Irish Arts Center: Recent Episodes
Irish Arts Center
Irish Arts Center's "Grásta" commissions series challenged twenty-six artists, reflecting a range of perspectives and disciplines, to create work in response to the idea of finding grace in uncertainty. More about "Grásta": https://irishartscenter.org/event/iac-commissions-grasta-grace-in-uncertainty
The "mesmerizing" (Rolling Stone) Grenadian-Canadian artist Kaia Kater explores themes of impermanence and change through a tapestry of journal entries and musical vignettes.
"My audio piece is centered around themes of impermanence and the volatility of change, combining journal entries with musical sketches written during the pandemic. Together, these form a time capsule against which the listener can begin to process the emotions of this era. How would you communicate with future generations about this time? What would you want them to know?"
Kaia mentions a phrase by poet Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre: “White supremacy is not a shark; it is the water.” We wanted to share a link to the artist's writing and resources, to further understand the context.
“Fear”
Written by Kaïa Kater-Hurst (SOCAN/BMI).
Produced by Kaïa Kater-Hurst and Andrew Ryan.
Kaïa Kater-Hurst: synths and piano.
Andrew Ryan: upright bass, synths, and piano.
Kevin Matthews: drums.
Presented as part of Carnegie Hall's Voices of Hope Festival 2021.
Executive Producer, podcast: Dean Cappello.
Producer, podcast: Paul Chuffo.
Music for podcast from "Inagh Valley / Rockin’ the Boat" by Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, and Patrick Doocey.
Commissioned by Irish Arts Center as part of
Grásta: Grace in Uncertainty | 2020 - 2021.
More about "Grásta": https://irishartscenter.org/event/iac-commissions-grasta-grace-in-uncertainty
Our second program to premiere as part of Carnegie Hall's Voices of Hope festival features vocalist Tamar Korn and jazz, swing, and bluegrass musician Dennis Lichtman performing: "Walking into the Unknown," a new, co-written piece by the artists tracing the existential lines of the times; "There'll Be Some Changes Made," a 1923 Harlem Renaissance classic by Higgins and Overstreet; and an oration-as-interlude from the Michael Ventura essay "Predictions: The Next 200 Years."
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has curated the Black Liberation Reading List here: www.nypl.org/blog/2020/06/09/sc…ation-reading-list
The list features 95 works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction with a focus on Black authors, including a number of writers from the Harlem Renaissance, of which Higgins and Overstreet were a part. Many of these works are available digitally on SimplyE, NYPL’s free e-reader app.
"Walking into the Unknown" (2021, by Tamar Korn & Dennis Lichtman).
"There'll Be Some Changes Made" (1921, by Benton Overstreet & Billy Higgins).
Tamar Korn: vocals.
Dan Levinson: clarinet.
Dennis Lichtman: resophonic tenor guitar and 2nd clarinet.
Oration excerpted from “Predictions: The Next 200 Years” by Michael Ventura.
Produced by Tamar Korn and Dennis Lichtman.
Presented as part of Carnegie Hall's Voices of Hope Festival 2021.
Executive Producer, podcast: Dean Cappello.
Producer, podcast: Paul Chuffo.
Music for podcast from "Inagh Valley / Rockin’ the Boat" by Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, and Patrick Doocey.
Commissioned by Irish Arts Center as part of
Grásta: Grace in Uncertainty | 2020 – 2021.
More about "Grásta": irishartscenter.org/event/iac-commi…-in-uncertainty
It's been a year of returning to roots for Dirk Powell and Mike McGoldrick, who, with their touring schedules and most collaborative projects on hold, have been reflecting on the generations of hope within their families that's carried them to this point in their careers. The Appalachian and Irish-English artists, respectively, discuss their journeys from the field of dreams to the concert hall, and perform new music inspired by these travels, in our latest Grásta presentation.
“Which Star Are You Going to Follow?”
Produced by Dirk Powell and Mike McGoldrick.
Mike McGoldrick: guitars, tin whistle, wooden flute, mandolin, banjo, harmony vocals.
Dirk Powell: bass, percussion, mellotron, lead vocals, narration.
Rioghnach Connolly: background vocals.
James Mackintosh: drums, "Waiting for a Greyhound".
“Which Star Are You Going to Follow?”
Written by Mike McGoldrick, © PRS/MCPS and Dirk Powell, © Crying Bayou Music, BMI.
“Dreaming in the Field”
Written by Mike McGoldrick, © PRS/MCPS.
“Waiting for a Greyhound”
Written by Dirk Powell, © Crying Bayou Music, BMI.
Presented as part of Carnegie Hall's Voices of Hope Festival 2021.
Executive Producer, podcast: Dean Cappello.
Producer, podcast: Paul Chuffo.
Music for podcast from "Inagh Valley / Rockin’ the Boat" by Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, and Patrick Doocey.
Commissioned by Irish Arts Center as part of
Grásta: Grace in Uncertainty | 2020 - 2021
More about "Grásta": https://irishartscenter.org/event/iac-commissions-grasta-grace-in-uncertainty
IAC presents the inaugural projects of our Grásta commissions series: original works by two of Ireland's foremost contemporary writers, shared in a podcast produced by Dean Cappello and Gobsmack Studios. From Kevin Barry, a meditation on his early writing life, and how a chance encounter with an old man in a West Cork pub—and a hare on a hill—helped throw the idea of grace into relief. From Eimear McBride, a richly interior piece that examines the role of vulnerability in the author’s life, and whose coda finds a kind of peace in our shared trials. These essays—a rare medium for the authors—were commissioned and penned independently, but come together in delightful ways, finding paths to illuminate and challenge the other. Post-completion of their writing, the authors did the same, coming together for a conversation also featured in this special audio production.
“The Hare” Written and Read by Kevin Barry
“Grásta: Grace in Uncertainty” Written and Read by Eimear McBride
Executive Producer Dean Cappello
Producer Paul Chuffo
Music from "Inagh Valley / Rockin' the Boat" (composed by Máirtín O'Connor) performed by Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, and Patrick Doocey
Commissioned by Irish Arts Center as part of
Grásta: Grace in Uncertainty | 2020 - 2021
More about "Grásta": https://irishartscenter.org/event/iac-commissions-grasta-grace-in-uncertainty