British singer, songwriter and actor who paved the way for musical trends and pop fashions, David Bowie is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His career has been marked by a creative turmoil in which he constantly reinvented himself, his music and his work through the decades.

“Space Oddity”, his first entry in the UK Singles Chart top five came out in 1969. In 1972, during the era of glam rock, Bowie created his flamboyant character of Ziggy Stardust, which earned him great popularity. with his single “Starman” and “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders of Mars.

“Life on Mars?” a song with cryptic lyrics and a piano by keyboardist Rick Wakeman, was first released on Bowie’s 1971 album “Hunky Dory”. The Daily Telegraph ranked the song number one in its “100 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

His music evolved throughout his career, and from “Space Oddity” to “Blackstar”, his last album in 2016, Bowie is said to have sold over 100 million records worldwide. He received 10 platinum albums in the UK, five platinum albums in the US, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and named “Greatest Rock Star of All Time” by Rolling Stone posthumously. in 2016.

In addition, he has held leading roles in several feature films and supporting roles in dozens more. He has also appeared in several television series and won a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Special Class Special category in 2003.

UMF New Commons events focused on “Life on Mars? Will take place between October 2 and 25. Face covering is required for indoor events.

Maxi Glamor, “Life on Mars? Drag show and workshop
Oct 2, 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join Maxi Glamor host – award-winning drag artist from St. Louis, Arabella LaDessé – Boston Drag Idol 2019 and Blackstone’s Princess 2020 from Portland, and Jakk Bloodstone – acclaimed drag artist based in New England, for an afternoon exploring the intersection of queerness and science fiction through the work of David Bowie. The event will include drag performances, dialogue with the artists and a craft workshop.

“David Bowie 101” by Stephen Grandchamp
October 6, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Emery Community Arts Center

Are you new to the music and visual art of David Bowie? Then this event is for you! Stephen Grandchamp, assistant professor of literature and digital humanities at UMF, will screen and discuss four critical music videos of David Bowie’s career, including “Life on Mars? To initiate the exploration of his life and his art by the New Commons Project.

Martha Mooke, electro-acoustic violist and main presenter of the UMF New Commons Project event on “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie Submitted photo

Main event: “Mission: Imagination” with Martha Mooke
October 7, 7 to 9 p.m., Emery Community Arts Center

Take part in a concert and chat with Martha Mooke, electro-acoustic violist and collaborator of David Bowie. In this flagship event, she explores and interprets David Bowie’s ‘search for unconscious intelligence’ inspired by his creative process of combining dissociated ideas to elicit the creative muse.

The man who fell to earth. The New Commons film series: “Life on Mars? “
October 14, 7 to 9:20 p.m., Emery Community Arts Center

The New Commons film series presents The Man Who Fell to Earth, the classic 1976 sci-fi film starring David Bowie as alien Thomas Jerome Newton. Bowie was a multi-talented artist, so be sure to attend this event to pit yourself against his incredible dramatic performance.

Join Shelton Waldrep’s talk on “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie
October 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Emery Community Arts Center

Join Shelton Waldrep, distinguished professor of English at the University of Southern Maine, for an original exploration of “Life on Mars?” By David Bowie, including its meaning and common misconceptions about it. Among many other works, Waldrep is the author of “Future Nostalgia: Performing David Bowie” (2015) and “The Aesthetics of Self-Invention: Oscar Wilde to David Bowie” (2004). Participants will be included in a raffle to win a record featuring David Bowie’s greatest hits!

The New Commons Project is a public humanities initiative at the University of Maine at Farmington in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council. To learn more about the New Commons Project and to see plenty of events for the first 12 topics, visit the website at newcommonsproject.org.

The University of Maine at Farmington is a nationally recognized liberal arts college known for its commitment to student success. UMF offers a stimulating but supportive environment to prepare students for both a career and further studies. Steeped in a tradition of teacher preparation, UMF offers top quality programs in the arts and sciences, teacher preparation and pre-professional studies. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit college community that prepares students for engaged citizenship, rewarding professional careers, and an enduring love of learning.

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