February 03, 2016

Southern Illinois University Arts and Cultural Events

Feb. 8 - 27

This bi-weekly email brings together the highlights of arts and cultural events at SIU Carbondale. From music to art, film to dance, guest lectures to workshops and theater, you will find the information here. Event information is subject to change. 

HIGHLIGHTS

FEB. 8 -- Black History Month event: Keynote address: Author Lawrence C. Ross, Jr. delivers a talk on “Racism on Campuses in the United States.” Ross is the author of six books, including the Los Angeles Times bestseller, “The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities,” “The Ways of Black Folks,” “Money Shot: The Wild Nights and Lonely Days in the Black Porn Industry,” and, most recently, “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses.” “Blackballed” examines the idea that America’s colleges foster a racist environment hostile to African American students through institutions including campus traditions, and takes a hard look at anti-affirmative action policies. A graduate of the University of California Los Angeles with a master of fine arts degree from the School of Theater, Film and Television, Ross has lectured at more than 500 colleges and universities. His address begins at 7 p.m. in John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library. 

13 – Music performance. Heartland Honor Band and Heartland Honor Choir. High school and junior high school students from the area come together to compete, learn and participate in a music performance. Heartland Honor Choir performance is 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium. Heartland Honor Band performance is 3-4:30 p.m., also in Shryock Auditorium. The band students will benefit from guest conductor Randall Coleman, director of the Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama – one of the most highly regarded university marching bands in the country. Choir students will work with Wendy Moy, director of choral activities and music education at Connecticut College and co-founder and co-director of the Chorosynthesis Singers. 

18 – Black History Month event: Allison Joseph, director of the master of fine arts in creative writing program at SIU and a poet much admired in the writing and reading community, presents a reading with guest poet Curtis Crisler, an alumnus now on the English and linguistics faculty at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne: “In the Presence of Spirits.” The reading begins at 8 p.m. in the John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library.

Here are other select upcoming events in list form:

FEBRUARY

9 – Film screening: “The Botany of Desire,” a documentary based on the book of the same name by Michael Pollan, imagines plants’ points of views about the relationship with the human world. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. in the John C. Guyon Auditorium at Morris Library.

10 - Black History Month event: Film screening. “Meet Me at the Bottom,” in cooperation with the Big Muddy Film Festival, 6 p.m. in John C. Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library. 

10 – International Food Fair, presenting the cuisine of international students on campus, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms. 

11 - Black History Month event: Film screening. “The Mirror Boy,” part of the African Film Series, 7 p.m., University Museum Auditorium. 

12 - Black History Month event: Oops! Entertainment presents Jeff McGoy and guests. 7 p.m., location TBA. 

12 – Valentine’s Day Craft Show, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center. 

12 – Forum. The fourth Regional Energy Forum is set for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Third Floor Rotunda of Morris Library. The topic for this forum is “Campus and Community Electricity: Current Issues and Trends.” The discussion panel includes: Justin Harrell, electrical engineer at SIU’s physical plant; Leonard Hopkins, vice president of Fuel, Environment, and Safety at Southern Illinois Power Cooperative; Jeff Haarmann, managing partner at Affordable Gas and Electric LLC; and Brad Richards, executive vice president at Illinois Oil and Gas Association. The panel will discuss electricity prices and sources, pending regulations and recent market swings, Illinois natural resources and more. Pre-register for a free box lunch. The Advance Coal and Energy Research Center sponsors this event. 

13 - Black History Month event: Theater. The Africana Theater Laboratory presents an original play, “A Nightingale for Du Bois,” 7:30 p.m. in the Moe Theater (Communications Building). The play also runs Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in the Moe Theater. 

13 – Concert. The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra presents “Vivaldi for Valentines,” a presentation of Vivaldi and J. S. Bach selections for strings, guitar, oboe and voice. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Wine and dessert are included. Tickets are $50, and must be purchased by Feb. 11. Tickets are available at the SIU Arena and McLeod Theater box offices, at 618/453-6000 or online. 

