MinTze Wu
This is the third year of the Humanities Series with Carbondale Arts and there are three remaining Garden Music Series concerts, August 25: Chansons D'Amour (at Third Street Center) & Sept 15,16: Let's Tango! (at Thompson House). As the curator, can you tell us a little about the process in creating each unique concert?
The Garden Music Series originated from this visceral need for us to continue having performing art in our life even during the most challenging time of global pandemic. It was born out of the necessity for human connections with art and our resilience to continue singing and dancing and playing our hearts out. This remains the central spirit in crafting the Garden Music Series.
We of course enjoy the highest caliber of performers both locally and nationally joining us on stage, but what is most compelling, and truly unique to this series, is our way of creating a singularly transcending experience through music. We understand that beauty is not all rosey and happy. When we embrace the pain, the struggle, the tragedy, then the hope, rebirth, and healing can take place. Each program we put together gives us a unique opportunity to journeying with these human conditions and emotions through a shared yet deeply personal experience.
MinTze Wu
The big news has just been released that you will be the next Executive Director of VOICES. Congratulations! What is your vision for VOICES as you step into the new position?
VOICES is a young, buoyant, and creative non-profit organization with the mission of amplifying the often silenced voices through art. Over the past five years, the founding Executive Director Renee Prince and founding Board President Barbara Reese have established a solid foundation for VOICES to continue its work of making art accessible, attainable, and available for all. As I step into the new position, I would like to continue exploring ways to connect with the unknown, to amplify the unspoken, and to elevate our collective consciousness through artistic projects.
I look forward to the work of deepening relationship with the community through VOICES' existing programs for Youths, Latin Americans, Women, Queers, and developing new ones such as Sage VOICES project, and utilising the tiny mobile stage of ARTery to bring storytelling across cultural, generational, and social economics barriers. Carbondale is bustling with new and great energy, and I’m so thrilled to be an ensemble member of the valley's artistic offerings.
As a local artist it's safe to say that your surroundings affect your work, how would you say Carbondale impacts you as an artist?
For me, Carbondale feels like a bustling playground where creative spirits abound, interact, inspire, and collaborate. People in Carbondale value and see the authenticity of an artist. The genuine curiosity, openness, and appreciation for art is not only the vital support, but the bedrock to a thriving artistic community. This is a place where art is part of the celebration of cultural diversity, and part of the conversation for wilderness awareness, social and climate justice, and part of the integral thread of community building. All of this feeds the soul of an artist in a profound way. The natural beauty is the constant nourishment to our well being and creativity. That is something that I wake up everyday feeling enormous gratitude for, to be in the presence of such dynamic beauty.
What are you looking forward to this fall & winter?
In fall, I look forward to the transitional process with VOICES, its inaugural Queer Voices Project October 21-23 at TACAW, and the most ambitious and revolutionary opera production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, premiered in Taiwan November 18-20. I use the word “revolutionary” because it embodies a whole new approach to opera production that has never been done before in the history of classical music, to perform the entire opera memorized and without a conductor, for the maximum freedom and expressiveness in music.The rebel quality of it is very energizing, and it is a powerful reminder that there is always new discoveries no matter how many times you have looked at the same object.
In the winter, I look forward to diving in with VOICES, developing new ideas and honing in on new projects, and connecting with all the wonderful neighbors and colleagues at the Third Street Center!