eInside Events

Kent State Presents Spanish and Latin Film Series

Kent State University will present its Spanish and Latin
Film Series in the month of March at the Schwartz Center.

During the month of March, Kent State University will present five Spanish and Latin films. The films will be shown in the Schwartz Center auditorium (room 177). All films will be in Spanish with English subtitles. The event is free and open to the public, and a group discussion led by a Kent State faculty member will follow each film.

The films featured in this event include:

Chico & Rita, Friday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Oscar-winning director Fernando Treuba (The Age of Beauty) and famous artist Javier Mariscal teamed up to create this animated love story starring the music, culture and people of Cuba. When Chico, a dashing piano player, and Rita, the beautiful Havana nightclub singer, meet, sparks fly, and they fall madly in love.

The Man Next Door (El Hombre de Al Lado), Saturday, March 2, at
7:30 p.m.
In this dark comedy, Leonardo (Rafael Spregelburd) is a prestigious designer who lives with his family in a famous house designed by Le Corbusier. Life is seemingly ideal for Leonardo until one day his neighbor Victor (Daniel Aráoz), a boorish used car salesman, breaks through a common wall to make a window in order to “catch a few rays of sun.” The film explores the complex relationships between class differences, social barriers and right and wrong.

Even the Rain (También la LLuvia), Friday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Filmmaker Sebastian (Gael García Bernal) and his cynical producer Costa (Luis Tosar) arrive in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to make a film about Columbus’s voyage to the New World and the subjugation of the indigenous population. Just as filming begins, the natives face a crisis when the government privatizes the water utility and prices skyrocket.

La Yuma, Friday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Nicaragua’s first full-length feature in 20 years, La Yuma tells the story of a young woman who dreams of transcending her bleak life in the slums of Managua by becoming a boxer. Looking beyond the meager possibilities that seem available to her (and ignoring the advice of her gang-member friends), she finds solace and hope in her training and falls in love with a middle-class journalism student.

From the Land to Your Table (¿Qué Culpa Tiene el Tomate?), Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.
What do you get when you take seven directors from seven different countries with seven different cultures and points of view? From the Land to Your Table is the first documentary of its kind in that it shows the perspectives of seven majorly talented filmmakers and directors from all over Latin America as they capture the conditions and cultural diversity of popular produce markets in their individual countries.

The Spanish and Latin film series is made possible with support from film distribution company, Pragda, the secretary of state for culture of Spain, and Spain’s Program for Cultural Cooperation with U.S. universities.

For more information about the Spanish Film Series, contact Françoise Massardier-Kenney, director of Kent State’s Institute for Applied Linguistics, at fkenney@kent.edu or 330-672-2150.

Textile Art Studio Hosts An Open Studio On March 1

Graduate student Lisa Arenstein works
on a tapestry loom that she constructed
to create a large textural weaving.The
Textile Art Studio will hold an open house
on March 1.

The Kent State University Textile Art Studio, located between the Lake and Olson residence halls on the Kent Campus, will hold an open studio on Friday, March 1, from 10 a.m. until noon. All are welcome to observe demonstrations of weaving, feltmaking, dyeing and netmaking, and to learn about the courses available in textile art.

The Textile Art Studio holds an open studio each semester to give students a glimpse of the possibilities in textiles. The event started as a way to introduce fashion school students to the textile program, and it continues to connect students learning about weaves in fashion fabrics to the tools used to create those weaves. The open studio also draws students from a variety of areas of study beyond fashion, as well as community members.

The Textile Art Studio is distinguished internationally in its ownership of two digital hand jacquard looms for student use.

"The design of the jacquard loom in 1806 — a tool used to produce complex figured/patterned cloth—very ingeniously employed the binary system of operation, which later became the model for the personal computer," says School of Art Professor Janice Lessman-Moss.

Work in the Textile Art Studio can include the use of high-tech equipment and computer-aided design and manufacturing, but artists also use basic hand techniques to create equally stunning pieces. Open studio attendees will see the variety of work created with the tools in the Textile Art Studio.

"Students might be surprised to see a weaving that contains an image of a hamburger, french fries, Wendy and Dave Thomas," Lessman-Moss says. "We — a team of textile art students and myself — did a commissioned weaving on one of our jacquard looms for Wendy's five or six years ago."

For more information about the Textile Art Studio, contact Lessman-Moss at jlessman@kent.edu or 330-672-2192.

Nationally Renowned Sports Photographer to Visit Kent State, March 5

Nationally renowned photographer Jim
Colton discuss the growing impact of
sports photography on journalism at Kent
State on March 5. Colton recently retired
as photography editor of Sports Illustrated.

Jim Colton, the nationally renowned and recently retired photography editor of Sports Illustrated, will visit Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication on Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the FirstEnergy Auditorium of Franklin Hall.

Colton will discuss the growing impact of sports photography on journalism and will offer a multimedia presentation featuring scenes and stories from the 2012 Summer Olympics. He will share his experiences and advice with photojournalism students and faculty.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Kent State students will tweet live from the event using the hashtag #coltonatjmc.

