Cover Story: MSU Celebrates A Year of "Arts and Culture"
The next 12 months will see special events galore celebrating arts and culture across the MSU campus.
Arts and culture is among the many facets of Michigan State University that make it a major public university with global impact. If there is any question about this, the next 12 months should dispel all doubts. The 2007-2008 academic year has been officially declared as MSU’s “Year of Arts and Culture” and the university has been gearing up for it.
“We take this opportunity to showcase the many ways the university advances arts and culture through teaching, research, and outreach,” says MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “MSU’s Year of Arts and Culture comprises activities that involve all arts and culture units and academic programs, cut across multiple disciplines, enrich the student experience, align with local and economic development efforts, and engage the community.”
Alumni are more than welcome to join with students, faculty and staff to celebrate this unique opportunity, where campus and community come together in celebration of the university’s vibrant arts and cultural offerings. Members of the university and greater communities, and visitors and alumni from near and far are invited to delight in music, performing arts and concert centers; libraries, museums, and galleries; gardens, public art, and historic sites across the MSU campus. At the same time, audiences on campus and around the world can take advantage of academic and research programs, public broadcasting, online resources, publications, and outreach initiatives.
"Michigan State University has a long and impressive history of creative faculty, innovative cultural programs, and impact in the arts and cultural arena locally and globally," explains C. Kurt Dewhurst, MSU Museum director and chair of MSU's Cultural Engagement Council. "MSU’s Year of Arts and Culture has been developed to focus attention on the remarkable state of the arts at MSU today.
"It is truly an exciting time at MSU as we come to better appreciate the rich contributions of the cultural sector to campus life, our state, nation, and international connections."
The Importance of Arts and Culture
“Art is an irreplaceable way of understanding and expressing the world—equal to but distinct from scientific and conceptual methods, “ Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, once said. “There are some truths about life that can be expressed only as stories, or songs, or images.”
Most people who participate in arts and cultural activities would say that these activities enhance the quality of their lives; they bring about personal enjoyment, enriching perspectives, intellectual stimulation, and opportunities for public involvement. But the arts and cultural expression have broader impacts beyond the individual level. They can also fuel community and economic development.
Because art is about crossing boundaries and seeing things in different ways, it can be a vehicle for engaging public discussion, understanding social issues, and building connections. Art, for example, can be used to engage people in neighborhood revitalization. A decaying building can be transformed into one with productive uses or an abandoned area can be converted into a community garden. These activities help develop community identity and collective pride. Art can also be used to engage youth in civic activities such as beautifying urban spaces by painting wall murals. All it takes is some creativity and collective wisdom to think of the myriad ways that culture and the arts can be used for community benefit.
All the World Is a Stage
The tradition of performing arts can be traced to MSU’s earliest years. From the beginning, university leaders recognized the ability of arts and culture to not only entertain, but also to enlighten and educate. Whether through a stirring symphony by an ensemble from the recently renamed College of Music, a lively performance by students from the College of Arts and Letters’ Department of Theatre, or an invigorating interpretive dance, the transformative power of the performing arts can also be witnessed in countless venues throughout campus, including the Breslin Student Events Center, and the nationally renowned Clifton and Dolores Wharton Center for Performing Arts, now celebrating its 25th anniversary as Michigan’s premier performing arts center.
The New College of Music
Plato once said, “To sing well and to dance well is to be well-educated.” MSU also prides itself on engaging audiences of all ages with stimulating music education programs including artist residencies, master classes, pre- and post-performance lectures, and more. Programs like Jazz Kats-Jazz for Kids, a collaboration between the College of Music and Wharton Center for Performing Arts; the Community Music School, which inspires thousands of individuals each year; the Young Playwrights Festival, involving area high school students; and Summer Circle Theatre productions; all have the ability to artistically, physically and intellectually challenge and inspire us all.
The impact of arts and culture can also be seen in countless classrooms through programs such as the College of Music’s innovative mentoring program with the Detroit Public School System, and countless guest lectures hosted by the College of Arts and Letters such as Orhan Pamuk, 2006 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature. Additional programs such as a multi-day artist residency with the Stratford Festival of Canada and Wharton Center’s Act One Family and School Series integrate the arts into diverse curricula such as history, science, language arts, literature, and more.
A Work of Art
MSU’s visual arts community has a vibrant history of contributions both to the university and to the national cultural scene. Meander through the university’s galleries and sculpture gardens, and one is continually reminded that art inspires wonder, contemplation, and diverse understanding – all the while sharpening one’s critical view. As Eugene Ionesco has said, “A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind.”
