Music and a Book Talk at TANA are highlights Thursday
Hindustani Vocal Ensemble of UC Davis, Thursday, March 17, 1–2 p.m.
Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center
More than two dozen student singers will perform in the Hindustani vocal tradition with UC Davis lecturer in music, Rita Sahai. The program includes five ragas and is led by Rita Sahai, who was affectionately given the title Gayan Alankar (Jewel of Music) by her teacher, the famous sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
TANA hosts novelist
Thursday, March 17, 6 p.m., 1224 Lemen Ave., Woodland
Join UC Davis TANA to learn how Irish and Mexican history converge in Reyna Grande’s riveting new novel, A Ballad of Love and Glory. Set during the Mexican-American War, Grande’s novel tells the story of Ximena, a Mexican army nurse, and John Riley, an Irish soldier, as they fight for their survival and their love.
Reyna Grande is the bestselling author of Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, The Distance Between Us, and A Dream Called Home.
Books available at TANA as well as at the Avid Reader in Davis.
Find more information here.
Two exhibitions to open at the Gibson House in Woodland
The artist reception for both exhibitions will be hosted 5-9 p.m. Thursday, March 17. Music will be performed by jazz guitarist Jon Spivack. Light refreshments and wine will be available.
YoloArts will be hosting receptions for the opening of two exhibitions at the Gibson House and Property in Woodland on March 17. The Barn Gallery will feature the group exhibition, After Viola. Inside the Gibson House, Side-by-Side: Historic and Contemporary Ceramics will be unveiled.
Both shows are part of the 2022 National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts (NCECA) annual conference.
After Viola is a group exhibition at The Barn Gallery featuring the artwork of Bay Area artists who have come together to create new works in conversation with the archives of Viola Frey, the renowned California artist known for her colorful, robust, larger-than-life sculptures. The exhibition is in collaboration with the Artists’ Legacy Foundation.
After Viola continues at The Barn Gallery through June 11.
Side-by-Side: Historic and Contemporary Ceramics includes artwork from earthenware to porcelain and invites visitors to look at items from the Yolo County Historical Collection through the lens of contemporary artists as they draw inspiration and reframe history through their work.
Side-by-Side: Historic and Contemporary Ceramics continues at the Gibson House through June 24.
The artist reception for both exhibitions will be hosted 5-9 p.m. Thursday, March 17. Music will be performed by jazz guitarist Jon Spivack. Light refreshments and wine will be available.
The Barn Gallery and the Gibson House are located at 512 Gibson Road in Woodland. For more information contact YoloArts at 530-309-6464 or ya@yoloarts.org.
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández performs Friday at Mondavi
Friday, March 18, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
Ballet Folklórico de México returns to the United States for an extended multi-city tour featuring renewed performances of the company’s classic choreography — and this week, they come to the Mondavi at UC Davis. Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico brings together the music, dance and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations through the modern era. With its permanent home at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most historic venues, the company has developed choreography for 40 ballets, composed of 76 folk dancers who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Tree of Ceramics Opening Reception at John Natsoulas
Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, 7–9 p.m., John Natoulas Gallery, 521 First St., Davis
This exhibition will be part of the upcoming 2022 NCECA exhibitions. This year’s NCECA’s theme is “Fertile Ground,” and it will run from March 16 through March 19. It is the 56th annual conference of the National Council on the Education of Ceramics Arts and it will be held at the Sacramento Convention Center.
Tree of Ceramics runs through May 1st.
Find more information here.
Coming up during spring break
Two Powerhouse poets come together to celebrate spring and American poetry
Monday, March 21, 1 p.m., a Mellon online event
Ahead of National Poetry Month, U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo joins Mellon President Elizabeth Alexander on March 21 to discuss the role of poetry in our current moment and how the discipline of writing poetry has shaped the lives of both women. Globally renowned as a performer and writer, Harjo is an enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is the first Native American to serve as the official poet of the United States and only the second person to serve three terms in the role
A celebration of the start of spring and a look ahead to National Poetry Month in April, this livestream event will feature a reading by Harjo.
Register for this event here.
Prodigy Matthew Whitaker and his quintet perform
Friday, March 25, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall
The Hammond B3 organ speaks a language all its own, one that’s rooted in the church, but brings jazz, soul, blues and funk along for a dizzying party. It’s no wonder that special reverence is held for those musicians that truly master the instrument. Matthew Whitaker’s love for music began at the young age of 3 after his grandfather gave him a small Yamaha keyboard. At 9 years old, he began teaching himself how to play the Hammond B3 organ. Four years later, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80-plus-year history. But it’s his rich talent, not his youth, that keep audiences coming back to experience Whitaker and his talented bandmates.
Find more information and purchase tickets here.
A new documentary titled "Matthew Whitaker: About Tomorrow” chronicles his childhood and journey from jazz prodigy to multi-disciplinary musical innovator and premiers on Sunday, April 3rd at 8 p.m. nationwide on the free ALL ARTS app and AllArts.org/ArtistinResidence, and in the New York metro area on the ALL ARTS TV channel (channel lineup).
Watch the trailer for 'Matthew Whitaker: About Tomorrow' here.
Find more information here.