The Artist-in-Residence Program
A Brief History
2009 Residency
The sounds of the blues floated through the hallways of Benedictine in March and April 2009, as the University welcomed critically acclaimed bluesman Fruteland Jackson to campus as its latest Artist-in-Residence.
| Jackson specializes in performing acoustic blues— from contemporary to traditional blues, from the blues of early field-holler songs and work songs to Delta and Piedmont Blues—as well as his own original works. He is one of a select group of Americans dedicated to gathering, preserving, and performing acoustic blues, in all their various forms. As an acoustic blues artist, he has taken his art to hundreds of venues in America and has performed across Europe. And as anoral historian, Jackson has taken his extensive knowledge of Blues history to schools, colleges and universities, all over America. |
While at Benedictine, Jackson offered a workshop on blues history and performance, providing students with the opportunity to learn to play blues guitar and blues harmonica. In late April 2009, Jackson’s students showed off what they had learned in a performance at the Coal Ben; and, at the conclusion of his residency, Jackson himself took the stage, treating the University community to a thrilling blues performance.
To learn more about Fruteland Jackson and the blues, click here (opens in new browser window).
2008 Residency
| In spring 2008, Benedictine’s Artist-in-Residence program welcomed to campus Marc Kelly Smith, founder of the poetry slam movement. Established by Smith in the mid-1980s to heighten public interest in poetry readings, slam poetry is the competitive form of poetry performance, one that has since evolved into an international art form emphasizing audience involvement and poetic excellence. During his time at Benedictine, Smith offered an eight-week workshop on slam poetry that culminated in a student performance of poetry written for the class. |
At the end of his residency, Smith also performed his acclaimed musical adaptation of Carl Sandburg’s poetry and stories, “Sandburg to Smith,” which combined live music by the Rootabaga Band with spoken-word performance. To learn more about Marc Kelly Smith, slam poetry, or places you can go to see slam poetry in Chicago, click here (opens in new browser window).
2006 and 2007 Residencies Spring 2007 Spring 2006 |
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