The UW-Madison Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives’ (OMAI) thirteenth annual Line Breaks Festival will be held Wednesday, April 3-Sunday, April 7, at the Memorial Union Play Circle Theater.
The festival showcases various interdisciplinary works and performances from current and former First Wave scholars, community and campus partners. First Wave is a cutting-edge multicultural artistic scholarship program for UW-Madison students. The works that will be presented: spoken word, dance, music, theater, film, poetry, comedy, painting and so on. This year will feature Natasha Oladokun, James D Gavins and Thiahera Nurse.
This year’s inspiration for the festival was drawn from an Amiri Baraka quote: “The artist’s role is to raise the consciousness of the people. To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely.” It was reminder to think about whom they create art for and why.
“We so often misplace our compass for purpose so this year we take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work our students and community are doing to impact themselves and the world around them,” said OMAI.
Line Breaks has come a long way from a performance of student work called “Just Bust!” into a week long festival that strives to cultivate performance art and bring new art/ aesthetics to campus and surrounding community. This is an educational tool for everyone — students, professors and community members — to study the current thriving artists and performances first-hand.
“Together we move as a force for change, empowerment and growth.”
More information about the schedule and festival can be found here.
Here is a quick rundown of this week’s schedule:
WEDNESDAY 4/3 - OPENING DAY
6:15pm - 9:00pm
Tiffany Ike presents "DAL: Stories of Black Motherhood," (a documentary film)
Flash Talks - Research Presentations by:
- Tiffany Ike, "Emeka :Art Creates Art Creates"
- Mackenzie Berry, “Research & Documentary Film: A
Case for Muhammad Ali’s Influence on Hip Hop”
- Masha Vodyanyk, "Providing an Accessible Art Education"
Visual Arts Reception
THURSDAY 4/4 - DAY TWO
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Ricardo Cortez de la Cruz presents Citizen X (solo show)
Masha Vodyanyk presents "Providing an Accessible Art Education" (Research Flash Talk)
Nia Scott presents Fifth Year: A Collaboration (solo show)
Jamie Dawson presents Feast of Flowers (solo show)
FRIDAY 4/5 - DAY THREE
5:40 - 8:00pm
Shasparay Lighteard presents a Research Flash Talk
Tiffany Ike presents a "Emeka :Art Creates Art Creates" (research flash talk)
Tiffany Ike presents Unlearning God (a short film)
Jasmine Kiah presents The Help (solo show)
Natasha Oladokun features along with selected First Wave students from her creative writing courses
9:00pm-11:00pm Just! Bust Open Mic & Writing Workshop Series
(sign-up starts at 8:30pm)
Just Bust! Featuring Thiahera Nurse
Mini-featuring Uprise Poetry
SATURDAY 4/6 - DAY FOUR
1:00pm-3:00pm
Just Bust! Workshop facilitated by Thiahera Nurse
3:30-5:00pm
Movement Workshop lead by James D Gavins
5:30pm - 10:30pm
Jamie Dawson presents Feast of Flowers (solo show)
Ricardo Cortez de la Cruz presents Citizen X (solo show)
Francisco Velazquez presents a Research Flash Talk
Featuring Performer James D Gavins presents "Cicada" (solo show)
Mackenzie Berry presents “Research in Practice: A Case for Addressing Mass Incarceration through the Arts” (flash talk)
Nia Scott presents Fifth Year: A Collaboration (solo show)
Solomon Roller presents Return Home to Us (solo show)
SUNDAY 4/7 - DAY FIVE featuring a music showcase
4:00pm - 8:30pm
Jasmine Kiah presents The Help (solo show)
Solomon Roller presents Return Home to Us (solo show)
Tiffany Ike presents Unlearning God (a short film)
Dequadray White presents Love (U)s First (solo show)
6:45pm - 8:30pm
Musical Showcases by:
- Basi
Closing First Wave Cypher
