August 25, 2008

Black Cultural Center announces fall 2008 Cultural Arts Series

The series theme, "What the Waters Washed Away: The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Retention of African American Art and Culture," will be punctuated by a lecture on Black Mardi Gras Indians by Joyce Marie Jackson on Sept. 24, a field research tour to New Orleans from Oct. 10-14, and a contemporary dance concert "When the Delta Speaks" on Nov. 12.

"New Orleans is a unique, authentic and enthralling city," said Renee A. Thomas, the cultural center's director. "It is synonymous with Mardi Gras and the Jazz and Heritage Festival. Throughout the semester the center will celebrate the music, food, and culture of New Orleans. Because of its vibrant cultural roots, New Orleans is a magnet for creative people. The city gave the world Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and the jazz funeral. It is the birthplace of jazz music. The calendar is full of events we hope will entertain, inform and educate people."

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Upcoming events include:

* Aug. 28 - The Black Cultural Center's Annual Boilerfest New Student Orientation will be from 4-6 p.m. in the center's parking lot, 1100 Third St. Boilerfest is a new student orientation festival that allows campus leaders and student organization members to gather in a Mardi Gras theme setting. The event features live entertainment by BCC Performing Arts Ensembles. Gumbo and red beans and rice will be served.

* Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 - The Congo Square Drumming Series occurs the first Wednesday each month, featuring Purdue's CircAfriq Drummers. The drummers will perform from 6-7 p.m. in the BCC Multipurpose Room. Audience members will be invited to participate in the drumming. The drumming series replicates New Orleans' Congo Square, where Africans were allowed to perform traditional drumming, dancing and chants.

* Sept. 20 - "Friends and Family Day" will follow the Purdue football game against Central Michigan and features the Hot 8 Brass Band as part of a second line parade to the Black Cultural Center. Participants can take part in a beading demonstration, listen to hip-hop, jazz and funk style New Orleans brass music and make their own Mardi Gras masks.

Black Mardi Gras Indians
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* Sept. 24 - Joyce Marie Jackson will present a lecture on: "New Orleans Black Mardi Gras Indians: Performative Street Ritual of Resistance" at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Jackson, an associate professor at Louisiana State University, will examine historical incidents, street theatrics, suit design, and musical and dance practices while exploring how the tradition emerged and survived the test of time.

 * Oct 3 - Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis will be presented at 8 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music by Purdue Convocations. Grammy Award-winning Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Orchestra will bring jazz and big band music to the stage. General public tickets are $45 and $20, and student tickets are $30 and $15.

Wynton Marsalis
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* Oct. 10-14 - Student members of the cultural center's Performing Arts Ensembles -- the Black Voices of Inspiration choir, Haraka Writers creative writing group, Jahari Dance Troupe and the New Directional Players drama group -- will travel to New Orleans as part of a field research tour. Students will get a glimpse of the challenges the city faces three years after Hurricane Katrina and also learn of the rebirth and rebuilding that is occurring.  Students will also explore historical landmarks and museums and meet with a panel of Katrina survivors who will share their stories regarding the storm.

* Oct. 24 - The Black Cultural Center Coffee House will be presented at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the center, where the performing arts ensembles will present an artistic showcase highlighting information gathered from the New Orleans research tour.

* Oct. 24-26 - Homecoming 2008 activities with the Purdue Black Alumni Organization will include a welcome back reception on Oct. 24, tailgating and an awards reception and dance on Oct. 25, and a gospel brunch on Oct. 26. More details can be found at: www.purduealum.org/pbao

Kalamu ya Salaam
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* Oct. 29 - New Orleans writer and educator Kalamu ya Salaam will present his poetry at 7 p.m. in Fowler Hall. Salaam is the founder of the Neo-Griot workshop, a black writers workshop focusing on text, recordings and video. He is also the director of Listen to the People, a New Orleans oral history project.

Charles P. Henry
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* Nov. 12 - "When the Delta Speaks" contemporary dance concert will be performed at 7 p.m. at Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. The concert, choreographed by Millicent Johnnie, explores cultural influences indigenous to Louisiana and their effect on the hip-hop culture. It specifically focuses on Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. The piece utilizes the hip-hop aesthetic as a vehicle for providing an artistic response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

* Dec. 5 - The cultural center's performing arts ensembles will present the annual Cultural Arts Festival at 7 p.m. in Loeb Playhouse. This year's festival will culminate the semester-long focus on New Orleans. Tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for Purdue students.

Established at Purdue in 1969, the Black Cultural Center is nationally recognized and acknowledged by the Association of Black Cultural Centers as one of the best centers of its kind. Thomas said the center helps Purdue students gain a greater understanding of African-American heritage and supports and enhances cultural diversity on campus and in the community.

More information about the Black Cultural Center is available at http://www.purdue.edu/bcc

Writer: Clyde Hughes, (765) 494-2073, jchughes@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas (765) 494-3019, rathomas@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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