2013-14 Season Guide - Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech

2013–2014 Inaugural Season

A single event can

within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.

–Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

2013–2014 Inaugural Season

We are looking forward to 2013 being a very exciting year for Virginia Tech, for all our programs, but especially for the arts, with the long-anticipated opening this fall of the Center for the Arts. The arts awaken our desire to understand the world.

For many years, we have had strong programming in the arts, through music, the visual arts, cinema, and theater. Outstanding faculty members have mentored, trained, and directed generations of students with artistic talents and aspirations. But when I became president of Virginia Tech, I and many others thought that we needed to increase the visibility and viability of the arts for our students, faculty and staff, and the broader community of Southwest Virginia.

We believe that the arts are an integral aspect of a great university and instrumental in our efforts to provide a comprehensive education by “educating the whole student,” which has been one of my overarching goals. In addition to playing an important role in attracting the very best students to Virginia Tech, the Center for the Arts is also critical to attracting and retaining faculty and staff by creating a culture-rich environment in which they can thrive, can find opportunities for enjoyment, and further self-discovery.

We look forward to the joy of the artistic expression that will emanate from the Center for the Arts and encourage all to participate in this vibrant artistic awakening.

Sincerely, Charles W. Steger President, Virginia Tech The arts offer us something found nowhere else. They enhance our lives far beyond a single experience in the performance hall or gallery, adding to our joy, knowledge, and resilience – from the energy that comes from young artists and provocative new works, to the power of veteran masters and enduring classics we know and love. Artists’ expressions stay with us long after we first encounter them, and inform our understanding of the world and one another.

The season ahead provides a rich range of experiences, and this is just the beginning. Other ways to engage more deeply with these artists, their works and topics they illuminate, will be offered through preperformance lectures, gallery talks, workshops, and digital content that will extend and enhance impact. Watch also for more information on the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT), the ArtsFusion series, and other innovative ICAT projects that will be breaking boundaries in the months ahead.

The new center will be a hub for creativity on our campus, with ICAT researchers working at the intersections of art, science, engineering, and design; with student artists discovering their voices; and with visiting artists sharing in our passion for learning, discovery, and engagement.

I invite you to explore all the many facets of creativity the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech has to offer as we embark on this grand new journey together.

Warm regards, Ruth Waalkes Associate Provost for the Arts and Executive Director, Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech

2013–2014 Inaugural Season Performances, chronologically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Calendar of all events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Exhibitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 General and subscription information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

What Inspires You? We are happy to offer a few thoughts to get you started and guide you through the season.

Something Deeper Hungry for something to stir your soul, and provide food for thought and conversation long after the performance ends?

Philip Glass Ensemble, Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation Ira Glass, Reinventing Radio The Miners’ Hymns eighth blackbird, Colombine’s Paradise Theatre Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion

Something Fresh In the mood for a bit of adventure, and want to try something completely new and different?

Ballet Hispanico, Sortijas, and other repertoire Diavolo Dance Theater, Transit Space, and other repertoire Mike Daisey, Faster Better Social The Acting Company, Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Dance Theatre of Harlem, Far but Close, and other repertoire

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Something Timeless Seeking personal reverie through lush music and movement, as only the classics can provide?

David Finckel and Wu Han, Russian Reflections Joshua Bell, Valentine Concert Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Four Seasons Martha Graham, Classic Graham Blacksburg Master Chorale, Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio

Something Joyful Looking for something the entire family can enjoy, guaranteed to put a skip in your step and a smile in your heart?

Sphinx Virtuosi, A Dialogue Between Two Centuries Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Pops Concert Crooked Road Festival, The Four Luthiers of Virginia Tomáš Kubínek, Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea

Something Global Wo u l d yo u l i k e to e x p e ri e n ce t h e w o r l d w i t h o u t leaving Blacksburg? The world comes to you in these amazing performances.

Philip Glass Ensemble, Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation Ballet Hispanico, Sortijas and other repertoire The Miners’ Hymns Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion

Something Visual Beginning on October 28, 2013, visit the center’s free visual arts galleries and enjoy a year of exhibitions. See page 40.

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Working together, Philip Glass and Godfrey Reggio have created a cult classic cinematic experience that will forever redefine the potential impact of music in film. Powaqqatsi is the second film of Reggio and Glass’ Qatsi trilogy. The first is Koyaanisqatsi and the third is Naqoyqatsi.

