October 2009

For a full calendar of College events, please click here.




October 1, Thursday
The Mythical Triumph of Gothic Style in Early Renaissance Florence
4:30 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Room 221
Lecture by Laurence Kanter, the Lionel Goldfrank III Curator of Early European Art, Yale University Art Gallery. Kanter considers the early artistic traditions of the quattrocento—from the Gothic style of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise to the advent of Masaccio and the classical ideals of Donatello and of Filippo Brunelleschi—and introduces a number of alternative readings of history. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Free



October 1, Thursday
Lecture by Cameron Visiting Architect Jim Cutler
7:00 P.M., Dana Auditorium
Jim Cutler is the 2009 Cameron Visiting Architect in the Architectural Studies Program at Middlebury, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Internationally renowned for his thoughtful and sensitive integration of architecture into the landscape, he incorporates a strong "Earth consciousness" into his projects by using environmentally responsible technology and materials. Free



October 1, Thursday
Live Electronic Music
7:00 P.M., 51 Main
Hear electronic music performed live by student Philippe Bronchtein '10 and Music Department chair Peter Hamlin '73. Sponsored by the Department of Music. Free

October 1, Thursday (through October 17)
Exhibition of Architectural Works by Jim Cutler
Johnson Memorial Building, Main Lobby, Architecture Gallery
In conjunction with his October 1 lecture, an exhibit of Jim Cutler’s completed works and works in progress is on display. Based on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, his firm, Cutler-Anderson Architects, has designed hundreds of residential, commercial, and cultural projects that have won numerous awards, including six National Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects. Sponsored by the Department of History of Art and Architecture, and the Cameron Family Enrichment Fund. Free



October 2, Friday
Emerson String Quartet
8:00 P.M., Mead Memorial Chapel
The Campus’s February 1981 review of the Emerson’s Middlebury premiere was titled “Emerson Quartet leaves crowd spellbound.” The Quartet—named after New England’s Ralph Waldo Emerson—plays its 31st Middlebury program, beginning with New Englander Charles Ives’s first quartet and followed with quartets by Beethoven (The Harp) and Mendelssohn. This free Performing Arts Series concert is made possible with generous support from the Institute for Clinical Science and Art, established by the late Dr. F. William Sunderman of Philadelphia. Free; no tickets required. Doors open at 7:30 P.M.
Additional information here.
Press release available.


October 3, Saturday
I’ve Loved You So Long
3:00 and 8:00 P.M., Dana Auditorium
Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) invites her estranged sister, Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) to move in with her when she is released from prison. After 15 years behind bars, Juliette gradually opens up to the world again. “One of Kristin Scott Thomas’s most inspired performances”—Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun Times. Jury Prize, Berlin International Film Festival; BAFTA Award for best foreign language film. In French with English subtitles. Sponsored by the Department of French. (France/Germany, 2008, 117 minutes) Free



October 3, Saturday
François Clemmons, tenor
8:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence François Clemmons presents a concert of American choral music and joyful solo works for the College’s Fall Family Weekend. Clemmons’s distinguished career has taken him from the Metropolitan Opera to the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble. He earned a Grammy Award for his performance as “Sportin’ Life” in Porgy and Bess with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1973. He is perhaps best known for his role as the friendly policeman, Officer Clemmons, on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Clemmons is joined on stage by special guest artists Beth Thompson, soprano; Cynthia Huard, piano; and the Middlebury College Choir under the direction of Jeffrey Buettner. Free





October 8, Thursday
The Restoration of the Altarpiece by Lippo d’Andrea
4:30 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Room 221
Conservator Andrea Rothe talks about his restoration of the Museum’s Lippo d’Andrea altarpiece. Presenting slides that document the painting before, during, and after treatment, Rothe explores the challenges he encountered in the restoration process. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Free








October 15, Thursday
Dance Residency Activities with INSPIRIT
See times listed below; MCFA, Dance Theatre
Join founder and artistic director Christal Brown and other company members of INSPIRIT for residency activities that precede their public performance Friday and Saturday nights. Pre-registration required, contact dance@middlebury.edu.

