Springfield College William Simpson Fine Arts Series Hosts Author Allison Amend

As part of the Springfield College William Simpson Fine Arts Series, the College hosted a virtual Fiction Reading with author Allison Amend on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Hosted by Springfield College Associate Professor of English Justine Dymond, Amend read from her works, and answered questions from the audience to conclude the evening.

Amend presented from her fourth novel, Credence, which explores the impact of a hate crime on two very different faith communities and follows the victims and perpetrator as they wrestle with their religion, their community, and their place in contemporary America.

Amend is the author of the IPPY award-winning short story collection Things That Pass for Love and the novels A Nearly Perfect Copy and Stations West, the latter of which was a finalist for the 2011 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and the Oklahoma Book Award. Her third novel, Enchanted Islands, was on the longlist for the International Dublin Award. She teaches creative writing at Lehman College in the Bronx, N.Y.

Upcoming William Simpson Events:

Musical Guest Artist Performance and Discussion

Featuring Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol

October 19, 7 p.m. – Virtual Concert

October 20, 1:15 p.m. – Virtual Talkback/Discussion

William Simpson Fine Arts Series Zoom ID: 559 865 5454

A musical polymath, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol has composed for, performed, and toured with international stars and ensembles from across a wide musical spectrum. Sanlıkol’s unique blend of jazz composition and Turkish music has been praised by the Boston Globe as “a true fusion of jazz and folkloric Turkish language and colors.” Sanlıkol pairs Turkish instruments, such as zurna (double reed wind), ney (end-blown flute), kös (large kettledrums), and nekkare (small kettledrums) with the jazz orchestra/combo to perform his Turkish music-influenced compositions. In these compositions, Turkish makam (mode) and usul (rhythmic cycles) are intertwined with modern jazz as well as specifically film noir influenced music. Sanlıkol is the president of DÜNYA, a musicians’ collective dedicated to contemporary presentations of Turkish traditions, alone and in interaction with other world traditions, through musical performance, publication, and educational activities.

Poetry/Fiction Reading by DeMisty D. Bellinger

October 27, 7:30 p.m.

In cooperation with the Office of Multicultural Affairs

A S.E.A.T. at the Table week of programming on social justice issues

William Simpson Fine Arts Series Zoom ID: 559 865 5454

DeMisty D. Bellinger has a Master of Fine Arts from Southampton College and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nebraska. She has published works in many journals and anthologies, including Contrary Magazine, Okay Donkey, The Rumpus, Nasty Women Poets: An Unapologetic Anthology of Subversive Verse, and The Best Small Fictions: 2019. Bellinger also has a poetry chapbook, Rubbing Elbows, (Finishing Line Press) and in 2021, her full-length collection, Peculiar Heritage, will be published by Mason Jar Press. A Milwaukee native, Bellinger lives in central Massachusetts and teaches at Fitchburg State University. Visit her website at demistybellinger.com.

Theater Performance

November 12, 13, and 14

Springfield College Theater Play Production- Title Coming Soon!

Presented by Springfield College Theater
Director: Martin Shell

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m.; and Saturday at 2 p.m.
Zoom Webinar Presentation

William Simpson Fine Arts Series Zoom Webinar ID: 559 865 5454

Join us from home for a live theatrical presentation on Zoom! Student actors on the Springfield College campus join their classmates studying across the globe in a story chosen specially to feature the intimacies of our cameras and the hunger to connect with each other. Our title will be announced soon, and the link to join any of the four performances will be posted here as well.

Virtual Student Art Exhibition

December 1-11

William Blizard Gallery

The virtual student exhibition will showcase the work of graduating master’s students, graduate students in art therapy, graduating Visual and Performing Arts undergraduate students, as well as students’ work in studio arts classes. Pieces will include painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, computer graphics, video installation, mixed media, and ceramics.

Music Event

DJ Raydar Ellis Virtual Concert and Masterclass

Virtual Concert

Thursday, December 3, 4 p.m.

Virtual Talkback Discussion

Friday, December 4, Noon

William Simpson Fine Arts Series Zoom ID: 559 865 5454

Brian “Raydar” Ellis is an accomplished educator, DJ, producer, and MC. Since 2008, he has worked as an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a DJ and producer for Revive Music Group, an innovative repertory group that combines jazz and hip-hop influences. Equal parts hip-hop connoisseur and jazz aficionado, Ellis masterfully combines the two genres and creates music that people can add to the soundtrack of their lives. Ellis has worked extensively with nonprofit groups like the Boys & Girls Club and legendary music organizations like the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Concert

Tuesday, December 8

Virtual Band Concert and Music Student Showcase

William Simpson Fine Arts Series Zoom ID: 559 865 5454

In a new format, a recorded concert featuring music and videos by members of the Springfield College Band will be showcased on Tuesday, Dec. 8 as part of the annual winter concert. Christopher Gagne, assistant professor of music, along with student members of the band, will introduce some of the performances live via Zoom and allow the virtual audience to discuss the music and ask questions.

The band will perform a mix of jazz and contemporary music, which will include songs embracing themes of social justice and inequality.

The full recorded concert will be available on the Springfield College website after this event.