Camelot
PuraVida Post 31
The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is back in the news again. And for good reason. The removal of his name from the jewel of an institution and memorial surely is a moment to celebrate. Perhaps, even, a reason to hope The Kennedy Center will be “great again.”
I spent decades attending events at The Kennedy Center: concerts, plays, exhibitions, comedy shows. The diversity of events, and absence of political interference, was a source of pride and celebration. Everybody was welcome-both audiences and performers. I saw Ravi Shankar perform there with his daughter, Anoushka. Twice! In 2007, Kathleen Turner gave an inspired performance in “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf?” There was a period where I became a devotee of opera and attended various productions in the Center’s Opera House. Cuban arts, Bolivian music, dream pop, and folk music all had their moments.
Following is a number of images I made over time, never imagining the joy of those performances could be taken from us. Thank you to the artists and audiences who made the Kennedy Center a place to gather and honor our country’s and the world’s creativity. May it do so (soon) again.
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Cultural Outreach
"Los Masis is an Andean-Bolivian folkloric musical group. Its name comes from the Quechua word “Masi” which is a symbol of friendship and brotherhood: literally it means your equal, your brother, your countryman. They have been actively sharing traditional Andean music through participation in cultural events, in the Americas and Europe for 50 years. Soon after Los Masis diffusing their music abroad, they created the Masis Cultural Center with the commitment to preserve traditional cultural identity within Bolivia’s younger generations.”
In 2013, Andean-Bolivian group, Los Masis, traveled to Washington, DC to participate in that year’s Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival and perform on The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Centro Cultural Masis promotes Andean culture through workshops in traditional folklore, music and art attended by thousands of enthusiastic young Bolivians in the city of Sucre. Centro Cultural Masis is credited for pioneering bilingual Quechua-Spanish education in Bolivia. Performing daily during the 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program One World, Many Voices: Endangered Languages and Cultural Heritage, Los Masis highlighted linguistic diversity as a vital part of humanity’s patrimony.
Los Masis - The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Millennium Stage, Washington, DC, June 27, 2013
For two weeks in May 2018, The Kennedy Center presented “Artes de Cuba: From the Island to the World,” a festival celebrating the artistic richness to emerge from the “island archipelago in the sun.” Internationally recognized as one of Cuba’s leading artists, four of Roberto Fabelo’s installations appeared in the Hall of Nations.
Artes de Cuba, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, May 8-20, 2018
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Supporting Local Artists
While the Kennedy Center is renowned for bringing world class international talent to its stages, space and opportunity was also extended to local artists. Near Northeast was one of the finest examples: its experimental yet highly accessible music was a highlight (among) many performances I attended.
Near Northeast - The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Millennium Stage, Washington, DC, August 26, 2016.
Humble Fire’s dream pop anchored by Nefra Faltas’ heavenly vocals, Dave Epley’s slashing guitarwork, and the solid rhythm section of Xaq Rothman (bass) and Jason Arrol (drums) turned me on to a musical genre about which I knew nothing. Their Kennedy Center performance was absolutely riveting.
Humble Fire - The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Millennium Stage, Washington, DC, October 12, 2017
Fredericksburg, Virginia folk pop singer-songwriter Karen Jonas and her band brought her distinctive voice and Tim Bray’s unique lead guitar to the patio for happy hour. Which it was. Obviously.
Karen Jonas Band - John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, August 1, 2019
Led by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda, the entire National Symphony Orchestra, whose home is The Kennedy Center, performed a free lunchtime “Pop-Up” concert in the Main Hall of Washington, D.C.’s iconic Union Station in 2018. Presented as part of the weeklong #SHIFTmusic festival, co-presented by Washington Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center in cooperation with the League of American Orchestras, the NSO’s performances celebrate the vitality, identity, and extraordinary artistry of orchestras and chamber orchestras.
National Symphony Orchestra - Main Hall, Union Station, Washington, DC, April 11, 2018.
(All photographs @Mark Caicedo/PuraVida Photography)
As usual, great essay. The Kennedy Center is indeed a national treasure. I am happy that a sane judge has ruled that the Trump administration's actions to add Jabba the Putz's name to it and close it "for renovations" (actually, it's because they can't book decent acts there anymore) are illegal and require Congressional approval. That made me do a little "happy dance".
Great essay and photos, Mark. We are out of the country at this moment and got the news just before leaving. So overjoyed Our son performed in three shows at the Kennedy Center and it was a sanctuary and home for him (and us) pre-occupation. I’ve only shot one show there and long to go back once sanity is restored