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Friday, November 1, 2013, 8 PM

Philip Glass Ensemble Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation Music by Philip Glass Directed by Godfrey Reggio Performed by Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble Conducted by Michael Riesman featuring the Blacksburg Children’s Chorale, Patrice Yearwood, conductor Powaqqatsi is a celebration of the humanscale endeavor, craftsmanship, spirituality, labor, and creativity that defines a culture. It’s also a celebration of both the rareness, and the universal drumbeat to which societies move.

Powaqqatsi, says Reggio, is not a film about what should or shouldn’t be. “It’s an impression, an examination of how life is changing.” It is about contrasting ways of life. The film is a record of cultural diversity and transformation, presented as an integrated human symphony—and with Philip Glass’ compelling score providing the counterpart, its tribal rhythms are fused by a single magisterial theme.

Deeper, Global | Contemporary Music, Film

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C o m e e a r l y o n S u n d a y, November 3, for a day of community open house events for the whole family, including a community sing along and hands on activities for all ages! The open house, noon to 2:30 p.m., is free.

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Sunday, November 3, 2013, 3 PM

Sphinx Virtuosi A Dialogue Between Two Centuries One of the nation’s most dynamic young classical ensembles, the Sphinx Virtuosi is a conductor-less ensemble composed of alumni from the Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. Hailed by The New York Times as “first-rate in every way,” the Sphinx Virtuosi offers a diverse program of wellknown repertoire and works by African-American and Latino composers. This lively concert spans two centuries, with works from Bach and Vivaldi, to Arvo Paart, Philip Glass, and Alberto Ginastera.

Joyful | Classical and Contemporary Music

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Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8 PM

Ballet Hispanico Sortijas, and other repertoire Eduardo Vilaro, artistic director Ballet Hispanico’s innovative repertory fuses Latin dance with classical and contemporary techniques to create a new style of concert dance in which theatricality and passion propel every move. Ballet Hispanico has grown into a world-class institution performing a diverse repertory by the foremost choreographers of our time. Sortijas (Rings), by Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto, celebrates Latino tradition through the circular ties of family and friends that link communities across generations.

Fresh, Global | Dance

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Friday, November 15, 2013, 8 PM

Diavolo Dance Theater Transit Space, and other repertoire Diavolo Dance Theater is an internationally renowned modern acrobatic dance company. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Jacques Heim, the company has developed a reputation for stunning, innovative movement on oversized surrealistic sets and everyday structures. Transit Space is inspired by the movement of skateboarding and demonstrates the company’s amazing physical capacities.

Fresh | Dance Theatre

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Sunday, November 17, 2013, 8 PM

David Finckel and Wu Han Russian Reflections David Finckel, cello, and Wu Han, piano, are leaders in classical music today, as performers, entrepreneurs, and as co-artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

In this recital, they present the gripping story of Russian music of the 20th century.

Culminating in Rachmaninov’s ultra-romantic Sonata for Cello and Piano in g minor, Op. 19, the program showcases the styles of four of Russia’s most beloved composers: Prokofiev’s stately and lyrical Sonata in C major, Op. 119; the ground-breaking Sonata in d minor, Op. 40 by Shostakovich; and Alexander Scriabin’s sublime Five Preludes for solo piano, Op. 16.

Timeless | Classical Music

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Saturday, November 23, 2013, 8 PM

Ira Glass Reinventing Radio “Mr. Glass is a journalist but also a storyteller who filters his interviews and impressions through a distinctive literary imagination, an eccentric intelligence, and a sympathetic heart.” — The New York Times Spend an intimate evening with the creator of the public radio show This American Life, Ira Glass, as he discusses what makes a compelling story, where amazing stories are found, and how he and his staff are trying to push broadcast journalism to do things it doesn’t usually do. Glass mixes his live commentary with sound bites from his radio shows and pre-recorded music. This American Life is heard on more than 500 stations each week by over 1.8 million listeners.

Deeper | Spoken Word

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Saturday, December 7, 2013, 4 PM

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert Destan Owens, tenor Virginia Tech Choirs David Stewart Wiley, conductor From beloved holiday carols to sacred classics, and a few surprises in between, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra will have audiences singing along. Guest soloist Destan Owens has numerous stage credits to his name, including a longtime presence in the Broadway production of Rent, and has appeared on Broadway in Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Chicago, among other productions.

Co-presented with New River Valley Friends of the RSO

Joyful | Holiday Music

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Saturday, February 8, 2014, 8 PM

The Miners’ Hymns Film by Bill Morrison Music by Jóhann Jóhannsson with American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) Produced by Forma “Elegant, elegiac... enthralling.”

