October 28, 2014

Southern Illinois University Arts and Cultural Events

Oct. 28-Nov. 11 

This weekly email brings together all the arts and cultural events happening in a two-week period at SIU Carbondale. From music to art, film to dance, guest lectures to workshops and theater, you will find the information here. Please note that information listed under “for the media” is to assist reporters and is not intended to be published or aired. Also, event information is subject to change.   

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK 

The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, under the guidance of Edward Benyas, music director, will present a Nov. 14 concert of all-American music in honor of Veterans Day. The program, “Celebrating America,” at Shryock Auditorium, will include music from Aaron Copland, John Williams, Samuel Barber, an Andrews Sisters medley and more. Of special note is “American Overture,” composed by 97-year-old World War II veteran Lionel Semiatin. Several special guests join the orchestra, including the SIU Concert Choir, the Southern Illinois Children’s Choir, the New Arts Jazztet, and Michael Barta, solo violin. This performance is part of the orchestra season series. 

Tickets $20 for general admission, $8 for students of any age. Tickets are available in advance at the SIU Arena or McLeod Theater box offices, by phone at 453-2000, or online at the SIU Ticket Office. Tickets are also available at the door beginning one hour before the performance. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Edward Benyas, benyas@siu.edu or 453-5834; Susan Davenport, sgds@siu.edu or 453-5800. 

Upcoming Events: 

NOVEMBER 

4 – The Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra presents “Klassics for Kids,” 10 a.m., Altgeld Hall, Room 112. The program is for children in pre-kindergarten through third grade. Children learn listening skills and get an introduction to the musical instruments used in an orchestra. Admission is free. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Edward Benyas, benyas@siu.edu or 453-5834. 

5 – Guest artist Joy Harjo, Native American poet, 7 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. A member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Harjo is the author of several poetry collections, including “How We Became Human,” “The Woman Who Fell From the Sky,” and “She Had Some Horses;” “A Map to the Next World,” and a memoir, “Crazy Brave.” Harjo will read from her work. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Melinda Yeomans, myeomans1@siu.edu or 453-4846. 

6 – Women Pioneers in the Environment, 4 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. A presentation promoting environmental awareness and women researchers and scholars. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Melinda Yeomans, myeomans1@siu.edu or 453-4846. 

7 – Film screening: “Split Estate,” 7 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. The documentary focuses on the potential for conflict when surface land owners do not also own the energy and mineral rights below their own property. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Brent Ritzel at brent@siu.edu or 618/203-4844. 

7 – Film screening: “Reel Rock Film Tour,” featuring the documentary “Valley Uprising.”  7 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Doors open at 5 p.m., with access to a silent auction. The film tells the history of rock climbing in Yosemite, the counter-culture of the early climbers, and the rivalries that pushed climbers to ever more daring ascents. The Rock Climbing Club, a registered student organization at SIU, in conjunction with the Illinois Climbers Association, is the event sponsor. The event is a fundraiser with proceeds going to the Access Fund, which area climbers are using to purchase a local climbing destination known as the “Holy Boulders.” Admission is $12. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Nicholas L. Edwards, vice president of the Rock Climbing Club, eickndwards@siu.edu. 

7-8 – SIU Guitar Festival. The featured guest artist is Armando Nuñez-Portillo from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Mexico. The festival schedule is available here.  

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Isaac Lausell, isaac.lausell@siu.edu or 536-8742. 

7-9 – Fourth annual Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Heartland Region Student Summit, Touch of Nature Environmental Center. This is a three-day event. AEE is a professional membership association promoting experiential education, a methodology suggested by philosopher John Dewey. Experiential education uses outdoor education and environmental experiences, service learning, cooperative learning within like groups, and hands-on learning. The conference includes workshops, presentations and speakers, and includes student scholars. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Annie Linhart, ton@siu.edu or 453-1121. 

13 – An evening of short films on fracking, 7 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Brent Ritzel at brent@siu.edu or 618/203-4844. 

13-15 – Performance: “Toil and Rubble: Media in Ruins,” 8 p.m. all nights, Kleinau Theater. This performance is co-directed by doctoral student Lindsay Greer and Craig Gingrich-Philbrook, associate professor of communication studies. The directors say this is a show about endings: waiting for endings, resisting them, and, in the meantime, living. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Lindsay Greer, lgreer81@siu.edu or Craig Gingrich-Philbrook, craiggp@siu.edu or 453-2291. 

14 – Museum reception: C4 and MFA Preview exhibits, 4-7 p.m., University Museum. The C4 exhibit displays work from the School of Art and Design sculpture students, while the MFA preview is a chance for MFA students to display some of the pieces that go into what will constitute their master’s degree thesis. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Dona Bachman, dbachman@siu.edu or 453-5388; or Diane McClain-Inman, dinman@siu.edu or 453-4313. 

14 – Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, “Celebrating America,” 7:30 p.m., Shryock Auditorium. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Edward Benyas, benyas@siu.edu or 453-5834; Susan Davenport, sgds@siu.edu or 453-5800. 

17 – Music recital with guest violinist Julieta Mihai, 7:30 p.m., Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall. Julieta Mihai visits from Western Illinois University. She served as concertmaster of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in Springfield from 2001 to 2013. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Michael Barta, barta@siu.edu or 453-5805. 

18 – Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Luncheon Lecture: John A. Becker, United States food policy, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., SIU Student Center Ballroom B. John A Becker is an SIU alumnus and senior policy adviser in the U. S. Agency for International Development. He recently completed an assignment in the Bureau for Food Security, during which he provided policy and program guidance on agricultural development and collaboration with U.S. universities including support to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development. 

FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Vanessa Sneed, vsneed@siu.edu or 453-4004.