DiverseWorks announced Thursday that its noted artistic director Sixto Wagan has been officially appointed to lead the the University of Houston's newly-created Center for Arts Leadership — an innovative project aimed at training and supporting creative professionals in an ever-evolving arts environment.
When it formally opens this fall, the Center will offer a master's degree in arts leadership as well as a certificate in arts entrepreneurship.
"We'll be looking at what the art world looks like in the 21st century and where it's going," Wagan tells CultureMap. "Our primary focus is going to be how to take advantage of the opportunities at the University of Houston and across the city."
"We'll be looking at what the art world looks like in the 21st century and where it's going."
After organizing more than 100 projects during his 11-year tenure with DiverseWorks, Wagan has earned a reputation for collaborating with performers engaged with cultural, social and political issues. The artistic director garnered significant coverage for organizing recent memorable projects like Stephan Koplowitz’s Natural Acts in Artificial Waterat Waterwall Park and Aaron Landsman’s participatory theater event City Council Meeting.
“Sixto has been instrumental in shaping DiverseWorks’ image and positioning the organization on the national and international stage," DiverseWorks executive director Elizabeth Dunbar said in a statement. "He has been a steadfast advocate for commissioning and presenting work that would not otherwise be seen in Houston, and he has left an indelible mark on Houston’s arts community."
Wagan begins his new directorship at the Center for Arts Leadership on May 20.
DiverseWorks artistic director Sixto Wagan will lead the University of Houston's new Center for Arts Leadership.
In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.
Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).
Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.
Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.
Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.
Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.
Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.
Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.
