#nextnowfest

[thembiduncan]

Bruh... #ledglasses #led #light #lights #nextnowfest #nextnowfestumd #glasses #art #artsfestival #artsfest #umd (at The Clarice)

[brycebathras]

The NextNow Fest was so much fun. Tonight I went to many different events including the hip-hop orchestra, Maryland filmmaker screening, stand up comedy, and Ari Lennox. Everything was amazing. Something new that I saw was actually at the hip-hop orchestra. The instrumentation was different than anything I have seen. In jazz and hip hop bands I have never seen a cello and a violin incorporated into the pieces until today. It was a very interesting combination but I really enjoyed it. My favorite part of the night was also during the hip-hop orchestra, specifically during their Devon piece. It started with just the guitar and bass and had a good groove and beat to it but also not too repetitive. It had the same beat and rhythm each time but which each repeat a new instrument was added, including piano and tambourine, which added new styles and textures. Finally one performance can be related to the migration theme of this year was the filmmaker screening. One film started two people, one Asian student and one African American student. Both were talking about their struggles of being accepted as immigrants or outsiders. This is related to the theme of migration because these different people migrated here and showed their struggles of being integrated into this whole society.

[danidoroi]

#nextnowfest #UMD #trippyexperience (at The Clarice)

[cassiegcpsarts-blog]

NextDance presented a series of dancers who performed, for the most part, individually. Every performance contained a deeply moving message, calling to the audience to empathize, care and be aware. Some messages were personal, others social or political, but every one was touching in its own way. The combination of spoken word and dance was intriguing and worked well to communicate the message of each performance. It was an incredible show. 

[afiatumd]

On Friday, September 11, I visited the Nextnow fest where I got to experience a number of performances. I caught some of the pop up performances including the one pictured above of a professional tap dancer who tap danced to the accompaniment of the sax.

One of the exhibits that stood out to me during my brief time there was the Make Art, Not war set up which featured works of art from black artists and high school students in response to the poem Black Face boy by Nikky Finney. It also featured a barber shop installation that featured stories collected from barbers and customers of black and Latino barbershops.

One of the exhibits I really wanted to see but was sold out was the Portals which allowed you to have 20 minute conversation with someone in a different country.

[rachelscpsarts]

*.~Reflection Question time~.*

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

The most educational part of the festival for me was the performance of Liner Notes on Thursday evening, since hip hop was a genre I hadn’t had much experience with. I was surprised to learn that hip hop was not always pure rap, but was actually heavily musical, with some songs carrying a jazzy influence. It was the combination of these different elements that led to the genre becoming what it is today. Now I would be glad to learn more about/listen to more hip hop, old or new!

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

Honestly, I don’t think I could pick a favorite. All of them were amazing experiences. I suppose I’ll list what my favorite part of each event was instead :3 The Liner Notes performance gave me both some interesting history and amazing quality live music -- two of my favorite things! It was also fun being in the audience, since many people (especially older individuals) who knew the songs were standing up and dancing along with the musicians. “Split this Rock” was significant to me in the pure power of the words spoken there. The performing art of spoken word is, in my opinion, one of the most impactful forms of communication that exists. All of the writers/poets there had strong messages to convey, and did it well. The Prop sale I liked just because I enjoy being around old things like one would be in, say, an antique shop. I find it interesting to think about all the items and what kind of stories they carry (and this being the theater department, I took that phrase quite literally!). The items were also a really good deal for really cool stuff! ;)

3. How might one or more of the performances/experiences relate to the Arts Scholars theme of “Adaptation: Reimagine, Reframe, Recycle”?

The Prop and Costume Sale relates most to this theme because it was literally recycling items no longer used by the theater department. Through this event, the value in allowing someone else to inherit their things and allowing the items themselves to inherit a new purpose was realized. The new owner would then reimagine that purpose for the chosen item(s).

[alexiaoscpsarts-blog]

NextNOW Assignment

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

Although I’ve listened to Jazz before, Liner Notes gave me a little bit more of an appreciation for it. Being a string player, brass was never something I focused on in particular; but being able to see the band play the instruments up close was cool to see. Another thing that was interesting to hear were the barbershop stories from the Make Art, Not War exhibit. I learned a bit more about the struggles of the African-American community just from the stories the barbers have told.

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

My favorite experience was going to the Prop and Costume shop. Being a cosplayer, I know the struggles of buying inexpensive materials for costumes. This was a great way to get good material for a cheap price!

3. How might one or more of the performances/experiences relate to the Arts Scholars theme of “Adaptation: Reimagine, Reframe, Recycle”?

The Make Art, Not War exhibit uses its beautiful art to showcase an interesting view of the daily African-American struggle, They “reframe” the way some people think about race into something nonobjective.