glenfcpsarts-blog

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Last Sunday I went to go see DROELOE performing at the 9:30 club in D.C. I really enjoyed the experience because, while the main performers were great, the opening acts provided very interesting sounds that blew me away. They consist of Tails, Duskus, and Fytch, who all had their own styles, with DROELOE (in my opinion), having the most unique of them. It really was a “jack-of-all-trades” concert as far as EDM is concerned. Would definitely see DROELOE and their peers perform again.

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Here is Tomeka Reid (cellist) and her close concert last night in the Cambridge community at UMD. The performance consisted of (what Reid considers) a stringtet - a violinist, a cellist, a bassist, and a drummer. The music that was performed at most times seemed very atonal and experimental. While there were small tidbits of the performance that adhere to the styles and regulations of “proper” music, the performances largely stayed outside those parameters. In addition to the performance, Reid and her stringtet, in between pieces, answered questions from the audience and talked about their own lives as freelance musicians. In the sense, the closeness of the concert was not only a physical aspect, but also personal.

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Here is the STAMP art gallery on campus at UMD. Every so often, the artwork in the gallery is changed to fit a specific theme. The theme, I noticed, was protest. Many of the artworks shown were recreations of attire worn during protests, which really got me thinking about the amount peaceful protesting going on in D.C. every few weeks and the impact they have on those being targeted. Seems like a perfect time to display protesting art.

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Here is San Holo! I saw him perform at Echostage in Washington, D.C. recently and it was probably one of the best concerts I’ve been to. Before this, I had never gone to an EDM concert, which is my preferred genre of music. Being able to experience a concert that had music I was familiar with and really enjoyed made the experience much more enjoyable than other concerts that I’ve been to with friends because it was their preferred artist. Truly an unforgettable experience.

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Behold everyone, the David C. Driskell Center. This little art exhibition is in the Cole Student Activities Building at UMD, but displays art inspired and created by African American and African culture. Entering this room, gave me a sense of nostalgia, as it reminded me oddly of my own homeland of Dominican Republic. The artwork gave me a raw feeling of countryside that is very prominent in parts I’ve been in DR when I was younger. Overall great experience, and an amazing place to experience a change of pace in the art we’re exposed to.

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Here is the amazing Lupe Fiasco. I honestly never really listened to his music, besides some hits, or even rap for that matter, but a friend invited me out to go see him in D.C. at the 9:30 Club. I can honestly say, hands down, that this show was incredible. The venue wasn’t so great, but the performance was terrific. Lupe put on a great show and is, quite honestly, a gifted musician. Mix a stellar performance with the overall message of positivity and bringing about change that Lupe intertwined with his work, and you’ve got a Friday night well spent.

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Here is a showing of UMD’s Hip-Hop Orchestra at this year’s NextNOW fest. I really enjoyed their presentation of large orchestral sections into a single instrumentalist. In this way, they maintained the feel of an orchestra, while also including non-orchestral additions like the electric guitars and keyboard. 

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What did you see/hear/learn that was completely new to you?

What was your favorite performance/experience? Why was it your favorite?

How might one or more of the performances/experiences relate to the Arts Scholars theme of Migrations: Populations and Practices on the Move?

I was never very familiar with the sounds of soul music, but my introduction to it by The Soul Rebels, sure was a great way to leap into the genre. For that very reason, it was my favorite performance of the night. The music was rich in quality and the combination of brass instruments really made for music that you could feel in your soul (ha!). The Soul Rebels are an example of of practices on the move. I had never really been exposed to soul music or anything like it. The fact that such a talented group of musicians travel and share their Louisiana culture and home sounds to people all over the country, is proof of the idea that practices and ideas such as theirs are always on the move.

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First and foremost, I apologize for the blurriness, I didn’t check the quality of the photo until after I left (sorry).

Here is our College Park Scholars Convocation which took place this past Thursday. The event was very welcoming and allowed a lot of us scholars to truly realize that this program highlights community and connection between its participants. There was a very light and amiable atmosphere surrounding the whole presentation, which, to me at least, eased any nerves I felt. That coupled with the humorous talk and musical appearance by Faux Paz made the event, not only very informative, but also very enjoyable.