— The New York Times “Voiceless, almost textless... a beautiful and devastating work, having the weight of tragedy.” — Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker The story of this inspired documentary by American multi-media artist Bill Morrison and Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson is told entirely without words, with a remarkable original score featuring string quartet and 18-piece brass section. Using rarely seen archival footage The Miners’ Hymns focuses on England’s Durham coalfield, depicting the hardship of pit work, increasing mechanization, and trade unions’ fight for workers’ rights. This concert program will feature a brass orchestra composed of musicians from throughout the Roanoke and New River Valleys.

Deeper, Global | Film, Contemporary Music

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Friday, February 14, 2014, 8 PM

Joshua Bell Valentine Concert Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this recital program of romantic classics, devoted to the music lover in each of us. Often referred to as the “poet of the violin,” Joshua Bell is one of the world’s most celebrated violinists and is accompanied in this performance by Sam Haywood on piano. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and orchestra leader, Bell is the new music director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Timeless | Classical Music

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Saturday, February 22, 2014, 8 PM

Mike Daisey Faster Better Social Created and Performed by Mike Daisey Directed by Jean-Michele Gregory Called “the master storyteller” by the New York Times for his groundbreaking monologues, Daisey uses autobiography, gonzo journalism, and unscripted performance to tell stories that define our age through hilarious comedy and brilliant observation. Here he focuses on where we live right now—in the disrupted landscape of technological change, where smartphones have transformed how we see the world around us; our dissolving sense of privacy, the commoditization of each of us as clusters of information, our shrinking sense of time as we train ourselves to speak in 140 character haiku. By examining history, illuminating the unexpected, and using fierce humor, Daisey makes the case for each of us forging a new covenant between ourselves and—TOO LONG DIDN’T READ LOL K THX BYE. Fresh | Spoken Word | For mature audiences

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Monday, February 24, 2014, 8 PM

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Four Seasons with Ryu Goto, violin Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2013, Orpheus has built a legacy with its acclaimed recordings, performances, and collaborations with the world’s most esteemed and dynamic soloists. Following their triumphant collaboration in Japan, Ryu Goto and the celebrated strings of Orpheus reprise their critically acclaimed performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for American audiences. Widely considered to be one of the greatest masterworks in all of Western art, these Concertos stand as some of the boldest program music of the entire Baroque era. Rounding out the concert will be Bach’s ever-popular Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

Timeless | Classical Music

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Sunday March 2, 2014, 3 PM

eighth blackbird Colombine’s Paradise Theatre Composed by Amy Beth Kirsten Directed and Designed by Mark DeChiazza Performed by eighth blackbird Fragile, lovelorn, and passionate, Columbine is caught in a painful triangle: longing for Harlequin, lusted after by Pierrot.

Are her demons real or imaginary? Colombine’s Paradise Theatre is a dark musical fairytale of love and death, dream and delusion. The six musicians of multi-Grammy-winning ensemble eighth blackbird play, speak, sing, whisper, growl, and mime, breathing theatrical life into these rich Commedia dell’arte characters. Composer Amy Beth Kirsten’s fragile, seductive music has been described as “torrential and haunting.”

Director Mark DeChiazza’s past work has been lauded by the Washington Post as “. . . [an] inventive, dark, cabaret-style production . . . eighth blackbird added to the sense of a high wire act with the almost-unheard-of feat of playing the whole thing from memory.” As a curtain-raiser to this love-haunted show, eighth blackbird presents a set of love songs through the ages, from Machaut’s courtly love and Monteverdi’s “little death” to early American folk ballads.

Deeper | Contemporary Music, Theatre

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Thursday, March 6, 2014, 7:30 PM Friday, March 7, 2014, 7:30 PM

The Acting Company Hamlet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Founded in 1972 by legendary producer/director/ actor John Houseman and current Producing Director Margot Harley with members of the first graduating class of Juilliard’s Drama Division, The Acting Company performs each year in over 40 cities and reaches more than 30,000 students with its arts education programs.

They promote theatre and literacy by bringing a touring repertory of classical productions and exceptional new works, talented young actors, and teaching artists into communities across America. The company’s stop in Blacksburg will include two nights of performances, starting with their latest interpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet; and the second evening the brilliant contemporary twist on the same tale, Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Fresh | Theatre

Thursday, March 20, 2014, 8 PM Friday, March 21, 2014, 8 PM

Crooked Road Festival Wayne Henderson and the Virginia Luthiers with Gerald Anderson Jimmy Edmonds Spencer Strickland and other guest musicians For generations, our Appalachian communities have produced an abundance of extraordinary traditional musicians. They are the keepers of an historic musical legacy from colonial times and have created and passed on old-time, bluegrass, and mountain gospel sounds that have influenced the development of American music.

