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

2013–2014 Inaugural Season

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

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 over-arching 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 fi nd 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. StegerPresident, 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 fi rst 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 WaalkesAssociate Provost for the Arts and Executive Director, Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech

2013-2014 INAUGURAL SEASON | 3

2013–2014 Inaugural SeasonPerformances, chronologically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Calendar of all events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Exhibitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52General 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 DeeperHungry 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 FreshIn 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

4 | 2013-2014 INAUGURAL SEASON

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

David Finckel and Wu Han, Russian Refl ections

Joshua Bell, Valentine Concert

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Four Seasons

Martha Graham, Classic Graham

Blacksburg Master Chorale, Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio

Something JoyfulLooking 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, Certifi ed Lunatic and Master of the Impossible

Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea

Something GlobalWould you l ike to experience the world without 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 VisualBeginning on October 28, 2013, visit the center’s free visual

arts galleries and enjoy a year of exhibitions. See page 40.


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


Friday, November 1, 2013, 8 PMPhilip Glass EnsemblePowaqqatsi: Life in TransformationMusic by Philip Glass Directed by Godfrey Reggio

Performed by Philip Glassand the Philip Glass EnsembleConducted by Michael Riesmanfeaturing the Blacksburg Children’s Chorale, Patrice Yearwood, conductor

Powaqqatsi is a celebration of the human-scale endeavor, craftsmanship, spirituality, labor, and creativity that defi nes 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 fi lm 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 fi lm 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


Come ear ly on Sunday, November 3, for a day of community open house events for the whole family, including a communi ty s ing a long and hands on activities for all ages! The open house, noon to 2:30 p.m., is free.


Sunday, November 3, 2013, 3 PMSphinx VirtuosiA 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 “fi rst-rate in every way,” the Sphinx Virtuosi offers a diverse program of well-known 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


Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8 PMBallet HispanicoSortijas, and other repertoireEduardo 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

Friday, November 15, 2013, 8 PMDiavolo Dance TheaterTransit 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



Sunday, November 17, 2013, 8 PMDavid Finckel and Wu HanRussian Refl ections

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: Prokofi ev’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


Saturday, November 23, 2013, 8 PMIra GlassReinventing Radio

“Mr. Glass is a journalist but also a storyteller who fi lters 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


Saturday, December 7, 2013, 4 PMRoanoke Symphony OrchestraHoliday Pops Concert Destan Owens, tenorVirginia Tech ChoirsDavid 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 long-time 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


Saturday, February 8, 2014, 8 PMThe Miners’ Hymns Film by Bill MorrisonMusic by Jóhann Jóhannssonwith 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 coalfi eld, depicting the hardship of pit work, increasing mechanization, and trade unions’ fi ght 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


Friday, February 14, 2014, 8 PMJoshua BellValentine 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.




Saturday, February 22, 2014, 8 PMMike Daisey Faster Better SocialCreated and Performed by Mike DaiseyDirected 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 defi ne 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 fi erce 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


Monday, February 24, 2014, 8 PMOrpheus Chamber OrchestraFour 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.




Sunday March 2, 2014, 3 PMeighth blackbirdColombine’s Paradise Theatre Composed by Amy Beth KirstenDirected and Designed by Mark DeChiazzaPerformed 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

Thursday, March 6, 2014, 7:30 PMFriday, March 7, 2014, 7:30 PMThe Acting CompanyHamletRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Founded in 1972 by legendary producer/director/actor John Houseman and current Producing Director Margot Harley with members of the fi rst 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 PMFriday, March 21, 2014, 8 PMCrooked Road FestivalWayne Henderson and the Virginia Luthierswith Gerald AndersonJimmy EdmondsSpencer Stricklandand 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 infl uenced 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 PMMartha Graham Dance CompanyClassic GrahamJanet 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


Monday, March 31, 2014, 8 PMZakir 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 infl uential 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


Friday, April 11, 2014, 7 PM Tomáš KubínekCertifi ed 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


Saturday, April 26, 2014Center for the Arts Gala Celebrationfeaturing The Virginia Symphony Orchestrawith guest conductor Thomas Wilkins

Please watch for more details in the spring semester about this special celebration and how to attend.


