What's happening at Penn State? Here's a look at some of the cultural events taking place at the University this weekend and next week:
Events
"Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise" — 11 a.m., Jan. 23, Reed Union Building auditorium, Penn State Behrend. Filmmakers Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack trace Maya Angelou's journey through never-before-seen footage, rare archival photographs and videos, and her own words. Free.
"Speak for Peace" Oratorial Contest — 6-9 p.m., Jan. 23, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. During this oratorical contest, student contestants will recite their essays live in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win a $500 book scholarship. This event, part of the University's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, also will feature performers and an educational component that aligns with the theme. Free.
Performances
"Jersey Boys" — 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28, Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park campus. The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons returns to Penn State.
Lectures
"Envisioning Environmental Justice in the Era of Climate Change" — Noon, Jan. 24, 233AB HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. New York-based journalist and Earther reporter Yessenia Funes will talk as part of the Sustainability Showcase Series for MLK Commemoration Week. Free, but registration required.
Ashtekar Frontiers of Science Lectures: Pamela S. Soltis — 11 a.m., Jan. 25, 101 Thomas Building, University Park campus. Pamela S. Soltis, distinguished professor and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, will present "Predicting the future of plant diversity: New applications for digitizing herbarium data." Free.
25th annual Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture Series: Jeanine Staples — 7 p.m., Jan. 27, Lipcon Auditorium, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. Jeanine Staples, associate professor of literacy and language, African American studies, and women's gender and sexuality studies in the colleges of Education and of the Liberal Arts at Penn State, will present "... And Justice for All: Advancing Social Justice Through Emotional Justice." Free, but RSVP required.
Steph Chambers — 7 p.m., Jan. 28, Foster Auditorium, University Park campus. Steph Chambers, an award-winning staff photographer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, will discuss her work as a photojournalist. Free.
"The Limits of Party: Congress and Lawmaking in a Polarized Era" — 4 p.m., Jan. 29, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Frances E. Lee, professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University, will discuss how party conflict leads to a more dominant role for congressional leaders and rank-and-file members voting more reliably with their own parties, but that these factors don't necessarily lead to more effective lawmaking capacity. Free.
Mary E. E Rolling Reading Series: Emily Rolfe Grosholz — 7:30 p.m., Jan. 30, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, University Park campus. Emily Rolfe Grosholz, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy, African American Studies and English, will offer a reading. Free.
Exhibits
"Coal Town Holiday Traditions featuring A Wartime Christmas" — Through Jan. 31, Coal and Coke Heritage Center, Penn State Fayette. The exhibit highlights the history of the Connellsville Coke Region, which became a booming industrial area and a melting pot of cultural traditions in the mid- to late-1800s. Free.
"Ghosts" — Through Feb. 2, HUB-Robeson Galleries, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park campus. An exhibition of works selected from the School of Visual Arts' collection of bisque ware, known as the Bisque Library. Free.
"Cosmologies" — Through March 3, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Galleries, HUB-Robeson Center, University park campus. An exhibition of large-scale drawings inspired by systems, steamfitter’s drawings, flight routes and electrical networks. Free.
"On/Of Paper: Work by the Faculty of Architecture at Penn State" — Through March 6, Willard Rouse Gallery, Stuckeman Family Building, University Park campus. The exhibit highlights Penn State architecture faculty members' work and the importance of drawing and paperwork are in their endeavors. Free.
"Still Here" — Through March 22, HUB Gallery, HUB-Robseon Center, University Park campus. Curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah, Kiara Ventura and Dexter Wimberly, "Still Here" explores stories of migration, displacement and survival by eight artists that represent a spectrum of the African Diaspora. Free.
"Grounded: Environments in Flux" — Through May 31, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Palmer is showcasing a select group of works by contemporary artists to celebrate the poetry and power of nature, as we as the prosaic reality of environmental degradation resulting from modern interventions. Free.
"Drawing on a Legacy: Highlights from the John Driscoll American Drawings Collection" — Through June 7, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park campus. The exhibition spotlights 30 watercolors and drawings from a diverse group of 19th-century American artists. Free.