April 07, 2015
Southern Illinois University Arts and Cultural Events
April 14-28
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. Event information is subject to change.
SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
It’s not every theoretical physicist who has a book on the New York Times Best-sellers List. Michio Kaku has three. It’s not just his genius – it’s his way of describing advanced science and adventure, and presenting research as a tale of wonder.
The Distinguished Speaker Series presents Michio Kaku speaking about “The Future of the Mind,” at 7:30 p.m., April 22, in the Student Center.
Kaku’s most recent book, “The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance and Empower the Mind,” was released in February 2014. It presents the latest advancements in neuroscience and physics, including radical new ways to think about “consciousness,” and how those new thoughts might give us new insight into mental illness, artificial intelligence and even alien consciousness.
Kaku is one of the most widely recognized figures in the world of science today. He has become a television celebrity with appearances on ABC’s “Nightline,” MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” CBS “This Morning,” CNN’s “Quest Means Business,” and more. He is also the author of “Physics of the Future,” and “Physics of the Impossible.”
SIU initiated the Distinguished Speaker Series last year to bring influential speakers to Southern Illinois to discuss ideas and issues of global – and local – significance. The SIU Foundation, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Office of the Chancellor and the College of Science sponsor this event.
There is no admission fee for this event.
Upcoming Events:
APRIL
14 – Presentation. Japanese Internment Camps, 5 p.m. in the Student Center, Mississippi Room by Pamela Smoot. This is an Asian-American Heritage Month event.
FOR THE MEDIA: Nathan Stephens, nathan.stephens@siu.edu or 453-3740.
15 – Lecture. “When Are You Dead? Expanding Objections to Brain Death and Recommended Responses.” The 2015 Ryan Bioethicist-in-Residence, Thaddeus Pope, addresses the legal concept of death, and what happens when neurological death, also known as brain death, is not an acceptable definition to all parties involved. The lecture is at 5 p.m. at the Lesar Law Building courtroom.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Alicia Ruiz, aruiz@siu.edu or 453-8700.
15-16 – SIU Drama Days, a Department of Theater outreach program for area high school students, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at McLeod Theater. Students participate in theater performances, and in workshops in topics including acting, movement and improvisational theater. Approximately 200-250 students each day.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Susan Patrick-Benson, susanpb@siu.edu or 453-7579.
15-17 – Little Grassy Literary Festival, readings and panel discussions in Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Here’s an abbreviated schedule: April 15: 8 p.m. reading; April 16: 11 a.m. panel Q&A; 2 p.m. reading; 3:30 book signing and reception; 5 p.m. reading; April 17: 11 a.m. reading; 2 p.m. Crab Orchard Review 20th Anniversary event.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Allison Joseph, aljoseph@siu.edu or 453-6854; or K. Brattin, k.brattin@gmail.com.
16 – Guest speaker. Asian American Heritage Month Keynote Speaker: Rais Bhuiyan, “The Healing and Transforming Power of Forgiveness,” 7 p.m. in Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Bhuiyan, a Bangladesh native, is the survivor of an attack by “white supremacist” Mark Stroman. Bhuiyan campaigned to reduce Stroman’s sentence from capital punishment. Though he was unsuccessful in that campaign, he has since launched “World Without Hate,” a campaign to promote forgiveness.
FOR THE MEDIA: Nathan Stephens, nathan.stephens@siu.edu or 453-3740.
17 – Art exhibit reception. If you missed your chance to congratulate the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award winners and finalists at the winners’ announcement, you have a chance at the Rickert-Ziebold exhibit reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Surplus Gallery in the Old Glove Factory (432 S. Washington Ave.). The reception includes an awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Diane McClain-Inman, dinman@siu.edu or 453-4313.
17 – Music performance. SIU Guitar Ensembles, 7:30 p.m. in the Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Isaac Lausell, isaac.lausell@siu.edu or 536-8742.
17 – FFA event. Hundreds of high school FFA students will visit SIU to participate in judging contests that challenge them to evaluate the merits of livestock and dairy, and to identify various plants in a horticulture contest. This annual event encourages interaction between College of Agricultural Sciences students and high school students.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Susan Graham, sgraham@siu.edu or 453-2469.
18 – Music performance. SIU Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Dick Kelley, kelley2@siu.edu or 536-3385.
