UPDATED: Aug. 31, 2017 at 4:51 p.m.

For the first time in six years visitors of the Urban Cinematheque Art and Culture Fair will feature a movie chosen by fairgoers, who picked Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” in an online poll.

The annual Urban Cinematheque Art and Culture Fair at the Everson Museum of Art being held in collaboration with Light Work takes place Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“Too often in central New York we hear ‘there’s nothing to do,’ so, via our collaboration with Everson, we can bring an exciting event into the heart of our city,” said Anneka Herre, director of Urban Video Project and an instructor of transmedia core in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The movie will be projected outside the Everson Museum in collaboration with Light Work to hold UVP’s year-round outdoor public projections. Peele, the movie’s director, added his own commentary to an extended version of the film, which will be shown at this year’s Cinematheque unlike previous years.

“People ask me if the film is scary, and it is a common thriller, but the really scary part is the racial commentary because that’s what makes people uncomfortable,” said Cjala Surratt, Light Work promotions coordinator.

The movie selection offers an opportunity for conversations regarding racism, class and politics, Herre said.

In addition to the movie, artists were invited to hold tables at the fair. When the fair began, about a dozen organizations tabled, most from the Syracuse University Coalition of Museums and Art Centers. The fair now has off-campus organizations representing the visual arts, dance, music and theater.

“Part of this is the larger goal of not just engaging the public but encouraging the students to engage in activities on and off the Hill and letting them know there’s bridges and connections between the city and college,” Surratt said.

The Cinematheque also welcomes SU students. In connection with the event, buses run between the Schine Student Center and Everson Museum.  

“The event is about reaching out to a wide audience, so we are looking for films that will have broad appeal, but which are also well aligned with our mission to present moving image art to the public,” Herre said.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this post, the location of the film’s projection was misstated. The film will be projected outside the Everson Museum, not on the side of the building. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Published on August 28, 2017 at 10:42 pm

Contact Sarah: ssallam@syr.edu