Women in the arts: a performance and conversation, Thursday, October 27

The Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library and the New Mexico History Museum, in collaboration with the New Mexico State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the College Music Society, will present a special program focusing on the contributions of women in the arts on Thursday morning, October 27, from 10:30 a.m. until noon, in the auditorium of the New Mexico History Museum (113 Lincoln Avenue).

The event will feature musical selections by women composers performed by women musicians from the College Music Society as the springboard for a discussion of contributions of women to the arts, and a collective brainstorming of ideas for continuing to highlight the contributions of women across the arts. The conversations will be led by Santa Feans from the arts community and by the musicians who will perform; and the audience will be encouraged to participate in brainstorming ideas for future support of women in the arts.

Musical selections will include the following pieces by women composers:

Jenni Brandon, “Love Songs” (2014) for mezzo-soprano and oboe

Roshanne Etezady, “Glint” (2007) for clarinet and alto saxophone

Flute Music by Latin American Women Composers (including Awilda Villarini, Gabriela Ortiz, Adina Izarra and Angelica Negron)

Libby Larsen, “Black Birds, Red Hills: A Portrait of Six Paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe.”

The program will be in three parts: a performance set, followed by a panel discussion with participation by the audience, and ending with another performance set. Some of the guiding questions for the discussion will be:

1. Women in the Arts--the Historical View: What were the challenges faced historically by women in the arts?
2. Women in the Arts--Today: How have women carved out a place for themselves in all aspects of art?
3. Women in the Arts--the Future:  How can communities continue to empower and support future women in the arts? What can arts organizations do to create increased opportunities for women throughout all aspects of artistic life.

The performers, who will all be in Santa Fe attending the annual meeting of the College Music Society at the Eldorado Hotel, are from Montana, Minnesota, Kansas/Puerto Rico, and North Dakota.

Seating is limited in the NM History Auditorium. Those interested in attending are encouraged to arrive early.