The Mary B. Martin School of the Arts is kicking off their eleventh season of live arts. Focusing on social issues and art as conversation, the school continues to have a diverse lineup of events and activities for a unique and fun semester.
“As always, we have a one-of-a-kind mixture of music, film, visual arts and this fall, circus and aerial arts with a message,” says Anita DeAngelis, director of the Martin School of the Arts. “In fact, many of our events and artists have messages, because we love to get conversations started with issue-oriented programming.”
“Same God” (Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Millennium Centre) – This documentary film that follows Dr. Larycia Hawkins, a political science professor who caused a controversy by posting a photo of herself in a hijab in support of Muslim women, while exploring the polarization of the evangelical community and politics over issues of race, Islam and religious freedom.
“FL3TCH3R Exhibit” (Sept. 30 – Dec. 13, Reece Museum) – This visual art exhibit is established in the memory of Fletcher Dyer, a BFA senior at ETSU who passed away in 2009 in an accident, and focuses on work with strong social and/or political content while supporting the annual Fletcher H. Dyer Memorial Scholarship.
“Alash Ensemble w/ Shodekeh” (Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church) – This concert is a mix of old and new Eastern and Western traditions and music with the Alash Ensemble, a trio of Tuvan throat singers, joined by Baltimore-based beatboxer Dominic “Shodekeh” Talifero.
“Wrestle” (Oct. 21, 7 p.m., Ball Hall auditorium) – This documentary film follows four members of an underdog high school wrestling team in Huntsville, Alabama as they deal with factors of race, mental health, drugs, poverty and unstable home lives.
“Webs Circus & Dragonfly Aerial” (Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m., Bud Frank Theatre) – This physical theater show explores the broad range of gender-based violence against people identifying as women, being a victim of violence and healing, justice and change needed to end the violence.
“Sue Coe, FL3TCH3R juror talk” (Nov. 7, 5 p.m., Reece Museum) – Talk with Sue Coe, an author and illustrator who has contributed drawings to Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker, The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
“Becky Buller Band & The Fairfield Four” (Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Elizabethton) – Grammy and IBMA winner Becky Buller and her band join with the Grammy award-winning Fairfield Four for an evening of gospel. Buller is a graduate of ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music Program.
“Float” (Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Ball Hall Auditorium) – This documentary film features Brett Sanborn and Yuan Kang Lee, two American F1D plane competitors, as they prepare for and compete at the World Championships.
“Peter Steiner” (Dec. 2, 7:30p.m., First Presbyterian Church) – Peter Steiner, Italian graduate of The Julliard School and principal trombonist with the Colorado Symphony, will be performing and combining European soul with American spirit.
“We have put together a season of strong social consciousness, unique entertainment and a range of musical styles from countries the world wide,” DeAngelis added. “We hope these events, when looked at as a whole, will strike a harmonious balance.”
For more information about the Martin School of the Arts’ fall events or tickets, visit www.etsu.edu/martin or call 423-439-8587. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