While art enthusiasts and alumni can relish the memories of their experiences at MSU, they can also be assured that the enterprise of making, critiquing, and interpreting the world of art continues to grow as the Department of Art and Art History proudly celebrates 75 years of finding new ways to make, critique, and interpret art.
Beyond the gallery walls, MSU’s visual arts community continues to develop innovative programs and experiences for students and community alike. “Saturday Morning Art,” a unique departmental initiative that allows future art educators to interact and work with school-age children, is one of many examples of integrating art into classrooms and communities.
Galleries Galore
On permanent display are examples from The Art Museum’s collection of more than 7,000 objects. Exhibits present a rich diversity of style, technique and media, spanning 5,000 years of human history from ancient Cycladic figures to contemporary mixed media installations. Also located in the Kresge Art Center, the newly constructed Department of Art and Art History’s Gallery 101 and recently renovated Gallery 114 are devoted to supporting artistic research and displaying student artwork.
Thanks to the generosity of alumnus Eli Broad and his wife Edythe, who made the largest cash gift from individuals in MSU’s history, the new Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, which will focus on modern and contemporary art, is scheduled to open in 2010. With a larger facility, the art museum’s programmatic offerings will expand and become more integral to the College of Arts and Letters, other colleges, and the overall University.
On July 18, 2007, potential architectural designs for the museum were unveiled before a jury. These designs represent the ideas of Coop Himmelb(l)au; Kohn Pederson Fox Associates, PC; Randall Stout Architects, Inc.; Zaha Hadid Architects; and Morphosis, all internationally renowned architectural firms. Models, drawings and CD presentations (on exhibit at The Art Museum from September 4 through October 14) reveal the range of designs for the art museum’s future home on Grand River Avenue.
Preserving The Past
MSU also has a proud history of preserving our rich cultural traditions. No place is this more apparent than at the MSU Museum. Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, the museum is one of the Midwest’s oldest and a public steward for nearly a million objects and specimens of cultural and natural history from around the world. The MSU Museum is also the first museum in the state to receive affiliate status from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
The Written Word
“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance for generations and nations,” according to Henry David Thoreau. It’s likely that most students and alumni know the MSU Libraries as a place to research a term paper or participate in a study group, but the written word also has the ability to transport us to far away places, bring new cultures to life, and communicate a multitude of emotions. The MSU Libraries are an amazing repository of cultural expression, from one of the nation’s largest collections of Africana literature; to the Fine Arts Library; to the Vincent Voice Library, a collection of over 40,000 hours of spoken word recordings, dating back to 1888.
Capturing the rich history of MSU, the University Archives and Historical Collections act as the memory of the institution. From official university records to papers by Michigan politicians and the diaries of Civil War soldiers, historical records and significant materials of local, regional, national and international interest, are being preserved for future generations.
“Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity,” wrote Hermann Hesse. Advancing the arts through the written word is also one of the many goals of the MSU Press. Established in 1947 by former MSU president John Hannah, and now celebrating its 60th year of excellence in scholarly publishing, the press publishes about 40 books each year and is the largest publisher of books on Africa in the United States.
The Art of Communicating
In the 21st century, art and culture can be expressed in a variety of different mediums from music to movement to multimedia. Improved facilities for arts education, a new student gallery and “Creative Incubator,” a digital exploration lab, opportunities to experiment with virtual reality and more are helping advance the art of learning through the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
In addition to academic activities, campus units such as WKAR are connecting people to powerful ideas that inspire personal growth, exploration of our world and positive change. Offerings such as Radio Talking Book, a free service for those who are visually challenged by printed material, further demonstrate how new forms of communicative expression are helping advance arts and culture for a new generation. Throughout the year, WKAR-TV will air video vignettes taking viewers behind the scenes to discover the breadth and depth of arts and culture on campus.
Living and Learning Through the Arts
The arts and humanities provide a solid foundation for a deeper understanding of the human condition, a broader perspective on our personal lives, and new set of practical tools to improve our rapidly changing global environment. In August, MSU’s new Residential College of Arts and Humanities opened its doors to an inaugural class of approximately 125 students. The new college combines a global and interdisciplinary emphasis with a residential living-learning experience to enhance the undergraduate experience in the arts and humanities. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow,” to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Engaging Campus and Community
This year’s special celebration of arts and culture has been organized by MSU’s Cultural Engagement Council (CEC), which functions under the auspices of the Office of University Outreach and Engagement. Comprised of representatives from allied cultural units, outreach, and student life, the CEC fosters greater connectivity across campus and within the community.
