Month: April 2018

Spring Photos: Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group: Citizen

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On Friday, February 9, 2018 Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group returned to Wesleyan with the Connecticut premiere of Citizen (2016), questioning what it means to belong and what it means to not want to belong. The work was inspired by the histories of iconic African-Americans who faced prevalent contradictions and irony connected to individuality, anonymity, freedom, and dignity in relation to their civic duties. A provocative dialogue emerged through a series of five intricately woven solos layered with haunting footage that suspended time and place.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Spring Photos: Opening Reception: A New Subjectivity

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On Thursday, February 8, 2018 A New Subjectivity: Figurative Painting After 2000, an exhibition composed entirely of paintings by women and attempting to categorize Expressionism in new terms, featured works by Gina Beavers, Katherine Bernhardt, Katherine Bradford, Jackie Gendel, Liz Markus, and Rose Wylie. Referencing cartoons, fashion spreads, and personal narratives, the artists addressed the fragmentation of individual subjectivity in a technological world. The new figuration is thereby performative, rather than prescriptive, and both absurd and sincere approaches to the subject matter were embraced by the artists.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Spring Photos: Opening Reception and Gallery Talk: Reclaiming the Gaze

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On Wednesday, February 7, 2018 seven Wesleyan University students in the class “Advanced Themes in 20th Century Afro-American Art”, taught by Professor of Art History Peter Mark, organized the exhibition “Reclaiming the Gaze” from the Davison Art Center collection. The show highlighted 42 prints and photographs by African American artists from 1930 to the present day, including works by Lyle Ashton Harris ’88, Romare Bearden, Glenn Ligon ’82 DFA ’12, Robert Pruitt, Betye Saar, and Kara Walker. Professor of Art History Peter Mark and Rielly Wieners ’18, one of the student curators of the exhibition, gave a gallery talk.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: A Screening and Discussion with Amanda Palmer, Michael Pope, and Students from “The Art of Doing”

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On Saturday, December 9, 2017 Wesleyan students in award-winning Visiting Filmmaker Michael Pope’s filmmaking class “The Art of Doing: Creative Project Production and Making It Happen” presented their final project, followed by a brief performance by singer/musician/writer Amanda Palmer ’98, Visiting Artist at Large in the College of Film and the Moving Image.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble Concert

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On Friday, December 8, 2017 the Wesleyan University Jazz Orchestra, directed by Jay Hoggard, the Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble, directed by Noah Baerman, and the new Real-Time Autoschediasms, directed by Tyshawn Sorey, performed an end-of-the-semester concert.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: Javanese Gamelan

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On Thursday, December 7, 2017 beginning students of the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble presented an evening of Javanese music, performing a selection of repertoire for celebratory events, with a prelude by the Wesleyan Youth Gamelan Ensemble, under the direction of Joseph Getter. Consisting mostly of gong- and metallophone-type instruments, the gamelan is an essential accompaniment to feasts and ceremonies.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: Ebony Singers Winter Concert

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On Monday, December 4, 2017 an evening of great gospel music featured the Wesleyan University Ebony Singers conducted by Marichal Monts ’85 at the Crowell Concert Hall.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: Choir Concert

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On Sunday, November 19, 2017 the Wesleyan Concert Choir, under direction of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Nadya Potemkina, presented a concert featuring both a cappella and accompanied selections from classical and modern choral repertoire.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: Artist Talk: Laylah Ali

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On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Black Pulp! exhibition artist, Laylah Ali, gave a talk at the Ring Family Performing Arts Hall. She is best known for her paintings of meticulously drawn, colorful allegorical figures, including her long running “Greenheads Series” and her newest work “The Acephalous Series.”

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.

Fall Photos: The Pillowman (2003) by Martin McDonagh

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On Thursday, November 16 through Saturday, November 18, 2017 Wesleyan students and alumni presented a production of The Pillowman — set in late 1980s/mid-1990s America under a totalitarian/dictator state. The production features a minimal set design by Emmie Finckel ’14, sound design by Anthony Dean ’17, fight choreography by Sean Chin ’09, and twelve Wesleyan undergraduate students including two separate lead casts with different gendered actors playing the lead roles in alternating performances. Campus hip hop artists also contribute original music narration with rap verses in French and Chinese.

Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.