"Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here." -Neil Gaiman.
This...is art. Society draws the lines of what is correct and acceptable, and art dares to cross those lines and do the opposite. We make mistakes because we know that is the only way to create something society has not seen before. Deep down we all possess a yearning to witness amazing things outside of the norm. This yearning is evident in Gaiman's words, which is why this was the perfect quote for the organizers of the third annual U-Nite at the Crocker Art Museum to welcome their guests into the vast collection of amazing things and people who had gathered that night.
U-Nite is an event showcasing the works and talent of the faculty and students of Sacramento State's College of Arts and Letters. After kicking off the event with a live rock performance by the Rogue Scholars, U-Nite founder Elaine Gale took to the stage in Friedman Court and thanked everyone who made the event possible, as well as the people who showed up to support the artists and a united love for art itself. Looking at the schedule, I felt a little overwhelmed (in a good way) of all the performance and exhibits available to see. Despite only being to stay for a few hours, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that my inner yearning for art left satisfied with what I saw.
The Rogue Scholars performing various songs;
the audience definitely enjoyed this opening.
Opening remarks by U-Nite coordinators.
Poetry on the Spot
by CSUS Students
At the main entrance, these students read poetry all through the event.
The Crocker Auditorium presented its first of many shows for the night with a dance performance by Joseph Parente and I CAN DO THAT! This performance featured students with disabilities as they presented the audience with a history of hip-hop as it emerged from the Bronx in New York. The students covered the essential elements of hip-hop culture, including DJing, MCing, graffiti, and breakdancing, and did it all while having fun along the way. As someone with a family member who is mentally challenged and also involved in a similar learning group, I cannot stress enough how much respect I have for the people who brought art into these students' lives. On top of that, I rediscovered my love for old school hip-hop as well.
I CAN DO THAT!
organized by Joseph Parente
performance
The students showed off some awesome breakdancing skills.
Between events, I took the time to look at the art on regular display. They boast a very culturally diverse collection from across the globe. Tribal art from Africa and Oceania, paintings capturing the American 1800's, stoneware and porcelain from Jingdezhen and other famed Asian ceramic cities, and of course the local Californian artists. It just goes to show the significant connections that Sacramento has to cultures from around the world, and how much effort the Crocker has put in over the years to present it all for the public. Finally, I walked around the Sam Francis exhibit that is wrapping up this month. A member of the abstract expressionists, Francis displayed an energetic and colorful style that he developed here in his native California. The Abstract Expressionists were a group who definitely had no fear of making mistakes in their creations.
Five Decades of Abstract Expressionism
works by Sam Francis
acrylic on canvas
Paying homage to one of California's own great artists.
Back in the Auditorium, Mario Estioko gave a live reading of his comic book, PECK: The Man Without Neck. This was a real treat for me, as Mario had been my first graphic design professor at Sac State. Back in 2011, as the semester was coming to a close, Mario shared with my class his love for comic drawing by showing some preliminary drawing of a deformed character he called The Peck. Little did I know that I would one day be hearing Mario perform the first installment of his comedic character's heroic adventures live in person. The Peck is the alter ego of a one-armed waste management engineer named Dent, who's superpower allows him to transform from a nonthreatening nerd, into a muscular and athletic superhero who patrols the streets the fictional Sactown. I absolutely loved hearing Mario perform the different voices of his characters, adding sound effects whenever possible, to bring the story to life. Much like Dent, Mario showed me a side of him I had not seen (the funny, comic loving side), which goes to show the surprises art can bring about. (The comic can be read atwww.themanwithoutneck.com).
Mario at the end of his read.
PECK: The Man Without Neck Cover Art
by Mario Estioko
A very fun read with must-see figure drawings.
What hip-hop, rock, abstract art, poetry, dance, and comics all have in common is that at what point, they were all viewed as mistakes in their respective times. The innovators of these arts chose not to conform to societal limits, and now we celebrate them for being different and giving us a plethora of styles to explore and enjoy. U-Nite at the Crocker brought all these art forms together in a one of the most fun events I have ever experienced. I look forward to the interesting experiences that the Crocker and Sac State can provide me at next year’s event.
U-Nite
Crocker Art Museum at 216 O St. Sacramento, CA
April 10, 2014. 5-9:00 pm.
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