As visitors filed into the Blanton Museum of Art on Saturday, they joined a crowd in the lobby dancing to a live set from Austin-based DJ crew, Peligrosa. Peligrosa, along with Austin musician Ray Prim, took part in the Blanton’s monthly program, “Second Saturdays.” The program takes place on the second Saturday of each month, featuring live music, curator’s talks and exclusive exhibits.
Peligrosa members, UT alumni Trey Lopez and Orion Garcia, played a whopping 5-hour set into visitors’ headphones as they walked through the galleries. Lopez said that the museum felt different than their usual club scene.
“We explored different genres,” Lopez said. “It was liberating in a way. I felt like we could almost go anywhere in that museum.”
To get through the set, Garcia said Peligrosa alternated between the two DJs, bringing the energy up gradually throughout the day.
“I started (melancholic) and we built the afternoon into energetic (music) from all around the world,” Garcia said. “Our song selection is the palette of different colors and the evening is the act of painting the picture.”
Lopez, who studied cultural anthropology and Mexican American studies at UT, said he loved visiting the museum during his time at the University and visits frequently now. He said the classes he took connect with his DJ career.
“I took music of Africa, ethnographic film (and) a Latin music class,” Lopez said. “I think (DJ-ing) goes hand in hand, especially (with a) crew like us. We’re digging for music from Colombia, Venezuela and African countries. There’s a lot of history.”
Saturday proved itself a day of unique musical styles. Austin musician Ray Prim said he describes himself as a “singer-soul writer,” performing a 14-song acoustic set to an intimate crowd upstairs in the Blanton’s Meredith Lounge.
The combination of acoustic guitar, Prim’s powerful voice and strings brought the “soul” to his performance. Accompanied by cellist Diana Burgess, Prim said the duo brought a different kind of art to the Blanton.
“It’s not like I’m trying to reinvent the wheel with music,” Prim said. “I think what sets (my music) aside is it’s uniquely me.”
Curatorial administrative assistant Meg Burns said she loves seeing the museum vibrant with music.
“I think people feel like museums should be quiet spaces,” Burns said. “They should be places where people feel comfortable. I’m really happy to see that come alive at Second Saturdays.”
Burns spoke at Second Saturdays during the curator talk on the piece “The Waiting Room” by Joey Faerso.
“There’s a lot of layers (to this) particular work,” Burns said. “I love talking about works that everything that you want to say about it doesn’t fit on the labels.”
As for Second Saturdays, nothing fits on the labels. With curator’s talks, a silent disco and live music, Burns said Blanton brings art to life in ways that nowhere else does.
“It’s been great to share (art and) hopefully build a great community of art lovers here,” Burns said. “To see visitors back in our galleries, engaging with the work in such exciting ways, makes me so happy.”
