eventseekr blog

Kronos Quartet: Women’s Voices [Review]

When I was living in Russia, I frequently came across the opinion that art made by women is inherently subpar. And not only art–there is a woeful tendency, even by educated people (including educated women, no less), to use the words “female” or “feminine” as an indelible stamp of lower quality–a stigma, in other words. In the United States I have the impression that such opinions have been not so much extinguished as swept under the carpet, delegated to the margins. Expressing them openly is “bad manners.” Nevertheless, patriarchy in culture is alive and well–just watch any Hollywood movie if you want proof. Therefore, even though cultural events dedicated solely to work by women are problematic from a feminist point of view (critics speak of “female ghettos”), they are still needed. Women’s Voices at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts was such a “lady-focused” project. It featured Kronos Quartet‘s enthusiastic treatment of works by three female composers as well as two collaborative pieces with maverick female performers, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ and Tanya Tagaq. Both concerts–on May 11 and 12–were nothing short of stellar.

Kronos Quartet. Photo by Jeffe Gudmundsen-Holmgreen. Courtesy Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

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Coachella Announces 2013 Dates & Adv. Sale Details

Coachella has just announced that the 2013 edition of the festival would once again take place over the course of two weekends. Weekend One will be held on April 12, 13 and 14, while Weekend Two will be held on April 19, 20 and 21.

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Washed Out @ Mezzanine

Washed Out’s recordings provide the perfect soundtrack to lose one’s self in deep thought. Its bedroom synthpop and chillwave sound is the type of music you might relax to while sitting at home, indecisively pondering your Friday evening plans. Conversely, when experiencing Washed Out live and in person, it is akin to the body-high you get when you make a decision, any decision, and feel instant gratification.

Last Friday, Washed Out played a sold out show at Mezzanine. When tickets went on sale in late February, it only took a few days for the event to officially sell out. Clearly, everyone who was in attendance at Mezzanine didn’t have to think about whether or not they wanted to go to the show–it was a foregone conclusion.

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[Review] Taste 2012 @ Root Division

On April 19th, the fabulous Mission District art gallery Root Division hosted an evening of delicious food and beverages at its popular Taste 2012 event. In addition to giving visitors a sample of some of the best cuisine and drinks available in and around the Mission area, there were several exhibits that showcased the awesome talent of several Bay Area fine artists of all ages, as well as a silent auction that invited attendees to take some of their favorite displays home with them.

All proceeds from the event went towards supporting education in the arts at Root Division and other non-profit organizations throughout the Bay Area.

The selection of cuisine being offered at the gallery was, at first, a bit overwhelming. The fragrance of foods from all over the world filled the space with an incredibly appetizing aroma, and did much to compound our already nagging hunger. While there were some samples we tried that ended up being not so great, most dishes were indeed quite good, and a few were nothing short of heavenly.

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Scheherazade – Alonzo King Lines Ballet

On April 18, Program 2 of Alonzo King LINES Ballet at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts‘ Novellus Theater featured two pieces: Migration and Scheherazade. Though Scheherazade was undoubtedly the main event of the night, Migration proved to be no less dramatic, displaying the full force of the troupe in an impactful performance.

The piece explores the “hierarchical migration of birds and mammals,” and depicts the struggles inherent to change/migration through dynamic pas de deuxs and solos. Zack Tang and Meredith Webster performed beautifully together, illustrating the push and pull that couples invariably go through during a lifelong journey. Though the company comes out as a “flock” at times, the individual performers are never fully in sync. The piece is an organic one–seemingly loose in its choreography–wherein each member’s individual migration across and above the stage melds into a powerhouse performance.

Caroline Rocher, Scheherazade; Photo by RJ Muna

After a short intermission, the audience was primed to watch Scheherazade, a piece that was commissioned by the Monaco Dance Forum to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. This work was aurally and visually stunning. Zakir Hussain’s reinterpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s music seems to distill it to its most heartfelt parts, leaving the heft of the symphony orchestra behind in favor of a mix of Western and ancient Persian instruments–the combination is one that affects the listener on a primal level. Indeed, King’s version of this classic ballet trims all the fat from the production, turning it into a minimalist though still remarkably rich and textured piece of work.

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