Arts and Music (Video)

A vocalist of extraordinary emotional power and authenticity, Daneen Wilburn opens the fall Intersections Concert Series with an evening rooted in gospel tradition, soul expression, and personal testimony. Having performed since childhood, Wilburn brings a voice shaped by both spiritual tradition and lived experience. Her celebrated return to the stage after raising her family has made her one of San Diego’s most moving and sought-after performers.

Blending gospel, jazz, blues, and soul, Wilburn transforms every performance into an intimate act of storytelling. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41660]

Photography makes environmental changes visible that are difficult to recognize in everyday life. James Balog, Founder and Director of the Earth Vision Institute, describes his shift from celebrating nature’s beauty to documenting how human activity reshapes the planet. His photographs range from endangered wildlife and towering trees to mines, wildfires, and the atmosphere above Earth. Through the Extreme Ice Survey, Balog uses time-lapse cameras to show glaciers retreating over time, making climate change visible through recorded images. Drawing on his work and the films Chasing Ice and The Human Element, he examines the connections between people, land, air, water, and ice. Balog also considers society’s reliance on fossil fuels and the possibility of constructive environmental action. His images show why these changes matter to people and future generations.

Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41838]

UC Davis students are experiencing Shakespeare's plays in a new world — a virtual world. English professor Gina Bloom is teaching “Interactive Shakespeare: From VR to AI,” a class where students learn about Shakespeare and perform his plays in the virtual reality game "Play the Knave VR." Watch as students act out a scene from "Romeo and Juliet" in the virtual world. Series: "UC Davis News" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41732]

Authentic autism representation begins with listening to autistic people and including them in stories about their lives. Seth Bakke, producer, writer and director of The Rescue, explains how his autistic cousin Aaron and a poem by autistic typer Peter Tran inspired the film. Bakke describes working with Aaron on screen, consulting the Tran family and adapting the set to support his needs. Autistic typers Otto Lana and Peter Tran, joined by Steven Tran, a postdoctoral researcher at UC San Diego, discuss where the film reflects their experiences, where it simplifies communication through typing and why creative freedom must remain grounded in lived experience. They address presuming competence, the difference between hearing and listening, and the need for autistic actors and advisers. Their participation challenges stereotypes and helps audiences see they should be full participants in their own stories. Series: "Autism Tree Project Annual Neuroscience Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41175]

Art can connect personal history, community, and social change. Janelle Iglesias, Assistant Professor of Studio Art at UC San Diego, traces her path from a multicultural childhood in Queens to anthropology, ceramics, sculpture, and public art. She explains how objects in her family home sparked an interest in material culture, and how a reconciliation program in South Africa changed her view of what artists can contribute to society. Iglesias also describes nearly two decades of collaboration with her sister Lisa through Las Hermanas Iglesias, including projects involving their mother. Her teaching emphasizes play, curiosity, resourcefulness, and the idea that sculpture can be made from almost anything. By linking creative practice with care, connection, and community, Iglesias shows how art can help people respond to uncertainty and imagine more equitable futures. Series: "Education Channel" [Arts and Music] [Education] [Show ID: 41254]

Latin dance is a living blend of rhythms, histories, and styles, and Araceli Cervantes approaches it as both cultural practice and personal craft. Cervantes is an actress and dancer whose love for the arts began early and continues to shape her work. Drawing on training that spans Mexican traditional dance as well as contemporary and Latin forms, she brings both technique and joy to performance. A dance champion and medal-winning competitor, Cervantes shares what it takes to keep growing through discipline, resilience, and a commitment to reaching the next level. Series: "Mi Universidad " [Arts and Music] [Education] [Show ID: 41212]

A documentary film celebrating the work, wit and wisdom of internationally acclaimed glass paperweight artist Paul J. Stankard. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41122]

Enjoy an aerial tour of Storke Tower at UC Santa Barbara. Series: "UC Landmarks" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40984]

Considered the godfather of A.I. music, UC Santa Cruz professor and composer David Cope, who died in May, 2025, developed the computer program EMI, or Experiments in Musical Intelligence, in the 1980s. It was one of the earliest computer algorithms used to generate classical music. This documentary film by UC Santa Cruz's Bob Giges looks at the impact of Cope's genius on the world of music. Series: "Arts Channel " [Science] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40968]

Join Greg, UC Davis staff photographer, as he embarks on an 8 a.m. (or rather, 5 a.m.) photoshoot! Get a behind-the-scenes look at being a university photographer, capturing moments around campus and waking up at ungodly hours to get the perfect shot. With a whistle and a witty joke, Greg explains what it means to take professional photos. Series: "UC Davis News" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 41051]