Nathan Rabalais
Nathan Rabalais, a Cajun filmmaker and associate professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette will be the next artist-in-residence at the University of Central Arkansas from March 12 to March 13.
His most recent work, a documentary film “Finding Cajun” (2019), which will be screened during his residency, focuses on the intersections of ever-evolving language and identity in historical and contemporary Louisiana.
“I invited Dr. Nathan Rabalais to join us as an artist in residence as part of our Louisiana Heritage series because he’s truly a Renaissance man of Cajun studies and creative production,” said faculty sponsor K. Adele Okoli, “In addition to being a filmmaker, he is an accomplished Cajun Studies scholar, editor, guitarist and poet of French expression. He is one of the most dynamic voices and community leaders of Cajun Studies in the world today.”
Rabalais received an undergraduate degree in music theory, composition, and guitar performance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette followed by graduate studies in musicology at the University of Strasbourg, France. He completed his doctorate in French from Tulane University and the Université de Poitiers in France.
Most events will be held on the UCA campus at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Snow Fine Arts or Irby Hall. Each event is free and open to the public.
The March 12 activities include:
- 2:40-3:55 p.m.: Class Visit: Advanced French Civilizations, discussion in French on Cajun poetry, music, and folklore of French expression, Irby Hall 208
- 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Film Screening: “Finding Cajun” documentary, Windgate Center 167; followed by a reception in the Windgate Center Atrium.
Rabalais will introduce and contextualize his film with a 10-minute presentation, and follow the screening with a Q&A with the audience moderated by Okoli.
The March 13 activities include:
- 10-10:50 a.m.: Class Visit: Music History II, discussion in English on Cajun Musicology and Folklore with guitar performance by Rabalais. Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall 101
- 11-11:50 a.m.: Guitar Master Class, Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall 101
- 5:30-7 p.m.: An Evening of Cajun Poetry and Guitar with Dr. Nathan Rabalais: Poetry Reading, Book Signing (Le Hantage and Folklore Figures of French and Creole Louisiana), and Guitar Performance contextualized by a brief presentation on Cajun folk traditions, Historic Arkansas Museum amphitheater, 200 E. Third Street, Little Rock. Doors open for seating at 5 p.m.
The artist-in-residence program brings professional performing and visual artists, composers, creative writers, and filmmakers to the UCA campus for one or more days to expand student learning experiences. Engage Management sponsors the UCA artist-in-residence program.
