MAY 9, 2013 // Free Your Mind, Improvising, post-multicultural art

As part of the Arts Immersion program of the Stanford Arts Institute, Clara Luu was able to attend the NYC 1993 Exhibit at the New Museum during Spring break. The FREE YOUR MIND: Improvising Post-Multicultural Art panel on Monday, May 6 gave her the opportunity to learn more about the context through which the exhibit was made. Read more about her continued journey through her birth year.

APR 14, 2013 // ID21, Improvising, Vijay Iyer

On April 8, Grammy-nominated composer-pianist, Vijay Iyer, sat down with Jeff Chang, Executive Director of IDA, to discuss how Iyer explores improvisation within his music. Music has always been something that we did, he claims, and as such all music is inseparable from body. Isaac Ghansah, Class of 2013 and an avid jazz listener, reflects on the conversation between Iyer and Chang. He writes,"Improvisation just feels more natural...If I can equate music to language for a moment, once you know some words and how to put them together, talking is just talking." Read more about Iyer's and Ghansah's impressions on improvisation.

MAR 6, 2013 // Joan Morgan, Pleasure Principle, Politics

On Wednesday, February 27, IDA's Visiting Artist, Joan Morgan, facilitated a panel discussion on black female sexuality and articulations of pleasure in popular culture featuring notable black feminist scholars/thinkers- Esther Armah, Dr. Brittney Cooper, Dr. Kaila Story, and Dr. Treva Lindsey. Read more about how this panel transformed the mentality of a graduating senior, Milton Achelpohl.

FEB 22, 2013 // Latoya Peterson, Winter Wednesday

For IDA's Winter Wednesday on February 13, 2013, IDA Fellow, Sarah Gepigon moderated an informative and enlightening conversation with Latoya Peterson, a writer and digital media consultant who is gracing Stanford University with her presence as a John S. Knight Fellow. Read more about this conversation from a member of the Stanford Undergraduate community and a friend of Latoya Peterson, Irene Jor.

FEB 9, 2013 // Chang, Morgan, News

In case you missed it, January saw IDA's very own Winter Visiting Artist, Joan Morgan, and Executive Director, Jeff Chang, taking over the news. Read more about what Morgan and Chang had to say on feminism and the music industry, respectively.

JAN 27, 2013 // Artists, Winter Wednesday

Winter Wednesdays at the Harmony House got off to an exciting start on January 23, with Robert Moses, Carl Hancock Rux, Laura Love, and Corey Harris in the house talking about their latest project, NEVABAWARLDAPECE. Do most people recognize the degree to which they are controlled by corporations, governments, social prejudice? And if they do, why do injustices continue to carry on unchecked? Read more on what these amazing artists had to say.

NOV 11, 2012 // denae hannah, IDA, Intern

It’s not too late. Taking up a new craft later in life has more than its fair share of challenges. Now a professional dancer and choreographer with her own company, Denae Hannah began her formal dance training as a freshman at Stanford. Read more about how Denae became successful in her medium and not a "starving artist."

OCT 30, 2012 // Fellow, IDA, Justice

IDA Fellow Jessica Anderson, known for her work with the Stanford Gospel Choir and the Chicago Collective, weighed in this week with a powerful editorial on the need for activism for social justice. Moved by reports of the Sharmeka Moffitt case, she was led to question an "approach to injustice" that privileges discourse over action.

OCT 15, 2012 // Fellow, Performance

On October 11, 2012, the Cantor Arts Center hosted student night with amazing student performances, art in 24 galleries, poetry, live music, student films, FREE food, and artwork by Arts Grant artists. Below is a reflection of the event from an audience member and performer, Kyle Abraham.