Program 3: Epochal Cultures—Chicago and New Orleans

In-person: artist Cauleen Smith, program curator Steve Anker, independent curator Jheanelle Brown, UC San Diego Professor Alena Williams.

Admission is free. No advance reservations. Free tickets must be obtained on a first come, first served basis at the box office, where seating will be assigned.

Cauleen Smith portrays two vital Black cultures, Chicago and New Orleans, through several fantasy and documentary films that focus on creative personalities and locations that are vital to these two cities. Included are selections from Smith’s The Way Out is the Way Two (2012) a cycle of 14 musical and philosophical short pieces made in Chicago; and her little-seen short feature, The Fullness of Time (2008), a haunting evocation of New Orleans during the years following Hurricane Katrina; and H-E-L-L-O (2014), which re-envisions a somewhat revived New Orleans through a series of musical street tableaux. The program will begin with the premiere of Smith’s newest film, My Caldera (2022).

Digital, color/b&w, total running time approx. 89 min.

Learn more(opens in a new tab)