A series of events leading up to the unveiling of Rhizome, a historic installation on display at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) continue through March and mid-April.
They include a Bead-A-Thon on March 1 and 8 to show students how to make ceramic beads used in the Rhizome installation. The Bead-A-Thon is free and open to all TAMIU students. For additional information, contact Emily Bayless, assistant professor of Art, at emily.bayless@tamiu.edu.
A Rhizome Poetry Contest is also underway. Aspiring writers are encouraged to make their submissions through Tuesday, March 12, at 11:59 p.m.
The contest is open to all University students and to the public. Both Spanish and English poems will be accepted. The contest theme is “Humans and Nature in the Modern World.” Additional contest details and rules are available at go.tamiu.edu/rhizome.
The winner will also be featured as a vocal track on the Rhizome music album, which will be played through speakers within the art installation. Contact rhizomepoetrycontest@gmail.com with additional questions.
Starting March 2, Open Build Days, which are open to the public, will be held on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., through March 23.
A Rhizome-inspired Printmaking activity will also occur during Discover TAMIU, the University’s annual family-friendly celebration, on Saturday, April 6.
Finally, the culminating Rhizome event, which features musical, dance, and theatrical performances and an unveiling of Rhizome, is slated for Friday, April 12, 2024, at 7 p.m.
Rhizome is a multidisciplinary contemporary art project organized by TAMIU visiting assistant professor of Art Crystal Wagner created on campus this Spring 2024. The project involves collaboration between faculty and students in the art, dance, humanities, music, and theater, and the community at large.
The initiative is made possible through the University’s College of Arts and Sciences and is partially sponsored by Speedball, a professional art supply company.
Previous Rhizome events included an Artist Talk by Wagner, and an Art and Eco Philosophy discussion by Dr. Jude Galbraith, instructional assistant professor and TAMIU Philosophy Society.
To view other large-scale installations by Wagner visit: https://crystalwagner.com/installations/
For more information on the TAMIU Rhizome Project, visit https://www.tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/rhizome or contact Wagner at rhizome@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.3044.
