Center for the Arts

Gallery Exhibitions

Rare Wildlife Revealed: The James Fiorentino Traveling Art Exhibition

The youngest artist ever inducted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators, Fiorentino uses his trademark detail and realism in watercolor to paint New Jersey’s most
endangered and vulnerable wildlife species. His evocative artwork inspires viewers through his life-like depictions of rare wildlife in their
natural surroundings. His paintings truly bring wildlife to life on paper, and in doing so, his art helps to educate and engage viewers about the
precipitous declines that many of these species have undergone. This exhibition
is presented in partnership with
Conserve Wildlife Foundation.

Gallery Exhibitions

Oceanids by Joseph Coscia Jr.

Oceanids are some 3000 nymphs in Greek mythology who watch over fresh water: rain, clouds, lakes, springs and rivers, as well as pastures, breezes and flowers. They are the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. Coscia, the Chief Photographer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has spent countless hours with classical sculptures, photographing them in various settings and seasons. He focuses on the qualities of light on sculpture in changing conditions, and the shifting effects of natural light on stone surfaces. His photographs of museum pieces explore elements of the art outside the context of the museum setting.

His recent work draws on Man Ray’s solarization techniques. This effect reverses the shadow areas and transforms the sense of weight and volume of the objects, so that they appear suspended in air or water. The forms are evocative of earthly creatures or fossils; photographing and printing them using recreated old photographic techniques removes time specificity, so that they also are suspended in time.

Gallery Exhibitions

Maunderings by Tonya D. Lee

In this exhibition, artist and Monmouth University Art and Design faculty member, Tonya D. Lee presents a collection of multi-discipline work that explores the abstraction of nature and environment through the combination shapes, patterns, moments and pauses that are derived from passive spaces, fleeting thoughts and changing winds. Location and process are in a conversation about ephemeral moments of beauty. Using a multi-disciplinary process of combining painting, drawing, collage, construction, and digital media, the obsessions with materiality explore form and color as an echo of the present overlapping past presents — form and color negotiating to exist as object and subject.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

L’Elisir d’Amore

Donizetti’s comic gem L’Elisir d’Amore, staged by Bartlett Sher and conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, stars Pretty Yende as the spirited Adina, with Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, the simple peasant who falls in love with her. Davide Luciano makes his Met debut as the role of Adina’s arrogant fiancé, Belcore and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo sings the role of the magic potion-peddling Doctor Dulcamara. Domingo Hindoyan makes his company debut conducting.

The Bolshoi Ballet

The Lady of the Camellias

At a theatre performance of ‘Manon Lescaut’, the young and naive Armand is utterly captivated after meeting the ravishing and most desirable courtesan Marguerite Gautier. Their encounter gives birth to a passionate yet doomed love…

Alexandre Dumas fils’s novel comes to life on the Bolshoi stage, with prima Svetlana Zakharova as the ailing Marguerite seeking love and redemption from her life as a courtesan. The Bolshoi brings choreographer John Neumeier’s work of rare beauty and tragic depth to new emotional heights, accompanied by Chopin’s romantic piano score.

Performing Arts Series

Wailin’ Jennys

The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse – three distinct voices that together
make an achingly perfect vocal sound. Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting
together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’
Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

Tosca (Encore)

Sir David McVicar’s ravishing new production offers a splendid backdrop for two extraordinary sopranos sharing the title role of the jealous prima donna: Sonya Yoncheva (pictured above) and Anna Netrebko. Vittorio Grigolo and Marcelo Álvarez alternate in the role of Tosca’s revolutionary artist lover Cavaradossi, with Željko Lučić and Michael Volle as the depraved police chief Scarpia. Emmanuel Villaume and Bertrand de Billy share conducting duties.

Artful Explorations of Activism

ArtNOW: Performance, Art, and Technology

FILM SCREENING & FACULTY LED DISCUSSION: REBIRTH OF A NATION BY PAUL D. MILLER AKA DJ SPOOKY

To create his film Rebirth of a Nation, Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky, remixed D.W. Griffith’s 1915 epic film The Birth of a Nation. His re-telling
of this overtly racist story depicted in the Reconstruction-era United
States hurtles Griffith’s images into the 21st century. The original film
was based on a novel and theater play by Thomas Dixon entitled The Clansman. By applying DJ technique to cinema, Miller’s new film parallels, deconstructs and remixes the original. He likes to think of it as “film as found object” in the same sense that artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol and David Hammons, among many others, have fostered creative investigations into the idea of found objects, cinema and “appropriation art.”

World Cinema Series

World Cinema Series: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

A young Pakistani man is chasing corporate success on Wall Street. He finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family’s homeland.