We are pleased to collaborate with the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail on a special celebration of the music, dance, and craftsmanship of our region.

Thursday night’s concert will feature four master guitar makers (luthiers) and incredible musicians Wayne Henderson, Gerald Anderson, Jimmy Edmonds, and Spencer Strickland. Friday night’s lively program will bring together a wide array of performers from around the New River Valley. Workshops and demonstrations on dance, music, and guitar making will accompany the concerts, including special free activities on Saturday, March 22.

Joyful | Heritage Music

Saturday, March 29, 2014, 8 PM

Martha Graham Dance Company Classic Graham Janet Eilber, artistic director As the oldest and most celebrated modern dance company in America, founded in 1926, the Martha Graham Dance Company has expanded contemporary dance’s vocabulary of movement and forever altered the scope of the art form. This performance features classics from the Graham repertoire, including Appalachian Spring, Cave of the Heart, Sketches from Chronicle, and other works.

Timeless | Dance

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Monday, March 31, 2014, 8 PM

Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion The preeminent classical tabla virtuoso of our time, Zakir Hussain delivers brilliant performances that have established him as a national treasure in his native India and one of the world’s most esteemed and influential musicians, renowned for his genre-defying collaborations. Hussain’s contribution to world music has included work with artists as diverse as George Harrison, YoYo Ma, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Mark Morris, and the Kodo drummers. Getting back to his roots in this program, Hussain leads a classical ensemble of rising North and South Indian masters.

Deeper, Global | World Music

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Friday, April 11, 2014, 7 PM

Tomáš Kubínek Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible Meet the one and only Professor Tomáš Kubínek, a virtuoso vaudevillian who brings us an utterly joyous experience you’ll remember for a lifetime. His feats on stage mix clowning, magic, acrobatics, aerial stunts, and improvisations that will make you smile. Described as a cross between Red Skelton, Christopher Lloyd, and Victor Borge, the Czech-born Kubínek will leave you clutching your sides with laughter.

Recommended for ages six and older.

Joyful | Theatre

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Center for the Arts Gala Celebration featuring The Virginia Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Thomas Wilkins Please watch for more details in the spring semester about this special celebration and how to attend.

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Saturday, May 3, 2014, 8 PM

Blacksburg Master Chorale Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Dwight Bigler, conductor Danielle Talamantes, soprano Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano Robert Chafin, tenor Branch Fields, bass More than 200 singers, a full orchestra, and soloists will fill the stage as the Center for the Arts, Blacksburg Master Chorale, Virginia Tech Choirs, and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra collaborate to present Felix Mendelssohn’s legendary oratorio, Elijah. This intense musical drama depicts the major events in the life of the prophet Elijah.

Featured soloists include three Virginia Tech alumni: Branch Fields (in the title role), Danielle Talamantes, and Robert Chafin; as well as Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano.

Co-presented with

Timeless | Classical Music

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014, 8 PM

Dance Theatre of Harlem Far but Close, and other repertoire Virginia Johnson, artistic director A new one-act ballet developed for the revived Dance Theatre of Harlem, Far but Close is an innovative collaboration between choreographer John Alleyne, spoken word artist Daniel Beaty, and composer-musician Daniel Bernard Roumain that explores the healing power of romantic love. Now in its fourth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts.

Fresh | Dance

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Friday, May 30, 2014, 7 PM Saturday May 31, 2014, 10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM

Compagnia TPO BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea Italy’s Compagnia TPO (Teatro di Piazza o d’Occasione) is the world’s foremost pioneer in interactive performance media for all ages, melding astonishing digital imagery with music, dance, art, sculpture, digital media, computer technology, lighting, and sound. Their newest creation takes us to the cradle of civilizations and myths, the Mediterranean, where nature and beauty join together with art. BLEU! offers a 360-degree immersive experience, a magical adventure under the sea.

