Visual and Performing Arts News

“Orchid Ensemble” Performs Saturday

Published March 28, 2017

Announcements

Join us for a concert featuring the renowned Canadian group “Orchid Ensemble,” who will join conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber singers, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (April 1) in the McArdle Theatre, on the second floor of the Walker Arts and Humanities Center.

Established in 1997, the JUNO-nominated Orchid Ensemble is comprised of Lan Tung on the erhu/Chinese violin, Yu-Chen Wang on the zheng/Chinese zither and Jonathan Bernard on percussion.

The ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound. They have embraced a variety of musical styles to thier repertoire, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, world music, new music to jazz and creative improvisation.

The energetic yet endearing performance style of the ensemble consistently intrigues and delights its audiences. Acclaimed as “One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene” (Georgia Straight), the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians.

Students from conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers will join the ensemble for three selections in the concert.

Tickets are on sale now, $22 for adults, $6 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex or at the Calumet Theatre Box Office.

Rozsa Gallery A-Space Presents “Amusement Park Avenue”

Published March 24, 2017

By Heather Powers

Why do we love amusement parks? From side-shows to ferris wheels, we’re drawn to the excitement of the buzz, the sounds, the bright colors, the sensory extravaganza.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rozsa Center announce “Amusement Park Avenue: The 2017 VPA Faculty & Staff Exhibit.“ Faculty and staff of VPA will exhibit a variety of works of many different media and concepts, touching upon all five senses and inspiring curiosity, as if walking through an amusement park avenue.

Fifteen artists will be represented: Jared Anderson, Anne Beffel, Mary Cyr, Kent Cyr, M.C. Friedrich, Terri Frew, Lisa Gordillo, Roger Held, Bethany Jones, Susie Kilpela, Jeremy Littlefield, Josh Loar, Elizabeth Meyer, Christopher Plummer, and Jess Portfleet.

The opening reception is at 4 p.m. Friday, March 31 in the Rozsa Gallery A-Space. The exhibit will run until April 28 and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Volunteers Wanted for Every Color of Eyes Art Project

Published March 23, 2017

By Heather Powers

Anne Beffel is asking for volunteer participants in her “Every Colo r of Eyes” art project. This project makes visible our differences and our common humanity through the metaphor of eye color. Beffel, along with assistants Rebekka Guyon, Alex Pohl, J.P. Rewer and Phillip Wildner, are gathering eye color samples as the basis of a long scroll painting of color-filled circles.

Beffel is asking those who want to help to either email pictures of their eyes to info@EveryColorOfEyes.org or submit them here. Volunteers can also stop by the Studio for Here and Now, located in Wadsworth Hall G04W, from 3 to 5 p.m. today (March 22) or Wednesday, March 29

Beffel’s “Every Color of Eyes” will become part of the faculty and staff gallery exhibition, “Amusement Park Avenue,” from March 31 to April 31 in the Rozsa Gallery A-Space. An opening reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 31. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, contact Beffel at 7-1732.

50 Years of Great Jazz at Michigan Tech

Published March 21, 2017

By Heather Powers

Announcements

Celebrate “50 Years of Great Jazz at Michigan Tech — The Gold Standard” at the annual Don Keranen Memorial Concert, the final jazz concert of the performance season, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (March 25) at the Rozsa Center. There will be a reception following the concert in the Rozsa Lobby.

According to Mike Irish, director of jazz studies at Michigan Tech, “Don originated the Jazz Lab Band in 1967, and since then, it has grown into one of the most respected non-major jazz programs in the country. We have so much to be thankful for from these 50 years. We hope that you enjoy this evening’s concert on many levels. Please join us for a reception in the Rozsa lobby following the concert.”

Tickets for the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert are on sale now, $22 for adults, $6 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech Fee.

Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. The Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.

Marimba Concert and Poetry Night

Published March 20, 2017

By Heather Powers

What is a Marimba? Think of a very large wooden xylophone, the national instrument of Guatemala.

The Rozsa Center and Department of Visual and Performing Arts presents Guatemalan writer Hugo Gordillo, and collaborator Zach l’Italian, who will read selections of Gordillo’s new poems (in Spanish and English) in a “Marimba Concert and Poetry Night” at 6 p.m. Thursday (March 23) in the Rozsa lobby.

This event was developed in collaboration with Michigan Tech music students and conducted by Mike Christiansen, Michigan Tech’s Director of Bands. The Marimba Concert and Poetry event are free and all are welcome.

The Michigan Tech Marimbist Band will play several marimba selections, arranged by Christianson. This event is the closing reception for “ChickenBus: a U.S. Guatemalan Experience,” a Rozsa gallery exhibit by Lisa Gordillo.

Several poems in Hugo Gordillo’s collection inspired the art in this exhibit. The exhibit will be open before and after the concert.

