UCSB MUSIC STUDENT'S
|
I am the Education Coordinator at the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum (CAF). Starting this year CAF plans to create a video archive of the performances and lectures we offer in our public programs. This archive will be a public recourse available to student, art enthusiast, and the public. It is our hope that the creation of this public resource will be community collaboration in which students from school and other local collages record and edit the footage. This will give your students both something to shoot and work on for class as well as the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the educational resources in Santa Barbara. We have 16 events between October 2008 and July 2009 that we intend to archive, as well as the possibility of creating video interviews and installation footage of visiting artists. Best regards Tristan Tyler Blodgett Showing at CAF August 30 - November 09, 2008 CALLING ALL ARTISTS |
Library Job Opportunity - Processing blackface minstrelsy collection The Special Collections Department at the UCSB Libraries has just been given the papers of the early 20th century American blackface entertainer Neil O'Brien, leader of “Neil O'Brien’s Great American Minstrels.” Blackface minstrelsy was the most popular form of live entertainment in America during the second half of the 19th century. While these ethnic stereotypes of African-Americans are considered offensive today, humor based on ethnic characterizations was a major component of many vaudeville routines, as it had been in many forms of popular culture which the Special Collections Department documents. This unique collection is unusual in its extensive documentation of the activities of one minstrel troupe and is representative of early 20th century minstrelsy. The collection includes about 25 linear feet of scripts, music, set designs, photographs, posters, programs, sheet music, and financial documents of O'Brien and his company. In order to prepare the collection for use by researchers, the collection needs to be processed. The library is looking to hire a graduate student with an interest in the subject matter to arrange and describe the collection this fall (working about 10 hours per week). Processing a manuscript collection is an excellent opportunity for a graduate student to work with unique culturally and historically significant materials, and would be an excellent source of research for a publication, thesis or dissertation. Ability to read music would be helpful. ----- About Neil O'Brien, from Edward Le Roy Rice’s Monarchs of Minstrelsy (New York: Kenny Pub. Co., 1911) Mr. O'Brien first appeared theatrically in 1889 with the “Student Minstrels” in Binghamton, N. Y., and nearby cities; he sat on an “end.” He later was one of the team of O'Brien and Bell; they dissolved partnership in 1891, and the musical act of Bogert and O'Brien was formed in March that year, and they continued as partners for ten years. Mr. O'Brien was with Haverly’s Minstrels in Chicago in 1892, and remained one year; in 1898 he was again with Haverly on the last tour made by the famous manager. Seasons of 1896-97-98 he was with Al. G. Field’s Minstrels. He joined Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels in 1899, and continued with them until the dissolution of the organization in 1903. That same year he cast his fortunes with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, with whom he remained until the Spring of 1910. At the present time Mr. O'Brien is appearing in vaudeville with marked success in an elaborate black-face act called “Fighting the Flames;” as a raw fireman who has bought his way into the department, Mr. O'Brien is excruciatingly funny. Neil O'Brien was born in Port Dickinson, N. Y., July 16, 1868, and enjoys the distinction of having received one of the largest salaries of any minstrel performer. |