Performances will be in the Cube Joyful | Theatre

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Calendar of all performances, exhibitions, and special events PERFORMANCE EXHIBITION SPECIAL EVENT

OCTOBER 2013 October 28

6–8 PM

Galleries Grand Opening Jennifer Steinkamp, Madame Curie Lower Gallery

October 30

Joan Grossman, This Edge I Have to Jump Cube

6–8 PM

Tech-or-Treat Cube

5–8 PM

NOVEMBER 2013 November 1

Philip Glass Ensemble, Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation Contemporary Music, Film

8 PM

November 3

Community Open House

Noon–2:30 PM

Sphinx Virtuosi, A Dialogue Between Two Centuries Classical and Contemporary Music

3 PM

November 7

Ballet Hispanico, Sortijas, and other repertoire Dance

8 PM

November 15

Diavolo Dance Theater, Transit Space, and other repertoire Dance Theatre

8 PM

November 17

David Finckel and Wu Han, Russian Reflections Classical Music

8 PM

November 23

Ira Glass, Reinventing Radio Spoken Word

8 PM

DECEMBER 2013 December 6

6–8 PM

Exhibition Opening Young Artists Lower Gallery

December 7

Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Pops Concert Holiday Music

4 PM

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Calendar of all performances, exhibitions, and special events PERFORMANCE EXHIBITION SPECIAL EVENT

JANUARY 2014 January 17

Exhibition Opening Landscape: Another Dimension

6–8 PM

Joni Pienkowski Lower Gallery Adam Cvijanovic Upper Gallery Jacco Olivier Reception Gallery Chiho Aoshima

FEBRUARY 2014 February 8

The Miners’ Hymns Film, Contemporary Music

8 PM

February 14

Joshua Bell, Valentine Concert Classical Music

8 PM

February 22

Mike Daisey, Faster Better Social Spoken Word

8 PM

February 24

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Four Seasons Classical Music

8 PM

MARCH 2014 March 2

eighth blackbird, Colombine’s Paradise Theatre Contemporary Music, Theatre

3 PM

March 6

The Acting Company, Hamlet Theatre

7:30 PM

March 7

The Acting Company, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Theatre

7:30 PM

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MARCH 2014 (CONTINUED) March 20

Crooked Road Festival, The Four Luthiers of Virginia Heritage Music

8 PM

March 21

Crooked Road Festival Heritage Music

8 PM

Exhibition Opening

6–8 PM

Aspects of the Self: Portraits of Our Times Upper and Lower Galleries, Cube March 29

Martha Graham, Classic Graham Dance

8 PM

March 31

Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion World Music

8 PM

APRIL 2014 April 11

Tomáš Kubínek, Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible 7 PM Theatre

April 26

Center for the Arts Gala Celebration

MAY 2014 May 3

Blacksburg Master Chorale, Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio Classical Music

8 PM

Exhibition Opening

6–8 PM

ICAT: Open (at the) Source Lower Gallery SOVA: Senior Studio Exhibition Reception and Upper Galleries May 7

Dance Theatre of Harlem, Far but Close, and other repertoire Dance

8 PM

May 24

Exhibition Opening

6–8 PM

Young Artists All Galleries May 30

Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea Theatre

7 PM

May 31

Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea Theatre

10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM

JUNE 2014 June 14

Exhibition Opening OpenLab Summer Exhibitions All Galleries

6–8 PM

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Galleries hours Wednesday–Thursday, Noon–6 PM Friday, Noon–9 PM Saturday–Sunday, Noon–6 PM

Admission Free

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In the Galleries Opening October 28, 2013, intimately scaled galleries in the Center for the Arts become an invigorating site of creativity. Spanning a broad range of media, works of art from here and around the world will transform the exhibition spaces.

Merging tradition with innovation, works of art, both abstract and representational, familiar and unfamiliar, will hang on the galleries’ walls. And in a more adventurous and experimental vein, unexpected sculptural forms, art with kinetic or constantly moving imagery, sound art, and works developed here with emerging technologies will challenge, fascinate, and engage the imagination.

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Madame Curie, 2011

October 28–December 1, 2013

Site-specific multi-channel, synchronized projection

Jennifer Steinkamp

Dimensions variable

Madame Curie, 2011

Courtesy of the artist and Lehman Maupin Gallery, New York

Lower Gallery

Jennifer Steinkamp

A pioneer and one of the most accomplished artists working in digital media today, Jennifer Steinkamp is internationally recognized for her breathtaking installations of computergenerated, projected imagery. Madame Curie, 2011, a multi-channel, synchronized projection, is presented here as a 55-foot wide, floor-to-ceiling projection of swirling flowers that sweep across the gallery wall in a continuous cycle of dynamic movement.

Referencing the famed scientist Marie Curie

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(1867–1934), who was also an avid gardener, the blossoms in this piece are drawn from a list of flowering plants in her garden. Steinkamp recreates them, however, on the computer, entirely out of code. In this gorgeous, hyperreal representation of nature, Steinkamp juxtaposes the organic and inorganic, and the real and unreal, in a magnificent but uncanny experience that reflects upon the increasing synthesis of our real and virtual worlds.

