1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University
Panelists will include Lexington Mayor Jim Gray; Linda Blackford, a reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader; and Maurice Manning, professor of English and writer-in-residence at Transylvania. The moderator will be Michael Cairo, Transylvania’s associate dean for academic affairs and professor of political science.
Transylvania University and the Dorothy J. and Fred K. Smith Concert Series will present Grammy award-winning Conspirare in a performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard” on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium (Mitchell Fine Arts Center). This evocative choral drama, composed by Craig Hella Johnson, is a mix of musical textures and idioms that defy genre and come together to create a sense of hope, compassion, unity and empowerment. The national tour comes to Lexington nearly 20 years to the day when Matthew Shepard’s life was taken in an anti-gay hate crime. The choral and instrumental masterpiece tells Shepard’s story and reverberates with larger questions. “Matt’s story is not unique,” his mother, Judy Shepard, reminds us. “It’s a universal story.” Craig Hella Johnson uses a wide range of poetic texts that span centuries and include contemporary writers Lesléa Newman and Michael Dennis Browne, in addition to works of Hildegard of Bingen, Rumi and Hafiz. Passages from Matthew Shepard’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, as well as newspaper reports add to texts by Johnson and Browne. The power in the work, as described by The Washington Post, “demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy. Powerfully cathartic, it leads us from horror and grief to a higher understanding of the human condition, enabling us to endure.” “Considering Matthew Shepard” is presented as part of Transylvania’s New Frontiers series, which explores new
Read “Grammy-winning Conspirare to perform ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ at Transylvania”
LEXINGTON, Ky.⎯Transylvania University’s Morlan Gallery will open its 2018-19 season with “Lake Effect,” an exhibition that has strong ties to the Windy City. Running Sept. 10 through Oct. 18, the free show is part of Transylvania’s New Frontiers feature event series, which asks the public to go beyond the familiar and explore ideas, art and music. “Lake Effect” is facilitated by 1992 Transylvania graduate Trevor Martin, executive director of exhibitions at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It features four artists connected to that city: Claire Ashley, Susanna Coffey, Jaclyn Mednicov and Maryam Taghavi. Through painting, sculpture, installation and video, their pieces will celebrate color, texture and repetition. “It’s an honor to feature works by these talented artists associated with Chicago, a city that has made broad contributions to the world of art—not only regionally but internationally,” Morlan Gallery Director Andrea Fisher said. “We’re especially excited to have a Transylvania graduate curate this season-opening exhibition.” Martin will discuss the works in “Lake Effect” on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. Laura Bryan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university, will host a reception following the talk. Other special events and hours • Lexington Gallery Hop Reception | Friday, Sept. 21, 5-8 p.m. • Art Talk with Claire Ashley and Jaclyn Mednicov | Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. followed by a closing reception • Evening Hours | Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Read “Transylvania’s Morlan Gallery season opens with ‘Lake Effect’ exhibition”
LEXINGTON, Ky.– Transylvania University’s 2018-19 theater season will feature four productions—from the contemporary to Shakespeare—under the leadership of Tosha Fowler, the new Lucille C. Little Chair of Theater and program director. All productions will be in Little Theater and are free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Dixon-White Fund. Transylvania Theater will benefit from Fowler’s extensive professional career in theater as an actor, director, producer, teacher and playwright in both Chicago and Atlanta. Hailed as the “fearless leader” of her founding company, Cor Theatre, she was named “One of the Top People Who Really Perform” by Newcity Chicago. Additionally, Fowler has taught at The Theatre School at DePaul University, Kent State University, Green Shirt Studios and Georgia Southern University. “I could not be more excited to join the Transy faculty and to work with the Lexington theater community,” Fowler said. “It is an exciting time to create theater in this thriving city, and I am ready to get to work. I plan on collaborating with local talent and bring in colleagues from across the country to enrich the Transylvania Theater experience.” From Nov. 1-10, Fowler will direct a production of “Stupid F—ing Bird,” a heartfelt, irreverent remix of Chekhov’s “The Seagull” by Aaron Posner. Featuring an ensemble of writers, actors and those who choose to watch, it will tickle, tantalize and incite the audience to consider how art, love and revolution fuel the pursuit of happiness. On
Read “New program director leads Transylvania Theater’s 2018-19 season”
LEXINGTON, Ky.—A focus on civility—what it is and how we understand it—plays a leading role in Transylvania University’s Creative Intelligence Series 2018-2019, which includes a variety of speakers and performances. From a lecture by a world-renowned author to a Grammy-nominated oratorio to discussion with an award-winning podcaster, the community is invited to consider this year’s campus theme. “The 2018-19 Creative Intelligence series features artists, scholars and media makers who crack open the concept of civility in dynamic and unexpected ways,” said Zoé Strecker, an art professor and director of Creative Intelligence and special academic programming. “My hope is that these guests will give us the tools and inspiration to expand our sense of civility and to put it into action. It is a tremendous privilege to share these constructive experiments with the community at large.” All of Transylvania’s Creative Intelligence events are free, and the public is encouraged to attend. The series is part of Transylvania’s New Frontiers season, which asks us to go beyond the familiar with new ideas, art and music. Highlights from the 2018-2019 Creative Intelligence series are: Dylan Marron, a popular podcaster who engages people who have been uncivil toward him, on Oct. 8 The Smith Concert Series presentation “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a choral drama featuring the Grammy-winning Conspirare singers, on Oct. 9 James Mustich, author of the upcoming “1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List,” on Oct. 18 Susan Weinstein, who brings
Read “Renowned guests to discuss civility in Transylvania’s Creative Intelligence Series”
