Two visiting artist performances are included in this month's First Friday events.
On Friday, Salina Arts & Humanities will facilitate two visiting artist performances at the Salina Art Center, 150 South Santa Fe Avenue. The performances will complement current SAC exhibitions “Shattering the Void” and “Mother Tongue.”
Between 5-7 p.m. on Friday, visiting percussionist Dr. Fofo Tai-Jung Jackson will perform contemporary and Asian folk music on the marimba. Works include “To the Earth” by Frederic Rzewski, “Jing Marimba” by Chen Yi, “Michi” by Keiko Abe and more.
Jackson has performed as a solo and chamber percussionist in cities around the world with various musical groups. Her technique has been described as “sheer perfection” by Crescent News in Appleton, Wisc. Originally from Taiwan, Jackson came to the United States in 2009. She received a Master of Music degree with honors from New York University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas. Jackson is currently a faculty member at the Culture House in Olathe, a percussion instructor at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, and freelances in the Kansas City area.
Following Jackson’s performance, the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company will present its original production of “In the Mirror, 3 Tales from Asia” at 7:15 p.m.
Expanding on themes found in the current Salina Art Center exhibits, the tales from Korea, Japan, and Turkey feature atypical heroes.
A favorite is the little old lady outsmarting two Onis (Japanese trolls) who imprison her to sample her delicious cooking. The show uses a clever stage that rises and folds out of a decorated box. The show is best suited for children ages five and up.
The Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company is visiting Salina area schools through Friday through the Arts Infusion Program of Salina Arts & Humanities. School and public performances by the Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company are brought by Salina Arts & Humanities in collaboration with the KU Spencer Museum of Art.
To see the entire schedule for this month's First Friday activities, click here.