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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 2021)
November 3, 2021 Page 7 Arts & ENTERTAINMENT Welcome Maestro Geter Damien Geter helps guide new season Portland Opera is open- ing a new season with a new interim music direc- tor. Damien Geter, a com- poser based in Portland, is known for infusing clas- sical music with various styles from the Black Di- aspora to further the case for social justice, He is an acclaimed compos- er whose growing body of work includes cham- ber, vocal, and orchestral works. Recently, his compo- sitions have been com- Damien Geter Touring Exhibit on Tupac’s Legacy Showcasing music, poetry and activism (AP) — Tupac Shakur’s hand- written lyrics from classic songs such as “California Love” and “Dear Mama” along with galleries that pay homage to his upbringing and late mother are among the features in a massive touring mu- seum exhibit. The Shakur Estate announced Tuesday that the “ Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free ” will open Jan. 21 in Los Angeles. The exhibit is described as a fully im- mersive, thought-provoking mu- seum experience that explores the life and legacy of the late rapper. Shakur, one of the most pro- lific figures in hip-hop, died in 1996 from gunshot wounds. He was 25. The exhibit is expected to spend six months in Los An- geles with the hopes of touring other cities. “There are thousands of pieces of paper, handwritten pieces of paper – which is everything from his lyrics to all of the songs and poetry that you know down to a grocery list for a birthday party,” said Arron Saxe, president of Kin- folk Management + Media, who is working with Shakur’s estate. Tupac Shakur “The whole point of this exhib- it was to not only show the kalei- doscopic nature of Tupac, but also show how he is relatable,” Saxe said. “There are incredible pieces of clothing. This exhibit is also a mix of contemporary art and tech- nology too. Many of the artifacts have never been seen before.” The 20,000-square foot exhib- it will showcase Shakur’s music, poetry, wardrobe, activism jour- ney and other items in galleries. One of the galleries will be ded- icated to the rapper’s late mother, Afeni Shakur, the former Black Panther who inspired the work of her son. She died in 2016. Saxe said Shakur’s moth- er is the “guiding light” of the exhibition. “Afeni was the baddest Black woman to walk the planet,” said Jamal Joseph, the rapper’s god- father and special advisor to the estate, in a statement. “She raised awareness and shifted the atmosphere wherever she went. Tupac’s brilliance shined brighter than the sun. He lived and moved with creative - rev- olutionary - fearless-passion fu- eled speed of a comet. Afeni and Pac challenged, re-imagined, and transformed history.” Shakur’s estate-sanctioned museum experience is produced in partnership with Universal Music Group, CAA, Round Room Live and Kinfolk Manage- ment + Media. “Tupac Shakur was my Mal- colm; he was my Martin, and to build an experience that honors such a prolific man, cannot be summed up in words,” said Jer- emy Hodges, whose firm, Proj- ect Art Collective, is working with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the creative portion of the exhibit. “We wanted to create a memorable experience that will inspire you to be bet- ter than when you walked in, all while leaving you with the knowledge that he was a true revolutionary spirit.” missioned for Resonance Ensemble (An African American Requiem), The Washington Chorus (Can- tata for a Hopeful Tomor- row), Washington Nation- al Opera, Opera Theater Oregon (Invisible), the University of Michigan (The Justice Symphony), and All Classical Portland (Neo-Soul). Geter also is an ac- claimed bass-baritone and actor with performance credits ranging from the operatic stage to the tele- vision screen. He is the artistic advisor for the social justice-focused award-winning vocal en- semble Resonance Ensem- ble and is a scholarly au- thor and educator. This past season, Geter curated Portland Opera’s production of Journeys to Justice, in tandem with the launch of Portland Op- era Onscreen. Since July of 2020, he has acted as co-Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera. A native of Chesterfield County, Va., Geter re- ceived a bachelor’s degree in music education from Old Dominion Universi- ty, and a master’s degree in conducting at Indiana State University. Portland Opera’s 21/22 season commenced with Tosca on Friday at the Keller Auditorium, di- rected by Linda Brovsky and conducted by Tiffany Chang. Tickets and infor- mation can be found at portlandopera.org. PETER CLARKE Broker Liscensed in Oregon 503-333-5809 peter@livingroomre.com State Farm R Michael E Harper Agent Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomingon, Illinois 61710 We are located at: 9713 S.W. Capitol, Portland, OR 503-221-3050 • Fax 503-227-8757 michael.harper.cuik@statefarm.com
