Artwork and Arias

On March 11, 2023, experience artistic forms of ball culture and performance through this free interdisciplinary event that brings together opera and the visual arts. The evening is presented on the opening weekend of Jacolby Satterwhite’s exhibition Spirits Roaming on the Earth at CAM, and provides musical excerpts from Tre’von Griffith’s opera Madison Lodge, commissioned as part of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis 2023 New Works Collective. Both Satterwhite and Griffith draw inspiration from the history and community created through ball culture. Visitors will have a chance to enjoy a selection from Madison Lodge in advance of its March 16th world premiere, as well as presentations and performances from members of the St. Louis ball community hosted by the legendary Meko Lee Burr.

This event includes ASL interpretation provided by student interpreters from St. Louis Community College.

Presented by the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis with support from the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE2) at Washington University in St. Louis.