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Tech Art Walkabout Reception December 14, 2015

Published December 14, 2015

Did you know that nearly 90 percent of students in visual arts classes at Michigan Tech are seniors, and are majors in other fields?

According to Susanne Kilpela (VPA), “Most of my Ceramics 1 and Drawing 1 students are graduating seniors, and while they are getting degrees in engineering, chemistry, mathematics, etc., their work is just beautiful. It could be in a professional art gallery. I wanted to be able to showcase their art before they graduate!”

It is also Kilpela’s tenth anniversary as a visual arts professor at Michigan Tech, and she is presenting this Tech Art Walkabout as an opportunity to celebrate both her students and her longtime work at Michigan Tech.

Join us from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, December 14, 2015, in Walker 202 for a reception and “open art studio.” Some work may be available for purchase. This event is free and open to the public.

From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

To Hear with Eyes: A Walking Book Tour by 2D Design & Literary Survey A

Published December 14, 2015

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What is a book? What is a viewer’s physical relationship to a text? What is the role of literature in our lives? December 14 and 15, 2015, join students from Lisa Johnson’s (VPA) 2D design class and Laura Kasson Fiss’s (HU) Literary Survey A in contemplating these and related questions. View their artwork and read their wall texts, posted at nine locations around campus. Grab a map outside the Humanities or Visual and Performing Arts department offices, or simply be on the lookout for books and booklike projects as you go through your daily routine.

Songs of the Season, Saturday, December 12, 2015

Published December 9, 2015

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Join the choirs of Michigan Tech as they present a concert entitled Songs of the Season. The concert will have a mixture of contemplative and celebratory music, featuring selections ranging from 16th century Spanish carols, to contemporary settings of favorite Christmas songs.

The Michigan Tech Chamber Singers, conScience, along with guitarist Pat Valencia, will perform Alf Houkom’s setting of an old Gaelic rune, entitled the “Rune of Hospitality” —a particularly poignant selection considering contemporary world events.

The Michigan Tech Concert Choir, accompanied by Leslie Dukes, will perform masterworks from the choral canon, including J.S. Bach’s “Lobet den Herrn,” and Francis Poulenc’s “Quem vidistis pastores dicite.”

The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets for the “Songs of the Season” concert 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 by phone at 7-2073, online or in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex.

From Tech Today, by Rozsa Center.

New Assistant Professor Kent Cyr

Published December 7, 2015

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Kent Cyr joins the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as an assistant professor. Before joining Michigan Tech, Cyr worked as the coordinator of theatre, technical director and an assistant professor at York College. Cyr received his Master’s in Technical Production from Boston University and a bachelor’s from Indiana University.

He has worked on the PRAXIS II Subject Assessment in Theatre for the Educational Testing Service. Since 1991, he has worked in the industry.

New Assistant Professor Michael Christianson

Published December 7, 2015

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Michael Christianson joins the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as an assistant professor. Before becoming an assistant professor, Christianson was a visiting assistant professor and director for the Superior Wind Symphony, Campus Concert Band, Huskies Pep Band and Chamber Ensembles. Christianson received his Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and his Master’s in Trombone Performance from Manhattan School of Music.

He has performed on Broadway in various shows including “The Book of Mormon,” “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins” and “West Side Story.” He is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the College Band Directors National Association.

Student Sculpture Exhibit

Published December 7, 2015

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There will be a public reception for the student sculpture exhibit “Equal and Opposite” 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015, in Rozsa galleries A and B.

Art by students from many disciplines across campus will be showcased and students will be on hand to talk about their work. Small sculptures, larger installations, projection and sound come together in this show. Student work is part of Project Learning Lab, VPA’s alternative, immersive arts classroom.

From Tech Today, by Lisa Johnson.

Design Students Prototype Solutions for Bird-Window Collisions

Published December 4, 2015

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Students in 2D and 3D Design courses (VPA) will display prototypes they designed to reduce bird-window collisions.

The prototypes will be on display now through Dec. 15 at the library-Rekhi Skywalk and the second floor of the library. Ten designs are showcased inside the library-Rekhi skywalk, a prime location where bird strikes occur on campus.

The work represents a STEM-STEAM art-science collaboration. Student designs re-envision large panes of glass to eliminate bird window strikes and the species deaths they cause. Lisa Johnson (VPA) hopes the display will be used as a jumping off point for further collaborations between art, science and engineering to address this problem with creative new technologies.

From Tech Today, by Lisa Johnson.

KSO Interviewed about Fall Recital

Published December 1, 2015

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HOUGHTON — The only major symphony orchestra in the Keweenaw is refining its holiday tunes.

Michigan Tech University’s Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra held its first fall recital at the Portage Lake United Church.

“A great symphony orchestra where the vast majority of the musicians are engineers and scientist,” said the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra’s music director Joel Neves. “Yet they come together and make great music.”

Lisa Johnson Interviewed on the Project Learning Lab

Published December 1, 2015

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HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech students are taking their creativity outside the classroom.

The university’s sculpture class is learning hands on in the Rozsa Gallery’s Project Learning Lab.

“In the gallery the students are able to really respond to the space,” said assistant professor Lisa Johnson. “They’re able to transform the space in almost any way they like and really get some hands on practice doing design and collaboration and visual arts all together.”

Minnesota Ballet, Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, local student dancers to perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 4, 5 at Rozsa Center

Published November 30, 2015

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HOUGHTON — The snowflakes, the beloved Christmas music, the magical tale: Come to the Rozsa Center to experience the timeless Christmas tradition that is The Nutcracker ballet! Minnesota Ballet and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (with Joel Neves conducting) will present a fully-staged production, with live orchestra, of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting Nutcracker ballet at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, 2015.

The performance is presented with support by Minnesota Public Radio.

Student dancers from many area schools, including Houghton, Hancock, Baraga, Lake Linden-Hubbell, C-L-K, Michigan Tech, Gogebic CC and others will take the stage to create this magical Christmas fairytale with the Minnesota Ballet and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are on sale now: $25 for adults, $10 for youth.

Special for The Nutcracker performances only, a $55 “family package” includes two adults and two youth tickets. Additional youth tickets can be added on for $6 each. No charge for Michigan Tech students with a Student ID/ Experience Tech fee. Advance reserved seating is now available. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 487-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance.

From Keweenaw Now.

Category: News