15 – Black History Month event: Graduate student Dominique White presents “Bayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes,” beginning at 2 p.m. in the Student Center, Kaskaskia Room. Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) was a civil rights leader and an advocate of nonviolence and gay rights. He organized a 1947 Freedom Ride and supported Martin Luther King, Jr. Rustin was arrested in 1953 for homosexual activity and he drew FBI scrutiny due to his affiliation with the American socialist movement. Both Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama praised him posthumously, and Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

17 – Black History Month event: Rachel Wolters, doctoral student, presents “African-American Migration,” a discussion, at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center, Kaskaskia Room. 

17 – Black History Month event: Sister Outsider Performance lecture, 7 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium. Sister Outsider refers to the work of black, lesbian, feminist poet Audre Lorde (1934-1992). 

18 – Black History Month event: film screening. The Africana Film Series presents “Keita: Heritage of the Griot” at 7 p.m. in the University Museum auditorium. A griot is a traveling poet, musician and storyteller who maintains traditional oral history in areas of West Africa. 

21 – Black History Month event: The Association of Black Psychologists Student Circle presents “Don’t Believe the Hype” at 7 p.m. in the Student Center, Ballrooms C and D. 

22 – Music recital. Guest musician Otis Murphy presents a master class and a recital with his wife, the pianist Haruko Murphy. The master class is 2-4 p.m. in Altgeld Hall, Room 117. The recital is 7:30-9 p.m. in the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. Otis Murphy is professor of saxophone at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He’s also a musician raved about in Fanfare Magazine and the Chicago Tribune, a well-travelled soloist and clinician with appearances all over North America and Europe as well as Japan and Australia. He’s won an armful of prizes, and he is the founding member and soprano saxophone in the Solaire Saxophone Quartet. 

22 – Guest artist. Art lecture by Tom Burtonwood, beginning at 6 p.m. in the John C. Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library. Burtonwood is an assistant professor at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. He’s also the producer of open source 3D art. He’ll talk about 3D printing and its place in art and design, including his own. 

23 – Black History Month event: film screening. “778 Bullets,” a documentary directed by Angela Aguayo, associate professor of cinema and photography at SIU, explores events in Carbondale in November 1970, when university, state and local police engaged in a shootout with residents of an off-campus rental house with alleged ties to a local Black Panther Party. Aguayo will attend the screening, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center, Illinois Room. 

23-28 – Big Muddy Film Festival, details pending. 

26 – 64th Annual All Ag Banquet, a community celebration and awards ceremony for agricultural industry partners and students, alumni, faculty and staff. Expected attendance is more than 200.  An opportunity for informal socializing is at 6 p.m. in the John Corker Lounge, with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center ballrooms. The program follows the dinner. The public and university community are welcome at the banquet. Tickets are $20 for non-students, $15 for students. For ticket information, call 618/453-2469. 

26-28 – Theater. The Department of Theater and the School of Music present Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” an opera based on the famous Grimm fairytale of two children, a witch and a gingerbread house, featuring the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., in the McLeod Theater, tickets are $18, student tickets for $6. Tickets are available in person at the McLeod Theater, by phone at 618/453-6000, or online at theater.siu.edu. There is a special event, a high school matinee performance, of this opera at 10 a.m. with tickets for $5. Reserve yours with Scott Elliott at selliott@siu.edu. 

27 – Music event. The Jazz Festival brings high school and junior high school students from the region and beyond for an opportunity to compete and learn together in the largest jazz event in the area. This all-day event is based in Shryock Auditorium. Details pending. 

27 – Drag Show. The Saluki Rainbow Network and Student Center Special Programs bring the popular Drag Show to the Student Center, Ballrooms C and D. Doors open at 7 p.m., the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7, $5 for students with student identification. 

27-28 – Touch of Nature Maple Syrup Festival, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days at Touch of Nature, located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road. The Maple Syrup Festival features opportunities to view demonstrations and purchase items from area artisans and vendors. Maple tree tapping and syrup-making demonstrations are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with guided tree identification hikes at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days. The pancake breakfast, with maple syrup made on site, is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. both days. For those skipping breakfast, admission is $3 per vehicle. Buy tickets or learn more online at www.ton.siu.edu or by calling 618/453-1121.The deadline for purchasing tickets in advance is 2 p.m. Feb. 26.