Jennifer Steinkamp Madame Curie, 2011 Site-speciďŹ c multi-channel, synchronized projection Dimensions variable Courtesy of the artist and Lehman Maupin Gallery, New York

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Assimilating, 2012 Oil, acrylic, Prismacolor, charcoal and graphite on birch panel 18 x 80 inches

January 17–March 7, 2014

Joni Pienkowski

Collection of the artist

Landscape: Another Dimension

Thermal Emergence, 2012

Four solo exhibitions reinvent the tradition

Oil, acrylic, Prismacolor, charcoal and graphite on birch panel

Lower Gallery

18 x 80 inches Collection of the artist Seed Journey, 2010 Oil, acrylic, Prismacolor, charcoal and graphite on birch panel 18 x 80 inches Collection of the artist All photo by Sarah Tyler Miller

The Center for the Arts’ first one-person painting exhibition features Joni Pienkowski, one of the most prominent artists living here.

Rendered in oil on birch panel with acrylic, charcoal, graphite, and Prismacolor pencil, Pienkowski’s abstract paintings evoke the poetic power and life force of nature. Steeped in a rich palette of earth tones, highlighted with dashes of burnt oranges, yellows, and whites, the paintings seem imbued with a nascent, though potent, energy. Wisps of

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pencil, pen, and ink spontaneously extend, curl, dance, and retreat over the picture plane, unfurling like the wind. With titles such as Leaving Seeds, Wind Blown Answers, and Thermal Emergence, these works, for the artist, suggest such natural phenomena as pollination, gestation, and transformation.

Pienkowski captures the dynamism of nature in her art—crystallized in a latent, almost expectant, but universal moment.

January 17–March 2, 2014

Garden State, 2007 Flash acrylic and latex on Tyvek®

Adam Cvijanovic

10 x 52 feet Collection of the artist

Landscape: Another Dimension Four solo exhibitions reinvent the tradition

Upper Gallery A d a m C v i j a n o v i c , a N e w Yo r k - b a s e d hyperrealist painter, transforms the entire Upper Gallery with a site-specific installation.

C v i j a n o v i c ’s m o n u m e n t a l m u r a l s a n d installations are distinguished by exceptional technical skill; an often implausible, even surreal sensibility; and an innovative use of house paint and acrylic on Tyvek®, the

synthetic material used in FedEx envelopes and housing insulation. The results, painted in sections and applied to wall surfaces, have been shown internationally in venues from New York to Sydney, Australia. For his project here, Cvijanovic will develop a new work in response to the New River Valley.

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Transition, 2010 HD animation on hard disc Duration 2 minutes, 30 seconds Dimensions variable Landscape, 2010 HD animation on hard disc or blu-ray Duration 5 minutes, 15 seconds

January 17–March 2, 2014

Jacco Olivier Landscape: Another Dimension Four solo exhibitions reinvent the tradition

Reception Gallery

Dimensions variable Reflection, 2010 (on right) HD animation on hard disc Duration 3 minutes, 15 seconds Dimensions variable All works Courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Victoria Miro Gallery, London

In an inventive fusion of painting with filmmaking, Belgian artist Jacco Olivier creates short, intimate single-projection works that portray enigmatic narratives of daily moments.

In a process that begins in painting, but ends

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in film, the artist appropriates then immerses traditional painting subjects—bathers and landscape—into amorphous, almost fluid scenes that move in and out of abstraction.

January 17–March 2, 2014

Chiho Aoshima City Glow, 2005

Chiho Aoshima

Five-channel video installation Dimensions variable

Landscape: Another Dimension

Courtesy of the artist and Blum and Poe Gallery, Los Angeles

Four solo exhibitions reinvent the tradition This five-channel video installation by Japanese artist Chiho Aoshima traces the cycles of nature in a surreal, vibrantly colored lands cape fu l l of fan t asy and wo n d e r.

Influenced by Japanese manga, anime, and woodblock prints, Aoshima depicts a hybrid world in which the past and future and the organic and inorganic have merged.

Beginning with a garden paradise, Aoshima’s

© 2005 Chiho Aoshima/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd.

scenes morph into cityscapes where living skyscrapers sprout during the day, only to be overgrown at night by a landscape filled with ghosts and fairies. Cycling from day to night and from rural to urban, this mesmerizing work presents both an apocalyptic and utopian vision that nonetheless offers a promise of hope and regeneration.

