FALL 2017
WELCOME TO
A college campus is a uniquely appropriate setting for arts and cultural programs that speak to the issues of our time. Babson College, with its emphasis on globalism, social responsibility, and innovation, is especially well-positioned to explore complex, nuanced issues in ways that carry the conversation beyond the classroom. We believe that the arts can open our minds and help us see the world from a different perspective — a valuable contribution indeed in today’s climate of uncertainty and polarization. This fall Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Babson’s theater-in-residence, presents two works that deal with power and politics: a staged reading of Bertolt Brecht’s poignant playlet series Fear and Misery in the Third Reich, and our Shakespeare & the Law production featuring the drama Measure for Measure. Also on tap for fall, TEST — The Empty Space Theater — looks at issues of race and privilege in their production of the Bruce Norris play Clybourne Park. Over the next few months we’re proud to be able to showcase members of the Babson community who are making their mark in the arts. Filmmaker-in-residence Mary Mazzio presents a screening and discussion of her award-winning documentary about human trafficking, I Am Jane Doe. Two 2010 alumni, painters Jamaal Eversley and LaShonda Cooks, are presenting a joint exhibition of
their work in the Hollister Gallery. And of course you can see our talented current students performing in theater, music, and dance performances throughout the fall. Finally we should mention a milestone that is coming up in October: the 20th anniversary of the naming of the Sorenson Center for the Arts. All of our exciting, engaging, and entertaining BabsonARTS programming would not be possible without the foresight and generosity of Richard and Sandra Sorenson, who provided funding for the building and who continue to support our efforts. We are immensely grateful to them. We hope you will take a few moments to review all the offerings that are coming up this fall. Join us! All the best, Steven Maler, Director Sandra Graham, Faculty Director Adam Sanders, Associate Director Danielle Krcmar, Associate Director, Visual Arts Richard W. Sorenson Center for the Arts Support for BabsonARTS programs has been made possible through the generosity of Richard W. Sorenson M’68 P ’97 ’00 and Sandra L. Sorenson P ’97 ’00; Estate of Norman Dorian ’48; and Lee J. Belitsky MBA’93 P’17 and Janice A. Belitsky P’17.
All events are FREE and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. On the cover: Jamaal Eversley
Artists In Motion:
Illustrations of Perilous Journeys Art for Change by Eritrean Refugees DISCUSSION AND RECEPTION with Project Founder Angela Wells: Thursday, September 7, 5:00 P.M. EXHIBIT ON VIEW: June 1–September 7 Hollister Gallery Between two mountain ranges in Northern Eritrea, dozens of young Eritrean refugees spend their days creating paintings that tell the stories of their experiences. Their artworks express their longing for lost loved ones, traumatic memories of persecution,
and stories of their families and friends. According to their teacher, Mebratu, “Painting keeps history alive, transmits information from one generation to another and expresses ideas and feelings.” Artists In Motion is an initiative of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), an international organization with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.
A Coming of Age: Paintings by LaShonda Cooks ’10 and Jamaal Eversley ’10
ARTISTS TALK AND RECEPTION: Friday, September 15, 4:30 P.M. EXHIBIT ON VIEW: September 15–October 26 Hollister Gallery This joint exhibition features two new series by two 2010 alumni: The Pursuit of Womanhood by LaShonda Cooks and Smells like Teen Spirit by Jamaal Eversley. Cooks has found strength and solace in painting women who define and defy societal roles. In this exhibition she combines her paintings with text collage to create a large mixed-media installation depicting her favorite female identifying influencers and icons, from familial to famous. Eversley’s bold paintings and drawings integrate influences of Geometric Abstraction and Pop Art with the West Indian palette of Barbados. His compositions are driven by the fictional characters that inhabit them; the focal character in this series is Eversley’s alter ego, Spencer Ward, a nerd in pursuit of love. This exhibition is supported in part by grants from the Bridgewater, Brockton, and Randolph Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Thi Bui, Author of The Best We Could Do Wednesday, September 20, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater What does it mean to be a refugee, to flee your home for life in a country whose citizens often resent you? Thi Bui’s first book, The Best We Could Do, published earlier this year, is a compelling graphic memoir that recounts her family’s journey from war-torn Vietnam to the United States in the 1970s. It is a powerful examination of identity and the notion of “home” that speaks to our times. In the words of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Viet Thanh Nguyen, it is “a book to break your heart and heal it.” Presented by the Divisions of Arts & Humanities and History & Science
I Am Not Your Negro A FILM DIRECTED BY RAOUL PECK Monday, September 25, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater At the time of his death in 1987, writer James Baldwin was working on a book, Remember This House, that was to be a personal account of the lives and assassinations of three of his close friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. In reaching back and envisioning the book as Baldwin might have finished it, filmmaker Raoul Peck creates a profound and urgent exploration of the contemporary American racial narrative. Presented by the Global Film Series
Shakespeare & the Law: Measure for Measure Tuesday, September 26, 6:00 P.M.
