The Hyde Park Art Center presents Traveling the Spaceways, a landmark symposium devoted to Sun Ra. Informative panel discussions, musical performances, and readings will investigate the impact Sun Ra and Afro-Futurism have had on American history and visual culture. Bringing together major writers and scholars who have focused on Sun Ra, this important event will enlighten and intrigue those interested in African American art and music of the postwar period.

Day 1 Highlights:
Cheryl Lynn Bruce Panel Discussion: The Right Place and Right Time, with Robert Campbell, Graham Lock, Kevin Whitehead, Fred Lonberg-Holm, and David Boykin
Panel Discussion: Heading Out, with Nick Cave, Terri Kapsalis, Hamza Walker, and Adam Abraham.

Traveling the Spaceways will address an extensive range of topics including panels titled Aesthetics of Postwar Chicago and The Sun Ra Diaspora: Art After Ra. Panelists include Sun Ra’s discographer, Robert Campbell, from Clemson University; and English writer and journalist Graham Lock, author of Blutopia. A selection of Ra’s recently discovered early writings will be read by Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member, Cheryl Lynn Bruce. Rarely heard Ra compositions will be performed by several ensembles, including the Fred Lonberg-Holm Trio, Nicole Mitchell, and a special group assembled by saxophonist Ken Vandermark expressly for the symposium.