TulsaPeople / February 2012 / The art of performance

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The art of performance

Apparently, February is the month for the arts because there are too many great events to write about here, such as “Woody at One Hundred: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration 1912-2012” at Gilcrease Museum or Freakflag Studio owner Amy Montedoro’s Feb. 3 art opening at Lot No. 6 Art Gallery and Bar on East Sixth Street.

So, to help you create your cultural agenda this month, I chose a few events you should know about, all featuring artists — of various ages and backgrounds — sharing their ideas with the public in distinctive ways.

New Genre XIX Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Brady St., and other Tulsa locations.

One of the oldest performance arts festivals in America, New Genre exposes Tulsans to contemporary performance artists who don’t usually make it to our corner of the universe.

“We need the kind of work that’s progressive and thought-stimulating,” says Steve Liggett, Living Arts artistic director. “We formed New Genre 19 years ago to show real, progressive art forms, and we stand out for this. It’s unusual for this part of the country, but worldwide, it’s mainstream.”

In addition to the performances, the artists will share lectures and conduct workshops for the community.

“I’m proud of that because we really are influencing people who want to know more,” Liggett says. “(We aim) to inspire and educate artists and the community.”

Here’s a peek at some of the Oklahoma artists participating in New Genre, Feb. 17-March 3:

“Eye 4 Eye”: A group exhibition curated by Tulsa installation artist Walt Kosty, it explores the artists’ perspectives on capital punishment in conjunction with Tulsa Opera’s performance of “Dead Man Walking,” Feb. 25-March 4.

viDEO sAVant: Featuring Tulsa dancers Megan Miller, Jennifer Alden, Rachel Johnson and Ari Christopher and founding member Charles Woodman, this group’s performance will truly be unique, as it is not rehearsed or choreographed beforehand.

“Palpitations”: Norman artist Lindsey Allgood’s one-woman show explores the inner life of the feminine psyche through voice and symbolic materials.

Visit www.livingarts.org for a complete schedule and tickets.

92nd Street Y lecture series Congregation B’Nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Ave.

February marks the first-year anniversary of B’Nai Emunah’s satellite broadcasts from 92nd Street Y in New York City, where world-famous actors, foodies, entertainers and other influential people talk about life and answer questions from the audience.

92Y was founded in 1874 by a group of visionary Jewish leaders and has grown into a wide-ranging cultural, educational and community center for all people. The 92Y has held lectures since it began, and this lecture series dates to the 1980s.

Terry Marcum and Sally Donaldson co-chair the program for Congregation B’Nai Emunah and are both originally from New York City. Marcum enjoyed attending the 92Y series, so she decided to bring the satellite broadcasts to Tulsa.

“I was pleasantly surprised at the dialogue; it’s like being in New York,” Marcum says. “It’s not presented elsewhere in Tulsa, so we’re providing an outlet that wouldn’t normally be presented.”

At 7 p.m., Feb. 28, Gloria Steinem will present with Budd Mishkin, host and reporter for NY1’s weekly profile series, “One on 1 with Budd Mishkin.” Steinem will discuss her world travels as an organizer, lecturer and media spokeswoman on issues of equality, peace and justice.

The rest of the series includes broadcasts with Sandra Day O’Connor on March 15, Madeleine Albright on May 3 and Mark Bittman with Ruth Reichl on June 10.

Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman says, “This is part of a larger effort to open the synagogue to the widest audience and involve many different kinds of people in what we are doing. Our congregation welcomes those who have never been to a synagogue before.”

Call 918-935-3373 for tickets or visit www.tulsagogue.com for more information.

Louder Than a Bomb-Tulsa finals Lorton Performance Center on the University of Tulsa campus

Louder Than a Bomb-Tulsa is the first regional offshoot of the original Louder Than a Bomb in Chicago. Tulsan Kent Martin founded the regional event in 2010 in the spirit of uniting Tulsa area high school students.

“The neighborhoods in Tulsa are segregated, and this brings students together so they can build relationships and help each other with their writing,” Martin says.

The afternoon poetry slam will consist of four teams of four high school students who will each present a three-minute individual piece and one team poem.

Individual students will also compete in the competition.

“The poems pull from their own lives, and they are personal and moving,” Martin says. “You’ll be amazed at what they can do.”

The teams are judged by a panel, which this year includes Scott Gregory, poetry editor with This Land Press and TulsaPeople film columnist; Mana Tahaie, director of racial justice for YWCA Tulsa; and Francine Ringold, Oklahoma poet laureate.

Chicago LTAB founder Kevin Coval will emcee, along with Nate Marshall, who appeared in the Louder Than a Bomb documentary film, released in 2011.

The Louder Than a Bomb finals will take place from 1:30-5:30 p.m., Feb. 11. The event is free and open to the public. Visit facebook.com/LTABTulsa for more information or e-mail kentmartin@ou.edu