SARAHFEST SNAPSHOT: ELIZABETH ITO NAMED THIRD SARAHFEST ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

by kevin Cozart

The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, with our partners the Department of Music and Living Music Resource, welcome multigenre artist Elizabeth Ito as our third annual Sarahfest Artist-in-Residence. Elizabeth will be in Oxford from Nov. 5 - 11 working with a cohort of students to explore the intersections of place and history. During Elizabeth’s residency focusing on “The Art of the Unexpected,” there will be several opportunities for the public to interact with her, including an LMR Live, a screening of her Netflix show City of Ghosts, and more

“The Sarahfest Residency program has proven to be an opportunity for transformational development at the University of Mississippi,” states Nancy Maria Balach, chair of Music. “As we prepare for year three, I am so excited to welcome Elizabeth Ito to our beautiful place where an interdisciplinary group of students will explore and create with Elizabeth, and then share their Art with our community in unexpected ways.”

About Elizabeth Ito:

Elizabeth Ito has been working as a creator, writer, director, and storyboard artist in the animation industry since 2004. She’s worked on TV, feature, and commercial projects. Elizabeth is also the creator of the award-winning short, Welcome to My Life, the second-most viewed short in Cartoon Network history. She also received an Emmy for her directing work on Adventure Time. Her first series, City of Ghosts for Netflix premiered in 2021 and won a Peabody Award, and two Emmys for directing and best-animated children’s show in 2022. She also directed a music video for The Linda Linda's and is on an overall deal with Apple TV. Currently, she is living in Los Angeles, working from home, and trying to stay hydrated.

Other Sarahfest Highlights:

September:

The annual art show at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center once again kicks off Sarahfest. This year’s show focuses on the work of UM students: Paul Mora, Maggie Muehleman, and Itunu Williams. Joining the students’ work will be an exhibit from the University’s Archives and Special Collections, curated by Greg Johnson. The Art Show Reception, scheduled for September 19th at 6:30 PM, will include a table read of Williams’ play.

November:

Poet Joshua Whitehead will present the annual Queer Studies Lecture on November 2 at 4 PM. Please see page 16 for more information on Joshua and the lecture.

Visit sarahfest.rocks for more information and a full schedule of events.