Because of special events the week after UC Davis spring break, we are publishing a special Arts Blog this week on Tuesday. Enjoy. Karen Nikos-Rose, Arts Blog Editor
Events mark the Year of the Eggheads starting Thursday, April 4
Art Spark
April: Eggheaded Ideas
What kind of Egghead sculpture would you design? Make a miniature model out of clay, inspired by the maquettes Robert Arneson created as part of the process of designing the public sculptures on campus. Come visit us on Picnic Day to see a temporary installation of visitors’ models.
Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
Through June 23, 2024
Drop in for an afternoon of art making at the Carol and Gerry Parker Art Studio. Explore a different activity inspired by art on view each month. All ages and skill levels are welcome!
The Year of the Eggheads begins with a birthday celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the last Egghead installations of the Egghead sculptures by Robert Arneson.
A foundational member of the esteemed UC Davis Arts Department, Arneson was the pre-eminent sculptor and UC Davis professor who created the Eggheads at the end of a stunningly influential career.
The Year of the Eggheads’ campaign preliminarily launched April 1 with a month of Egghead-themed events, hosted by units and departments across the university, that not only celebrate the spirit of the Eggheads but also encourage learning about art and artists of UC Davis.
It also marks the launch of the new Arneson Egghead Collection, an assortment of Eggheads-licensed products, including shirts, jewelry, bucket hats, tote bags, blankets, kitchenware and much more. Some items will be limited editions, meaning once they’re gone, they’re gone. A percentage of sales will go toward the preservation of the Egghead sculptures.
The April 4 campus-wide celebration will feature a new display providing a look behind the scenes at the Eggheads’ creation, plus live music and discounts on games and food. Egghead-themed apparel and merchandise will be available at locations across campus.
The festivities will continue in ensuing weeks with other events, giveaways and more. Sign up here to receive Egghead email updates.
See a full list of events, including Egghead lattes, and mini exhibits in the full story here by José Vadi. See the full news release, with more photos and video here.
'I Exist Project' with Nick May on the saxophone
Thursday, April 4, 12:05 p.m., Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center, free
“Tłó±đ amplifies the richness and diversity of queer life, culture, and artistry by partnering with a broad spectrum of talented queer composers and performers. Our mission is to inspire the creation and promotion of innovative queer repertoire that celebrates the unique experiences and voices within our community, fostering greater understanding, connection, and visibility for all.”
Program
Nathan Froebe: Array
Zachery S. Meier: with love, from the other side
Tray Makler: jouissance, or learning to let go (WORLD PREMIERE)
Harold Arlen: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
arr. Kevin Taylor
Sharing perspectives: A participatory performative score with DorteBjerre Jensen
Friday, April 5, Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, invitation only
Danish artist DorteBjerre Jensen (DBJ) hosts the interactive work Sharing Perspectives as a collaborative artistic experience. If you are interested in receiving an invitation to participate, please contact Audrianna Escobedo at aescobedo@ucdavis.edu.
A performative score, Sharing Perspectives stages and explores boundaries, uncertainty, togetherness and the relationship in between bodies and between bodies and the vibrant space. The score is grounded within dance/choreography (contact improvisation) and score design, giving a rare insight into the world of the other by embodying another person’s perspective. In 2019, Sharing Perspectives was performed in relation to the Olafur Eliasson exhibition In Real Life at the Tate Modern in London.
The Triplets of Belleville Cine-Concert
Friday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall at The Mondavi Center, tickets starting at $25
Transport to the exciting streets of 1920s Paris and Le Jazz Hot with a screening of the beloved French film featuring Benoît Charest leading Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville in a live performance of the original score.
The Triplets of Belleville  tells the story of a Tour de France cyclist who is kidnapped by mysterious, square-shouldered henchmen and spirited across the ocean to the teeming metropolis of Belleville. But the true star of the animated film is the hot jazz score written by Canadian composer Charest.
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Re-evaluating gender through materiality
Art history graduate symposium
Friday, April 5, noon-5 p.m., Everson 266, 300 Hutchinson Dr, free
The Second Annual Art History Graduate Symposium will explore how past and present expressions of gender through objects illuminates the intersections between material and gendered self-image.
Some of these reflections we wish the world to see and identify, others we wish to remain hidden. Nonetheless, those hidden elements can still act as subtle signals to a broader audience across space and time.
Witnessing and identifying the hidden iconography within materials has been a traditional concern in Art History. However, current events have pressed issues of gender into the limelight. Wishing to support efforts of inclusion, we are hosting a symposium to highlight novel approaches to studying gender through material culture.
Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell at Mondavi
Saturday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall at The Mondavi Center, tickets starting at $55
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras, renowned for fresh, brilliant interpretations of the world’s greatest orchestral music.
Formed by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958 the orchestra, now led by Joshua Bell, has gained an enviable international reputation for its distinctive, polished and refined sound. This program features Mendelssohn’s violin concerto, a true romantic masterpiece, and Brahms’s uplifting second symphony.
This program runs for 2 hours including an intermission.
Get tickets here:
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The Power of Printmaking: Curators and Printmakers
Saturday, April 13, 2-4:30 p.m., the Manetti Shrem Museum
Mark your calendars for this engaging and immersive event, where we’ll explore the politics and art of printmaking and come together to gain a deeper appreciation of the rich tapestry of artistic expression.
The program begins with a conversation that will look closely at Montoya’s remarkable work and will provide insights into the curatorial approach to the exhibition. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation, shedding light on the curatorial processes and the power of printmaking.
Following the talk, there will be a book signing and sale of Tere Romo’s book,