• 9:30-10:45 A.M. Master class, Advanced Beginning level
• 12:30-1:15 P.M. DanceTalk with the choreographer and company members (see below)
• 3:00-4:15 P.M. Master class, Beginning level (this class is now full)
  

October 15, Thursday
DanceTalk: Christal Brown and INSPIRIT, a dance company
12:30-1:15 P.M., Mahaney CFA, Dance Theatre
Christal Brown and members of INSPIRIT will show excerpts from their upcoming concert and discuss their mission and creative process. Free

October 15, Thursday
Addison County Chamber of Commerce Monthly Mixer
5:00-7:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Lower lobby
For Chamber members: enjoy a viewing of the new museum exhibition The Art of Devotion: Panel Painting in Early Renaissance Italy while you network with your fellow businesspeople. Hosted by the Middlebury Collehe Museum of Art and the Mahaney Center for the Arts. For membership info: http://www.addisoncounty.com/index.asp?contID=34



October 15, Thursday (through October 31)
Animator Emily Hubley: Exhibition of Works
Ongoing, 51 Main
Stills from many of the films by the acclaimed animator Emily Hubley are on view at 51 Main*. Free
* The public is invited to a reception on Saturday 10/24 from 5-7 P.M., in between the 3pm and 8pm screenings Hubley's film The Toe Tactic at Dana Auditorium.


October 15-17, Thursday-Saturday
Tales of Love, Loss and Laughter: A Relationship Study
8:00 P.M. each evening, plus 10:30 P.M. on Friday only; Hepburn Zoo
The annual First-Years' Show: an evening of contemporary scenes about that good old thing called love. From the beginning flirtations of complete strangers to the well-worn battles of familiar partners, the scenes present a variety of situations and characters for whom relationships don’t come easy. But the people you’ll meet, like most of us, keep on trying. And they just might have us laughing a little along the way.  Directed by Ami Formica '03. Actors: Molly O'Keefe '12, Lucy Van Atta '12, Libby McCarthy '13, Sam Koplinka-Loehr '13, Steven Dunmire '13, Angie Paulino '13, April Dodd '13, Brian Clow '13, Chris De La Cruz '13, Noah Berman '13, Sarah Lusche '13, Leah Robinson '13, Lauren Yang '13, and Nathan Arnosti '13. Reilly Steel '11 is assistant director; and Rafferty Parke '13 and Grace Bell '13 are stage managers. Ryan Bates '11 is set designer; RJ Adler '11 is lighting designer; Emma Ermotti '12 is costume designer; Rachel Goodgal '13 and Sumire Doi '13 are costume assistants. Sponsored by the Theatre Program. Tickets: $4; on sale September 28.
 

October 16, Friday
Art, Marriage, and Family in the Florentine Renaissance Palace
4:30 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Room 221
This lecture by Jacqueline Marie Musacchio, Art Department, Wellesley College, examines the intersection of art and the marriage ritual in the middle and upper class homes of fifteenth-century Florence. It analyzes the urban townhouse, its furnishings, and their influence on urban life to provide an understanding of how families interacted with art on a daily basis. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Free



October 16–17, Friday–Saturday
INSPIRIT
8:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre
Founder and artistic director Christal Brown presents and performs with INSPIRIT, a dance company that creates contemporary works imbued with spiritual exuberance, ancestral strength, and startling insight. The rich movement vocabulary draws from the ensemble’s wide-ranging experiences, from postmodern forms to traditional West African dance, from ballet to yoga. “Evoking the strength of the ancestors and the sassiness of today’s feminists/womanists”—Eva Yaa Asantewaa. Post-performance discussion Friday. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series and the Dance Program. Tickets: $24/18/6
Additional information here.


October 17, Saturday
Synecdoche, New York
3:00 and 8:00 P.M., Dana Auditorium
Worried about the transience of his rapidly unraveling life, Caden Cotard (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) leaves his home in Schenectady, New York, and uses his MacArthur “Genius” Grant to create a theatrical replica of his life. “No film with an ambition this large, and achievement this impressive, can be anything but exhilarating, a vital affirmation of the creative process”—Time. Written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, the Oscar-winning writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series. (USA, 2008, 124 minutes) Free



October 18, Sunday
Freedom Without Walls: Opening Night
8:00 P.M., McCullough Student Center, Social Space
An evening of short plays about life in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, 1961-today. The works will reflect on the Wall’s enduring significance in the lives and everyday routines of German people. Introduced and moderated by Vermont playwright Dana Yeaton '79. Part of Middlebury College's "Freedom Without Walls" celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Free
For more information, click here.



October 19, Monday
Day Trip with the Friends of the Art Museum:
Behind the Scenes at Shelburne Museum
Director Stephan Jost shows us the Conservation Lab and how the collection management team has catalogued the entire holdings of the Shelburne Museum. We also meet the museum’s staff members who make the exhibits and events happen. Limited to 20 guests. Lunch to follow. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Open to members and non-members. Information: 802.443.2034 or asolomon@middlebury.edu.