Colton’s appearance underscores the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s emerging focus on sports photography and sports journalism. This academic year, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication added a sports photography class to respond to strong student interest. Colton’s appearance is also part of the school’s Diversity Speakers Series.

A 40-year industry veteran, Colton retired from Sports Illustrated in 2012 after 15 years as photo editor. He began his journalism career in 1972 at the Associated Press. Five years later, he joined Newsweek as director of photography. Colton has been honored as one of the 100 most important people in photography by American Photo magazine. He was the jury chairman for the World Press Photo Contest in 2005 and received an International Photography Awards “Lucie” for Picture Editor of the Year in 2007. He was named the Magazine Picture Editor of the Year in 2008 by the National Press Photographers Association and was the recipient of the Focus award for Lifetime Achievement by the Griffin Museum in 2010.

“Having Mr. Colton here at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will help us fulfill our mission of exposing students to successful professionals who represent diversity in the industries we serve,” says Thor Wasbotten, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“There is nothing like the advice of an editor who has ‘been there’ and seen the work of the very best. It is impossible to fathom the photographs Colton’s eyes have seen,” says David LaBelle, coordinator of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s photojournalism program. “Charged with editing work from the best sports photographers and biggest sporting events, Colton's decisions were seen by millions weekly. When he talks about pictures, every student would do well to listen with both ears and both eyes.”

For more information about the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, visit http://jmc.kent.edu.

National TV Correspondent and Kent State Alumnus to Keynote M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference

The second annual M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference will take place on Saturday, March 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kent Student Center featuring national television correspondent, author and Kent State alumnus Shannon LaNier. The event is free, but registration is required by March 1. Lunch will be provided.

The theme of this year’s M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference is “Modeling Greatness: It’s in Your Character.” The conference will explore the personal concept of greatness. The conference also will explain how success is connected to character via the topics of action, leadership and engagement. Kent State President’s Ambassador José Feliciano will deliver the opening remarks at the conference.

The M.A.L.E. initiative, men focusing on action, leadership and engagement, is a program of Kent State University’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The initiative provides an inclusive venue for men at Kent State with the goal of learning from and working with one another, engaging and uplifting society through civic and community service and life after college.

“This year’s conference is based on persistence and what it means to be a leader,” says Trinidy Jeter, program coordinator for the Student Multicultural Center. “I think oftentimes we describe leadership and success by a matter of achievement, and this year we wanted to focus on it being internal and being based on who you are as a person.”

The M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference focuses on networking among successful and professional men from Kent State and surrounding areas. Attendees will learn about being leaders and engaging the community with positive change. Jeter says although most of the topics are tailored toward male students, females are also welcome to attend.

LaNier, keynote speaker at the conference, will host a book signing for his book Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family following the conference at the library. LaNier’s book was named one of the Best Books of 2001 by the American Library Association.

“Since Shannon was so successful while he was here and because of all his achievements, we really thought he would resonate well with the group,” says Shana Lee, director of the Student Multicultural Center. “He is very personable and could really talk to anyone. Given his energy and his age, we thought he would be the ideal person for students to meet.”

LaNier graduated from Kent State in 2004 from the College of Communication and Information. He currently is a television correspondent for “Black Enterprise Business Report.” He also has hosted the popular Web series “Celebrity Hustle,” worked in production and tours the country for speaking events.

“Shannon stood out when he was here,” says Lee. “He was an outstanding individual and would do everything he was asked to do and did it with excellence.”

To register for the M.A.L.E. Initiative Conference, visit www.kent.edu/smc/male-initiative-conference.cfm.

Kent Keyboard Series Presents "Religion and Passion" by Marian Lee

Marian Lee will perform "Religion and
Passion" on March 10 as part of the Kent
Keyboard Series.

The Kent Keyboard Series continues its 2012-2013 season with "Religion and Passion: Works by Bach, Crumb, Ustvolskaya, Beethoven and Debussy," a performance by Marian Lee on Sunday, March 10, at 5 p.m. in the Ludwig Recital Hall. Ludwig Recital Hall is located in the Music and Speech Building at 1325 Theatre Dr. on the Kent Campus.

Lee's performance will include George Crumb's “A Little Suite for Christmas,” Galina Ustvolskaya's “Piano Sonata No. 6” and Claude Debussy's “L'isle Joyeuse.”

Lee earned her bachelor’s and master's degrees in music at The Juilliard School, and earned her doctorate at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. She also studied at the Moscow Conservatory. Lee toured as a musical ambassador for the U.S. State Department as a Fulbright Scholar to the former Soviet Union.

Lee has performed with the Moscow Sinfonietta, Pacific Ocean Orchestra, Azerbaijan State Philharmonic and at many other orchestras. She frequently performs at international contemporary music festivals.

This year, the Kent Keyboard Series' 10th season also marks the celebration of the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music's recent designation as an All-Steinway School. The Kent Keyboard Series features prominent performers known in the field for their expertise.

