Join us for the Spring William Simpson Fine Arts Series!
This spring, we are showcasing a variety of visual and performing art events that will be largely virtual and publicly available online. Events include virtual gallery exhibits, physical art shows, dance concerts, storytelling, music workshops and guest artists, concerts by the Springfield College Band, as well as live-streaming theater.
Don’t miss out on these wonderful events, many of which you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. All programs are open to the public. Events are free of charge unless otherwise noted.
In Person and Virtual Exhibition
February 8-March 5
Rhizomatic: Cause to Strike Root
Artists: Reed Anderson, Alex Callender, Donnabelle Casis, Beth Humphrey, Stacey McCarthy, Baird Soules, Scott Wolniak, and poetry by Rob Bywater
Curated by Jacin Giordano and Jessica Poser.
Click here for virtual art exhibit.
*The William Blizard Gallery will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors are limited to five people at a time. The gallery is currently open to Springfield College students, faculty, and staff only.
The William Blizard Gallery is the primary art gallery of Springfield College. It is dedicated to showcasing the work of undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as well as professional artists from the local community and beyond. The Gallery aims to be a creative community space which supports experimental work in the arts and fosters dialogue and programming in arts and culture.
On Thursday, February 25, Springfield College hosted nationally recognized and award-winning storyteller Shannon Cason, who shared personal narratives through his “brutally honest storytelling.” He answered questions about the craft and process of storytelling for both personal and professional empowerment.
Cason has been sharing his stories and storytelling techniques throughout the country professionally for more than 10 years. He is a regular on the NPR program Snap Judgment, and was awarded its Best Performance Award. For The Moth storytelling organization, his titles and work include host, MainStage storyteller, and GrandSlam Champion. He also travels for the organization as one of its educational instructors.
Cason appears on countless podcasts and storytelling stages, including hosting his own Homemade Stories Live shows. He has been featured on TEDx and RISK!. He hosts two other podcasts: The Trouble with Shannon Cason (WBEZ in Chicago) and In Good Co. (WDET in Detroit).
On Thursday, March 11, the William Simpson Fine Arts Series continued with a virtual concert that included Dori Freeman, along with multi-instrumentalist collaborator Nick Falk. The duo provided an exclusive virtual performance to the Springfield College community that included a mix of originals and country/folk standards that reveal the deep cultural roots of American rural musical traditions.
Freeman is from the Appalachian town of Galax, Va., where she grew up in a musical family. Her father, Scott Freeman, and grandfather, Willard Gayheart, both play music, and their family owns the Front Porch Gallery and Frame Shop which is part of The Crooked Road, Virginia's heritage music trail. Her self-titled debut album was released by Free Dirt Records in February 2016.
Writers at Rolling Stone Country called the album “a strong contender for Americana debut of the year” and Jon Pareles, writing in The New York Times, said “The purity of Dori Freeman's voice and the directness of her songwriting reflect not only her Appalachian hometown—Galax, Va.— but also a determined classicism, a rejection of the ways modern country punches itself up for radio and arenas.” Ann Powers of NPR said the “debut album shows great range and incredible emotional nuance.” Powers also said, “It's startling to hear such a fully formed singing and songwriting voice come out of nowhere.” Rolling Stone editors included Freeman on their list of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.”
VIRTUAL THEATER EVENT
Friday, March 19, Noon
Theater Grottesco's CONSIDER THIS...
Audience talkback follows the production.
VIRTUAL ART EXHIBITION
March 15-April 9
Refugees, Resistance, Resilience: Creating Emotional Resonance
Art by: Simone Alter-Muri, Harriet Diamond, Viki Gable, and Judy Shintani
VIRTUAL THEATER PERFORMANCE
April 8-10
Tartuffe: The Hypocrite!
By Molière, translated by Richard Wilbur
Directed by Martin Shell
Presented by Springfield College Theater
Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 9, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 10, 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 10, 7 p.m.
In Person and Virtual Exhibition
April 19-30
Graduating Undergraduate Student Exhibition
Featuring works by Senior Art; Art Education; Art Therapy; and Digital, Web, and Multimedia Design Majors
William Blizard Gallery*
DANCE CONCERT
April 23-24
Springfield College Dancers Spring Concert
Location to be determined.
Friday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
In Person and Virtual Exhibition
May 3-15
Master's Students in Art Therapy and Counseling Exhibition
William Blizard Gallery*
VIRTUAL MUSIC CONCERT
Thursday, May 6
Springfield College Virtual Band Concert and Music Student Showcase
*The William Blizard Gallery will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors are limited to five people at a time. The gallery is currently open to Springfield College students, faculty, and staff only.
Springfield College is a smoke free/tobacco free campus.
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