University of Dubuque Celebrates the Arts
Mar 19, 2009 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
The University of Dubuque Arts Celebration Committee, in conjunction with the Wendt Center for Character Education, is proud to announce the fifth annual spring arts series of events titled Art of Character; Character of Art in a month-long celebration of the arts, March 24 - April 28. This year's theme is "Faith in Art". Featured guest, Christopher Merrill - poet, author, and director of the University of Iowa International Writing Program - will deliver a reading and lecture as part of this enjoyable and educational celebration of the relationship between art and character. This year's events highlight our students and faculty, featuring our actors, artists, writers, singers, musicians, and improv. comedians.
Christopher Merrill has published four collections of poetry, including Brilliant Water , and Watch Fire , for which he received the Peter I. B. Lavan Younger Poets Award from the Academy of American Poets; translations of Alea Debeljak's Anxious Moments and The City and the Child ; several edited volumes, among them, The Forgotten Language: Contemporary Poets and Nature and From the Faraway Nearby: Georgia O'Keeffe as Icon ; and four books of nonfiction, The Grass of Another Country: A Journey Through the World of Soccer , The Old Bridge: The Third Balkan War and the Age of the Refugee , Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars , and Things of the Hidden God: Journey to the Holy Mountain .
Merrill's work has been translated into twenty-five languages, his journalism appears in many publications, and he is the book critic for the daily radio news program The World.
Merrill has held the William H. Jenks Chair in Contemporary Letters at the College of the Holy Cross, and now directs the International Writing Program at The University of Iowa.
Events throughout the month feature involvement by both the College and Seminary including the UDTS John P. Woods Distinguished Lecture; a Hymn Festival at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; Into the Vineyard concert featuring two UD staff members; two student/faculty art exhibits - The Edge and a Seminary exhibit, Articulate , a student art and literary magazine; gallery talks by UD students on their original artwork and literary creations; comedy performances; and concerts by the University of Dubuque band and choir. The series of events will conclude with a worship service featuring the UD Gospel Choir.
"The University of Dubuque Arts Committee is very excited that faculty, staff, and students have come together for our fifth consecutive year to celebrate our many artistic talents," stated Mike Willis, University multimedia specialist and project director of the events. "We're honored to welcome Christopher Merrill from the University of Iowa's International Writing Program - his lecture and reading on April 1 will be the centerpiece of this spring's events. We are equally blessed with a supremely talented collection of faculty, staff, and students whose talents will also be on display. Whether it's poetry, music, comedy, drama, or the visual arts, we should have something to please and surprise almost everyone.
"Our sincere thanks to the Wendt Center for Character Education whose support makes this all possible. We hope you can join us as we explore together the relationship between faith and art!"
All events are free and open to the public.
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*Please see the following event listing for details.**
Character of Art ; Art of Character ~ "Faith in Art"
Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
Hymn Festival
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Sunday, March 29, 8:00 p.m.
Into the Vineyard featuring Chris Peterson and Greg James (concert)
Peters Commons Dining Hall
Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 p.m.
Christopher Merrill, Reading and Lecture
Couchman Reading Room, Charles C. Myers Library
Thursday, April 2, 1:45 p.m.
Storytelling Performance
Sylvia's Coffee Shop, Charles C. Myers Library
Friday, April 3, 5:00 p.m.
The Launch
The Edge: CGIM Student Exhibit
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary Art Exhibit
Articulate Student Art and Literary Magazine
Alumni Hall
Friday, April 3, 6:00 p.m.
Spartaneous Comedy Crew
Alumni Hall
Saturday, April 4, 7:00 p.m.
Spartaneous Comedy Crew
Alumni Hall
Thursday, April 16, 10:30 a.m.
Readings from Articulate
Sylvia's Coffee Shop, Charles C. Myers Library
Thursday, April 16, 8:00 p.m.
Band Aid Concert, featuring the UD Jazz Ensemble and Midnight Crisis
Peters Commons Dining Hall
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Golden Rule Step Competition featuring The Divine Nine
McCormick Gym
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m.
Lily's Purple Plastic Purse (Play)
Blades Chapel
Saturday, April 18, 3:00 p.m.
UD Band Concert: Music from the Great American Songbook
Coffee Shop Patio, Charles C. Myers Library (rain site TBA)
Tuesday, April 21, 10:30 a.m.
Poetry Reading: Alice Oleson, Paula Neuhaus, and Rich Rossignol
Sylvia's Coffee Shop, Charles C. Myers Library
Thursday, April 23, 7:00 p.m.
Let It Be Heard: Poetry and Music of the Soul
Couchman Reading Room, Charles C. Myers Library
Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
Spring Concert - University Concert Choir
Blades Chapel
Sunday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.
Spring Concert - University Concert Choir
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
Tuesday, April 28, 9:30 a.m.
Chapel Service featuring the UD Gospel Choir
Alumni Hall