October 21, Wednesday
Faculty Lecture Series: John Hunisak
4:30 P.M., Hillcrest 103
John Hunisak, Department of History of Art and Architecture, “‘Panis angelicus fit panis hominum’ (may the bread of angels become mankind’s bread): images of food in representations of the New Testament.” Free

 October 21, Wednesday (through November 5)
Black and White Photography
Johnson Memorial Building, Pit Space
Students in visiting artist Sally Apfelbaum’s courses present an exhibition of their black and white photographs. Sponsored by the Program in Studio Art. Free





October 22, Thursday
Prints and Prejudice: The Evolution of an Exhibition
4:30 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Room 221
Christopher Wilson, professor of humanities and curator of the exhibition, presents an illustrated lecture on the art of the Civil War. He discusses the transformation of historical research from the classroom to public viewing. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Free


October 22, Thursday (through November 5)
Sculpture in the Form of a Chair
Johnson Memorial Building, Pit Space
For this project, students examine the social, psychological, and structural properties of chairs. Sculptures that are developed from this investigation incorporate a wide range of concepts, materials, and methods of presentation. Sponsored by the Program in Studio Art. Free









October 23, Friday
Spring Theatre Auditions
6:30-9:00 P.M., Mahaney CFA, room 232
For Middlebury College students: audition for the spring 2010 faculty-directed productions. For more information, contact the theatre program office at burnham@middlebury.edu.




October 24, Saturday
TAKE ACTION: Global Awareness Day for Climate Change
10:00 A.M., Mahaney CFA, Dance Theatre
Open yoga class with Andrea Olsen: build energy, join the flow. Followed by "Climate Dances" at 11:00 A.M., performed by Andrea Olsen and John Elder, Jeremy Cline '11, Sonia Hsieh '11, and Alena Giesche '11, at the Manahey CFA Dance Theatre and on campus. For full schedule of campus and world-wide events, check www.350.org.







October 24, Saturday
The Toe Tactic
3:00 and 8:00* P.M., Dana Auditorium
In this hybrid of live-action and animation, temp worker Mona Peek learns her childhood home has been sold and finds herself overcome with grief for her dead father. Her emotional plight becomes the subject of a card game between four talking dogs who intervene with fate. “The argument this movie makes—on behalf of eccentric, vulnerable characters and against more ordinary kinds of cinema—is for the supreme value of idiosyncrasy.” —A. O. Scott, New York Times. With a score by Yo La Tengo. Hubley's two shorts Pigeon Within and Set Set Spike are also screened along with The Toe Tactic. Sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series. (USA, 2008, 83 minutes) Free
*Public reception with the filmmaker between the screenings, 5:00-7:00 P.M. at 51 Main. Director/filmmaker Emily Hubley introduces the 8:00 p.m. screening and stays for discussion at Dana Auditorium.



October 24, Saturday
Dayve Huckett, guitar
8:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Affiliate artist Davye Huckett’s repertoire spans from Zappa to the Beatles, from Sting to Yes to Tommy Emmanuel. He also plays much of his own, original music in a hybrid fingerstyle/rock/classical/jazz mix on classical, steel string, and electric guitars. Guest artists Peter Hamlin '73, Mark Christensen, Hannah Rose Rommer '09, and Alex Fisher '10—performing on accordion, guitar, viola, and piano—join him on stage for an eclectic evening of music. Sponsored by the Department of Music. Free


October 25, Sunday
Vermont Filmmakers Showcase: Middlebury College
12:00 P.M., Palace 9 Cinema, Shelburne Road, South Burlington
Part of the 2009 Vermont International Film Festival (October 23-November 1). Middlebury College film students and alumni contribute 5 short films:
Obituary (6 minutes), by Louis Lobel '09: a series of interviews shows how people imagine their own legacies.
Untitled Steven Hill Project (12 minutes), by David Ellis '09: a reflexive pseudo-documentary highlights the emotional power of video footage.
OMYA (12 minutes), by Kyle Howard '10: a meditation on the environmental prevalence of chemicals.
The Aesthetic Pleasure of Indirectness (8 minutes), by Ashley Szczesiak '09: an experimental cut-out animation explores the sense of touch.
The Basics (6 minutes), by Ryan Scura '11: an animated piece on the intersection of childhood and money.
Tickets and more information at www.vtiff.org

October 25, Sunday
Pumpkin Carving and Stop Animation
1:00-4:00 P.M., outside Pearsons
Animation students in the Department of Film and Media Culture invite the public of all ages to contribute to the making of a ten-second stop motion animation about the history of Halloween by carving a pumpkin. Pumpkins and knives will be provided. Please RSVP to fdrexel@middlebury.edu with the subject line "Pumpkin Animation."