Not one, not two, but three new exhibitions open this month: contemporary photographs by Yoko Asakai take over the Eli Marsh Gallery, paintings inspired by extinct and endangered species are on view in Frost Library, and the Amherst Center for Russian Culture commemorates the anniversary of the end of World War I with modern works by Russian avant-garde artists and symbolist poets. Also this month, The Common literary magazine celebrates its latest issue, which features works by Puerto Rican authors and artists created in response to Hurricane Maria. The Department of Theater and Dance presents God’s Issue, an original play written and directed by David Green ’19E. Music at Amherst continues its 40th season with critically acclaimed pianist Gabriela Montero. And more!
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Exhibition Openings
Courtesy of MUJIN-TO Production and the artist.
The Department of Art and the History of Art opens its second exhibition of the semester, which features photographs by Japanese-born artist Yoko Asakai. Yoko Asakai: 7 days and other pieces opens with a lecture by the artist on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 4:30 p.m. in Pruyne Lecture Hall (115 Fayerweather Hall). The lecture is followed by a reception and a viewing of the exhibition in the Eli Marsh Gallery (105 Fayerweather Hall).
Whispers: Paintings by Alice Thomas opens with a reception with the artist on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Mezzanine Gallery and the Friendly Reading Room on the second floor of Frost Library. The exhibition, which aims to inspire viewers to think about the endangered and extinct species in a new and contemporary ways, remains on view through Jan. 30, 2019.
The Amherst Center for Russian Culture presents Views from the Eastern Front: Russian Modernism and the Great War, organized by Galina Mardilovich, acting curator of Russian and European art at the Mead Art Museum. The exhibition includes works by Russian avant-garde artists and symbolist poets that explore the ways in which Russian modernists engaged with the themes of war, violence and destruction, and considers the role of World War I in Russia through the arts 100 years after the war’s end. The exhibition opens with a reception on Monday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Center. On Friday, Nov. 30, join Mardilovich for a gallery talk from noon to 1 p.m., also in the Center. The exhibition remains on view through Feb. 17, 2019.
Literary Readings
Amherst’s award-winning literary magazine, The Common, celebrates its latest issue with readings and a reception on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Powerhouse. The issue includes a special portfolio titled De Puerto Rico: Un año después de la tormenta / From Puerto Rico: One Year after the Storm. Join writers and translators Ana Teresa Toro, Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón, María José Giménez, Willie Perdomo and María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado for readings and a conversation moderated by Jennifer Acker ’00, The Common’s editor-in-chief.
Ruth Ozeki, author of the best-selling novel A Tale for the Time Being, delivers a lecture about how her work engages with Buddhist themes on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Humanistic Inquiry on the second floor of Frost Library. Ozeki’s lecture is the second in a series of four organized by Five College Buddhist Studies that focuses on connections between Buddhism and contemporary literature.
Poet Cameron Awkward-Rich and author Amy Bloom visit Amherst as part of the Creative Writing Center’s Fall Reading Series. Awkward-Rich, author of the poetry collections Dispatch (forthcoming) and Sympathetic Little Monster, reads on Thursday, Nov. 8. Bloom, author of the New York Times bestseller Where the God of Love Hangs Out and National Book Award finalist Come to Me, reads on Thursday, Nov. 29. Both readings take place at 8 p.m. at Amherst Books (8 Main St. in downtown Amherst), and are followed by receptions with refreshments.
Concerts & Performances
Illustration of God's Issue by Chloe Tausk ʼ19E
What ever became of Eve and Adam? That’s the central question behind God’s Issue, an original play with musical numbers written and directed by David Green ’19E for his senior honors thesis in theater and dance. Performances are Thursday, Nov. 1, to Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 to 10 p.m. in Holden Theater. Tickets are free, but reservations are recommended; call the box office at (413) 542–2277.
The 9th Dimension, a senior thesis in music composed, performed and directed by Samuel Croff III ’19E, is billed as “an extraterrestrial visitation and music thesis featuring the sounds of a psyched-out, fuzzed-up electric guitar, polyphonic membranophones, synthetically altered claviers, a subspace bass guitar and a horn section abducted from Amherst College’s finest.” The performance takes place on Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall of the Arms Music Center. The concert is free and open to the public, with seating by general admission.
The 40th season of Music at Amherst continues with a performance by critically acclaimed pianist Gabriela Montero on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall. Tickets are required and can be purchased at amherst.universitytickets.com. The previous day, Saturday, Nov. 3, Montero gives a master class for Amherst students from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall that is free and open to the public.
The Amherst Symphony Orchestra resumes its journey through the concert repertoires of Latin America by performing music of Cuba and Brazil on Friday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 general admission; $5 for senior citizens, students and children; and free to Five College students with ID.
As part of Homecoming Weekend, Amherst College’s Choral Society and Jazz Ensemble perform on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively. The Choral Society presents music by Shawn Kirchner, Sydney Guillaume, György Ligeti, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Veljo Tormis and Shara Nova, as well as traditional Amherst songs, under the direction of Choral Society Director Arianne Abela and Assistant Conductor Ellen Mutter ’18. Carl Clements, visiting director of jazz performance, directs the Jazz Ensemble. Choral Society tickets may be purchased at the door only, and are $10 for general admission; $5 for senior citizens, students and children; and free to Five College students with ID. Jazz Ensemble tickets are free, and cash donations for the Amherst Survival Center will be collected.
Choreographer, performer and educator Maree ReMalia hosts a dance master class on Friday, Nov. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Kirby Memorial Theater, followed by a performance that evening at 7:30 p.m. in Webster Hall Studio 1. ReMalia’s visit is part of the Fall 2018 Guest Artist Series organized by Dante Brown, visiting assistant professor in theater and dance.
