Highway 11 by Michael Wright
Emory & Henry College's new Woodrow W. McGlothlin Center for the Arts is a place
where they plan on "having a lot of fun," and the center of an interdisciplinary educational
approach.
The fun for the first season includes 12 events: six performance art and six visual arts,
divided between two semesters.
A small working group composed of Lisa Campbell, executive director, and department
heads came up with the schedule. "Selfishly in this first year we wanted to do a nod to ourselves, to who we are as a college artistically and where we see ourselves in the future." They chose artists who would not only greatly entertain the community, but whose master classes would enhance the education of their students.
Their first performer, Liz Callaway, is an example of their approach.
"Liz Callaway is steeped in Broadway, and we have a strong musical theater program.
We wanted to show our students if you want to do Broadway, this is the kind of quality and
training it takes and give them an opportunity to see what she sees and hear what she hears,"
Campbell says.
The other performing arts events for the academic year range from concerts to physical
theater and dance.
"Coming Home" is a celebration showcasing the talents of the E&H music faculty. During
Homecoming weekend they take the stage for the first time in their new center. Jeremiah
Downes, Lisa Withers, Matthew Frederick and Alyss Haecker perform Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.
Vadym Kholodenko, the winner of the gold medal at the 14th Van Cliburn International
Piano Competition, performs Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Kholodenko was hailed by the San Francisco
Classical Voice as showing "the guts of a true super artist."
PUSH Physical Theatre brings its movement-based storytelling to the stage Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. They use physical illusions and gravity-defying, dance-infused, acrobatic high jinx. Campbell says the marriage between physical movement and storytelling will be breathtaking.
Taylor 2 brings modern dance to the center March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Choreographer Paul Taylor inspires dancers to illuminate issues such as war, piety, spirituality, sexuality, morality and mortality.
The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass performs April 1 at 7:30 p.m. They promise an evening of music that ranges from Bach to Earth, Wind and Fire. The group reflects the diverse make up of men and women in the American culture and is dedicated to the idea that music is a gift to be enjoyed by everyone.
The first art exhibit is the faculty biennial and runs through Nov. 3. The exhibit celebrates each artist's engagement with the concept of place as a source of inspiration. Faculty members who are exhibiting include Charles Goolsby, Manda Remmen, Neil Staples, Dan Van Tassell and Michael Wright.
"A Woman in Her Place" opens Nov. 10 and is a project highlighting the place of women in society. Female artists from the U.S. and Europe created artwork using a traditional slip as a unifying symbol for women. The Artalk, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., features the curator and several artists who will participate by satellite. Beginning Jan. 12, Ben Sack's "Atlas of Thought" is on display. Fascinated by how individuals realize their place in the world, Sack's work explores architecture as a flexible medium.
Colleen Fitzgerald is fascinated by chance, chaos and system failure. She combines unexposed film with infrared heat therapy, antibiotics, sodium fluoride and pain medication to create her unique photographs. George Lorio's sculptures incorporate toys to create a narrative of social and political commentary and can be seen beginning March 31.
A selection of Jim McGlothlin's art collection will be on exhibit for a limited time in May.
His collection focuses on American Impressionism and master artists. The selection of art is not yet finalized, but the collection includes artists such as John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt. Gallery exhibits are free. Tickets to the performing arts events are $20; a season ticket is $100. To purchase tickets, visit www.ehc.edu/mca.
