Sound Off: Performances, Screenings, and Dialogue

Sound Off is a unique program geared towards local college students and combines performances of music, poetry, and prose to be submitted and performed by local young artists. 

Local college students are invited to turn their inspiration into expression by using the current exhibition on view, Behold, America!, as a point of departure to create a poem, essay, or piece of music that supplements or comments on the artwork. Add your voice to the museum experience.

Performances will take place in the galleries, allowing the audience to listen and draw connections from the very works of art that inspired the performances. The kickoff night will feature open mic-style performances of music, poetry, and prose, a poetry workshop with local poet K. Lorraine Graham, and a screening of DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation with a Q&A to follow.

How to Submit a Performance:

Using the Behold, America! exhibition at MCASD La Jolla as a point of departure, create a performance that responds to a work of art on view. It could be a poem, speech, song, dance, commentary, or even an improvisational piece. Whether you elect to perform an existing work, or something new and entirely your own, Sound Off is your chance to add your voice to the Museum experience.

All performances will take place in the galleries. MCASD will not provide equipment, but there are electrical outlets located throughout the Museum should your performance require a power source. Please note, sound carries well throughout the space and amplifiers and microphones are not necessary.

Download and fill out the Entry and Release form and send via e-mail with your submission to education@mcasd.org by October 29. Please try to keep submissions under 5 minutes. Your submission MUST include:

-A completed Entry and Release Form

-An attached Word document, MP3, or link to a sample of your performance on YouTube for consideration

-A brief description of your performance