CEC members involved in planning the celebration include The Art Museum at MSU; Breslin Student Events Center; College of Arts and Letters, including the departments of theatre, and art and art history; College of Communication Arts and Sciences; College of Music; MSU Press; MSU Libraries; MSU Museum; Public Humanities Collaborative; the new Residential College in Arts and Humanities; University Archives & Historical Collections; Wharton Center for Performing Arts; and WKAR-Public Broadcasting Services. Other partners include Student Affairs & Services; University Relations, MSU Alumni Association; Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives; University Outreach and Engagement; and others.
As you begin to explore the richness of Michigan State University’s arts and cultural offerings, we invite you to start your adventure at artsandculture.msu.edu.
Kent A. Love, APR, graduated from MSU in 1993 with a B.A. in telecommunications, information studies and media. He is director of communications for Wharton Center for Performing Arts and co-chairs the communicator team of MSU’s Cultural Engagement Council. Input for this story was provided by all participating CEC members and partners.
WHARTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS: ENRICHING LIVES FOR 25 YEARS
Wharton Center for Performing Arts has a long history of presenting quality programs. Over the past 25 years, the Center has generated state and national prominence for its success with touring megahits and sold-out sensations, making producers, performers and patrons turn their attention toward mid-Michigan. However, at its core, Wharton Center is more than a space to entertain; it is a place to educate and engage.
A Vibrant Past
During the 1970s, MSU President Clifton Wharton and his wife Dolores described the arts as a humanizing, unifying force in our world, bringing people together across vast cultural, social, economic and geographic divisions. Their desire to create a world-class performing arts center for the residents of Michigan became a reality in the fall of 1982.
Since the inaugural performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which returns as part of the 25th anniversary season, Wharton Center has become a dynamic and evolving cultural resource. From Broadway blockbusters like Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King, and Wicked to world-renowned orchestras, dance companies, jazz legends and more, Wharton Center hosts an impressive line-up of more than 100 performances each season, attracting patrons from throughout the state and region.
Beyond The Stage
Today, Wharton Center is about much more than the performances that grace its stages. Whether it’s the countless programs that integrate the arts and academics or the engagement activities that take Wharton Center into the community or unique programs like Seats 4 Kids, a scholarship fund providing tickets to economically-disadvantaged children, a key part of Wharton Center’s mission is to enrich lives and strengthen the value of the arts in everyday life.
“Recent cuts in local, state and national funding have created a void in arts education,” says Michael Brand, Wharton Center’s executive director. “We’re able to help fill that void by integrating the arts into the academic experience and into people’s lives with a diverse array of programs.”
Programs such as the Act One School Series, Jazz Kats-Jazz For Kids, and the Young Playwrights Festival integrate performing arts into K-12 curriculum for more than 30,000 children each year. Master classes, artist residencies and community engagement activities help ensure that the arts remain a relevant part of people’s lives, regardless of age and background. Most recently, Wharton Center began a multi-year collaboration with the Stratford Festival of Canada, and in the coming years will host artist residencies with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis, and others.
The Best And Brightest
As Wharton Center celebrates 25 years of presenting the best and brightest, this year’s season line-up features more than one hundred outstanding performances including the return of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, followed by a special celebratory dinner at the Kellogg Center; a world premiere commission by the MSU Symphony Orchestra honoring Clifton and Dolores Wharton; the return of Michigan Opera Theatre; Mandy Patinkin; and the perennial family favorite, MSU’s Home for the Holidays. Scores of award-winning entertainers – Tonys, Grammys and even an Emmy, include Disney’s High School Musical, Camelot, Monty Python’s Spamalot, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Avenue Q, Riverdance, and the return of the Broadway smash hit WICKED. With hundreds of performances from Broadway to jazz to classical, dance, and music from around the world, Wharton Center offers an extraordinary array of entertainment options. For more information, visit www.whartoncenter.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS: MSU’S YEAR OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Here is a sampling of events and exhibitions taking place over the next few months. (For a complete list, visit artsandculture.msu.edu.)
Ongoing
“MSU Museum: 150 Years of Discovery”
Special exhibit, Heritage Hall, MSU Museum
Ongoing
Check WKAR.org for schedule of programs.
A two-part oral history of World War II veterans from Michigan.
WKAR-TV
August 27 – September 28, 2007
Master of Fine Arts All Media Exhibition
Department of Art and Art History – Galleries 101 & 114
September 4 – October 14, 2007
“The Paper Sculpture Show”
The Art Museum at MSU
September 18-23, 2007
As Bees in Honey Drown
A Department of Theatre production
Arena Theatre, MSU Auditorium
September 27, 2007
“History and Hope”
A lecture featuring Smithsonian's Richard Kurin, author of "Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem.”