Gallery Exhibitions

Jacob Landau and His Circle

An exhibition of paintings by the late Jacob Landau and works by members
of the artist’s circle who were strongly influenced by his vision
including Myron Wasserman, Jack McGovern and Joanne Leone. The exhibition
was curated by Leone who studied with Landau from 1985-2001. This event is
part of the Jewish Cultural Studies Program.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

La Bohème

An exciting young cast stars in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production of La Bohème, the most-performed opera in Met history. Sonya Yoncheva stars as Mimì opposite Michael Fabiano as the passionate writer Rodolfo. Susanna Phillips reprises the role of the flirtatious Musetta and Lucas Meachem sings the role of her lover, the painter Marcello. The cast also features Alexey Lavrov and Matthew Rose as Rodolfo and Marcello’s friends Schaunard and Colline and Paul Plishka as Benoit and Alcindoro in this performance, led by Marco Armiliato.

Artful Explorations of Activism

Jewish Cultural Studies

Performing Arts Series

CAROLYN DORFMAN DANCE: The Legacy Project: A Dance Of Hope

Acclaimed choreographer and storyteller Carolyn Dorfman has created an exultant “dance-theatre” trilogy that connects us through our common human experience. Told through the lens of a child of a Holocaust survivor, the choreography
illustrates the devastation, yet inspires hope as immigrants journey to a new land that promises new beginnings! Our deepest desires for peace, freedom and family are illuminated in this triumphant work that will make you cry, laugh, think and celebrate the capacity of the human
spirit to rise above all circumstance. Described by critics as “ingenious” (The Star-Ledger) and “emotionally resonant” (The New York Times),
the dance in the Legacy Project brings together Dorfman’s family stories, Jewish history and a universal struggle for identity. This event is part of
the Jewish Cultural Studies Program.

Department of Music & Theatre Arts Productions

Sylvia

Feb. 28 – March 4 & March 6-8, 2018
All shows 8 PM except Sun. matinees at 3 PM. Sylvia is one of A.R.Gurney’s funniest plays. Greg and Kate move back to New York city after raising two children and wanting the active life of Manhattan. Greg finds an adorable mutt while on a walk and decides to bring the pooch home. Sylvia immediately becomes an issue for Greg and Kate and begins to test their marriage in both funny and touching ways. Gurney is an expert at examining middle class life as we watch Sylvia bring Greg and Kate back on track in their new but lonely city life.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

L’Elisir d’Amore (Encore)

Donizetti’s comic gem L’Elisir d’Amore, staged by Bartlett Sher and conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, stars Pretty Yende as the spirited Adina, with Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, the simple peasant who falls in love with her. Davide Luciano makes his Met debut as the role of Adina’s arrogant fiancé, Belcore and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo sings the role of the magic potion-peddling Doctor Dulcamara. Domingo Hindoyan makes his company debut conducting.

Grammy Museum Affiliation

Tuesday Night Record Club

TUESDAY NIGHT RECORD CLUB: Radiohead, OK Computer

It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights in Woods Theatre to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss… there will be special guest moderators and panelists at each event!

This discussion will feature Radiohead OK Computer. This event is free but registration is required.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

Semiramide (Broadcast in HD)

Angela Meade makes her Met role debut as the title character in Semiramide. Rossini’s opera, which has not been seen at the Met in 25 years, will be conducted by Maurizio Benini and feature Elizabeth DeShong as the Commander of the Assyrian army Arsace, Javier Camarena as an Indian king Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov as the prince Assur, and Ryan Speedo Green as the high priest Oroe.

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD

La Bohème (Encore)

An exciting young cast stars in Franco Zeffirelli’s classic production of La Bohème, the most-performed opera in Met history. Sonya Yoncheva stars as Mimì opposite Michael Fabiano as the passionate writer Rodolfo. Susanna Phillips reprises the role of the flirtatious Musetta and Lucas Meachem sings the role of her lover, the painter Marcello. The cast also features Alexey Lavrov and Matthew Rose as Rodolfo and Marcello’s friends Schaunard and Colline and Paul Plishka as Benoit and Alcindoro in this performance, led by Marco Armiliato.

Visiting Writers

Eleanor Hooker & Clodagh Beresford Dunne

Clodagh Beresford Dunne was the recipient of the Arts Council of Ireland Emerging-Writer Award Bursary, 2016. Her poems have appeared in Irish and international print and online journals, including Poetry Ireland Review, The Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, Southword, The Moth, The Pickled Body, Spontaneity and Pittsburgh Poetry Review. Eleanor Hooker is a poet and writer. She lives in North Tipperary with her husband Peter, they have two sons. Her second collection of poems A Tug of Blue (Dedalus Press) was published October 2016.

World Cinema Series

World Cinema Series: Mountains May Depart

China, 1999. Childhood friends Liangzi and Zhang are both in love with Tao, the town beauty. Tao eventually decides to marry the wealthier Zhang. They soon have a son he names Dollar… From China to Australia, the lives, loves, hopes and disillusions of a family over two generations in a society changing at breakneck speed.

Live Theatre Broadcasts in HD

National Theatre: Broadcast in HD

Hamlet

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock, The Imitation Game) takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy.

Now seen by over 750,000 people worldwide, the original 2015 NT Live broadcast returns to cinemas.

As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralysed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state. Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Posh, Chimerica) and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions.