Rozsa Center to host two concerts, art exhibit opening this weekend

Michigan Tech's Choirs will present "Beyond the Veil" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Rozsa Center. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Rozsa Center will offer art and music lovers three events featuring talent from the local community this Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21.

Michigan Tech Choirs to present "Beyond the Veil" April 20

The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and Michigan Tech's Department of Visual and Performing Arts will present a concert by the Michigan Tech Choirs -- conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20, in the Rozsa Center.

According to Jared Anderson, chair, Visual and Performing Arts Department, and choirs director, "The choirs at Tech have been working hard to prepare a concert that includes a number of interesting themes. The title of the concert, 'Beyond the Veil,' refers to themes that seem to be opposites as if on two sides of a veil: love and loss, life and death, health and sickness, slavery and freedom, youth and old age. There will be something for everyone at the concert this Friday -- love songs, spirituals, folksongs, and sacred motets."

Tickets for "Beyond the Veil" are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth, and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee; tickets are available by phone at (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Please note the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.

"From There to Here": Opening Reception Friday, April 20

The Rozsa Center and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) invite the public to visit their semi-annual student showcase, "From There to Here," featuring works of art created by Michigan Tech students who are participating in Project Learning Lab, an innovative arts classroom based inside  Rozsa gallery b.

Work on display was created by students in Lisa Gordillo’s Traditional Sculpture, Advanced Sculpture, and 3D Design classes. Students from many campus disciplines are represented, including Materials Sciences, English, and Theatre Arts.

The exhibition continues through this Friday, April 20. A reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, in Rozsa Gallery b. The reception is free and all are welcome.
  
Students in Traditional Sculpture study traditional ways of making art around the globe, including Guatemalan kites, Zimbabwe-Shona carving, and metal casting, with help from Michigan Tech’s department of Materials Sciences. Students in Advanced Sculpture are encouraged to work with the gallery’s architecture and to create large-scale installations in the gallery. Students in 3D Design have designed and built a tree house for a local, three-year old client.

Student artists represented: Shane Arnold, Rebecca Barkdoll, Jalen Beck, Jessica Boelcke, Alyssa Cinder, Scott Davison, Holly Eyrich, Charlie Heckel, Mads Howard, Aaron Kruzel, Alex Kuehn, Haylee Lakenen, Miles Lefevre, Dakota Lowrance, Michael Miller, Adam Mitchell, Evan Monko, Zack Nelson, Neal Nordstrom, Via Ouellette Ballas, Justin Pearl, Ted Smith, Matt Tascarella, Gabe Toczynski, Makenzi Wentela, Kitty Williams, and Amanda Wils.

For more information please contact Lisa Gordillo, Assistant Professor, Visual and Performing Arts, 906-487-3096, lijohnso@mtu.edu.

Superior Wind Symphony to celebrate contemporary composers Saturday, April 21

The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts will present a concert by Michigan Tech's Superior Wind Symphony and Campus Concert Band, titled "Right Now," a celebration of music written by contemporary composers. They will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Rozsa Center.

According to Michael Christianson, Michigan Tech director of bands, "The Superior Wind Symphony and Campus Concert Band combine once again for their year-end wind concert: 'Right Now!' -- the music of living composers. These 14 composers are people who walk among us and who you could conceivably meet. I have met five of them and performed with two of them. Two of them have been on this campus!! Two of them are jazz bassists! They range in age from 33 to 94 and write in a wide range of styles, so there is bound to be something you will love. Composers include: John Mackey, Shelley Hanson, Chris Brubeck, Eric Whitacre, Michael Daugherty, Fred Hersch, Rufus Reid, Esperanza Spalding, Radiohead, Bjork, Andrew Boysen, Jr., Tan Dun, and Sammy Nestico! Join us for a fresh and invigorating evening!"

Tickets for "Right Now" are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth, and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee; tickets are available by phone at (906) 487-2073, online at mtu.edu/rozsa, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Please note the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.

For more information please contact Mike Christianson at mchristi@mtu.edu, 906-487-2825, or visit mtu.edu/rozsa.

(Inset photos courtesy Rozsa Center)

Kathleen Heideman -- activist, artist, poet -- honored as Freshwater Hero

Kathleen Heideman of Marquette, Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) board member, active in UPEC's Mining Action Group, has been named a Freshwater Hero by Freshwater Future. (Photo © Christine Saari and courtesy UPEC)

MARQUETTE -- Last week, environmental group Freshwater Future announced the winners of their annual Freshwater Hero awards, which they "bestow upon unique and pioneering water protectors in the region."

Among the recipients of this year’s award is Kathleen M. Heideman of Marquette -- writer, artist, and environmentalist -- who’s been defending clean water and wild places from the dangers of sulfide mining for years. Heideman serves on the board of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) and works with the UPEC Mining Action Group, previously known as Save the Wild U.P.

Freshwater Future has supported Heideman and her colleagues for their work related to the Aquila Back Forty project and the Eagle Mine and for their efforts to educate the public about the hazards of sulfide mining.

Freshwater Future also recognizes Heideman's artistic talents: "Kathleen’s stewardship and sense of place is evident in her paintings and her poetry, and she incorporates her experiences with water into media that are accessible to a much broader population."*

Freshwater Future recognizes the power of citizen activism, noting that "in every community around the Great Lakes, you’ll find thoughtful, committed residents taking action to protect our lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, shorelines, and drinking water. Small, individual actions can make a big difference, and at Freshwater Future we’re inspired by those who devote their time to making things better. It’s this collective involvement that helps keep our waters safe, clean, and accessible to all."

Freshwater Future is a watershed-wide organization dedicated to supporting the needs of community-based groups such as UPEC and the Mining Action Group, who work to protect Great Lakes land and water resources.**

Each year, Freshwater Future awards recognize "a handful of the good people doing good things to protect the water in our Great Lakes region. From social justice activists in Detroit, Michigan, to tribal leaders on the remote shores of Lake Superior, every one of these Freshwater Heroes is not only working to safeguard their water, but also caring for the people in their communities and serving as an inspiration to us all."

UPEC President Horst Schmidt notes Heideman's hard work in environmental protection.

"I applaud Kathleen’s diligent efforts, working along with other talented individuals in the Mining Action Group," Schmidt said. "She urges us to work collaboratively and stay vigilant. She understands that what we have up here are not merely natural resources, but waters that are the wild and sustaining essence of our lives."

Heideman among Marquette poets to launch new book at Portage Library April 17

In addition to her activism, Heideman finds time for art, photography and poetry. She is a member of the Marquette Poets Circle, who will celebrate the launch of their anthology Maiden Voyage with readings from the book from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Tuesday, April 17, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. Along with Kathleen Heideman, poets Beverly Matherne, Jesse Koenig, Janeen Rastall, John Taylor, and Richard Rastall will read from their poems, offering a great variety of themes and images.

Notes:

* Click here to read more about Kathleen Heideman and her work.

** Click here to read more about Freshwater Future's Freshwater Heroes.