Photo courtesy Swan Strings
Although fall is on the horizon, the heat is here to stay a while longer in DFW. The Oak Cliff Cultural Center has several exhibitions and programs throughout the next couple of months which can be a good way to beat the heat.
On View in the Gallery — Qué Calor
Artist talk Aug. 24 at 5 p.m., exhibition on view through Sept. 20
The Oak Cliff Cultural Center will host an artist talk by Eliana Miranda for her solo exhibition Qué Calor at 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 24. The exhibition will be on view through September 20, 2024.
Qué Calor investigates environmental intersectionality that stems from heat related disasters revolving around the U.S.- Mexico border. The impact of rising temperatures is felt all over the world through catastrophic events such as heat waves, flooding, and droughts. However, the influence of a changing climate is experienced through the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico Border. On the border, heat, land, and water are used as a weapon to hurt immigrants and asylum seekers. These events are detrimental to human life and survival often becomes the overarching goal.
Swan Strings
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
Swan Strings is a 501c3 non-profit music program with a mission to provide free music education, community concerts and sound therapy services to North Texas individuals without access. Swan Strings received its 501c3 status in 2019 and partners with the Oak Cliff Cultural Center to provide music lessons.
Founding Director, Jess Garland has provided approximately 850 hours of free music education and has served 350 children.
Swan Strings is currently offering 6 music lessons. 2024 registration is open for Pleasant Grove Library, Oak Cliff Cultural Center and Lake Highlands School of Music. More information can be found here, or email programs@swanstrings.com
Free Latin Dance Workshop
Aug. 31, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Mudanza will be hosting a free Salsa workshop on Aug. 31. The class is beginner friendly and no partner is required. Families are welcomed and it is free and open to the public at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.
Mudanza Dance Project is a pop-up program by Mudanza serving underserved communities in Dallas, Texas. The project will provide a series of weekly dance workshops to give residents a platform for storytelling, community building, and policy change.
Mudanza is a unique program because it recognizes the sociocultural challenges BIPOC residents face and uses dance as a medium for inclusion of its ability to facilitate conversations and storytelling without the necessity of a common language. In dance the body is the main tool of communication, allowing young residents whose main language might not be English to participate comfortably. The program aims to connect participants of diverse backgrounds to one another in a joyful manner while creating and supporting a network of local artists.
Poetry Collection Launch and Reading
Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Christopher Stephen Soden will hold a poetry collection launch at reading at the cultural center for his book Tempting God.Â
Soden received his MFA in Poetry from Vermont College of Fine Arts in January of 2005. He teaches craft, theory, genre and literature. He writes poetry, plays, literary, film and theatre critique for sharpcritic.com and EdgeDallas.
His poetry collection, Gusher, was recently released by QueerMojo. He received a Full Fellowship to Lambda Literary’s Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices in August 2010. His performance piece Queer Anarchy received The Dallas Voice’s Award for Best Stage Performance. Water and A Christmas Wish were staged at Bishop Arts.
