UC San Diego ArtPower’s 2015-16 Season Brings Global Artists to San Diego

Article Content

UC San Diego composer Roger Reynolds and English violinist Irvine Arditti open ArtPower’s season with a performance and workshop on Sept. 25. Photo by Christopher Dobey.

More than 20 internationally renowned artists and ensembles are lined up for the 2015-16 season of ArtPower, a multi-arts presenter at the University of California, San Diego that is on a mission to engage audiences of all backgrounds with the arts. ArtPower will offer six distinctive series—chamber music, film, innovation, dance, global music and jazz—that feature the return of favorites, such as the Calder Quartet and David Sedaris, as well as global artists making their San Diego debut. The season kicks off Sept. 25 with a performance by English violinist Irvine Arditti and UC San Diego composer Roger Reynolds at the Conrad Prebys Music Center on campus.

“In choosing our 2015-16 artists, we are highlighting the most interesting artistic trends in the world while honoring what is best about ArtPower’s history,” said Jordan Peimer, executive director of ArtPower. “We are committed to presenting important artists who not only enrich the cultural landscape of our city, but also inspire UC San Diego students to realize their own limitless creative potential.”

Audience engagement—particularly for students—is central to ArtPower’s mission. The organization encourages UC San Diego undergraduates as well as K-12 students from throughout the region to experience a variety of art performances by offering reduced price tickets, as well as special programming that allows for interaction with the artists.

Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, inventor and videographer Huang Yi performs alongside a robot for his award-winning work, Huang Yi and Kuka. Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff.

“The arts are vital to a well-rounded education,” said UC San Diego Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan González. “They help us to think in new ways and inspire a level of creativity that can be applied to all areas of study. ArtPower plays a key role in enriching our students’ educational experience.”

ArtPower also offers artist engagement programs that are open to all audience members, including local residents and UC San Diego staff and faculty. Student and audience engagement programs in the 2015-16 season include:

• ArtTalks – Audiences are invited to chat with the artists and learn the unexpected stories behind a work’s creation. ArtTalks are offered either before or after a performance and are moderated by Associate Director of Artistic Planning and Education Molly Clark and Film Curator Rebecca Webb. The upcoming season includes talks with the Calder Quartet, Idan Cohen Dance Company, Mal’Akh Ensemble and several others. All talks are open to the public.
• Foovies – Film presentations are paired with a special menu prepared by Zanzibar at the Loft on campus, with a pre-screening discussion about the work. This season, each Foovie event will explore cultural and gender identity in the context of three “national awareness” months: Hispanic Heritage Month in October, Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. Foovie events are open to the public.
• Up&Coming Wired – An online film screening space that allows students and alumni from all disciplines to connect and share their work. The year-round program complements the annual Up&Coming Student Film Festival, which is held in spring quarter as part of ArtPower’s Filmatic Festival. Festival events are open to the public.

Bang on a Can All-Stars will perform Brian Eno’s Music for Airports at the San Diego International Airport on Oct. 27. Photo by Peter Serling.

Other season highlights include the U.S. premiere at an airport of Brian Eno’s Music for Airports, performed by Bang on a Can All-Stars at the San Diego International Airport; a performance of the award-winning work by Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, inventor and videographer Huang Yi; San Diego debuts by Israeli artists Ester Rada and the Idan Cohen Dance Company; the West Coast premiere of Greg Wohead’s The Nearness of You; and two concerts by pianist Christopher O’Riley—including his acclaimed solo performance of “True Love Waits: The Music of Radiohead.”

ArtPower events take place at six venues across the UC San Diego campus, with special events throughout San Diego. Discounted tickets are available for UC San Diego students, alumni, staff and faculty. For more information about events, tickets and subscriptions, visit artpower.ucsd.edu.

To sustain a high caliber season of performances and programming each year, ArtPower relies on donations from audience members and campus friends. Ticket sales and university funds make up less than half of the organization’s budget. To learn more about supporting ArtPower, and to make a gift, visit artpower.ucsd.edu/support.