SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) is offering “Arts for ALL,” two free, public presentations that feature the beauty and uniqueness of all people through the arts. The events will be held on Aug. 8 and Oct. 2 at the Trutter Center on the ¼ʱʱ campus, 5250 Shepherd Rd., Springfield.
Due to limited seating, registration is required and available by calling ¼ʱʱ Community Education at 217-786-2432.
The Aug. 8, 2-3 p.m. presentation, “Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry,” will feature Catalina Maria Johnson. The program, with musical videos and lyric examples, will focus on participation and musical enjoyment. Johnson believes the creative art of music is central to humanity, as it holds an enormous revelatory and transformative force that brings different people together, using melodies and rhythms to express hearts and cultures.
On Oct. 2, 1-2 p.m., Dorothy Paige Turner and Joel Ross, nationally known singer-songwriters and educators from Rockford, will feature musical selections from the “Great American Songbook.” Through song and narrative, the artists explore the roots of jazz among enslaved Africans who brought their field hollers, work songs and spirituals to this uniquely American art form. Ross will also demonstrate the evolution of Ragtime and stride piano.
Each event will include a post-performance Q&A session hosted by Jim Leach. The presentations are made possible through a grant from the Helen Trimble Charitable Trust.