Kreft Arts Calendar
The Kreft Arts Program Spring 2012
The Kreft Arts Program at Concordia University strives to stimulate the artistic, intellectual, and creative experiences of students and the community. The series includes art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, dance performances, author appearances, and theatrical productions by artists from around the world and by Concordia’s own students and faculty.
*Denotes a free event
Books and Coffee
*Black Wealth/White Wealth
Books and Coffee discussion led by Professor Omari Jackson
Tuesday, January 31, 4:00p.m. Earhart Manor Living Room
Concordia sociology professor Omari Jackson discusses Melvin Oliver and Thomas Shapiro’s Black Wealth/White Wealth. The book examines how and why many blacks have had difficulty accumulating wealth and opportunities for a better life, and in doing so, challenges claims that the failure of black entrepreneurship is rooted in a poor work ethic and an inability to defer gratification.
*A Severe Mercy
Books and Coffee discussion led by Professor Suzanne Siegle
Thursday, March 29, 4:00p.m. Earhart Manor Living Room
Professor Siegle discusses Sheldon Vanauken’s autobiographical novel , which details the story of his marriage to his wife Davy, their intellectual and spiritual journey from atheism to Christianity, and Vanauken’s struggle accepting her illness and untimely death. Colleagues and friends at Oxford, C.S. Lewis and Vanauken develop a transformational friendship, and. ultimately, it is Lewis who helps Vanauken make sense of the death of his wife, and understand the meaning of this “severe mercy.”
Lectures/Readings/Presentations
*Adam Schuitema, Short story writer/novelist
Thursday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.
Riverside Rooms
Adam Schuitema is the author of the short-story collection Freshwater Boys, published by HarperCollins. The book was named a Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. His stories have appeared or are forthcoming in numerous magazines, including Glimmer Train, North American Review, TriQuarterly, Black Warrior Review, and Crazyhorse. He recently completed the manuscript of his novel, Haymaker.
*Centennial Titanic
Timothy Pies, Professor of Organizational Leadership
Tuesday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
Kreft Center Black Box
It was the “Ship of Dreams” that became the “Vessel of Nightmares.” One hundred years ago on its maiden voyage, the luxury liner Titanic sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic carrying with it 1,500 people and about as many unanswered questions. Dr. Pies, describes the mesmerizing tragedy, including fantasies and facts. Using relational PowerPoint and select memorabilia, Pies explores the public’s fascination with the sinking’s centennial, including leadership lessons for centuries yet to come.
Theater
Johnny Pye: A Musical
February 16, 17, and 18 at 8:00 p.m.; February 19 at 2:30p.m.
Kreft Center Black Box Theater
Tickets: $10 ($5 students and seniors)
Based on Stephen Vincent Benet’s short story, “Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller,” this musical follows orphaned Johnny from boyhood to old age. When the Foolkiller comes to collect his father, Johnny acquires an awareness and great fear of death. He runs away from the Foolkiller and encounters a life full of questions, joy, and love. In the tradition of Wilder’s Our Town and Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, Johnny Pye reminds us of our mortality and our responsibility to “not waste time.”
Gallery Exhibits
*Faculty Exhibit “New Work”
January 17 – February 19
Opening Reception: Friday, January 20, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Kreft Center Gallery
The Concordia University art faculty will present new work in a variety of media. Also featured will be work from the art faculty of sister institution, Concordia University Wisconsin.
*Kreft Juried Exhibit “Mirror Images: Reflections on/of the Arts.”
March 6 – April 4
Reception and curator’s gallery talk, Friday, March 23
7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m. Kreft Center Gallery
In an ancient but still potent metaphor, art “holds the mirror up to nature.” But if this is true even now, how do the arts reflect the world in which we live, and what kind of image do they give back to us? Do they distort or clarify? And when the arts are non-representational, what then is their relation to our lives? On another level, how do works of art “reflect” one another in terms of influence, echo, and variation?
Senior Art Exhibitions
April 15-April 20 Kreft Center Gallery
Senior art students present their senior portfolio exhibitions.
Annual Student Art Exhibition
April 26-May 1
Opening reception April 23, 6-8 p.m.
Music
Fifth House Ensemble
Black Violet
Friday, March 9, 8:00 p.m.
