What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events — both in-person and virtual — taking place across the University:
Performances
Bach's Lunch — 12:10 p.m., Feb. 1, Eisenhower Chapel, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, University Park campus. Bach's Lunch is a weekly concert series during the school year. Concerts are brief in order to make it possible for the University community to attend during the lunch hour. Free.
"Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" — Through Feb. 3, Black Box Theatre, EAB 204, Harrisburg campus. Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities will present this darkly comic 2011 Tony-nominated play, narrated by a tiger held captive at the Baghdad Zoo. Free.
"Underscored" — 7:30 p.m., Feb. 7, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. Ephrat Asherie Dance artists and legendary elders of the New York dance-club scene — Archie Burnett, Michele Saunders and Brahms “Bravo” LaFortune — will re-create a 1990s-era underground dance scene with a recorded soundtrack of music samples to match.
"Theo Von: Return of the Rat" — 7:30 p.m., Feb. 7, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park campus. Comedian, actor, and podcast host Theo Von will visit the Bryce Jordan Center at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Events
Black History Month — Various locations, through February. Penn State campuses across the commonwealth will be holding events in honor of Black History Month. Here’s a look at some of the events and opportunities taking place at the University’s campuses during the month of February.
“Design Your Own STEM-tastic Day” — 8:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 3, Lehigh Valley campus. Students in grades six to eight looking to take a deep dive into various aspects of science, technology, engineering, and math fields can find a treasure trove of information at this a half-day program. During the event, students can choose from several hands-on, STEM-centric workshops. Free.
"My Ascension" — 6 p.m., Feb. 5, Slep Student Center, Altoona campus. Penn State Altoona will offer a screening of the documentary "My Ascension." For years, Emma Beniot struggled with anxiety and depression. The film follows Beniot’s recovery journey and advocacy work, while addressing the youth suicide epidemic.
Water Justice Short Films Screening — 7-9 p.m., Feb. 7, Zoom. The Intersections Film Series presents "Saving Juliette" and "Wastewater: A Tale of Two Cities." These films focus on water pollution and management and issues of environmental justice around water. The Penn State Water Council will lead a post-film discussion panel.
Lectures
"Building a Stronger Democratic Future Through Pedagogical Innovation" — 5 p.m., Feb. 1, Grandfather Clock Lounge, Atherton Hall, University Park campus and Zoom. Boaz Dvir, director of the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative and the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State, will lead this discussion as the concluding symposium in the Schreyer Honors College's "Dialogues of Democracy." Free.
“Surprises at the dawn of time from James Webb: A first look at the first stars, galaxies, and black holes" — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Feb. 3, Berg Auditorium, 100 Huck Life Sciences Building, University Park campus. Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Joel Leja will give a talk on discoveries from the James Webb telescope, with a research update and brief topic introduction from Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Michael Eracleous.
"The Impact of National Girls and Women in Sports Day" — noon to 1 p.m., Feb. 6, Zoom. Penn State legend Char Morett-Curtiss, inductee to the United States Field Hockey Hall of Fame and a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, as well as an inductee of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, will discuss the history of Title IX and the inequities faced by women in sports.
V Spehar — 4 p.m., Feb. 7, HUB Flex Theatre, University Park campus. V Spehar will visit as part of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy's spring speaker series. Spehar runs "Under the Desk News" on TikTok and hosts the podcast "V Interesting," and has worked with former President Barack Obama and more than a dozen members of Congress.
"A Magic Formula for Social Change? How Humor, Dilemma Actions, and Creative Tactics Can Save Democracy" — 4:30 p.m., Feb. 8, Sutliff Auditorium, Lewis Katz Building, University Park campus. Author and activist Srdja Popovic will present a lecture on social change and democracy. Popovic has been recognized as one of the world's leading voices for the creative use of nonviolent activism for social change.
Showcase Speaker Series: Geoff Dembicki — Feb. 8-10, University Park campus. Reporter and environmental author Geoff Dembicki will visit for climate writing workshops, brainstorming sessions, interviews, and class visits centering around publishing opportunities and climate writing.
In-person exhibits
"'Where Beauty’s At': Expressions of Black Visual Culture" — Feb. 1-Sept. 9, Special Collections exhibit space, 104 Paterno Library, University Park campus. Brittany Frederick, a postdoctoral scholar with the Africana Research Center, and Adisa Vera Beatty, a Just Transformations Postdoctoral Fellow with the Center for Black Digital Research, have curated an exhibit highlighing the diversity of Black artistic and literary expression in partnership with Penn State University Libraries’ Eberly Family Special Collections Library.
"Something About the Sky" — Feb. 5-April 27, Ronald K. DeLong gallery, Lehigh Valley campus. A series of cloud drawing and skyscape light paintings featuring movement drawings created by Lori Hepner, 2023-24 Penn State Laureate. Hepner will also be visiting the Lehigh Valley campus for two days in February. The exhibit will kick off with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the gallery.
"Workout" — Through Feb. 8, McLanahan Gallery, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Altoona campus. A gallery exhibit featuring student pieces selected by art faculty members. Work from art majors and students taking general education art classes will be on display.
“Invisible Bodies” — Through Feb. 8, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Galleries, University Park campus. The HUB-Robeson Galleries present "Invisible Bodies," an exploration of migrant labor through an artistic lens, curated by the Border Gallery and Emireth Herrera Valdés.
“Magnificare” — Through Feb. 22, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. The HUB-Robeson Galleries present "Magnificare," an exhibition of ceramic sculptures by Marguerita Hagan.
"I Am a Penn Stater: Nittany Lions in World War II" — Through June 2025, Penn State All-Sports Museum, Beaver Stadium, University Park campus. Timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the conflict, "I Am a Penn Stater" chronicles the contributions of Nittany Lion varsity lettermen and Women’s Recreation Association athletes during the conflict and follows their service from training in the United States, to fighting on battlefields around the globe, to their postwar occupations. Free.
Virtual exhibits
In addition to in-person events, a number of virtual exhibits are available through University departments. The Palmer Museum of Art and University Libraries offer a rotating selection of historical and artistic collections to view online.
Current virtual exhibitions include an exploration of the first 100 years of national disability rights legislation and the movement's impact on the Penn State community; a virtual exhibition of design, craft and makery; and a variety of abstract images that push the boundaries of photography as a medium.