinary people who built the movements that made the United States what
it is today, ending slavery and Jim Crow, protesting war and the genocide of Native
Americans, creating unions and the eight hour work day, advancing women’s rights and
gay liberation, and struggling to right wrongs of the day.
Performances of Voices are put on around the country; in schools and in places like Lincoln Center. It is a series of dramatic readings of letters, speeches, and diaries by groups of oppressed, marginalized, or forgotten figures in American history. Based on the work of historian Howard Zinn, Voices challenges a white cisgender, heteronormative, patriarchal narrative of history. Students and special guests will perform these readings as monologues, with narration before each.
Narrative Creative Writing Workshop with Julie Wedding, Noon to 1:15 p.m., Digital
Learning and Academic Support Center, Magnolia, Mid City
An Arts Fest favorite, Julie Wedding, returns this year with her popular narrative
poem workshop.
Creative Writing Workshop with former Baton Rouge Youth Poet Laureate, Brittany Marshall,
3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Digital Learning and Academic Support Center, Mid City
In this workshop, attendees will be asked to share aloud their thoughts on/experiences
with community. They will collectively discuss aspect of their identities, interests,
or hobbies in attempts to find ways to connect with each other and form a collective
identity. The text “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks will also be explored.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Brittany Marshall was Baton Rouge’s Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate (2016). She is now enrolled as a senior at Louisiana State University where she is studying English Secondary Education and Spanish. She has represented LSU at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (2017), and is the author of musings of a black girl (May 2017, Penmanship Books).
ReVision Colorism Healing Creative Writing Workshop with Sarah Webb of Colorism Healing,
4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Digital Learning and Academic Support Center, Mid City
Colorism is the bias and discrimination against people of the same race based on their
skin tone and other features like hair texture. Participants in the ReVision workshop will
explore the topic of colorism from a multicultural perspective by engaging in a sequence
of creative writing activities designed for writers at all experience levels.
Sarah L. Webb is a Ph.D. candidate in English who studies intersections of race, gender, literacy, and technology. In 2013, Sarah founded the website Colorism Healing through which she hosts annual writing contests, publishes books, and provides information and resources related to colorism. She has been a professional writer, teacher, and mentor since 2007, working in a range of industries such as universities, non-profits, small businesses, K-12 public education, magazines, and TV news. Her writing has been published in numerous places online, such as For Harriet and Blavity, and in print books and magazines such as Teaching Tolerance and Dig. ColorismHealing.org
Wednesday, March 14
Etymology Creative Writing Workshop with Taylor Scott of Forward Arts, Inc., 4:30
p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid City
In this 60 minute writing workshop, participants will create a poem from a saying
or phrase that they hear so often - whether it stems from pop culture or a particular
family member. Ultimately, each participant will take a phrase and create new meaning,
turning the phrase on itself in such a way it is unrecognizable from its intended
usage.
Taylor Scott is a writer, performance artist, and director from Baton Rouge who works as a teaching artist through Forward Arts. She is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s First Wave program – the only collegiate hip hop and spoken word community of its kind in the country. She has graced many stages including the Little Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway, Contacting the World Theatre in Manchester, England, and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. She directed the Bellhops, a Madison-based blues and hip hop theatre ensemble. In 2014, the Bellhops premiered Honey In My Tea, a 45-minute production that centers the narratives of black women, at the Overture Center for the Arts. The following year, the Bellhops released a 6-track EP, Hero of My Own Tale, which is available on Bandcamp. Scott is now pursuing a master’s degree in English at Louisiana State University, where she has an individualized, interdisciplinary course plan that includes black diasporic literary and performance studies.
Joy & The Elegy Creative Writing Workshop with Hanif Abdurraqib (5:30 p.m. to 6:15
p.m., Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid City
The workshop will center on the elegy, and look to find ways to extract joy out of
a form that is usually reserved for grief. We'll look at different elegies before
using the blueprint of the form to write elegies for living things, for things we
find the potential to be hopeful in.
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His first collection of poems, The Crown Ain't Worth Much was released in 2016 and was nominated for the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. His first collection of essays, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, was released in fall 2017 by Two Dollar Radio.
Spoken Word Showcase featuring Brittany Marshall, Taylor Scott, and Hanif Abdurraqib;
Hosted by Donney Rose, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Magnolia Theatre, Mid City
A showcase of spoken word poetry by some of today’s most gifted and accomplished writers.
