Latest Events in Contemporary Arts Center (Continuously Updated)

The UnderWorld Black Arts Festival proudly presents its 5th Anniversary and 50 years of Hip-Hop during the kick-off event, known as the UnderWorld Black Arts Festival OPENING NIGHT. Taking place from October 19 - 21, 2023, at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, this three-day festival offers a unique and exciting experience for the local community. The festivities begin on October 19, 2023, at 6:30 PM, where attendees can enjoy an intimate one-on-one dialogue between special guest speakers Danny Simmons, abstract impressionist painter, poet, author, and co-founder of the RUSH PHILANTHROPIC ARTS FOUNDATION, and Ursula Rucker, master poet and recording artist from The Roots and 4Hero. This dynamic duo will share their blueprint for success with the Cincinnati community. Additionally, Mr. Simmons will showcase a never-before-seen 15-piece personal collection of art. The Opening Night will also introduce a new segment called The TommyGun Sessions, featuring a rapid fire round robin of Spoken Word and Lyrics set to music. Renowned performers such as Ursula Rucker, Napoleon Maddox, CJ The Cynic, Isaiah Cook, and DJ WellBlended will captivate the audience with their talent. Furthermore, the festival offers thought-provoking movie screenings as part of its Cinema & Cocktails tradition. This year, attendees can enjoy a special segment from the PBS Culture Quest Series, featuring the innovative interdisciplinary Ghanaian artist, Serge Clottey. Additionally, two beautiful short films by the dance collective Porte Avion from Besançon, France, starring Mam Mor Tall, one of our International Panelists, will be showcased. The event will also host an International Artists Panel, facilitated by Napoleon Maddox, featuring esteemed guests Wissal Houbabi from Bologna, Italy, Samba Sir X from Napoli, Italy, Flavia Giglio from Napoli, Italy, Dallas Clark from Springfield, MA, Mame Mor Tall from Besançon, France, and Josè Shungu also from Besançon, France. Tickets for the UnderWorld Black Arts Festival OPENING NIGHT are available at the Contemporary Arts Center for the affordable price of $5. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to celebrate art and Hip-Hop culture in Cincinnati.

Join the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati for the Last Look of the O'Neal exhibition and a special Birthday Happy Hour in honor of Treigg and Toilynn. This event will take place on September 15, 2023, at the CAC located at 44 East 6th Street. Come and bid farewell to the extraordinary artwork of Robert O'Neal while celebrating the birthdays of Treigg and Toilynn. The evening will feature a talented DJ, cash bar, and light refreshments for your enjoyment. As you admire the incredible artwork on display, take a moment to appreciate the significance of this event. In addition to celebrating Treigg and Toilynn's birthdays, this gathering aims to give back to the community. Guests are encouraged to bring a donation of any size for the Robert O'Neal Multicultural Art Center and the Queen City Foundation. Don't miss this unique occasion to celebrate, appreciate art, and support two meaningful causes. Mark your calendars for September 15, 2023, and join us at the CAC for the Last Look and Birthday Happy Hour for Treigg and Toilynn. Admission is free, so make sure to invite your friends and family to share in this memorable experience.

"Rest, Here, Now" is an immersive event that aims to showcase the transformative power of rest as a lifestyle and a form of resistance. This unique experience takes the format of a contemporary play, with two distinct scenes. The first scene will be hosted at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati on October 13th, and the second scene, a panel discussion and embodiment workshop, will take place at the Annex of UC DAAP on October 15th. To participate in the Sunday workshop, attendees must first attend the Friday event at the CAC and sign up on a first come, first serve basis. This event marks the first attempt to demonstrate that rest is not just a necessity, but a way of life. It serves as an entry point to understanding and embodying contemporary political resistance. "Rest, Here, Now" challenges the notion that rest is a luxury or a reaction to trauma. It emphasizes that rest is the baseline, the normal state of being. The event acknowledges that the current political, economic, and social systems are in direct opposition to the ancient understanding of the human body as an intersectional entity. The event has been organized in collaboration with a diverse group of artists, including circus performers, magicians, pole dancers, vintage collectors, 2D and 3D artists, and musicians. The Contemporary Arts Center was specifically chosen as the venue due to its reputation as a leading contemporary art hub in the Midwest. The event aims to position personal pleasure practices as equivalent to high fine art. Through its unique format, "Rest, Here, Now" blurs the lines between audience and performer, breaking down the traditional "fourth wall." The artists and their work will respond in sync to choreographed music, creating an immersive and engaging experience. The ultimate goal of this showcase is to bridge the gaps between the larger public, academic theory on creativity and rest, and the embodied reality of those who embrace rest as a lifestyle. It serves as an experiment to demonstrate how rest can be a form of resistance in an esteemed public space. This play acts as a bridge between the daily applied body and the academic dimensions of the work of Dr. Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits and Xander Creed of the ISS-EU in The Netherlands. Join us at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati on October 13th to experience "Rest, Here, Now" and explore the transformative power of rest as a lifestyle and a political act. Admission is free.