AATAT Explores the Importance of Black Theatre in Upcoming Workshop: ‘Does Black Theater Matter?’
“Does Black theater matter?” For decades the African American Theater Arts Troupe (AATAT) at UC Santa Cruz has elevated and centered Black roles in the arts. It serves as a springboard for generations of Black alum and students who vie for the opportunity to answer…
Don Williams: How the Movement for Black Theater Came to UCSC 30 Years Ago
Without the talents and efforts of Don Williams, an entire generation of artists may never have had the opportunity to discover and voice their talents. Starting from a young age, Williams’ love of theater sparked a career in creating inclusive and uplifting spaces for Black…
Skate Like a Girl Fosters Inclusive Skate Community
Walking into a skatepark, you will see skaters ripping around the bowl, speeding down ramps, and ollieing in the air. You will feel gusts of wind as skaters whiz past and hear the constant clack of wheels hitting the pavement. Take a closer look and…
‘Prisons and Poetics’ Conversation Highlights Importance of Arts in Understanding the Push for Prison Abolition
Poetry is about understanding the past, recognizing where we are now, and re-imagining the future. “It really is poetry and art that takes us to another place,” said UC Santa Cruz social psychology professor Craig Haney, “and in this criminal justice system,…another place is exactly…
Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center Celebrates 10 Years
The Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center (TWDCC) is going into its 10th year as a space where artists can explore their talents and become mentors. Over the years, professional dancers Cat Willis and Micha Scott worked on uplifting Santa Cruz’s Black, Indigenous, and People…
Portraits in Protest: Santa Cruz Artist Zendrea Marshall Paints 100 Black Activists
As a wave of Black Lives Matter protests flooded through the summer of 2020, Santa Cruzan artist Zendrea Marshall watched from her studio as a revolution unfolded in the streets. Painting portraits is a protest for Marshall, much more than a regular side hustle or…
UCSC Younger Lagoon Reserve Offers Virtual Tours Amid Pandemic Restrictions
For the past 10 months, the unruly willow trees, pink pickleweed, and freshwater marsh of the UC Santa Cruz Younger Lagoon Reserve have been out of sight to the general public. Usually accessible through guided tours, the reserve found a new way to keep people…
How are you feeling ‘In These Uncertain Times’: Santa Cruz MAH Introduces Exhibition With Virtual Opening
A gigantic, personified COVID-19 spike protein snarls down at a masked and gloved nurse. The nurse faces it head on, undeterred, and holding up her middle finger. Another nurse, layered in protective gear, a clear plastic shield, a mask, and hairnet, looks out toward the…
Celebrating a MAH-velous 25 Years
After decades of changes and challenges — a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 1989 to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 — the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) continues to bring the Santa Cruz community together through pop-up art shows and virtual exhibitions. Since…
UCSC Introduces New MFA Degree Program in Environmental Art and Social Practice
The UC Santa Cruz art department announced a new Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree program in Environmental Art and Social Practice (EASP) last fall. The two-year program will begin in fall 2021 with eight graduate students, and will bring on another eight in fall…