Through the lens of the arts, Infinite Dream explores the complex fabric of the American Story-our grand accomplishments, disruptive failures, and remarkable potential for excellence.
Events will feature performances, presentations, and discussions from artists and thinkers from around the world as well as students, faculty, and staff from the University of Iowa. The festival's theme serves as a reference point for the performances and conversations-a loose frame for artists and patrons to consider as they share and experience transformative work.
The festival also celebrates the vast creativity found on the University of Iowa's campus-evident in the work of its students, faculty, and staff and embedded in its remarkable cultural venues. In addition, Infinite Dream positions the university's artistic efforts within the scope of robust creative activity happening in the larger Iowa City community.
Schedule of Events:
6:30 pm: Farmhouse-Whorehouse An artist lecture by Suzanne Bocangera Starring Lili Taylor
Suzanne Bocanegra recounts threads of her family's life on a Texas farm. Her tale unfolds as aural and visual memoir, weaving elements of art, design, and monologue into a startling, humorous performance. The narration comes from Bocanegra, but it is actress Lili Taylor (Mystic Pizza, Six Feet Under) who mimes the emotions and breakthroughs to the audience. It's a disquieting American story delivered at a remove that is-surprisingly-an unusual kind of intimacy.
"Memoir mixes with cultural history as a slideshow incorporates Bocanegra's arresting visual sensibility…" - LA Times
"Suzanne Bocanegra's art is an antidote to the history-free, prepackaged world that threatens every day to overwhelm us. Her work is also beautiful." - The New Yorker
Hancher Auditorium - Hadley Stage - Onstage Seating
8:30 pm: José James With special guest Jim Swim
An eclectic vision of musical crosspollination guides an artist unconstrained by genre.
If each of José James's influences was a stone tossed into a bucket, that bucket would be heavy with jazz, hip-hop, RandB, soul, funk, disco, rock, and pop as well as a curious appreciation for ‘70s kung-fu film aesthetics. His most recent project-a series of records called 1978-brings these kaleidoscope interests into clear focus. James and his band will share their gleaming, multifaceted sound-and likely have you dancing in no time. Local rapper and producer Jim Swim opens the show
"James has showed himself to be a genre chameleon whose musical sensibilities are aligned to hip-hop and neo-soul as much as jazz… the singer has now embraced a contemporary RandB mode to convey a storytelling song cycle ruminating on the vicissitudes of love and life… Mainstream success beckons." - MOJO
Hancher Auditorium - Strauss Hall - Standing Room