Michigan Tech Choirs Present Benefit Concert: Music for a Sacred Space

Published March 7, 2017

By Heather Powers

Announcements

Join the Michigan Tech Choirs for an evening of sacred choral music presented in its natural habitat, the local treasure that is the magnificent space of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Linden. The concert will feature music of many different countries and cultures, with devotional music ranging from South Africa, Germany, England, Canada and 19th-century America.

The Michigan Tech Concert Choir and conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers, Jared Anderson, conductor, present “Music for a Sacred Space” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19th, St. Joseph’s Church, Lake Linden.

Free-will donations in any amount are welcomed.

Rozsa Gallery B Presents “Come In We’re Open”

Published February 23, 2017

By Heather Powers

Announcements

The Rozsa Center and Department of Visual and Performing Arts presents the Rozsa gallery b show “Come In We’re Open,” an open house exhibition of student sculptors’ works in progress, as a part of the “Project Learning Lab” alternative classroom project. “Project Learning Lab,” a cutting-edge Visual Arts experiment that takes place within the Rozsa gallery. Students in 3D Design and Sculpture will use the Rozsa Gallery as an active and alternative classroom, transforming the space into a real-time work of art during the semester. Student work will be shown twice each semester. A mid-semester showcase will open the gallery for our community to see work in-progress; the end of semester exhibition will welcome community into a fully transformed space. As part of Project Learning Lab, our Visual Arts Faculty are working alongside our students as Resident Art Fellows.

“Come In We’re Open” will run from Monday (Feb. 27) to Saturday, March 4. The gallery will host a public reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2. The reception is free and open to the public.

Rozsa gallery b is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Visitors may walk through at any time.

“Sexual Perversity in Chicago” Thursday – Saturday

Published February 22, 2017

By Heather Powers

Announcements

Michigan Tech Theatre Company’s production of David Mamet’s award-winning “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” continues this weekend.

With performances in the McArdle Theatre, the play is presented as a hilarious on-stage “game show,” using mature and graphic language to reveal the awkwardness, heartache and humor of American sexual behavior.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Saturday (Feb. 23-25), in the McArdle Theatre. Tickets are available online, by phone 7-2073, in person at the Central Ticketing office in the SDC and an hour before show time at the McArdle box office.

Rozsa Gallery A Space Presents “ChickenBus: A U.S. — Guatemalan Experience”

Published February 22, 2017

By Heather Powers

Announcements

What is a ChickenBus? A chicken bus is a bright, loud, jostling work of public transportation in Guatemala.

The Rozsa Center and Department of Visual and Performing Arts present the Rozsa Gallery A Space show, “ChickenBus,” featuring work by VPA faculty member Lisa Gordillo.

“ChickenBus” is the first U.S. exhibit of works inspired by Gordillo’s long-term collaboration with Guatemalan artists and writers. The exhibit will run from Saturday (Feb. 25) to Friday, March 24 and will travel to Guatemala this summer

There will be an opening reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 25), including a conversation with Gordillo at 6 p.m.

There will also be a second event, a “Marimba Concert and Poetry Night,” developed in collaboration with Michigan Tech music students and conducted by Mike Christiansen (VPA), Michigan Tech’s Director of Bands, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24 in the Rozsa lobby.

This is a special concert and poetry reading that will combine marimba music with readings by Gordillo’s husband, Guatemalan writer Hugo Gordillo, whose collections, “Trench(era)” and “Para Escapar de la Muerte,” were key inspirations for “ChickenBus.”

Play to be Presented in Game Show Format

Published February 15, 2017

By Heather Powers

Theatre

David Mamet’s award-winning play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” is given an inventive new staging by the Michigan Tech Theatre Company.

Opening Thursday in the McArdle Theatre, the play will be presented as a hilarious on-stage “game show,” using mature and graphic language to reveal the awkwardness, heartache and humor of American sexual behavior.

The play opens tomorrow night, with additional performances Friday, Saturday and Feb. 23-25 at the McArdle Theatre in the Walker Arts and Humanities Center. Performance time is 7:30 each evening.

According to Director Roger Held, the Obie (off-Broadway) Award-winning play “explores the nature of sexual relationships: Their awkward, unreasonable natures and how humans stubbornly cling to them in spite of heartache.”

In a fun twist to the game show theme, Tech Theatre is collaborating with Student Health and Wellness to help launch the new campus health initiatives, “Let’s Talk About Sex” and “Sex-versations.”

Part of the play will present “commercial breaks” with information about the two health initiatives. The commercials were created by Wellness students, staff and Held. Wellness will also have a table with information about the initiatives set up in the lobby.

Tickets are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech Fee. Tickets are available online, by phone 7-2073, in person at the Central Ticketing office in the SDC and an hour before show time at the McArdle box office.