Lyric Stage Company, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston Shakespeare’s comedy Measure for Measure is an exploration of the act of judging: its values, its limitations, and the important role played by an independent judiciary in society. CSC’s Shakespeare & the Law series features staged readings of a Shakespeare play by local, state, and national lawyers and judges, followed by a discussion of the legal and societal implications of the work. Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Improvaganza! Fridays, September 29, October 27, December 1, 9:00 P.M. Grille Room, Roger’s Pub SAG (Students Against Gravity) performs monthly in the Grille Room at Roger’s Pub this fall. You never know what to expect when these performers take to the stage, creating their material on the spot! Presented by The Empty Space Theater (TEST)
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Waterline Reading Series Showcase Wednesday, October 25, 5:00 P.M. Glavin Chapel Waterline features a fast-paced hour of literary works with readings by Babson College faculty fiction writers, poets, and essayists. Presented by the Division of Arts & Humanities
Clybourne Park A PLAY BY BRUCE NORRIS DIRECTED BY PROFESSOR BETH WYNSTRA October 26–28, 7:00 P.M. October 29, 2:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater Tickets $15; Babson faculty/staff $10; students $5
Real estate and racism collide in this Pulitzer Prizewinning play that returns to the neighborhood portrayed in the classic A Raisin in the Sun and explores a halfcentury of life in urban America. Wickedly funny, the play looks at modern gentrification and asks us to reconsider our notions of privilege, race, and neighborhoods. Presented by The Empty Space Theater (TEST)
Jhane Barnes Fashion Textile Designer and Entrepreneur ARTS & BUSINESS CONVERSATION Friday, October 27, 12:30 P.M. Sorenson Upper Lobby Jhane Barnes launched her first fashion company in 1976 designing menswear. Within two years she had bought her first loom and quickly became known for her innovative textiles. In the interiors market she has collaborated with Knoll and designed furniture
for Bernhardt and carpet for Tandus Centiva. She uses mathematical formulas and special computer software to create her designs, frequently using fractals as a design motif.
The Caprichos: Etchings by Emily Lombardo ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION: Thursday, November 2, 5:00 P.M. EXHIBIT ON VIEW: November 2–January 12 Hollister Gallery The Caprichos is a series of etchings that are in direct conversation with and pay homage to Francisco Goya’s “Los Caprichos” of 1799. Both reveal the dark underbelly of cultural movements that ultimately serve to divide society across economic, racial, political, religious, and gender lines. Lombardo, an artist who investigates personal and cultural identity in her work, brings these issues to light through a queer feminist lens.
I Am Jane Doe FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION WITH DIRECTOR MARY MAZZIO AND “JS,” A SUBJECT IN THE FILM Wednesday, November 1, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater I Am Jane Doe chronicles the epic battle that several American mothers are waging on behalf of their young daughters — including middle school girls from Boston, a 15-year-old violinist from Seattle, and a precocious 13-year-old from St. Louis — who were victims of sex trafficking on Backpage.com, the adult classifieds section that for years was part
of the iconic Village Voice newspaper. The film was produced and directed by Babson filmmaker-inresidence Mary Mazzio and features narration by Academy Award-nominated actress Jessica Chastain. Also on the program will be a screening of the companion piece aimed at younger audiences, the short animated film I Am Little Red.
In a Better World A FILM DIRECTED BY SUSANNE BIER Tuesday, November 7, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010, In a Better World tells two interlinked stories: one taking place in an idyllic town in Denmark and one in an African refugee camp. As the main character goes back and forth between these two very different worlds, he and his family are forced to choose between vengeance and forgiveness. The film asks ethically provocative questions about power, violence, retribution, and the fragility of social order. Presented by the Global Film Series
Fear and Misery in the Third Reich
A PLAY BY BERTOLT BRECHT, TRANSLATED BY ERIC BENTLEY THEATER IN THE ROUGH STAGED READING, DIRECTED BY STEVE MALER Monday, November 13, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater Tickets $40, $20; Senior (65+) discount $4; Babson faculty/staff and non-Babson students $15; Babson students $5
Brecht’s series of 24 interconnected playlets describe what life was like in German households in the 1930s as the Nazis came to power. Written while Brecht was in exile in Denmark and first performed in Paris in 1938, these poignant stories dramatize the suspicion and anxiety experienced by ordinary people, particularly Jewish citizens, as the power of Hitler grew. The reading features renowned film and theater actors Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams. Fear and Misery is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Theatre in the Rough is a script-in-hand reading series presented without common theatrical elements like sets or costumes. These pared-down readings uniquely engage the audience by immersing them in the immediacy of the text and the actors’ performances, allowing one’s own imagination to take creative flight.
