The ACC arts and humanities season is in full swing with this year’s theme of “(R)Evolution.” The season began in August and continues through summer, with a variety of dance, drama, humanities, creative writing, and art events. (See schedule below.) Lyman Grant, dean of arts and humanities, recently answered questions about what audiences can expect from his division this year.
Lyman Grant, dean of arts and humanities
Q. Why “(R)Evolution”?
Grant: Many of us in the division felt this was a pertinent question about the way we react to changes occurring in our college, the state, nationally, and worldwide.
Think about a student who enrolls in college, and he or she is the first person in the family to go to college. This is an exciting and frightening process, and beneath the exhilaration and anxiety are fundamental questions: How will I change? How will this change affect those around me? Will my change be slow and deliberate — an evolution? Or, will it be quick and unpredictable — a revolution? That is a personal situation.
At the same time, we are entering the cycle of national elections. Worldwide, all we have to do is think of the Arab Spring for examples.
Q. For several years now, the different areas from your division have created their events around a central theme. How is this changing what audiences can expect?
Grant: While much of our season reflects the current needs of our students and the various relationships and commitments we have within the community, our themes provide a lens through which to view the various exhibits and productions.
One example is an upcoming visit from Gallaudet University Assistant Professor Christopher Jon Heuer, who writes about his deafness in the book “Bug: Deaf Identity and Internal Revolution.” Heuer could visit the college any year, but this year, with the recent addition of the Gallaudet University Regional Center at ACC, his work will be particularly beneficial as we examine how our understanding of ACC’s Deaf community and its contributions to the college’s overall learning environment is evolving.
Q. How does this arts and humanities season differ from previous years?
Grant: This is the first year we will have a fully curated season in the department’s new art gallery, located in Building 3000 at the Rio Grande Campus.
The gallery opened the year with a retrospective exhibit of the works of Steven Kramer, who was a longtime and beloved professor and administrator at ACC.
It also will house a juried exhibit of works by Central Texas artists called “Small Works of Great Art,” in which all works must be smaller than 1 square foot.
Another exhibit will feature works by Art Department Chair Gary Webernick that he created on his recent sabbatical. In the context of our theme, we can ask, “Will these works illustrate an evolution in his artistic vision, or a complete revolution in technique and style?”
Q. Is there anything notable in the season that you want to call attention to?
Grant: I’m especially excited about Heuer’s visit. He will be at ACC in late October to visit classes and share his work with the public at the Eastview Campus.
The cover of his book reads, “Christopher Jon Heuer lost his hearing early, but not before ‘being able to hear a lot as a kid.’ He also received a good education, both in a speech-oriented setting and a signing environment. These varied experiences provided him with the perfect background to write about biases he faced, not only those of a mostly oblivious hearing society, but also those of ideologically restrictive members of the Deaf community. . . . The evenhanded irreverence that he expresses in ‘Bug’ is indeed a bomb that should go off in everyone’s consciousness about being deaf and Deaf.”
Upcoming Fall Events
Rites of Passage
October 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
Panel discussion hosted by the Philosophy, Religion & Humanities Department
Free
For more information, contact Melinda Rothouse at [email protected]
“Small Works of Great Art”
Opening reception October 22, 6-8 p.m.
Exhibit runs October 21-November 23
Rio Grande Campus Gallery
A juried fund-raiser exhibit featuring dozens of artworks smaller than 1 square foot. Open to all artists in the Central Texas region. All proceeds will go to the Steve Kramer Art Scholarship fund. $25 entry fee. Visit austincc.edu/art for details.
Christopher Jon Heuer Reading & Presentation
October 27, 7 p.m.
Eastview Campus, Room 8500
Heuer is the author of “Bug: Deaf Identity and Internal Revolution.” Co-Sponsored with the Gallaudet University Regional Center at ACC.
Free
For more information, contact Lyman Grant, [email protected] or Arlene Gunderson, [email protected]
“The Battle of Algiers”
November 2, 7-9 p.m.
Eastview Campus, Room 8500
A film screening and discussion. “The Battle of Algiers” is a 1966 war film based on occurrences during the Algerian War (1954-62) against French colonial occupation in North Africa. It has been critically celebrated as an important commentary on urban guerilla warfare.
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3352
“The Lucky Spot” by Beth Henley
November 4-6 & 11-13, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater
“The Lucky Spot” follows a band of down on their luck ne’er-do-wells as they turn an old house into the hottest new taxi-dancing emporium in Louisiana. A charming, tender, and very funny play by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley. Directed by ACC Drama Department Chair, Shelby Brammer.
$5 Students and Seniors, $10 General
For more info: [email protected], (512) 223.3245
Veterans Day Reading
November 11, 7 p.m.
Riverside Campus Lecture Hall
Features work from Austin Community College’s student veterans.
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
“Rio Review” Release Party
November 30, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
ACC’s literary journal features poems, prose, screenplays, and artwork by students.
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
East Austin Studio Tour Faculty & Student Exhibition
November 12-13 & 19-20, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Reji Thomas Studio, 1101 E. Fifth Street
EAST is Austin’s largest art event. ACC’s faculty and students will show their works along with hundreds of other artists in the region.
Contact Brent Baggett, (512) 223.3263, [email protected]
Holiday Art Sale & Gift Shop
December 1-10, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Bldg 3000 & Gallery
The Annual Holiday Art Sale and Holiday Art Gift Shop have high quality art objects for sale created by ACC students, staff, and faculty. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Steve Kramer Art Scholarship Fund.