Hosted by the MSU Museum at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Auditorium
September 28, 2007
COLLAGE Concert
A College of Music production
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
September 28, 2007
ArtsBlitz
The Kresge Art Center/The Art Museum at MSU
October – November, 2007
2x2 Exhibition Series
Department of Art and Art History – Gallery 101
October 1, 2007
A lecture by Orthan Pamuk, 2006 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature
Collegeof Artsand Letters
Pasant Theatre, Wharton Center for Performing Arts
October 10-14, 2007
Cirque du Soleil's SALTIMBANCO
Breslin Student Events Center
October 10-17, 2007
Pygmalion
A Department of Theatre production
Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
October 14, 2007
ChicagoSymphony Orchestra
Followed by a special Celebratory Dinner honoring Wharton Center’s 25th Anniversary.
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
October 20 – December 14, 2007
Marion Post Wolcott Photographs
The Art Museum at MSU
October 24, 2007
Blue Man Group: How To Be A Megastar Tour 2.1 Live!
BreslinStudent Events Center
October 30 – November 2, 2007
StratfordFestival Artist Residency
Various events open to the public including Brian Bedford: The Lover, The Lunatic & The Poet
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
November 8-11, 2007
2nd Annual International Film Festival
Hosted by the College of Communication Arts and Sciences
November 13 – 18, 2007
Arts or Crafts
A Department of Theatre world premiere written for MSU’s Year of Arts and Culture
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
November 16-18, 2007
Cinderella (La Cenerentola)
An MSU Opera Theatre and Chamber Orchestra presentation
MSU Concert Auditorium
January 7 – March 16, 2008
“The Impressionist Era: Works on Paper”
The Art Museum at MSU
January 29, 2008
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
January 29 – February 3, 2008
Six Characters in Search of an Author
A Department of Theatre production
Arena Theatre, MSU Auditorium
February 5, 2008
Julie Mehretu
Part of the 2007-2008 Visiting Artist and Scholar Lecture Series
Department of Art and Art History
February 9, 2008
Dianne Reeves with special guest Rodney Whitaker
WhartonCenterfor Performing Arts
February 21-24, 2008
DanceFest: MSU Repertory Dance Company in concert.
Fairchild Theatre
MUSEUM KICKS OFF WITH A BLING
By Lora Helou
The MSU Museum is helping to kick off MSU’s “Year of Arts and Culture” with a bang—actually, a bling, to use hip hop vernacular.
The museum is sponsoring two programs this fall related to the world-famous Hope Diamond, the Smithsonian Institution's most viewed artifact. A Smithsonian affiliate, the MSU Museum is presenting this September a free, public presentation and book signing by Richard Kurin, director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, as well as a private event a Cowles House.
On Sept. 27, the public can hear Kurin’s presentation, "Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem," at 3 p.m. in the Kellogg Center auditorium. Kurin will also autograph his book, Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem (Smithsonian Books, 2006), which will be on sale at the MSU Museum. On Sept. 28, Kunin will host a "History and Hope" gala dinner and reception at Cowles House and the MSU Museum. (Cost is $100—$50 is tax deductible—contact the Museum).
In his book, Kurin reveals the true story behind the most famous—and infamous—gemstone in the world. The Hope Diamond, a glimmering deep-blue gem weighing more than 45 carats, is not only exceptionally beautiful, it has a long and incredibly colorful history. That history—spread over three centuries and three continents—features diamond mining in India, the French Revolution, the machinations of British King George IV, the Gilded Age in America and a number of very clever jewelers including Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. In the 20th century, the myth of the Hope diamond curse made the diamond more notorious and famous than ever before.
From its origins in 17th Century India, the Hope Diamond today resides at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where it is most viewed artifact in all of the Smithsonian's 19 museums and 136-million holdings.
A cultural anthropologist, Kunin is responsible for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held annually on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Grammy-award winning Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Since 2004, he has headed the Smithsonian's National Programs, overseeing its traveling exhibition service, its network of 144 affiliated museums, its educational programs, and its 55,000 Smithsonian Associate membership organization.
The MSU Museum is the state's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate, and museum researchers and scholars have collaborated on fieldwork, research, publications and exhibitions over the past 20 years. The Hope Diamond events are presented as part of the MSU Museum's 150th anniversary and MSU's Year of Arts and Culture in 2007-2008. Spartans can learn more about this event and an array of more performances, exhibitions and programs all year long and all across MSU at artsandculture.msu.edu.