University of Wisconsin–Madison Arts Institute | Annual Report | 2017–18
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM Funded through the Office of the Provost, the Arts Institute’s Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP) brings innovative, world-class artists to campus for semester-long residencies. Artists teach an interdisciplinary course, present public events, and participate in community outreach. The program gives students exposure to working artists, provides course credit, and strengthens programmatic ties across disciplines.
Ama Wray | Spring 2018
Residency Activity
Dr. S. Ama Wray is an associate professor of dance at the University of California, Irvine and self-titles as a “neo-African Performance Architect.” Wray received her PhD from the University of Surrey where she developed her theory and practice of Embodiology®, an approach to creating contemporary performance, shaped by the deep structures that have been identified within African practices.
During the spring residency, Dr. Wray taught “The Art of Improvisation: From Phronesis to the Production of Practical Knowledge.” The course combined practice-based workshops, interdisciplinary guest lectures, fieldwork, and performance. Experimental movement classes were held at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery, the Grainger Engineering Design Innovation Laboratory, and the Chazen Museum of Art.
In lieu of a Fall 2017 residency, an IARP retrospective exhibition (September 30-October 12) and presentation were held in the Mosse Humanities Building. Photos, video footage, and printed materials were selected from twenty years of program archives with the help of a student jury.
Wray’s residency was presented by the Arts Institute and hosted by the Art Department with Associate Professor Faisal Abdu’Allah as lead faculty. Co-sponsors included the departments of Art History, Dance, Afro-American Studies, and African Cultural Studies.
go.wisc.edu/artsresidency
ff Mojisola Adebayo ff Daniel Avorgbedor ff Charles Limb ff Fleeta Siegel
Wray along with some of her guest artists presented at the Visiting Artist Colloquium, dance conference, and a symposium. The semester culminated in two final performances that were free and open to the public on May 2 and 3. The Chazen event was an interactive, multi-modular show. The second improvisationbased performance at maiahaus featured an abridged version of the piece with local spoken word artist Rob Dz.
Dr. S. Ama Wray | go.wisc.edu/wray Photos Video
Guest Artists
Pictured Left to Right: Final Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program event “Embodiology® at Work, Embodiology® at Play;” Detail of Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s residency poster, Spring 2007; Dr. S. Ama Wray; Final event. Photos by Mary Ladoni and Aliza Rand.
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