Saturday, May 3, 2014, 8 PMBlacksburg Master ChoraleMendelssohn’s Elijah Oratoriowith the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Dwight Bigler, conductorDanielle Talamantes, sopranoKatherine Pracht, mezzo sopranoRobert Chafi n, tenorBranch Fields, bass

More than 200 singers, a full orchestra, and soloists will fi ll 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 Chafi n; as well as Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano.

Co-presented with



Wednesday, May 7, 2014, 8 PMDance Theatre of HarlemFar but Close, and other repertoireVirginia 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


Friday, May 30, 2014, 7 PMSaturday May 31, 2014, 10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PMCompagnia TPOBLEU! 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


Calendar of all performances, exhibitions, and special eventsPERFORMANCE EXHIBITION SPECIAL EVENT

OCTOBER 2013October 28 Galleries Grand Opening 6–8 PM

Jennifer Steinkamp, Madame Curie Lower Gallery

Joan Grossman, This Edge I Have to Jump 6–8 PM Cube

October 30 Tech-or-Treat 5–8 PM Cube

NOVEMBER 2013November 1 Philip Glass Ensemble, Powaqqatsi: Life in Transformation 8 PM Contemporary Music, Film

November 3 Community Open House Noon–2:30 PM

Sphinx Virtuosi, A Dialogue Between Two Centuries 3 PM Classical and Contemporary Music

November 7 Ballet Hispanico, Sortijas, and other repertoire 8 PM Dance

November 15 Diavolo Dance Theater, Transit Space, and other repertoire 8 PM Dance Theatre

November 17 David Finckel and Wu Han, Russian Refl ections 8 PM Classical Music

November 23 Ira Glass, Reinventing Radio 8 PM Spoken Word

DECEMBER 2013December 6 Exhibition Opening 6–8 PM

Young Artists Lower Gallery

December 7 Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Pops Concert 4 PM Holiday Music


Calendar of all performances, exhibitions, and special eventsPERFORMANCE EXHIBITION SPECIAL EVENT

JANUARY 2014January 17 Exhibition Opening 6–8 PM Landscape: Another Dimension

Joni Pienkowski Lower Gallery

Adam Cvijanovic Upper Gallery

Jacco Olivier Reception Gallery

Chiho Aoshima

FEBRUARY 2014February 8 The Miners’ Hymns 8 PM Film, Contemporary Music

February 14 Joshua Bell, Valentine Concert 8 PM Classical Music

February 22 Mike Daisey, Faster Better Social 8 PM Spoken Word

February 24 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Four Seasons 8 PM Classical Music

MARCH 2014March 2 eighth blackbird, Colombine’s Paradise Theatre 3 PM Contemporary Music, Theatre

March 6 The Acting Company, Hamlet 7:30 PM Theatre

March 7 The Acting Company, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 7:30 PM Theatre


MARCH 2014 (CONTINUED)March 20 Crooked Road Festival, The Four Luthiers of Virginia 8 PM Heritage Music

March 21 Crooked Road Festival 8 PM Heritage Music

Exhibition Opening 6–8 PM

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

March 29 Martha Graham, Classic Graham 8 PM Dance

March 31 Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion 8 PM World Music

APRIL 2014April 11 Tomáš Kubínek, Certifi ed Lunatic and Master of the Impossible 7 PM Theatre

April 26 Center for the Arts Gala Celebration

MAY 2014May 3 Blacksburg Master Chorale, Mendelssohn’s Elijah Oratorio 8 PM Classical Music

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 8 PM Dance

May 24 Exhibition Opening 6–8 PM

Young Artists All Galleries

May 30 Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea 7 PM Theatre

May 31 Compagnia TPO, BLEU! The Mediterranean Sea 10 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM Theatre

JUNE 2014June 14 Exhibition Opening 6–8 PM OpenLab Summer Exhibitions All Galleries



Galleries hoursWednesday–Thursday, Noon–6 PMFriday, Noon–9 PMSaturday–Sunday, Noon–6 PM

AdmissionFree


In the GalleriesOpening 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.


Jennifer Steinkamp

Madame Curie, 2011

Site-specifi c multi-channel, synchronized projection

Dimensions variable

Courtesy of the artist and Lehman Maupin Gallery, New York

October 28–December 1, 2013Jennifer SteinkampMadame Curie, 2011Lower Gallery

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

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


Jennifer Steinkamp

Madame Curie, 2011

Site-specifi c multi-channel, synchronized projection

Dimensions variable

Courtesy of the artist and Lehman Maupin Gallery, New York


January 17–March 7, 2014Joni PienkowskiLandscape: Another DimensionFour solo exhibitions reinvent the traditionLower Gallery

The Center for the Arts’ fi rst 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

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.

