Film Release: Bodies of Water

Last summer, members of acclaimed orchestral collective The Knights spent three weeks collaborating with over 150 Usdan students and 35 artistic staff members on an original, site-specific performance by the Usdan pools, in tribute to the life-giving powers of water and its artistic potential. This epic event, which premiered on July 22 in the midst of a global heat wave, occurred on the third summer of The Knights’ tenure as Usdan’s Artists in Residence and integrated investigations by The Knights - alongside the Usdan community - into themes of sustainability, cross-disciplinary artmaking, and student-led creativity. 

We’re over the moon to share a new short film of the same name, BODIES OF WATER, directed by Katalina Gutierrez and produced by Katalina Studio, which documents last summer's performance and celebrates Usdan’s ongoing relationship with The Knights.

This summer, The Knights will return as Usdan Artists in Residence, and collaborate with Composition, Creative Writing, and Painting & Drawing students on their ongoing Rhapsody Project, a multi-year investigation that takes inspiration from George Gershwin’s masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue. The project explores the rich world of the unfettered imagination, which comes so naturally to youth. 

Over the course of seven days, Usdan students, teachers, and guest artists will come together to listen, discuss, and create. Student visual artists will generate sketches in response to music, student writers will generate language in response to sketches, and vice versa, and more. The Knights seek to upturn the hierarchy of the traditional artist/student relationship, and foster a spirit of interdisciplinary teamwork. Simultaneously, The Knights will work with students in Usdan's brand new Music Composition program to create short pieces of original music. The Knights will ultimately arrive at a layered, mixed media piece (or pieces!), guided by student interests and concerns. 

The new work will enjoy its world premiere on campus at The U Benefit: Day of Imagination on July 19, 2023, performed by members of The Knights, open to audiences from our expanded community.