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
Tickets: $10 - $5 (students and seniors)
Continuing to pioneer the art of narrative chamber music, this lively young ensemble from Chicago returns to Concordia for the conclusion of their collaboration with graphic novelist Ezra Claytan Daniels, melding classical music, vivid art, imagery, and riveting narrative. The story follows Violet, a young black house cat, who leaves her home facing unimaginable dangers and forging unexpected friendships during one of the most terrifying passages of London’s history, the outbreak of the Black Plague in the 17th century. For those who missed the beginning of the story, a musical and verbal summary will open the concert.
Empire Brass
Sunday, April 15, 4:00 p.m.
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
Tickets: $15 - $10 (students and seniors)
The Empire Brass returns for what has become an annual event at Concordia, in a concert that incorporates selections from their own repertoire as well as works featuring Concordia’s musical resources.
*Concordia Wind Ensemble
Sunday, April 1, 4:00 p.m.
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
The Concordia Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Matthew Wolf, presents its annual Spring Concert, featuring music by a wide variety of classic and contemporary composers.
*Concordia Choir
Friday, April 20, 8:00 p.m.
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
A final concert before their thirteen-day tour of Germany, the Concordia Choir and Arborsong present sacred music of Brahms, Bruckner, Schütz plus American settings of Conte, Shaw, and Bartholomew. An informational send-off dinner is available before the concert. Please contact Judy Wuckert for more information: wuckej@cuaa.edu.
Fourth Annual Student/Faculty Conference on Spirituality in the Arts and Sciences
Tuesday, March 20
*Sessions run 12:30- 5:00 p.m.
Various locations on campus to be announced.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Mirror Images: Reflections on/of the Arts and Sciences.” In an ancient but still potent metaphor, art “holds the mirror up to nature.” But if this is true even now, how do the arts and sciences reflect the world in which we live, and what kind of image do they give back to us? Do they distort or clarify? On another level, how do the arts and sciences “reflect” one another in terms of influence, echo, and variation? And finally, how are the brain and the mind engaged when we “reflect,” in the sense of giving serious and thoughtful concentration to a subject?
Keynote Address, Kreft Center Black Box Theater, 12:30 p.m.
Elizabeth Birr Moje.
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Education and Associate Dean for Research
The University of Michigan, School of Education
10/13
Black Box Theater
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie - Fall Theater Production
October 13th - 15th at 8:00pm in the Black Box Theater
Order tickets online at:
http://www.cuaa.edu/Kreft-Arts/order-tickets and click "Order Online" or call the campus bookstore at 734-995-7338 Monday - Thursday 1:00pm - 5:00pm / Friday 1:00pm - 3:00pm
10/14
Black Box Theater
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie - Fall Theater Production
October 13th - 15th at 8:00pm in the Black Box Theater
Order tickets online at:
http://www.cuaa.edu/Kreft-Arts/order-tickets and click "Order Online" or call the campus bookstore at 734-995-7338 Monday - Thursday 1:00pm - 5:00pm / Friday 1:00pm - 3:00pm
10/15
Black Box Theater
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie - Fall Theater Production
October 13th - 15th at 8:00pm in the Black Box Theater
Order tickets online at:
http://www.cuaa.edu/Kreft-Arts/order-tickets and click "Order Online" or call the campus bookstore at 734-995-7338 Monday - Thursday 1:00pm - 5:00pm / Friday 1:00pm - 3:00pm
12/2
7:30 pm-9:00 pm
Chapel of the Holy Trinity
34th Annual Boar's Head Festival
Tickets on sale Monday, October 31, at 9 a.m.
Tickets: $8-15
Concordia University presents its annual Boar's Head Festival in early December in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity at Concordia University. Students, faculty and staff come together to enact medieval Christmas traditions and the story of Christ's birth in this moving musical spectacle
2/16
Black Box Theatre
Johnny Pye: A Musical
Based on Stephen Vincent Benet’s short story, “Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller,” this musical follows orphaned Johnny from boyhood to old age. When the Foolkiller comes to collect his father, Johnny acquires an awareness and great fear of death. He runs away from the Foolkiller and encounters a life full of questions, joy, and love. In the tradition of Wilder’s Our Town and Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, Johnny Pye reminds us of our mortality and our responsibility to “not waste time.”