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All rights reserved

Kehinde Wiley Dacia Carter, 2012 Oil on canvas 30 x 24 inches Private Collection Photo courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery, New York Kehinde Wiley Mame Ngagne, 2007 Oil on canvas 26 x 22 inches Private Collection Photo courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery, New York

March 21–April 27, 2014 Aspects of the Self: Portraits of Our Times All Galleries, Cube Beginning with such icons of American art as Andy Warhol, Alex Katz, or Cindy Sherman, this exhibition traces the evolution of how many of the most prominent artists of our times have presented the self in not only painting and photography, but in 3-D and virtual or internetbased works of art. Spanning more than 40 years, this exhibition takes the tradition of portraiture as it evolved in the late 20th century and catapults it to the present. Representing

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emerging and established artists with stellar works from prominent museums, private collections, and artist’s studios, this exhibition examines the multi-faceted and ever-changing complexity of how the self is perceived and presented to the world. Artists from Virginia, as well as national and international artists, are represented in what promises to be one of the highlights of the 2014 exhibition season.

Christopher Baker Hello World!, 2008 Thousands of YouTube video portraits in a multichannel audiovisual installation Collection of the artist

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Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) A university-level research institute sitting at the nexus of the arts, design, engineering, and science, the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology is uniquely partnered with the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. By forging a pathway between transdisciplinary research and art, educational innovation, and scientiďŹ c and commercial discovery, the institute works to foster the creative process to create new possibilities for exploration and expression through learning, discovery, and engagement. This includes preparing students in kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education environments to succeed in a world that demands teamwork and collaboration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines; promoting new research domains that transcend institutionalized boundaries; and participating with people of all ages in the process of co-creation.

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Some ICAT activities for its inaugural year in the Center for the Arts include: Opens October 28, 2013

Joan Grossman This Edge I Have to Jump Video Installation

Cube This Edge I Have to Jump (working title) is a multi-screen, site specific video installation on the illusory and idiosyncratic nature of creative process. The installation is a kinetic conversation, an immersive meditation, and an investigation into the compulsion to make, invent, and perform what otherwise would be intangible. The piece will surround viewers with image, sound, and narrative fragments that draw on intimate conversations with artists, scientists, and educators.

Joan Grossman is a media artist who works across experimental non-fiction and documentary filmmaking. She was commissioned by ICAT to create an experimental cinema work for the launch of the Collaborative Performance Lab, and is currently a visiting faculty at Virginia Tech in the cinema program of the School of Performing Arts and Cinema. Admission to this exhibition is free and open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

October 30, 2013, 5-8 PM

Tech-or-Treat Cube This hauntingly memorable event, for children 5 to 12 years old, features Halloween fun-themed technologies developed by students and faculty at the university in a family-friendly environment.

Virginia Tech students and faculty from a variety of disciplines across campus collaborate to bring this event together. Co-presented by the Children’s Museum of Blacksburg. Tech-or-Treat is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Monthly

ArtsFusion ArtsFusion, presented by ICAT, is a series of thought-provoking events that bring cutting-edge artists, scientists, engineers, and designers to campus to explore topics across disciplines and with the common theme of cultivating creative process. ArtsFusion events take place monthly during the academic year, and are free and open to the public.

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Interspersed throughout the exhibition season in our galleries is a more flexible and spontaneous sequence of three to four exhibitions.

May 3–18, 2014 ICAT: Open (at the) Source Lower Gallery The Institute for Creativity, Art, and Technology (ICAT): Open (at the) Source exhibition will enable visitors to explore and experience the research and innovation that’s happening within the institute.

Visitors will become more than just viewers, but partners in exploration with the students, faculty, and staff of ICAT and its creative community network.

May 3–18, 2014 SOVA: Senior Studio Exhibition Reception and Upper Galleries Emerging artists at Virginia Tech’s School of Visual Arts (SOVA) showcase work created in Senior Studio, the school’s capstone course for graduating studio artists. Developed over months of intensive work in the studio, and honed over the course of multiple faculty critiques, SOVA seniors push their practice to the limit as they prepare for the rite of passage that graduation and the Bachelor of Fine Arts represent.

June 14–July 27, 2014 OpenLab All Galleries Artists throughout Virginia are invited to propose an inventive sculptural installation for the Lower Gallery.

By the end of the summer 2013, one artist will be awarded 1,468 square feet of prime gallery space to transform. Stay tuned!

And, in support of creativity—in all its aspects—there will be an opportunity with our Young Artists series for area schoolchildren to display their creative efforts.

