West Virginia University - News and Information Services
Creative Arts dean to present slide-lecture on art and social justice
Arts & Human Conflict Series
The first event in the Arts and Human Conflict Series, sponsored by the WVU College of Creative Arts in observance of the anniversary of Sept. 11, will be a slide-lecture by Dean Bernie Schultz titled "Art and the Urgency of Social Change."
The presentation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre and is part of the University-Morgantown 9-11 remembrance activities. The event is free and open to the public.
The first lecture will be a discussion of artists throughout the ages, from ancient Egypt to the present day, who have tried to use their art to bring about social justice.
The Arts and Human Conflict Series includes lectures and performances by College of Creative Arts faculty and students, presented each Tuesday from Sept. 3 through Oct. 1, as well as a special multimedia presentation by Judy Shepard, mother of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard, scheduled for Sept. 24.
"Throughout the series, we will talk about how the arts have dealt with and continue to deal with themes of human conflict," Schultz said.
"Many great artists have used contexts of their times to respond to issues, criticize governments and bring about social equality. For example, there was art in ancient Egypt about human conflict. Rubens, the Baroque artist, created a painting called ‘Allegory on the Outbreak of War’ about how war destroys, and Picasso’s ‘Guernica,’ is an invective against the Spanish Civil War.
"We’ll see how art has been used to bring about social justice and then question how effective it has been," he said.
The Arts and Human Conflict Series also includes:
- Sept. 10: "Remembrance," a concert coordinated by William Skidmore, professor of cello, featuring performances by a variety of faculty and students groups from the Division of Music. The contemplative concert will feature traditional, contemporary and new works selected in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11.
- Sept. 17: "Hostile Movements," a progressive theatre-movement piece by Jessica D. Morgan, assistant professor of stage movement in the Division of Theatre and Dance. Morgan and students from the Division will present the choreography, which was conceived around issues and outcomes of human conflict and resolution.
- Sept. 24: "Supporting Hate Crimes Awareness and Prevention: The Legacy of Matthew Shepard," by Judy Shepard, is a multimedia presentation that utilizes a combination of video, court statements, and discussion to educate the public on hate speech, hate crimes and the power that every individual possesses to create positive change.
- Oct. 1: "The Contemplative Power of Music in Contemporary Society," a lecture and presentation by David Bess, chair of the WVU Division of Music. As a means of aiding our response to the strife and angst in our society, this presentation will explore the spiritual and restorative powers of music, as well as its evolving role in the modern world.
For more information on the series, contact the College of Creative Arts at 304-293-4841 ext. 3109. For the full listing of University-Morgantown remembrance activities go to http://www.wvu.edu and click on the "We Remember" icon.
Office: (304) 293-6997