Art and Music Through a Humanities Lens

Indulge in an unforgettable afternoon exploring visual and musical arts. CAFE Flutes will provide live music that relates to four works of fine art on display in Tempe Artist Guild's Past, Present, and Future Exhibition. Experience the juxtaposition of paintings with the live music. The program, facilitated by leading humanities professors, will build meaning and create dialogue about how artists and composers express their ideas, and how audiences process them. This interdisciplinary event invites artist and audience participation! The discussion will occur in the Community Room of the Tempe History Museum on Saturday, March  29 2025, at 3:00PM. The museum is located at 809 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282. Central Arizona Flute Ensemble (CAFE Flutes) will perform four selections of music that relate to four pieces of artwork in the exhibition.  While studying an image displayed on an easel, viewers will listen to music that connects with that piece of art.  Connection points include subject, mood, style, motion, repetition, and storytelling. After each experience, Humanities Scholars Dr. Jarrett and Dr. Codell will lead the audience, artists, and musicians in a conversation about their experience. Among the questions they might ask are:  How did the music and art relate?  How did your own life experiences influence your perceptions?  How did the music/art make you feel?  What questions did the music/art bring up?    Through discussion, they will build meaning, create dialogue, and offer historical perspectives into how artists and composers express their ideas, and how audiences process them.  The artists themselves will be present to provide personal insights about their inspiration and process.  Featured TAG artists: Becky Spradling, Tom Minor, Sunni Kuraoka, Gail Boyd.   A printed guide will provide a lexicon of terms and concepts to help the audience process ideas and express their responses during the discussion. The guide will define the term “humanities," describe the elements of music, and outline relevant artistic concepts.  The event will be produced by a collaboration between two 501c3 nonprofit art organizations:  Central Arizona Flute Ensemble (CAFE) and Tempe Artists Guild (TAG). Join us for the fourth year of this innovative, interdisciplinary event that is sure to tickle your brain! This program is made possible by Arizona Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this discussion do not necessarily represent those of Arizona Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.