Arts and entertainment  |  UW and the community

January 17, 2013

Arts Roundup: Exhibits, lectures, books on stage — and a dance collaboration

“The Rite of Spring” has come a long way since its dissonant music and modernist choreography caused a riot at its 1913 premiere in Paris and the New York Times announced “Parisians Hiss New Ballet.” The UW audience is expected to be somewhat friendlier when the piece is performed with new choreography by Jürg Koch as part of the Faculty Dance/Collaborations, Jan. 18 and 19 in Meany Hall.

“The score is iconic and brilliant,” Betsy Cooper, director of the UW Dance Program, wrote in a statement about the UW production. “It begs to be worked with. The themes of birth, sacrifice and regeneration are universal and primal.” The event also represents collaboration among UW arts departments, involving talents from music and drama as well as dance.

The dance concert leads a busy week of UW arts that also includes exhibits, lectures, the start of a series on world Jewish music and the School of Drama working with Book-It Repertory to stage famous novels. UW arts are a riot, too — but, you know, in a good way.

“Critical Issues in Contemporary Art,” Jan. 17-March 14. The School of Art presents a series of free public lectures, each at 7 p.m. in the Henry Art Gallery Auditorium. Lectures are Jan. 17, 24; Feb. 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14. The first will be Raymond Boisjoly of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. The second lecture is by artist Jason Dodge. Presented by the Nebula Project; learn more online.

Novel Workshop Series: UW Drama and Book-It Repertory, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 17-20. A series of readings performed by UW Masters of Fine Arts acting students in collaboration with members of Book-It. In the Meany Studio Theater. Tickets $10, 206-543-4880.

 

• Jan. 17, 19: “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexander Dumas, adapted by Rachel Atkins, directed by David Quicksall. Also, “Run” by Ann Patchett, adapted and directed by Myra Platt.
• Jan 18, 20: “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” by Michael Chabon, adapted by Jeff Schwager, directed by Josh Aaseng. Also, “Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James, adapted and directed by Annie Lareau.

“Jazz Forum” covers, through Jan. 29, lecture Jan. 17. A touring exhibit in Allen Library’s north lobby of jazz album covers created between 1970 and 1981 by Polish-born artist Rafal Olbiński between 1970 and 1981, capturing part of the history of jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Sponsored by the UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee. Olbiński will give a public lecture at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17, in the Walker Ames Room of Kane Hall.

New Voices in World Jewish Music Series, Jan. 17-March 14. Sephardic music traditions from around the world are finding fresh interpretations via a new generation of performers, three of whom will visit the UW this quarter as part of this series, presented by the UW’s Stroum Jewish Studies Program and Sephardic Studies Initiative. Through conversations with faculty and live performances, the artists will showcase their roots in places ranging from medieval Spain to Greece, Turkey, Iran and Jerusalem.

The series begins Jan. 17 with singer Sarah Aroeste in conversation with Devin Naar, assistant professor of Jewish studies and history, at the Ethnic Cultural Theater. Inspired by her family’s Sephardic roots in Greece and Macedonia, the American-born Aroeste, trained in classical opera, brings a contemporary style of original and traditional Ladino music to audiences around the world. Her style combines traditional Mediterranean Sephardic sounds with contemporary influences such as rock, funk jazz and blues. Lectures are at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, Feb. 10 and March 14 at various locations. Learn more online.

Faculty Dance/Collaborations, 7:30 p.m., Jan 18-19. UW faculty provide choreography, music and costumes for this performance in Meany Hall by advanced student, professional and community dancers. On the  program is Igor Stravinsky’s iconic “The Rite of Spring” (choreographed by Koch), José Limón’s tribute to Isadora Duncan, “Dances for Isadora” and the premiere of “A Small Piece of the Story” (choreographed by Jennifer Salk). Read more about the concert in the latest issue of Perspectives. Tickets $10-$18.

• Other events in the UW’s “Rite of Spring” Centennial Celebration continue into May. Next up is the UW World Series presentation of Compagnie Marie Chouinard, Jan. 24-26 in Meany Hall. The program includes choreographer Chouinard’s rendition of “The Rite of Spring” with music by the UW Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Pasternack, and “24 Preludes by Chopin,” performed with accompaniment by pianist Brooks Tran, a School of Music doctoral student.
  

Spanish Civil War photographs by Agustí Centelles, Jan. 22-Feb. 16.  An exhibit in the Jacob Lawrence Gallery featuring 40 photographs taken by Centelles during the Spanish Civil War and captivity at the Bram internment camp. The negatives were hidden in a suitcase for decades in the French city of Carcassonne until the photographer retrieved them in 1976. Opening reception is 4-7 p.m. Jan. 22, in the gallery. (The exhibit is titled “Centelles> in_edit_¡oh!” — a sort of play on the Spanish word “inédito,” meaning “unpublished.”) Watch a video of Centelles photos.

• James Fernandez of New York University will give a lecture titled “Archives Without Borders” Jan. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 105 of Smith Hall.
  

Sandpoint Studios Open House, 7:30-9 p.m., Jan. 24. Masters of Fine Arts students from the Painting and Drawing program open their studios in Magnuson Park to the public. Visitors can see finished and in-progress work and talk with students about their artistic process. There will be an exhibition of faculty-selected work in the adjacent Sandpoint Gallery. Free parking and refreshments provided.

Play: “Burn This,” Jan. 24 – Feb. 3. The Undergraduate Theater Society presents a drama by Lanford Wilson, directed by Mary Hubert, in the Hutchinson Hall Cabaret Theater. Tickets $5-$10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tag(s): ArtsUW • School of Art + Art History + Design • School of Drama • School of Music

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