Contact Julie Isaacson, (512) 223.3250, [email protected]
Fall Choreographers’ Showcase
December 2-3, 8 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus, Mainstage Theater
Features work by faculty and choreography students
$5 Students and Seniors, $10 General
For more information: (512) 223.3384
Fall Dance Informance
December 8, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus, Dance Studio Room 130
Choreography by level I choreography students
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3384
Spring 2012 Events
ACC Art Majors Exhibition
Opening reception January 20, 6-8 p.m.
Exhibit runs January 16-March 7
Rio Grande Campus Gallery
ACC Art Majors are in the spotlight.
Contact Brent Baggett, (512) 223.3263, [email protected]
Evolution/Devolution
February 22, 7-9 p.m.
Eastview Campus, Room 8500
Science and philosophy began as the same field of study. Over time, however, the two areas of study have diverged. This lecture will look at the philosophy of science and the intertwined history of the two academic fields.
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3352
Dance Movie Night
February 24, 6 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus, Dance Studio, Room 130
Works for screening and discussion selected by the dance faculty.
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3384
“Tango” by Slawomir Mrozek
March 2-4 & 9-11, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
Written in 1968 during the Soviet takeover of Poland, Tango combines elements of farce, absurdist theatre, slapstick comedy, and political discourse, as it examines the backlash as youthful idealism turns into a grab for power. Directed by Drama faculty member Marla Dean.
$5 Students and Seniors, $10 General
For more info: [email protected], (512) 223.3245
Balcones Fiction Winner Linh Dinh
March 21, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
Linh Dinh won the Balcones Prize-winning for his novel “Love Like Hate.”
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
Gary Webernick/Sabbatical Work
Opening reception March 23, 6-8 p.m.
Exhibit runs March 23-May 4
Rio Grande Campus Gallery
Art Department Chair, Gary Webernick will be showing his multimedia artwork created over sabbatical.
Contact Brent Baggett, (512) 223.3263, [email protected]
Religion, Health, and Medicine
March 27, 7-8:30 p.m.
Eastview Campus, Room 8500
Panel discussion hosted by the Philosophy, Religion & Humanities Department.
Free
For more information, contact Melinda Rothouse at [email protected]
“Agora”
April 4, 7-9 p.m.
Eastview Campus, Room 8500
Film screening and discussion. Directed by Alejandro Amenábar and written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil, Agora is a 2009 Spanish drama that uses historical fiction to highlight the relationship between religion and science amidst the decline of Greco-Roman polytheism and the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3352
36th Annual Student Exhibition
Opening reception April 5, 6-8 p.m.
Exhibit runs April 5-26
Dougherty Art Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, 78704
The most exciting art event hosted by ACC. More than 200 people came to the reception last year to see over 140 works of student art.
Contact Brent Baggett, (512) 223.3263, [email protected]
Reader Nick Flynn
April 18, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
Memoirist Nick Flynn will give a reading and craft discussion of the art of memoir.
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
Carnival ah!
April 11-12
Rio Grande Campus
A public festival of academic/artistic offerings of live music, dance, drama and performance art, as well as a student art sale, literary readings, philosophy and humanities discussions, open mic sessions, and film festival. ACC’s Arts and Humanities Festival sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Division.
Carnival ah! Spring Art Sale
April 11-12
Rio Grande Campus Grounds
You never know what type of art and art making you will see here. Faculty and students demonstrate their creativity in this interactive annual event.
Contact Julie Isaacson, (512) 223.3250, [email protected]
“In 2 the West”
April 27-28, 8 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
Short monologues written and performed by ACC students. Co-produced by the Creative Writing Department and the Drama Department.
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
“Rio Review” Release Party
May 2, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
ACC’s literary journal features poems, prose, screenplays, and artwork by students.
Free
For more information contact Charlotte Gullick, (512) 223.3226, [email protected]
Spring Choreographers’ Showcase
May 4-5, 8 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater
Featuring work by faculty and level II choreography students.
$5 Students and Seniors, $10 General
For more information: (512) 223.3384
Spring Dance Informance
May 10, 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Dance Studio Room 130
Choreography from the level I and II students.
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3384
Summer 2012 Events
Recent Acquisitions Show
May 11-August 9
Rio Grande Gallery
Showcasing recent purchases from the annual student art exhibition, which are the most recent additions to ACC’s permanent art collection. The collection can be seen on the web at www.flickr.com/photos/accart.
Contact Brent Baggett, (512) 223.3263, [email protected]
“Three Tall Women” by Edward Albee
June 14-17 & 21-24, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater
The Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama in 1994, “Three Tall Women” is a beautiful and enduring examination of loss and our ability to go on in spite of it. Albee is also the author of such classics as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” “The Zoo Story,” and “The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?” Directed by ACC Drama faculty member Marcus McQuirter.
$5 Students and Seniors, $10 General
For more info: [email protected], (512) 223.3245
Summer Dance Informance
July 2, 7 p.m. » Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater
Performance featuring work by faculty and students, with guest artists
Free
For more information: (512) 223.3384
Ongoing
Student Literary Gatherings
September 12, October 10, November 14, December 12, February 6, March 5, April 9, May 7; 7 p.m.
Austin Java, 1206 Parkway
The ACC Creative Writing Department sponsors monthly Student Literary Gatherings open to all students and the public. Visit austincc.edu/crw for more information about these events.
Galleries and Displays of Student & Faculty Work
Galleries and displays can be seen at the following campus locations: Cypress Creek Commons; Highland Business Center first and fifth floor administration offices; Pinnacle eighth floor hall and student commons; and the Rio Grande main building, basement, and annex hallways, Gallery in the Cave, student lounge, library, and building 3000 Gallery.
Schedule subject to change, please consult austincc.edu/ah
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