22 – Guest speaker. Distinguished Speaker Series features Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist described as “an American futurist,” presents “The Future of the Mind,” at 7:30 p.m. on April 22. See details in Spotlight of the Week, above.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Cindy Miller, cmiller@siu.edu or 453-7423 or Vanessa Sneed, vsneed@siu.edu or 453-7419.
23 – Music performance. The SIU Combined Orchestras present an end-of-the-academic year performance featuring the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the SIU Civic Orchestra and the SIU Junior Orchestra. Tickets are $12, $6 for students and free for music majors with a School of Music Student Pass.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Frank Grzych, grzych@siu.edu or 536-8742.
23 – Cultural event. African Student Council Food Fair, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the SIU Student Center Ballrooms A and B. The African Student Council is a home for African students who are pursuing their education at SIU. The RSO sees itself as a bridge between African students and faculty, and a vehicle for social interaction and change.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Adedibu Adesokan at fuadadesokan@siu.edu.
23 – Art reception. The 37th Annual Purchase Awards reception, 5-7 p.m. in Art Alley, on the second floor of the Student Center. All SIU students are eligible to enter artwork in the Purchase Awards competition. A faculty and staff committee judges the entries and selects finalists for the Purchase Awards display April 14-May 4. The Student Center purchases one or two pieces each year to become part of the permanent collection. The winners are announced during the reception at about 5:30 p.m.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Alex Martin, amart@siu.edu or 453-3472.
23-26 – Theater production at McLeod Theater. “The Children’s Hour,” a drama about the power of lies and moral righteousness. The play is set in an all-girls boarding school run by two single women, and is based on an incident in 1810 in Edinburgh, Scotland. An angry student tells her influential a lie, implying the two school headmistresses have a lesbian relationship, a rumor resulting in destroyed careers and friendships. The play boasts a large cast showcasing the SIU community. “The Children’s Hour” plays at 7:30 p.m. except on Sunday, April 26, when the showing is at 2 p.m. The Sunday performance is preceded by a pre-show lecture by visiting guest artist Bob Schanke. That lecture begins at 1 p.m. in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts Dean’s Conference Room, adjacent to the McLeod Theater. Tickets are available in advance at the McLeod or SIU Arena box offices, by phone at 453-6000 or online at theater.siu.edu. Tickets are also available at the door beginning one hour before each performance.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Vincent Rhomberg, mcldpub@siu.eu or 453-7589.
25 – 42nd Annual Great Cardboard Boat Regatta, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This famous event is a long-standing part of the SIU spring tradition. Contestants negotiate a course on Campus Lake using boats constructed primarily or wholly from cardboard, including boats built right there on the shore of the lake the day of the event. Contestants have plenty of opportunities to win awards – if they aren’t first through third in the race in their category, they might have a shot at the Titanic Award for spectacular sinking. Alpha Chi Sigma, a professional and social fraternity for men and women in the chemical sciences, sponsors the event.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Mary Kinsel, mkinsel@chem.siu.edu or 453-6428.
26 – Sustainability event, 1-4 p.m. Touch of Nature trail stewardship activity – rebuilding the Rocky Ledges Trail. Volunteers should meet at the Learning Center in Camp II at Touch of Nature – signs will help guide you.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Steve Gariepy, mammoth@siu.edu.
26 – Astronomy Observation, 9-11 p.m. The SIU Physics Department invites the community to the Neckers hall rooftop observation deck to view Venus, Jupiter, Orion’s Nebula, Saturn and more, and to hear a presentation about the night sky. Children accompanied by adults are welcome.
FOR THE MEDIA: Contact Bob Baer, rbaer@physics.siu.edu or 453-2729.
CURRENT EXHIBITS:
University Museum exhibits: Master of Fine Arts Candidates Thesis Exhibitions join the schedule from now through the end of the spring 2015 semester. On exhibit April 17-24 are the thesis works of: Kathy Maves – ceramics; and Joey Tigert – painting, with an artists’ reception 4-7 p.m. on April 24. On exhibit April 21-May 8 is the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts MFA Students. There is no admission to University Museum.
Art Exhibit: Graduate Student Art Exhibits, Morris Library First Floor Rotunda Exhibit Space. These exhibits run through May 31.
Art Exhibit: Buckminster Fuller and the Sacred Geometry of Nature, Morris Library Hall of Presidents. The exhibit runs through April 30.