Thanks to Center Stage, several cultural and artistic events have been scheduled for the year, with four of them taking place this month across campus.
Center Stage recently released their schedule of upcoming artistic events that are free to students. The events range from guest speakers and concerts to art displays and poets.
Among the several events offered, an array of artists’ works are to be featured in the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery throughout the semester. This program is known as the “artist in residence” series.
The current artist in residence is Matt Hutton, a furniture designer from Portland, Maine.
According to the artist’s website, “Hutton earned his BFA in woodworking and furniture design at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana and an MFA from San Diego State University.”
“I think it’s very stylized. It’s simplistic. It borrows kind of a lot of the designs that some of the artists were going for in the 90s when it comes to furniture art,” said Jonathan Carpenter, a junior art major.
Carpenter’s favorite piece is called “Core Sample.”
“As an artist myself, I know that whatever one seems to be the most fussed with is the most personal,” said Carpenter.
Hutton’s work is on display in the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery, located on the main level of the RUC. The exhibit opened Sept. 2 and will run through Sept. 25. Hutton will give a gallery talk on Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The first guest speaker of the semester will be Juliet Schor. Schor will speak about time management and happiness. This event will be Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Hall auditorium.
At the end of the semester, the art of Jim Graham will take its place in the Joan Derryberry Art Gallery.
Graham is the department chair of painting at Southeastern Louisiana University. His paintings will be on display from Sept. 29 until Oct. 23.
Closing out the month, on Sept. 30, Amy Roloff, star of the hit TLC reality show, "Little People Big World," is scheduled to speak about her life as a little person with a presentation in Derryberry Auditorium.
Roloff was born with dwarfism and only stands at a height of 4 feet 2 inches. She has made it her mission to live a purposeful life despite her disability.
According to the Center Stage website, Roloff will divulge stories from her life related to her dwarfism and will deliver a message about the values of respect in herself and others, honest communication and acceptance.
This event is being co-sponsored by Disability Services.
“I put the events together once it is decided who we’re going to bring in. I do the contracting and scheduling and setting everything up behind the scenes to make sure they happen,” said Anne Thurmond, coordinator for Center Stage.
Thurmond said because the events are funded by student fees, students can attend for free, with the exception of theatrical productions.
