2007 - 2008 Cultural Calendar
September 2007
Monster.com - The Ultimate Road Trip: Campus2Career
The Ultimate Road Trip is an energetic and interactive presentation about choices students make during college – choices that can turn potential into success and help them to make the most of their college experience. This is a high energy, interactive program with corporate sponsor giveaways.
September 11, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
Histiography
An exhibition assembled from the historic archives, graphic collections and illustrious past of American International College as we look to a bright future in our 123rd academic year. The exhibit will include photographs of AIC from the 19th century to the 21st, and look at AIC’s growth, development, and contributions to the greater community placed in the larger context of world history. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
September 18 to October 15
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
Mike Weber - Five Changes for College
It's new, it's exciting, it's scary! High school has come and gone and now it's time to start all over. You knew what to do, where to go, and how to succeed. But now it's all different! Less structure, harder classes, new friends, even more competition. There are 5 major mind shifts that students need to make to ease the transition to college life. Through interactive activities and stories this session helps students to make their adjustment to the college experience.
September 27, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
October 2007
Jim Mathews - Beer, Booze & Books: A Sober Look at Higher Education
This dynamic non-judgmental approach to confronting high risk alcohol consumption on the college campus encourages students to critically examine the role alcohol is playing in their lives. This presentation - a campus favorite - provides clear, accurate and applicable information and is effectively enhanced by computer generated, multi-media graphics and video. Beer, Booze & Books also serves as a National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and NCAA required alcohol program. Additionally, the program includes door prizes, and books sales and signing by the speaker.
October 16, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
Fall Exhibition of Student Art
American International College students will display their work in the First Annual Fall Student Art Show. The exhibit will include the work of students enrolled in Appreciation of Art through Painting, Aesthetic Experience through Contemporary Art, Digital Photography, Basic Photography and Photojournalism courses at the college. Art faculty L. E. Montefusco and Jennifer Osbourne will also show their interpretations of student assignments. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
October 23 to November 21
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
November 2007
Damali Ayo - We Can Fix It: 10 Easy Solutions to Improve Race Relations
This extraordinary speaker brings a fresh outlook to establishing effective relationships within educational environments and local communities. Her approach of “seeing race” moves far beyond the usual conversations about diversity that can leave participants frustrated and timid. Damali’s straightforward and engaging style opens minds, generates dialogue, and inspires individuals to engage these issues in a positive way. The program includes door prizes and a book signing.
November 6, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
The Little Prince
American International College Garrett Players present The Little Prince, directed by Fred Sokol. This existential French fairy tale portrays a regal little boy’s long journey in search of meaning. This play, based on the book by Antoine du Saint-Exupery, is a story told by a world-weary aviator stranded in the Sahara desert. He is attempting to repair his plane when a mysterious little prince from another world appears and asks him to "draw a sheep." Initially annoyed by the distraction, the aviator is ultimately transformed and comes to a new understanding of how to laugh, cry and laugh again.
November 16 - 17, 7:30 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
December 2007
The Aids Memorial Quilt
Founded in 1987, The Aids Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world. Each “block” of the quilt measures approximately 144 square feet, and a typical block consists of eight individual three by six foot panels sewn together. Nearly everyone of the 40,000 colorful panels that make up the quilt memorializes the life of a person lost to AIDS. As the epidemic continues to claim lives around the world, the quilt continues to grow and to reach more communities with its remembrance, awareness and hope. Join AIC as it participates in the largest national display in the history of The Aids Memorial Quilt.
December 1 - 7
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
January 2008
Poetry Inspired Images of Lisa Leary
This art exhibit combines organic and geometric forms. The imagery is superimposed over the artist’s own poetry creating a sense of gravity, suspension, and excavation. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 25, 2008 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
January 25 to February 22
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
March 2008
Spring Exhibition of Student Art
American International College Students enrolled in Craft and Design, Painting, and Basic and Digital Photography courses will display a collection of drawings, paintings, collages and photographs. Art faculty L. E. Montefusco and Jennifer Osbourne will also show their interpretations of student assignments. An opening reception will be held on Monday, March 3, 2008 from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
March 3 - 30
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
There Goes My Everything
Historian Jason Sokol comments about his research and writings. He features experiences of ordinary middle and working class whites in the deep south during the tumultuous decades surrounding the civil rights movement. Sokol gives us an unbiased and sensitive perspective on what life was like for white southerners whose world became unrecognizable to them when strongholds of white rule were overtaken by rising black political power.
March 18, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
Love for the Weary
Lisa Elliot presents a collection of solo and duet dances centered on themes of longing, desire, and passion. The performance utilizes both formal movements and everyday gestures to explore the often confusing and sometimes painful nature of love and commitment.
March 25, 7:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
April 2008
Academic Artists Association Annual Exhibit
AIC is proud to host the 57th annual exhibit of the Academic Artists Association, a group of over 300 members across the nation. The American art community respects and recognizes the high standard of excellence presented in this juried competition of professional and emerging artists. Come and enjoy the beautiful exhibit of oil, watercolor, and pastel paintings, graphics and sculpture. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2008 from 1 to 4:00 p.m.
April 4 to May 16
West Wing Gallery, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
Now Let Me Fly
American International College Garrett Players present: Now Let Me Fly, directed by Fred Sokol. Marcia Cebulsha’s play is an inspiring, educational and entertaining account of the struggle leading up to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court desegregation decision in Brown vs. The Board of Education. Stricken with doubt, Thurgood Marshall, former U.S. Supreme court justice, is guided by the ghost of his mentor Charles Houston. "Now Let Me Fly" is based on oral histories and personal interviews with real people and is the story of the unsung heroes and heroines behind the struggle to end legalized segregation in America.
April 18 - 19, 8:00 p.m.
Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center
American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
(800) 242-3142
inquiry@aic.edu