Nashville Arts Magazine
June 30, 2015
OZ ARTS NASHVILLE LAUNCHES NEW SEASON OF PERFORMANCES
OZ Arts Nashville’s third season is fresh, exciting, and full of new ways to enjoy and interact with the city’s arts culture. Bizarre instruments, film discussions, dance, theatre, and poetry are just a few of the things that are planned for the progressive new season.
Some of the events are meant to simply entertain, but interaction is the real star of Season 3. Artistic director Lauren Snelling talked about how the increased interactivity in the arts is, ironically, because of our cell phones. With the ability to make music, pictures, video, and whatever else you want at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever for everyone to create.
“Everyone is an artist now with their own individual device,” Snelling said. “So I think because of that power and that ability that every person now has, there’s a real sense of a desire for interactivity when it comes to art.”
Early next spring Taylor Mac takes on the massive task of charting the complete history of popular American music, from 1776–2016, with each decade showcased in a one-hour performance. The years 1806–1836 will be performed at OZ. Mac encourages laughing, talking, and moving around the room while engaging with the history of American music.
Interaction with the arts is also met with interaction amongst the arts. Kid Koala is a popular DJ and music producer, but at OZ he’s presenting a live multimedia adaptation of a graphic novel he wrote. Robert Milazzo is bringing three celebrity guest artists to OZ to screen their favorite films then talk to Milazzo about how the films have shaped them and their art.
Family Day is going to be full of indoor and outdoor arts activities for the whole family, and the main attraction is a collection of 15 newly invented instruments and sound sculptures available to play.
Season 3 comes to a close with a three-day visual art festival full of indoor and outdoor art. Everything from light installations and pod galleries, to street art and massive murals will be included.
Finally, TNT (Thursday Night Things) is continuing at OZ outside of the regular season and will feature Tennessee-based artists like Bryce McCloud’s workshop for the creation of large-scale tapestries and Tony Youngblood’s maze of 4×4-foot modular art pods.
For the full schedule of Season 3 events and to buy season tickets, visitwww.ozartsnashville.org.