Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The Art Galleries at TCU will be unable to welcome public audiences in-person for any exhibitions or events this fall and until further notice. This event will be an online only event. Click the "Join Stream" button to watch the Conversation and animation. 

Thank you,
TCU Art Galleries Director, and Gallery Manager

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“Let My Body Eat the Sun" Conversation and Animation Premiere

Fort Worth Contemporary Arts Facebook Page/YouTube Channel 
Friday, October 16th, 1-1:30pm CST

The Art Galleries at TCU are pleased to present “Let My Body Eat the Sun” Conversation and Animation Premiere. Join us on the Fort Worth Contemporary Arts Facebook page and YouTube Channel on Friday, October 16th from 1-1:30pm CST for the premiere of Christie Blizard’s new animation and a short conversation about her upcoming solo exhibition “Let My Body Eat the Sun”.

YouTube Premiere: https://youtu.be/KFNWnCtJxRI

Built in 1908 the Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards is the world’s first indoor rodeo and an historic home for livestock exhibitions. It is also a place of unexpected cultural significance as for over one hundred years Cowtown Coliseum has also hosted a wide range of live performances, from Elvis Presley to Diaghileff’s Ballet Russes. On October 16, 1920, Enrico Caruso, the celebrated Italian operatic tenor, performed at the Cowtown Coliseum to a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 8,000 people. It was reported that at first, Caruso balked at performing in a ‘cattle barn’ but on testing the acoustics of the space, he was won over and relented. To mark the anniversary of this extraordinary event, the Art Galleries at TCU invited artist Christie Blizard to create new artwork in response to this unique moment in the city’s history. 

In a recent interview, Sara-Jayne Parsons (Director, The Art Galleries at TCU) asked Blizard about her proposal to create an avant-garde opera inspired by Caruso’s performance. The artist talked about the experience of writing an opera for the first time, making the costumes for performers and her plans to film a live performance at Cowtown Coliseum as well as create a 3D-animation version of the opera. It is fair to say Blizard has enthusiastically immersed herself in this project and the premiere presentation of her new animation on the centenary of Caruso’s performance points to remarkable things to come.

A film of the live performance of Christie Blizard’s opera will form the center of “Let My Body Eat the Sun,” the artist’s solo exhibition at Fort Worth Contemporary Arts at TCU in March 2021. 

Christie Blizard was born in rural Indiana and lives and works in Texas. She was a participant of Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2018 and attended MacDowell and Artpace residencies. Recent exhibitions include those at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; School of Visual Arts, New York; Good Morning America (ABC); the Roswell UFO Convention, and the Today show (NBC). Her work has been featured in Hyperallergic, ArtNews, Art in America, and NY Arts Magazine. Recent performances include those at Cloaca Projects, San Francisco; Interference Fest, Austin; Marfa Myths, and the Skowhegan headquarters in New York City. www.christieblizard.com

About The Art Galleries at TCU
The Art Galleries at TCU are a dynamic cultural resource presenting unique exhibitions and projects by inspiring contemporary artists. Through a rigorous curatorial process of research, creative collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships, the galleries showcase excellent artistic practice and high-quality art, while supporting experimentation and innovation. To support students and faculty, the galleries act as a catalyst for critical dialogue and provide a vital avenue for professional development through investigation of contemporary art practices.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Art Galleries at TCU will remain closed to the public through the Fall 2020 semester. However, we will continue to produce online content and exhibitions, available to the TCU community and our public audience worldwide. For more information about this event, images for press, or details about other activities of The Art Galleries at TCU please visit the Galleries website www.theartgalleries.tcu.edu, email theartgalleries@tcu.edu, or call 817-257-2588.

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