Arts

May 2021 in the C-U arts scene means celebrating graduating visual and performing arts students, and beginning to explore ways, even in-person, to learn and explore the arts yourself. 

For the second year in a row, graduates of Illinois Theatre’s Acting program are filming their work for casting directors in the hopes of smoothly transitioning into the professional theatre industry.

For Tom Zhang, a second-year MFA student in stage management at Illinois Theatre, COVID restrictions have been frustrating, but they also inspired technological innovations that may live on past the pandemic. 

For LGBTQ+ artists, both the social risks and emotional benefits of sharing aspects of their identities in their work are particularly high.

“The Midwesterners [in] Far From Mars are regular people who took chances, followed their passions, and pursued meaningful hobbies,” says author Sal Nudo.

According to Matt Wiley, “One of the benefits of a simple illustration style is how significantly facial expressions and framing can have on the feeling of a scene.”

MFA candidate and teaching assisstant Kayt MacMaster says “teaching through a pandemic has illuminated what may be the most crucial skill set developed through the performance process: Collaboration.”

Tyehimba Jess' advice to young poets is “Don't give up and revise, revise, revise, and have a decent understanding of American history or of the history of the country you're living in and the country that your people came from.”

Melinda McIntosh shares that en plein air painting teaches us “if we’re not quick to capture something it may not be around a week later.”

Nearly a decade ago, a project local to Brooklyn began a pilot campus program at the University of Illinois that would prove to be successful beyond its creators’ wildest dreams.

April 2021 arts events are springing up in person and online. Debra shares five things you won't want to miss. 

When asked about any upsides to this year's virtual format, 8 to Create president Caroline Wuerl said “it is refreshing to know that we have the potential to reach even more people now that it’s streamed virtually.”

When asked about her ongoing investigation of empty spaces, artist Drea Aarons says “Life is full of a bunch of junk, and we’re busy pretending otherwise.”

Kristina Boerger talks about her life and career after leaving Champaign-Urbana.

Rachel Rizzuto, one of the MFA candidates whose work will be showcased in March Dance 2021, is “hoping that discomfort can also lead to discovery.”

On March 31st, the IMC will host a variety of born-and-raised and currently local trans musicians in a live stream as part of its Sounds Like Community series. 90% of all proceeds will go to Uniting Pride of Champaign County.

Author and Zed Talks creator Z Snyder says “a lot of the things I’ve learned have come from learning to ignore bad advice.”

After a year of isolation, Kristina Boerger & Friends bring their voices to Champaign-Urbana.

A quick look at five of the many women of color that continue to enliven Champaign-Urbana’s performing arts scene throughout the pandemic year.

What happens when dancers can’t be within a few feet of each other, let alone touch?

“Performances have been reshuffled and simultaneously reinvigorated,” says Dance at Illinois in their news release for March Dance 2021.

 “Seeing the creative decisions of three different illustrators together in one drawing is fascinating. Our approaches were as varied as the weirdos we ended up creating,” says Urbana-based woodcut illustrator Lydia Puddicombe.

“Henceforward the standard for extravagant riot,” says writer “Virginia Woolf” on the back cover blurb of Under the Oyster Bar.

The pros and cons of virtual performance are more complex than what first meets the eye.

”The young women of Sisterhood Academy would like to bring to you our difficulties and our victories. We want you to know that we all struggle sometimes but it does get better. Women of Color are a significant part of history.” Excerpted from the Sisterhood's artist statement.

Ashanti Files, Writers of Oya founder, and current City of Urbana Poet Laureate, said “I feel as though adults largely underestimate how much information and observation this age group has.”

February 2021 offers lots of reasons to love the arts in Champaign-Urbana.

Why has cross stitch become pandemic staple? Crass Stitching's Lisa Conner says “All of the sudden, folks were at home with that craft they swore they’d make time for and now they have nothing but time and they caught the creating bug.

Illusionist, mentalist, and performance artist Scott Silven feels lucky to offer this chance to “take a moment to step back and reflect and realize that even in fragmented times, we can still find new forms of connection.”

“A few weeks ago we started talking about how moving into the new year we all felt hopeful about the future for the first time in a while. We wanted to share the feeling and see if we could keep it going, so we came up with the CU Haiku Hope Project.”

“I believe that the role of the poet laureate is above all to bring people together,” says Ashanti Files. “It is to expose our neighbors to our hidden talents.”

According to Urbana-based artist and author Marc-Anthony Macon, the best part of working in the Absurdist style is that “no one can tell me I’m doing it wrong. Just get to skip that step altogether.”

How can local arts experiences help cultivate inspiration and relieve stress for the year ahead? 

Megan Montgomery's debut novel Well… That Was Awkward is smart, sexy, and surprisingly sophisticated in its undermining of romance novel tropes. 

“Apply, Dear Reader. Your creative work is worthy. Find collaborators, dream big, and bring innovative arts and culture projects to the City of Urbana. There is a place for it here,” Rachel Lauren Storm, City of Urbana Arts & Culture Program Coordinator.

Matt interviews Judy Lee, founder of the downtown Urbana fabrication studio Made in Urbana to learn their secrets to success during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even with the limitations of lockdown, C-U drag performers are still finding safe ways to keep their art form alive. And they won’t be letting up any time soon.

The story of Michael Roughton's young elfin heroine may be what we all need to get through this lonely COVID winter. 

The winter holiday arts line-up may look a bit different this year, but with locally-sourced gifts to give and receive, there's still plenty to celebrate. 

At a recent Small Press Fest workshop, zine expert Dr. Spencer Keralis guided us through the history and culture of zine-making and what makes it so inherently queer.

“It has made us very aware of taking care of each other.  We are even more attentive to the culture with which we make theatre and what of the ‘old normal’ can be scrapped from this experience,” says Genesee Sprido about producing theatre in COVID times. 

The rise of a global pandemic in March flipped the theatre industry upside down— nevertheless, the show must go on. Here’s how Parkland College Theatre is making it through.

“If there's anything I'm able to leave behind for underclassmen, I'm hoping that they’re able to come out of this shooting process having learned something new. I know I've learned a lot so far, and we haven't even really gotten started.” Genna Roth on her experience creating Central High's COVID-friendly film version of Clue.

What exactly is a small press? And how does it differ from zines and distros? 

Like everything else, gratitude will look different this year. But preparing for this article has given me hope. It has reminded me that artists are resilient and often at their best when the chips seem to be down.

“Dance is an art form rooted in the body, which carries the stories of our ancestors and the emotional tone of the present moment. At catastrophic moments, words fail us. The body absorbs experiences, and it never lies.”  Jan Erkert, Dance at Illinois Department Head and November Dance Concert Director. 

The flag has often been interpreted by artists. But what messages do these images convey, especially during divisive times?

What follows is a recount of yet another experience within the world of The Great ARTdoors.