Springfield College Announces 2013 William Simpson Fine Arts Series Spring Schedule
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The 2013 Springfield College William Simpson Fine Arts Series spring schedule features a variety of art exhibitions, theater performances, film events, concerts, readings, and dance performances. Most events are free of charge, and the free series poster is available by calling (413) 748-3187.
Present – February 21
Art Exhibition
Springfield College Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition William Blizard Gallery*
Members of the Springfield College visual arts faculty display their works created in a variety of two and three dimensional media.
February 26 – March 28 Art Exhibition
Holding Paintings by Julie Gearan William Blizard Gallery*
The subject matter of Julie Gearan’s paintings has been culled from life, memory, dreams, and fantasies. She translates human themes into visual narratives with the imagery often being the offspring of a small moment colliding with a greater, sometimes mythological, drama.
Gallery reception for the artists and the public: March 3, 2-4 p.m.
February 28 Reading
Reading by Mark Doty: Poet, Essayist, and Memoirist Cleveland E. and Phyllis B. Dodge Room, Richard B. Flynn Campus Union, 7:30 p.m.
Mark Doty is the author of more than 12 books of poetry and prose. Whether he is writing about his intimate relationships with objects in the mortal world, grief connected to a lover dying of AIDS, or his relationship with his dogs, his writing is beautiful and fearless. Poet Gerald Stern said, “There is not a finer, more delicate, more sublime poet writing today in the English language. It's a poet's job to show us what we knew but never saw before; and it's a poet's job to tell us over and over what love is. Doty is this poet.”
A book signing and refreshments will follow the reading.
March 4 Film Event
Last Call at the Oasis
Director: Jessica Yu Appleton Auditorium, Fuller Arts Center, 7 p.m.\
Brilliantly depicting the truth about the global water crisis, Academy Award-winning director Jessica Yu and her Academy Award-nominated producer Elise Pearlstein deliver nonfiction filmmaking at its engaging, informative, and fast-flowing best. According to a review in The Globe and Mail, Last Call at the Oasis features “gorgeous cinematography and graphics, a killer soundtrack, and flashes of humor” including an appearance by Jack Black, as well as activist Erin Brockovich. Also featured are experts including Alex Prud’homme, whose book, The Ripple Effect, inspired the film. Film critic Amy Biancolli writes that the major impact of the film is that “there’s no escaping its creeping pile-up of evidence that Mother Earth is critically dehydrated—and we need to do something fast!”
A panel discussion, and question and answer session will follow the film.
March 12 Concert
Rhapsody in Blue: The Solo Piano Music of George Gershwin
Piano: Paul Bisaccia Townhouse Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.
A well-known favorite, Paul Bisaccia has performed at Springfield College on numerous occasions, and always to the delight of his many fans and supporters. He is a world renowned concert pianist, specializing in Americana and the music of George Gershwin, from which he draws the program for this event. Many have seen Bisaccia's performances on WGBY public television—don't miss this chance to see him live.
April 1 – 19 Art Exhibition
Transition Graduate Senior Student Art Exhibition William Blizard Gallery*
Paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media and digital imagery pieces reflect learning throughout the undergraduate years of students studying art therapy/art education, computer graphics/digital arts, and studio art.
Gallery reception for the artists and the public: April 7, 2-4 p.m.
April 4 - 7 Theater
How to Survive the Grey Goo
Director: Martin Shell, professor of theatre arts Appleton Auditorium, Fuller Arts Center Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Witness this extraordinary original creation—a response to the hyper-stimulated, meme-driven, instant fame, instant shame culture—by student artists. Actors, digital and computer artists, musicians, writers, dancers, videographers, designers, and communicators of all stripes collaborate in a live and digital, interactive, multimedia performance event.
Are people drowning in the ocean of their own communications? What are the stories that have gotten them here? What are the stories that will carry them into the future? And how will young artists and digital natives use every means they can to tell their own stories? This show promises to be an unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime collaboration, and a transformational gift for the senses, mind, and spirit.
Suggested donation: $5 Students and seniors citizens: $2
April 18 Concert
Annual Spring Concert
By SC Glee Club and Band Townhouse Conference Room, 7:30 p.m.
This perennial favorite features performances by talented Springfield College students and staff members, followed by refreshments.
April 25 – 28 Dance Performance
Two Times Two: Spring Student Dance Concerts Director: Cynthia Nazzaro, professor of dance Appleton Auditorium, Fuller Arts Center Concert One: Thursday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Concert Two: Friday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Enjoy this choreographic journey of new work created and performed by members of the SC Dancers and dance students. Two Times Two will consist of separate concerts, “Choreographic Adventures” and “Dancing Our Hearts,” performed on different nights for double the dance entertainment.
Suggested donation: $2
April 29 – May 18 Art Exhibition
Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Student Art Exhibition William Blizard Gallery*
Paintings, drawings, ceramics, and mixed media pieces reflect learning throughout the advanced education of art therapy and counseling majors.
Gallery reception for the artists and the public: May 18, noon-2 p.m.
*William Blizard Art Gallery Visual Arts Center Blake Hall
Open weekdays 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Event admission is free (unless otherwise indicated)