Tickets for the performance are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, Kent State faculty and staff; $8 for students with valid I.D. and those under 18; and free for full-time undergraduate Kent State students. Kent State students can earn 500 FLASHperks points by attending this performance.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 330-672-ARTS(2787), by visiting www.kent.edu/music or by visiting the Performing Arts Box Office (PABO). PABO is open weekdays from noon-5 p.m., and is located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center in the Music and Speech Building. PABO accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover, in addition to cash and checks. Tickets are also available day-of-show at the door.

Kent State College of Nursing Presents “Driving the Future 2013”

Event provides inspiration for innovators

“Driving the Future 2013,” an event focused on inspiration
and innovation and their roles in the education, science and
healthcare of the future, will take place on March 4.

Kent State University’s College of Nursing presents “Driving the Future 2013,” an event focused on inspiration and innovation and their roles in the education, science and healthcare of the future. The event will take place on Monday, March 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will feature a series of TED TALK-style presentations. The event will take place at the Kent Student Center with morning sessions at the Kiva. Registration is required by Wednesday, Feb. 27, and can be done here.

Driving the Future is a nationally attended conference series created in 2007 to facilitate brainstorming and dialogue addressing the gaps between education and practice for healthcare.

Scientist, inventor and educator Ron Mallett, Ph.D., will serve as keynote speaker at the event. Mallett teaches theoretical physics at the University of Connecticut. He was inspired as a child to challenge the test of time by his father’s untimely passing and by the HG Wells classic novel, The Time Machine. He vowed he would develop a theory to travel back in time to help his father, and this goal has been his life’s work for the past 40 years. Today he has a convincing and respected argument for time travel based on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Mallett will talk about how he developed his theory and how he persevered with what many feel is unbelievable or impossible.

Panel speakers at the event, from the fields of education, healthcare, science, medicine and the arts, also will share their inspirations, presenting their innovation expertise in a TED-TALK format. The speakers are

• Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., Kent State University Provost Fellow
• Vincent Hetherington, D.P.M., senior associate dean of the Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine
• John West, Ph.D., University Trustees Research Professor with the Kent State Liquid Crystal Institute
• Maria Jukic, J.D., executive director of the Cleveland Clinic Arts and Medicine Institute
  

Following the morning presentations, the afternoon program is scheduled with breakout sessions for research poster and paper presenters focused on innovation.

In previous years, Driving the Future presentations have focused on ideal skills of graduates, nursing leadership acumen, forward-looking curricula, quality and safety, learning competencies and self-care. The audience has grown over the seven years of programming to now include not only students, faculty and practitioners in nursing, but also bench scientists, administrators, insurance and business executives and educators from a broad range of disciplines.

For more information about attending and to register for the morning session or the entire day of Driving the Future, visit www.kent.edu/nursing/events/driving-the-future/index.cfm.

Kent State University's Downtown Gallery Presents “Recent Work”

Kent State Professor Paul O’Keeffe's art, pictured above,
will be featured in his exhibition at the School of Art's
Downtown Gallery through March 9.

Kent State University’s Downtown Gallery will present “Recent Work,” an exhibition by Paul O’Keeffe that will run through March 9 in the Downtown Gallery.

O'Keeffe's work over the past decade is situated in two strains of thinking about contemporary practice that tends to be seen as oppositional, but that he wants to put into play. First, there is the effort, characteristic of late modernism, to remove the work from narrative. Color, form and materials are used in such a way as to defy the viewer’s desire to make meaning of the work apart from the immediate encounter with the form.

His recent work is similarly about this first moment of engagement. The pieces are large, the colors are somewhat jarring and there are few immediate clues as to the meaning of the work. It is the corporeal experience that first impresses. Intense fluorescent hues often destabilize the form and make an overall image difficult to grasp. At the same time, there are indicators that encourage a more analytical approach, and that therefore move the work beyond the phenomenological. The titles of the works, somewhat obscure, might be apparent to fans of late 70s bands like The Jam, Gang of Four and Suicide, music that emerged contemporaneously with the decline of the modernist era.

O’Keeffe was born in Dublin, Ireland. As an undergraduate student, he attended St. Martin’s School of Art, London, and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He received an M.F.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1981. He joined the faculty of Kent State University in 1983 where he is currently a professor. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions both in the United States and abroad, including exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Dublin. His most recent solo exhibition was held last October at 21 Street Projects, New York.

O’Keeffe is the recipient of a number of awards and honors including a Fulbright Fellowship, a Ford Foundation grant, an Arts Midwest/National Endowment for the Arts Award and several awards from the Arts Council of Ireland. The Ohio Arts Council has awarded him an Individual Excellence Award for 2013, and marks the 11th time he has been honored with this award. O’Keeffe’s work is represented in many public and private collections including The Arts Council of Ireland; Bayer USA, Pittsburgh; Progressive Insurance, Cleveland; Kaiser Permanante, Cleveland; and the Cleveland Public Library.

The Downtown Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St. in downtown Kent. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 330-676-1549 or visit http://galleries.kent.edu.