Assimilating, 2012

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

18 x 80 inches

Collection of the artist

Thermal Emergence, 2012


18 x 80 inches


Seed Journey, 2010


18 x 80 inches


All photo by Sarah Tyler Miller


January 17–March 2, 2014Adam CvijanovicLandscape: Another DimensionFour solo exhibitions reinvent the traditionUpper 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-specifi c installation. Cv i j anov i c ’s monumenta l mura l s and 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.

Garden State, 2007

Flash acrylic and latex on Tyvek®

10 x 52 feet



January 17–March 2, 2014Jacco OlivierLandscape: Another DimensionFour solo exhibitions reinvent the traditionReception Gallery

In an inventive fusion of painting with fi lmmaking, 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

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

Transition, 2010

HD animation on hard disc

Duration 2 minutes, 30 seconds

Dimensions variable

Landscape, 2010

HD animation on hard disc or blu-ray


Dimensions variable

Refl ection, 2010 (on right)

HD animation on hard disc


Dimensions variable

All works Courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Victoria Miro Gallery, London


January 17–March 2, 2014Chiho AoshimaLandscape: Another DimensionFour 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 landscape ful l of fantasy and wonder. 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

scenes morph into cityscapes where living skyscrapers sprout during the day, only to be overgrown at night by a landscape fi lled 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.

Chiho Aoshima

City Glow, 2005

Five-channel video installation

Dimensions variable

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

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

All rights reserved


March 21–April 27, 2014Aspects of the Self: Portraits of Our TimesAll 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 internet-based 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

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.

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


Christopher Baker

Hello World!, 2008

Thousands of YouTube video portraits in a multichannel audiovisual installation



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 scientifi 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.


Some ICAT activities for its inaugural year in the Center for the Arts include:

Opens October 28, 2013Joan GrossmanThis Edge I Have to JumpVideo InstallationCube

This Edge I Have to Jump (working title) is a multi-screen, site specifi c 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-fi ction and documentary fi lmmaking. 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 PMTech-or-TreatCube

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.

MonthlyArtsFusion 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.


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

May 3–18, 2014ICAT: Open (at the) SourceLower 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, 2014SOVA: Senior Studio ExhibitionReception 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, 2014OpenLabAll 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, 2013Young ArtistsLower 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, 2014Young ArtistsAll 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.


Box Offi ce, Opening October 7, 2013

Box Offi ce: 540-231-5300Administration: 540-231-ARTS

www.artscenter.vt.edu Center for the Arts (0916)Virginia Tech190 Alumni MallBlacksburg, VA 24061

DirectionsFrom 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.

DOWNTOWNBLACKSBURG

PARKING

CENTER FOR THE ARTS

VIRGINIATECH CAMPUS

ROANOKE

WEST VIRGINIA

DOWNTOWNBLACKSBURG

PARKING

CENTER FOR THE ARTS


Season SubscriptionsPlease 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 fi rst 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 offi ce hours and ticket pick upUntil October 5, the box offi ce 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 offi ce 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 salesUntil 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.

ParkingParking 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/donationsPlease contact the Center for the Arts box offi ce at (540) 231-5300 for information about ticket exchanges, refunds, and donations.

Lost ticketsPlease contact the Center for the Arts box offi ce at (540) 231-5300 regarding lost tickets.

Group ticket salesFor groups of 10 or more, please contact the Center for the Arts box offi ce at (540) 231-5300.

Late seatingCenter 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 fi rst appropriate moment in the program, at the house management’s discretion. Latecomers may be seated in the back.

ADA special assistanceThe 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 notifi cation.

Closures for holidaysThe 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 offi ce at (540) 231-5300 for more information.

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

Inclement weatherCenter 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 offi ce at (540) 231-5300 for timely information about closures due to inclement weather.

SupportFor information about ways to support the Center for the Arts and named giving opportunities, please contact Lois Badey at [email protected] or (540) 231-0608.

Programs are subject to change.

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


Documents

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