WMA’s House Party for Art will celebrate art, music and tech
DOTHAN, Alabama — August 6, 2020 – The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) will hold House Party for Art (HPA), a free virtual music, art and technology festival August 13-15. Due to current restrictions on in-person gatherings, HPA will replace Yard Party for Art this year, an event that is held annually in August in the museum’s garden. House Party for Art will be a platform for WMA to introduce a wider digital audience to musicians from around the Southeast, as well as visual artists, many of whom currently have work in the museum’s virtual exhibition, “B20: Wiregrass Biennial.” All of HPA’s individual performances and artist events, with links for viewing, will be housed on the event’s website, HousePartyForArt.com.
Music + Spoken Word Performance
HPA 2020 will feature both live and recorded performances by Sucré (Nashville, Tenn.), Symone French (Mobile, Ala.), Trella (Nashville, Tenn.), Oldyweds and Tiny Threads with spoken-word artist Andrea Reese Thompson (Dothan, Ala.), Laney Tripp (Tallahassee, Fla.), and spoken-word artist William O’Neal (Atlanta, Ga.), who performed at Yard Party for Art in 2018.
Art
Like Yard Party for Art, House Party for Art will feature interactive art experiences. The three-day event will host virtual offerings by visual artists, including a social media takeover by WMA’s artist-in-residence, Sydney A. Foster, and a virtual artist talk with “B20: Wiregrass Biennial” artist, Jonathan Adams. Fellow B20 artists Lilian Garcia-Roig and Andrea Vail will each offer an artist talk, with Vail also leading a free, interactive tassel-making workshop, based on the collaborative piece she has in the biennial titled “Friendge.” Lilian Jessica Caldas and Heidi Carlsen-Rogers, who are also represented in B20, will host a live artist conversation.
Music + Technology
Sound artist Anthony Yates, also known as Half Held (Enterprise, Ala.), will collaborate with local design firm PushCrankPress to create an interactive art and music experience via WMA’s museum app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. The experience will be accessible to viewers during a virtual “after-party” at 9 p.m. on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15. Last year, PushCrankPress collaborated with WMA to offer an interactive virtual reality experience for Yard Party for Art audience members in response to the live music.
Support
Virtual festival attendees will have the chance to purchase HPA t-shirts and a hand-screen printed souvenir poster with original artwork including the full lineup of musicians and artists. HPA viewers will also be encouraged to consider becoming a member of WMA or donating to the museum. Along with becoming a member or making a donation, purchasing HPA merchandise will support the museum’s mission by funding critical preK-12 education programs, exhibitions and special artist projects, and virtual and digital content that create meaningful connections between Wiregrass residents and a wider audience throughout the Southeast during a time of extended physical distancing.
“We are so appreciative of the many artists and musicians who have adapted alongside WMA to provide content for House Party for Art. As we continue to experience these unprecedented and uncertain times, our commitment to the arts is only stronger. The arts have the power to transform lives and to provide opportunities to connect with one another,” said Dana-Marie Lemmer, WMA’s executive director and curator.
House Party for Art Schedule of Events
HPA events will be streamed simultaneously on WMA’s digital channels –Facebook (@wmafan), Instagram (@wiregrassmueum), and YouTube– through integrated links on HousePartyForArt.com.
Thursday, August 13
All day – Artist Hangout: Live social media takeover with Sydney A. Foster
Friday, August 14
4 p.m. – Artist Hangout: Artist talk and tassel-making workshop with B20 artist Andrea Vail
6 p.m. – Front Porch Session with spoken-word artist William O’Neal
7 p.m. – Artist Hangout: Conversation with B20 artists Jessica Caldas and Heidi Carlsen-Rogers
8 p.m. – Studio Session with Trella
9 p.m. – After-Party: Interactive art + music experience by Half Held + PushCrankPress
Saturday, August 15
12 p.m. – Artist Hangout: Artist talk with B20 artist Jonathan Adams
3 p.m. – Studio Session with Laney Tripp
5 p.m. – Front Porch Session with Oldyweds and Tiny Threads + Andrea Reese
Thompson
6 p.m. – Studio Session with Symone French
7 p.m. – Artist Hangout: Artist talk with B20 artist Lilian Garcia-Roig
8 p.m. – Studio Session with Sucré
9 p.m. – After-Party: Interactive art + music experience by Half Held + PushCrankPress
Additional information
For more information, visit HousePartyForArt.com or call the Wiregrass Museum of Art at 334-794-3871.
Musician and artist promotional images and contact information available upon request.
About the Wiregrass Museum of Art
The Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts by providing innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences through the collection and exhibition of quality works. Since its founding in 1988, WMA has offered educational programs, nationally acclaimed art exhibitions and community events throughout the year. Its Board of Trustees guides the long-term vision and strategic goals, while its membership, City and County support, and grant funding provide the resources needed to fulfill its mission.