News
-
November 1, 2020
Protests Matter, and Here’s Why with Political Science Professor Daniel GillionAs part of the Provost’s Lecture on Diversity, political science professor Daniel Gillion gave insight into how demonstrations affect elected officials, shape policy, increase engagement, and motivate voter turnout. Gillion said research proves the “positive perception” of protests overcome negative sentiments toward them. “Taking a bird’s eye view of how protest on race can be influential, I have no choice but to say that protests are the canaries in the coal mines that warn of future political and electoral change,” Gillion said. “They make a difference.”
-
November 1, 2020
Penn Libraries Launches New Blog Series, “Cross-Campus Picks”The series will offer book, music, and film recommendations to accompany exhibits and events taking place across the University. Their first edition is centered around the ICA’s new exhibition on the work of Milford Graves. Graves is perhaps best known as a progressive jazz drummer, though categorizing him as a percussionist would be akin to labeling Benjamin Franklin a postmaster. Graves is a painter, a dancer, a mosaicist, a shaman, an acupuncturist, an herbalist, a former Police Athletic League boxing champion, a long-time professor at Bennington College, and the inventor of a martial art form called yara. He’s also a Guggenheim Fellow and a researcher; Graves has studied cardiac rhythms to explore the healing potentialities of music.Milford Graves: A Mind-Body Deal runs through January 2021 and showcases original paintings, sculptures, photographs, scientific studies, and costumes.
-
October 8, 2020
Ben Art Bucks Grants Are Now Available for All StudentsBen Art Bucks Grants are quick accessible grants of up to $250 for students and student groups to support creating or experiencing the arts. Students and student groups may apply for up to $250. We are open to considering slightly larger requests, but we ask that students schedule a meeting with Sachs Program staff when a higher request is needed and before submitting an application. Funds will be distributed through PayPal or Venmo and will be processed remotely twice a month.
-
October 7, 2020
Sachs Grant Paves Way for ‘Sis Uprising’ In Experimental VideoRicardo Bracho and Arien Wilkerson met at the Black Spatial Relics event at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) last year, seated just a row apart, they fast became friends and collaborators. Arien Wilkerson and Ricardo Bracho will premiere ‘The Sis Uprising: A Critical Kiki’ on Oct. 8, funded by a Sachs Black Artist Support Grant. Bracho is a writer and editor who is the Sachs Artist-in-Residence in the Alice Paul Center for Research on Gender, Sexuality, and Women. Bracho teaches the course Passion Projects, a creative writing workshop on monologues, one-person shows, screenplay pilot projects, and experimental pieces.
-
October 5, 2020
Philadelphia’s Monument Lab, Receives $4 Million From Mellon Foundation to Reimagine Local MonumentsThe Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is the largest humanities philanthropy in the United States. Mellon has pledged to spend $250 million over five years to help reimagine the country’s approach to monuments and memorials, in an effort to better reflect the nation’s diversity and highlight buried or marginalized stories. Monuement Lab, is a Philadelphia-based public art and research studio that works with artists and community groups across the country to “reimagine public spaces through stories of social justice and equity." They are the first to receive a grant from Mellon's new initiative.