Readers/Performers include Brittany Marshall – Baton Rouge’s inaugural youth poet
laureate (2016); Taylor Scott – alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s First
Wave program, the only collegiate hip hop and spoken word community of its kind in
the country; and Hanif Abdurraqib – renowned and internationally acclaimed poet, essayist,
and cultural critic. The show is hosted by teaching artist and area poetry legend,
Donney Rose.
Thursday, March 15 (Frazier Day)
Instant Zine Print Workshop with Hope Amico of Gutwrench Press, 10:30 a.m. to 1:15
p.m., Print Shop, Frazier
At its simplest, this tiny folded book can be made with one sheet of paper, a pair
of scissors and a pen. Once we master the basic form, the possibilities are endless.
We will start by using a Vandercook Proofing Press to number the pages of your future
zine. Then we will use drawing, collages, and other materials (all provided) to create
one-of-a-kind books that can be photocopied and shared (or traded in true zine fashion). What
is a zine? Short for fanzine, these photocopied booklets were once small magazines
devoted to a certain subject. In the past years, book artists and zinesters have exploded
the realm of possibility creating everything from books of basic instruction to complicated
art books.
Hope Amico founded Gutwrench Press in 2008. Gutwrench Press is dedicated to better correspondence through letterpress printed postcards, unique hand-bound books and zines exploring our connections to our hometowns. We re-purpose materials whenever possible and encourage you to write back through the Keep Writing Postcard Project. Hope has a BFA from Louisiana State University, focusing on printmaking and book arts. She has worked with letterpress printers in Louisiana and the Bay Area, is currently a member of the New Orleans based letterpress shop, Baskerville. In 2016 she returned to New Orleans where she now resides. In her other life, she teaches yoga to all sorts of people.
Friday, March 16
Student Art Showcase, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Winners announced at Noon, Magnolia Gallery,
Mid City
Join us as we celebrate the student artists at BRCC, whose work will be featured in
the Magnolia Gallery. The top placing artists and artworks will be announced at noon.
Monster Mugs with Caroline Smith, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Ceramics Studio, Frazier
Ceramics Demo + Talk — come make your own MONSTER MUG!
“STEAM Day” Event: “The History, Artistry, and Science of Brewing” by German-born
brewmaster, Henry Orlik, 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid
City
Henryk Orlik is a German born Brewmaster. In his more than 40 years in the industry,
Henryk has brewed in Germany, and all over North America. Although currently at Legal
Draft in Arlington, Texas, Henryk has strong ties to Louisiana, having worked at Heiner
Brau in Covington, Abita, and was also contracted to brew specialty beer for Chef
Josh Besh and Zea’s. On Friday, March 16th, BRCC’s Art Fest in conjunction with the
STEM department is proud to have Henrk Orlik speak on “The History, Artistry, and
Science of Brewing”. This talk will examine the German roots of brewing as well as
the current trend of the emerging microbrewing industry, explaining both the science
behind brewing as well as the artistry.
Monday, March 19
Intro to SUMINAGASHI - Designing with a Dip with Petrouchka Moise of Mooi Labs, 3
p.m., Frazier
Have you ever wondered how do they get cool psychedelic swirl pattern on fabrics,
nails, or paper surfaces? Have you seen the latest dip designs on Facebook or Pinterest
and wanted to try it out for yourself? Now it’s the time for you to learn to swirl
with your favorite colors. Come and unwind and as we teach you how to make colorful
creations on silk with the use of dyes, and resists. No prior painting or art skills
required. Suminagashi, Japanese for “floating ink”, is what we call is also known
as “Marbling”. This is a technique used to create these surface designs that resemble
the patterns found in water. It’s been used for many years to create book covers and
endpapers, and now we are seeing in high-end nail salons, fashion brands, and home
décor.
Petrouchka Moise is the founder and artist/teacher of Mooi Lab. Mooi Lab is a creative pop-up concept for individuals and their friends to try out their inspirations and passions. Through Mooi Labs, Petrouchka promotes the importance of art, culture, and education across Louisiana and the Caribbean. Petrouchka is a creative driven by the “aha” moment. She is a first-generation Haitian-American from Brooklyn, New York, who’s been living in Baton Rouge for almost 20 years and is loving every minute of it. It’s all about the discovering what makes life more authentic, colorful, and priceless. Petrouchka believes in the power of art. After a severe car accident in 2012, she lost her ability to see colors, to connect with the world around her or even have the confidence to pick up a brush. As she learns to regain her life back, Petrouchka’s artwork has been the source of her healing. “My art helps me daily in learning how to cope with PTSD, communicate my thoughts to others, and find joy in redefining myself”. Silk painting has created a new chapter for Petrouchka. “The silk takes me on a journey of color and collaboration”. Through silk, she is currently working on a collection of art to share with others her process of being a survivor of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Tuesday, March 20
Careers in the Arts Panel - Local Artists for Panel TBA (10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.,
Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid City
Members of the local artistic community share their experiences in making their way
in their respective fields. There will be a moderated talk followed by a Q-n-A, time
permitting.
