OXFORD, Miss. – The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi will showcase live music, film, art installations and more at its second annual Sarahfest arts and music festival, which runs Sept. 25-29.
Headliners include acclaimed indie musician Jessica Lea Mayfield and artist and activist Claudia DeMonte.
The festival provides participants with cultural events that are unique and educational, which foster community building and learning while offering a glimpse into the Isom Center’s work regarding gender and women’s issues, said Theresa Starkey, the center’s associate director.
“The festival is an opportunity for us to acquaint the community with the work we do at the center and have fun while we’re doing it,” Starkey said.
The five-day festival kicks off Sunday (Sept. 25) with a special edition of “Thacker Mountain Radio” at 7 p.m. on the lawn of Rowan Oak, featuring New Orleans musician Maggie Koerner, Memphis musician Marcella Simien and poet Raquel Flowers Rivera. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or folding chairs.
In partnership with the Powerhouse Community Arts Center and the UM Museum, a monthlong exhibit of Claudia DeMonte’s work will be displayed at the Powerhouse in an exhibit titled “The Art of Making the Invisible Visible: A Retrospective.”
DeMonte’s interest in exploring women’s roles in society, perceived gender expectations and beauty standards resulted in this exhibit. More than a dozen pieces will be on display.
The artist will attend a reception at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Powerhouse in conjunction with the Oxford Arts Crawl.
Other appearances throughout the week include local musicians Gina Sexton, Anne Freeman and Kit Thorn, and UM graduate student Alicia Marie Venchuk performing at Proud Larry’s.
The festival will culminate with a Sept. 29 performance by Mayfield at Proud Larry’s. Mayfield is known for her distorted guitar tones, crashing drums and heavy riffs, reminiscent of early ’90s rock, while singing of emotions and confessions. Oxford’s Kate Teague will also perform at the 9 p.m. show.
The event is possible through partnerships with the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Proud Larry’s, Thacker Mountain Radio and the Oxford Film Festival and co-sponsorships from the UM Department of Art and Art History, University Museum, Rowan Oak, Department of Archives and Special Collections, and student organizations including FEMISS and OutGrad.
For more information about the Isom Center and the full schedule of events, visit http://sarahfest.rocks.