story by Robert Griffin, Director of Marketing, Memphis in May | photos courtesy of Memphis in May
While the Beale Street Music Festival and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest are the perennial media magnets each Memphis in May Festival, the education and cultural programs are quietly working outside the glare of the spotlights to spark the curiosity and broaden the horizons of every generation of Memphian, whether in the school classroom or gallery showroom. Here’s just a glimpse of the cultural events in May to honor the country of Colombia.
Bringing an international music act to an elementary class doesn’t have the media attraction of a pop star’s tour bus rolling into Tom Lee Park, but it may have a longer-lasting impact on the impressionable mind of a child who has never been outside Memphis. Students and adults alike can enjoy the culturally eye-opening performance of Herencia de Timbiqui at the beautiful Orpheum Theater on Thursday, May 11 at 7:30p. Tickets are on sale now for just $15, and will usher you into a performance like you have never seen! The music of Herencia de Timbiqui has been described as an explosion of musical energy, with a blending of traditionally Latin music like salsa, with more modern styles of reggae, rock, jazz, and funk. Having played at the Montreux Jazz Festival and SXSW, Memphis in May is excited to present Herencia de Timbiqui to our local audience!
If you’re looking for something a little more peaceful, an exhibition of works by renowned Colombian silversmith Alexandra Agudelo will be on display all month long at the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Agudelo’s work features the perfection of her handcrafted silversmith work and the imperfection inspired by Colombian nature represented by the irregular borders, shadows, and textures of each piece. The awardwinning sculptor has exhibited in galleries around the globe. And speaking of artists, the art of Colombian master Fernando Botero will be discussed on a personal level by his son, author Juan Carlos Botero, on Wednesday, May 10 at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Botero will discuss his father’s importance and universality, plus his mastery of multiple techniques as a draftsman, painter, and sculptor.
Or take in a movie and enjoy the amazing film Magia Salvaje by director Mike Slee. Screened in English, Slee shows the best of Colombian nature and its wonderful biodiversity, with incredible shots of amazing creatures and landscapes of Colombia. It took five years to shoot the 85 locations and 20 ecosystems that appear in the documentary film that explores the country’s landscape and wildlife. The filmmakers traveled across 78,830 miles including the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, giving viewers the opportunity to finally see with their own eyes why Colombia is the second most bio-diverse country in the world. The screening will be Sunday, May 7 at 2:30p in the Goldsmith Room at Memphis Botanic Garden, and admission is free.
May is the month to explore Colombia without leaving Memphis! We invite you to enjoy these and other cultural events, and to visit memphisinmay.org for more information.