December 6–20, 2013 Young Artists Lower Gallery This celebration of the imagination and creative spirit showcases the talent of elementary school students in the Blacksburg area with painting and works on paper.

May 24–June 5, 2014 Young Artists All Galleries In this vibrant and refreshing showcase of New River Valley talent, high school art students throughout the Blacksburg area have an opportunity to feature their best work.

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Box Office, Opening October 7, 2013 Box Office: 540-231-5300 Administration: 540-231-ARTS

www.artscenter.vt.edu Center for the Arts (0916) Virginia Tech 190 Alumni Mall Blacksburg, VA 24061

Directions From I-81 (northbound and southbound): Take exit 118B onto 460 West towards Virginia Tech. Continue for 8.5 miles to the Prices Fork Road exit for “Downtown.” The exit ramp will veer right. Continue on Prices Fork Road for 1.2 miles and take a right onto Turner Street. This street leads you to the parking deck and the center. Parking will be on your left at North End Parking Garage. The Center for the Arts will be ahead on the right.

From I-77 (northbound): Take exit 32 onto I-81 North. Continue for about 29 miles, then follow the directions above for I-81 northbound.

From Interstate 77/West Virginia Turnpike (southbound)/460 West (eastbound): In West Virginia, take Exit 9, “U.S. 460-Princeton/Pearisburg, VA.” Turn left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto U.S. 460 East. Continue on U.S. 460 East for about 44.9 miles (11.6 in W.Va., 33.3 in Virginia). Travel east for approximately 47 miles, then take the Prices Fork Road exit. At the top of the exit ramp, take a left. Continue on Prices Fork Road for 1.2 miles and take a right onto Turner Street.

This street leads you to the parking deck and the center. Parking will be on your left at North End Parking Garage. The Center for the Arts will be ahead on the right.

WEST VIRGINIA

PARKING

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

DOWNTOWN BLACKSBURG

PARKING

DOWNTOWN BLACKSBURG

CENTER FOR THE ARTS VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS

ROANOKE

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Season Subscriptions Please use the form to the right of this page to tailor your own season subscription to your individual preferences. Subscribers receive 20% off individual ticket prices and receive priority seat selection.

Individual tickets will go on sale in August, so subscribers get the first opportunity to purchase the tickets they want. For an even greater value, become a Premiere Subscriber to receive 30 percent off ticket prices and make sure you don’t miss anything throughout the season.

Box office hours and ticket pick up Until October 5, the box office will have phone hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. All subscriber ticket packages will be mailed. Starting October 7, the box office will be located in the Center for the Arts, and the hours will be noon–6 p.m. on Monday–Friday, noon–4 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.

Individual ticket sales Until August 6, only subscription tickets are available for purchase. On August 6, individual tickets for all 2013–14 season performances will be available for purchase.

Parking Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Limited street parking is also available. Street parking is free on nights and weekends.

Ticket exchanges/refunds/donations Please contact the Center for the Arts box office at (540) 231-5300 for information about ticket exchanges, refunds, and donations.

Lost tickets Please contact the Center for the Arts box office at (540) 231-5300 regarding lost tickets.

Group ticket sales For groups of 10 or more, please contact the Center for the Arts box office at (540) 231-5300.

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Late seating Center for the Arts performances will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the performance. Late seating will take place at the first appropriate moment in the program, at the house management’s discretion. Latecomers may be seated in the back.

ADA special assistance The Center for the Arts is committed to being accessible to all of our patrons. Patrons with disabilities and their companions will be accommodated through wheelchair seating, parking, and other special requests throughout the center in all levels and pricing categories. Assisted listening devices are available.

Service animals of all kinds are permitted. Sign interpretations and large-print programs are available with advance notification.

Closures for holidays The center may close for major holidays and breaks according to the university schedule. Please visit our website or call the Center for the Arts box office at (540) 231-5300 for more information.

Lodging and restaurants The Center for the Arts is located in the heart of downtown Blacksburg. The box office staff can recommend nearby lodging and restaurants to help you plan your visit. Please call (540) 231-5300 for more information.

Inclement weather Center for the Arts performances and special events will only be cancelled for inclement weather in extreme cases. Please check our website and call the Center for the Arts box office at (540) 231-5300 for timely information about closures due to inclement weather.

Support For information about ways to support the Center for the Arts and named giving opportunities, please contact Lois Badey at labadey@vt.edu or (540) 231-0608.

Programs are subject to change.

Artists’ works may not be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved.

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