Speech and Theatre Showcase (noon to 1 p.m., Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid
City
BRCC's stellar speech students share their work in a special performance.
“Models of Diversity” Fashion Show spearheaded by Jada Titus, BRCC Liberal Arts student
and fashion designer, and BRCC Art Professor and fashion designer Cynthia Giachetti
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Magnolia Gallery, Mid City
BRCC’s Inaugural Arts Fest Fashion Show.
The theme is Models of Diversity and is spearheaded by Jada Titus, BRCC Liberal Arts student and fashion designer, and BRCC Art Professor and fashion designer Cynthia Giachetti. There will be fanciful fashion, music, and refreshments.
Spoken Word Performance by 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, Ebony Stewart,
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dumas Conference Room, Magnolia, Mid City
The performance will consist of a collection of poems centered on the theme of 'community'.
Ebony Stewart strives to speak her truth from a black woman in America's point of
view, undo systematic thinking, and inspire marginalized voices.
Following the performance, Ebony Stewart will facilitate a Q&A period.
Ebony Stewart is an international touring performance artist and slam poet. She is the 2017 Woman of the World Poetry Slam Champion (hosted by Poetry Slam, Inc., Dallas, Texas), and the only three-time adult woman slam champion in Austin, Texas. Ebony Stewart is the story of the black girl winning.
Wednesday, March 21
Voices from the Bayou, one year later Discussion 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Dumas Conference
Room, Magnolia, Mid City
The student authors of the book, Voices from the Bayou will share their experiences
during their book tour since the book’s publication last year.
“Merchandising Museums: The Unanticipated Consequence of the American System of Cultural
Patronage?” by LSU professor, Dr. Kevin Mulcahy, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Dumas Conference
Room, Magnolia, Mid City
Dr. Kevin Mulcahy is the Sheldon Beychok Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Louisiana State University, where he has taught since 1980. Dr. Mulcahy is the author of numerous articles and
books. On Wednesday, March 21st, Mulcahy will present his article “Merchandising Museums:
The Unanticipated Consequence of the American System of Cultural Patronage?” at BRCC.
This article is from his book Transforming Nostalgia into Novelty-The Merge of Museums
and Creative Industry. In the talk Dr. Mulcahy will examine “Merchandising Museums”, the
current trend of museums to cater to the wants and wishes of wealthy donors and corporate
sponsors, and the negative effects this can have.
Ceramics Demonstration with Osa Atoe, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Frazier
Functional Pottery and Ceramics Demonstration.
Thursday, March 22 (Frazier Day part II – Self Portrait Cycle)
Self-Portrait Photography Workshop with Heather Weathers, 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Design Room, Frazier
Self-Portrait Photography Workshop utilizing performance art methods. A camera phone
is required.
Self-Portrait Videa Workshop with Bernadette Vielbig, 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Design
Room, Frazier
Self-Portrait Video Workshop utilizing performance art methods. A video phone/smart
phone is required.
Friday, March 23
Mid City Jazz Festival III, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (competition); 7 p.m. (concert), Magnolia
Theatre, Mid City
The Mid City Jazz Festival is an annual event that fosters Jazz education and performance
for middle school and high school students. They interact with each other and nationally
recognized Jazz Artists in a friendly and competitive environment. The adjudicators
will give constructive feedback to all participants to enhance their performance and
interpretation of Jazz as an art form. This years’ judges will be local artist and
international touring tubist, Michael Foster, Dr. Willis Delony Virginia Martin Howard
Professor of Keyboard Studies & Professor of Jazz Studies at LSU, Yamaha recording
and performance artist Dr. Rex Richardson. That night, after the competition, the
judges, and the festival founder, Dr. Charles Brooks, will give a free concert which
is open to all participants, their families and the general public. For more information
on the Mid City Jazz Festival go to thecharlesbrooks.com/MidCityJazzFestival.