As fall semester classes get under way on Concordia University Ann Arbor's campus, a number of concerts, art exhibits and lectures for the community will grace the Kreft Center for the Arts.
The Kreft Arts Program, a longstanding tradition of offering free events for the community, continues this year, bringing in notable musicians, artists and lecturers.
“The Kreft Arts program strives to inspire the artistic, intellectual and creative experiences of our students as well as our community,” noted Dr. Mark Looker, longtime Kreft Arts Program Director and a Concordia University Ann Arbor English professor. The program includes art exhibits, concerts, lectures, dance performances, theatrical performances and book reviews.
Among the major events at the Kreft Center for the Arts this semester are:
Unapologetic Dinnerware: A Brief History of Disposable Dinnerware, with an Opening Reception and Gallery Talk on Friday, September 7 from 7-9 p.m. in the Kreft Center Gallery. This special exhibition, curated by Dr. Margaret Carney, founder of the International Museum of Dinnerware Design in Ann Arbor, runs through October 12. It traces the history of single use dinnerware from ancient Mesopotomia to the present and features designers from the United States, India, Japan, Portugal and Germany, among other countries. The gallery is free and open Tuesday-Friday from 12-4 p.m. and weekends from 1-5 p.m.
Jeffrey Chapman, Short Story Writer, Graphic Novelist and Comic Book Writer on Wednesday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kreft Center Recital Hall. Chapman will read excerpts from his works and discuss them during this event. A creative writing professor at Oakland University in Detroit, he was awarded a Kresge Artists Fellow in 2015.
Matt Herskowitz, “From Gottschalk to Gershwin: The Missing Link,” on Friday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kreft Center Recital Hall. Herskowitz, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, combines the superlative technique of a classical virtuoso with his prowess in jazz, world music and free improvisation. Over the past decade, the pianist, composer and arranger has carved out a unique and personal voice in music.
“Scrooge and the Question of God’s Existence,” on Wednesday, October 10 at 4 p.m. in the Earhart Manor Living Room. Steve Luhring will lead a books and coffee discussion, including his imaginative rewrite of Charles Dickens’ enduring classic, “A Christmas Carol.”
Sasha Mazlov, Photographer: “The Veteran’s Project,” November 6-December 9 in the Kreft Center Gallery. An Artist Reception and Gallery Talk will be held on Friday, November 9 from 7-9 p.m. The exhibit features a series of portraits and accompanying stories of people who took part in World War II. This project strives to look behind the emotional drape of each photographed individual, with Mazlov aiming to analyze and compare the fates of those living survivors. For this project, he traveled to multiple countries that were most affected by the war.
“Emily Bronte at 200: The Uncanny Power of Wuthering Heights,” on Wednesday, November 7 at 4 p.m. in the Earhart Manor Living Room. Dr. Looker will lead a books and coffee discussion, delving into a single novel written by an author born way back in 1818 that continues to lodge itself into our cultural consciousness.
Seipp/Sheets Trumpet and Organ Duo on Sunday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the university’s Chapel of the Holy Trinity. The Instrument of Kings meets the King of Instruments with trumpeter Chuck Seipp and organist Randall Sheets, who serves as the official organist for the Arlington National Cemetery. Seipp, a Shenandoah Conservatory professor and Sergeant Major (Retired), will combine with Sheets in a diverse program of classical, virtuoso, and lyrical works, including a memorable tribute to veterans and the military.
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