Pop Surrealism: From the James and Maureen Dorment Collection
2026-01-20 10:00 - 2026-03-27 17:00 (America/New_York) | DiMattio Gallery at Rechnitz Hall
Please note: The Gallery Reception has been rescheduled to March 12 from 7–9pm.
Pop Surrealism (or Lowbrow Art) is a contemporary art movement blending surrealism’s dreamlike, unconscious themes with pop art’s imagery from popular culture, cartoons, comics, and kitsch, characterized by high technical skill, satirical commentary, and roots in underground scenes like hot-rod culture and punk rock, often featuring fantastical characters and exploring social themes with dark humor and whimsy with magazines like Juxtapoz popularizing the style. The exhibition features key artists from this movement including Mark Ryden, Camille Rose Garcia, Ana Bagayan, Swoon, Neckface, Barnaby Whitfield, John John Jessie, Tim Biskup, Liz McGrath, Mark Ryden, Aaron Johnson, Camille Rose Garcia, R. Crumb, and many more.

Creative Writing (Advanced)
2026-02-12 19:30 - 2026-02-19 21:00 | Virtual (Zoom)
Class Schedule: February 12, 17, and 19 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Creative Writing: Character Development (Advanced)
Whether you are embarking on your memoir or crafting your first work of fiction, the task of the writer is to develop compelling characters that connect with readers. Taking the “me out of memoir” allows you to develop your parents and loved ones as characters. In this three part course, we will utilize description, dialogue, and action to create characters that resonate with readers of any genre. No experience necessary, just a willingness to create characters to jump off the page!
Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

Heightened Scrutiny
2026-02-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Great Hall Auditorium
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY follows Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (United States v. Skrmetti).
The film exposes the dangerous role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans legislation, uncovering how biased coverage drives hate, endangers lives, and threatens democracy itself. With insights from journalists like Jelani Cobb, Lydia Polgreen, and Gina Chua, and activists like Laverne Cox, the story dismantles anti-trans disinformation and highlights its devastating real-world impact.
With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.
To learn more about the documentary, please visit: https://www.heightenedscrutinydoc.com/
This event is sponsored by the Intercultural Center, Program on Gender & Intersectionality Studies (PGIS), ArtNOW: Performance, Art, and Technology & Department of Communication.

Life of Pi
2026-02-19 19:00 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
★★★★★
‘Puppetry, projection and magic
combine to stunning effect in a
superlative stage adaptation.’
The Stage
Puppetry, magic, and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel. Filmed in stunning 4k, the story of a 16-year-old boy stranded on a lifeboat with a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger is brought vividly to life. Hiran Abeysekara (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) plays Pi Patel, joined on stage by Mina Anwar (The Thin Blue Line), Raj Ghatak (The Kite Runner), and Nicholas Khan (NT Live: The Beaux Stratagem).
This epic staging of Yann Martel’s tale of endurance and hope is
adapted by Lolita Chakrabati and directed by Max Webster (Henry V).
The production has been met with strong critical acclaim across
national press, including many five-star reviews.