A CONVERSATION WITH TONY SHALHOUB Sunday, November 12, 7:00 P.M. Carling-Sorenson Theater
Tony Shalhoub is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. He has received Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his lead role in the TV series Monk; has appeared in a range of films from Men in Black to A Civil Action and more; and is currently appearing on Broadway in the acclaimed play The Band’s Visit. Join us for an intimate evening with this extraordinary performer, where we will screen clips from some of his works and get a glimpse behind the scenes. Support provided by the Malcolm K. Stearns ’81 Memorial Film Society Fund
Kate Chertavian Art Dealer and Entrepreneur ARTS & BUSINESS CONVERSATION Thursday, November 30, 12:30 P.M. Sorenson Upper Lobby
Kate Chertavian is an independent art dealer and curator whose projects include, among others, curation of the collection of the late music legend David Bowie. While building collections for private clients, she has also curated and organized exhibitions
in London, Switzerland, and Italy and facilitated significant acquisitions for collectors in Europe and the United States. She is also co-founder, with her husband, of Year Up, a nonprofit organization that trains low-income youth for college or careers.
Babson Music Collective Concert DIRECTED BY CLAYTON DEWALT Monday, December 4, 7:30 P.M. Sorenson Black Box
A group of accomplished student musicians offers a lively mix of jazz, pop, and rock in their semesterending concert.
Workshops
BabsonARTS workshops give participants the opportunity to explore their own creativity and build important visual and communication skills. Visit babsonarts.org for more information on these and other workshops. Workshops are open to Babson, Olin, and Wellesley students, faculty, and staff only; no experience is required.
CERAMICS STUDIO September 11–December 3 Trim 221 Participants will have access to the ceramics studio for the fall semester. Registration is $85 (+ fee) and includes independent use of the studio, materials, and a series of classes including Introduction to Clay and Foundations of Wheel Throwing.
MOSAIC SCULPTURE SPHERES
STREET ART WORKSHOP WITH PERCY FORTINI WRIGHT
Thursday, October 5, 5:00 P.M.
Thursday, September 21, 5:00 P.M.
Trim 215
Trim 215
Turn that broken mug or plate into art! Professor Danielle Krcmar will show you how to transform china fragments into a mosaic sculpture. Materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring tile, china pieces, marbles, or other elements to make your 3D mosaic.
Learn basic spray can techniques and make your own piece of street art with acclaimed Boston-based artist Percy Fortini Wright. All materials will be provided.
Student Performances Babson students have many opportunities to participate in the performing arts! These are just a few of the student-led groups that perform on campus:
For a schedule of performances or additional information on how to get involved with these activities, visit babsonarts.org.
AMAN: South Asian Student Association Babson Players BAPSA: Babson Asia Pacific Student Association BDE: Babson Dance Ensemble Rocket Pitches a cappella group
Sorenson Scholars The Sorenson Scholars scholarship program gives students with exceptional artistic talent and potential a chance to develop their abilities through their four years at Babson. The program is centered on peer feedback and staff-guided mentorship that pushes student-artists to develop not just as producers of art, but also as thinkers and audience members.
This year’s Sorenson Scholars are (l-r) Anneliese Glaubitz, Alexa Forgione, Lauren Nohelty, Maria Blanco, and Joseph Nash; not pictured is Madison Adler.
The Babson Campus
BabsonARTS events take place on the picturesque campus of Babson College, an independent college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Babson is a recognized national and international leader in entrepreneurship education, blending innovative, integrated, and applied business and liberal arts programs with curricular and co-curricular learning experiences. The Sorenson Center for the Arts is located at 19 Babson College Drive. Free parking is available in the Trim Parking Lot, a short walk from the theater.
Join Us
facebook.com / babsonarts
The Babson community is also welcome to attend arts and cultural offerings at Wellesley College. For a listing of exhibitions and events, or to be added to their mailing list for upcoming programs, go to wellesley.edu/events/artevents.
For more information or to reserve tickets to BabsonARTS events, go to babsonarts.org or call 781-239-5880. All events and exhibitions are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
@babsonarts
Ticket prices are noted in the listings. Many events are free of charge, but reservations are recommended. To purchase tickets or reserve seats, go to babsonarts.org. Free student rush tickets are offered for CSC events one hour before curtain time, on a spaceavailable basis.
Note that all dates, programs, artists, and venues are subject to change. Please go to babsonarts.org for the most current information on these and other arts events.
Fall 2017 AT A GLANCE Artists In Motion Through September 7
A Coming of Age September 15-October 26
Thi Bui September 20
I Am Not Your Negro September 25
Shakespeare & the Law September 26
Improvaganza! September 29
BANDALOOP October 18
Waterline Reading Series Showcase October 25
In a Better World November 7
Clybourne Park
A Conversation with Tony Shalhoub
October 26-29
November 12
Jhane Barnes
Fear and Misery in the Third Reich
October 27
Improvaganza!
November 13
October 27
Kate Chertavian
I Am Jane Doe
November 30
November 1
Improvaganza!
The Caprichos
December 1
November 2-January 12
Babson Music Collective Concert December 4
BABSONARTS.ORG 781.239.5880
EVENTS ARE FREE UNLESS NOTED
SORENSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS BABSON COLLEGE 231 FOREST STREET BABSON PARK, MA 02457
BABSONARTS NONPROFIT ORG. U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 9894 BOSTON, MA