Brave New Works Lab at OZ Arts Nashville

Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville announced the line-up for its inaugural Brave New Works Lab, which transforms the organizations expansive warehouse into a laboratory for local artists to experiment with new forms as they create new works for the stage. The program features four unique performance pieces from local artists working across multiple disciplines, including dance, theater, multimedia, performance art, and music. Performances will be held nightly from May 19-21, and OZ Arts will also host a cutting-edge visual art exhibit and poetic film screenings presented with local partner organizations in conjunction with the Brave New Works Lab. Encouraging multimedia experimentation and collaboration, OZs Brave New Works Lab creates a safe space for high-risk artistic adventures and celebrates local innovation and creativity by premiering new works and works-in-progress. The Lab aligns directly with OZs focus on producing and presenting the work of local artists who reflect the citys diverse society, utilize new artistic forms and technology in creative ways, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with audiences. Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville today announced the line-up for its inaugural Brave New Works Lab, which transforms the organizations expansive warehouse into a laboratory for local artists to experiment with new forms as they create new works for the stage. The program features four unique performance pieces from local artists working across multiple disciplines, including dance, theater, multimedia, performance art, and music. Performances will be held nightly from May 19-21, and OZ Arts will also host a cutting-edge visual art exhibit and poetic film screenings presented with local partner organizations in conjunction with the Brave New Works Lab. Encouraging multimedia experimentation and collaboration, OZs Brave New Works Lab creates a safe space for high-risk artistic adventures and celebrates local innovation and creativity by premiering new works and works-in-progress. The Lab aligns directly with OZs focus on producing and presenting the work of local artists who reflect the citys diverse society, utilize new artistic forms and technology in creative ways, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with audiences. The program includes: a new dance work from LENIN FERNANDEZ, featuring Kristen Cararra, Becca Hoback, Emma Morrison, and Joi Ware, a multimedia-music hybrid from GARDENING, NOT ARCHITECTUREwith films by Dycee Wildman and choreography by Joi Ware, an original, theatrical performance art creation by JENNIFER WHITCOMB-OLIVA, a self-choreographed solo dance work by ALEXANDRA WINER. In conjunction with the Brave New Works Lab, OZ Arts will also host the fourth volume of the popular Adult Contemporary visual art exhibit series, presented by the Nashville Scene. In this new installment, DRAWERS: Provocative Drawings, curator Laura Hutson Hunter brings together a mix of national and local artists, showcasing their sensual and erotic drawings. Works from nationally recognized artists like the legendary Betty Tompkins and the acclaimed Thornton Dial will be included alongside local favorites Marlos E'van, Julia Martin, and more. DRAWERS will have an opening reception on Thursday, May 12 from 6pm-8pm. Gallery hours will be open from 1pm-5pm, Thursday-Saturday from May 13-21, 2022. Along with the Brave New Works Lab performances, OZ will present partner screenings with Kindling Arts and Defy Film Festival of their Heroic Couplets initiative, pairing local poets and filmmakers to create cinematic adaptations of written works. GENDERBEND: Poetry into Film Collaborations features a slate of entirely LGBTQIA+ and/or female-identifying artists, including poets Kashif Andrew Graham, Simba Alik, and Amie Whittemore, and filmmakers Chalet Comellas-Baker, Tiffany Abreu, and Jose Luis Benavides, in addition to 10 other artists. Screenings will be held at OZ Arts on Saturday, May 10 at 8pm and Sunday, May 22 at 5pm.