Hip-Hop, Technology, and the Arts Come Alive at the Atrium

All year long, Lincoln Center showcases free concerts and exhibits from up-and-coming artists in the David Rubenstein Atrium (61 W 62^nd Street between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway). This February is no exception. The Beats, Rhymes & Sights series will celebrate the history and art of hip-hop with film screenings, Q&As, dance parties, trivia, and more! Another upcoming series, Women and Nonbinary Artists in Tech, will showcase a combination of technology and the arts created by a diverse group of artists.

Beats, Rhymes & Sights
The Beats, Rhymes & Sights series kicks off on February 8 with a screening of the movie Juice (1992), a noir thriller and Tupac Shakur’s acting debut. After the movie, viewers can take part in a talkback with one of the film’s actors and three-time NAACP Award, Omar Epps. Then, on March 2, J.PERIOD will co-present Fly Love Songs, an all-night DJ dance set celebrating past and present rap love songs and R&B classics. Later in the month, the series will include a film screening and Q&A for Negrita, a film following characters as they confront their black identities and the “ideology of anti-Blackness in which both American and Latino cultures perpetuate a false narrative of Black as undesirable otherness.” The series’ March events wrap up with Stories to Tell, an album release and listening party for J.PERIOD’s new album Story to Tell (Chapter Two) and a conversation about the album-making process.

The series continues later in the spring, when you can test your hip-hop knowledge and face off with other fans when attending Xavier “X” Jernigan's Hip-Hop Trivia Battle on April 25. J.PERIOD will return to the Atrium on April 26 for a premiere of original set at the Microphone Masters event. Then, in May, learn the art and secrets of DJing at Back to the Beats. The final event of Beats, Rhymes & Sights is the Brooklyn Basement Party on June 1, a hip-hop dance party that you won’t want to miss.

Women and Nonbinary Artists in Tech
From February 15 through May 16, the Women and Nonbinary Artists in Tech series will include four performances ranging in artistry forms from visual, audio, and interactive performances. The series begins with Salami Rose Joe Louis, a multi-instrumentalist who “creates a unique experience filled with space-inspired sounds and galaxy chords.” Salami Rose Joe Louis blends her interests in planetary science and music to create a performance that will captivate the audience.

Then, on March 14, Russian artist Kate NV will explore the creativity of digital art. Kate NV combines technology and music by performing with a synthesizer, water glasses, cables, and bells. On April 18, two distinct artists, Alanna Stuart and A.S.M. Kobayashi, will take the stage. Alanna Stuart will explore the “breadth of electronic-based sonic expression emerging from Canada's queer and femme dancehall diaspora.” A.S.M. Kobayashi’s live documentary will share the history of internment camps and how it affected her relatives.  

The final event in this series, on May 16, spotlights Anna Luisa Petrisko and Ana Carolina Estarita-Guerrero. Anna Luisa is premiering her multimedia performance, including live music, percussion, and a synthesizer. Ana Carolina Estarita-Guerrero creates a layer of interactivity to the performance by using projection mapping and interactive design, creating a visual masterpiece.

Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium offers free events and series for anyone interested in experiencing new art forms and gives new up-and-coming artists an opportunity to share their talents. Whether you’re a hip-hop lover, a techie, or just curious about the arts, there’s something for everyone this spring and winter in Lincoln Square!

Photo Credit: Lincoln Center