Arts notes
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:25 p.m., February 29, 2008
Updated 02:25 p.m., February 29, 2008
St. David’s concert
The annual St. David’s Day Concert will be held beginning at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus (formerly Westminster), 1702 W. 15th Ave. There is no charge for this event. Welsh tenor Geraint Wilkes will conduct his 16th Emporia concert. Other special music will be provided by the St. David’s Chorus and countertenor Dylan Evans. After the concert, bara brith and tea will be served by the Presbyterian Women in Fellowship Hall.
Choral concert
The ESU Department of Music presents the High School Choral Invitational Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church. The ESU Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Albert Taylor Hall of Plumb Hall. General admission is $5; student and senior citizens, $4. Information: 341-5431.
Photo exhibit
Photographer Dave Leiker has his photographs on display through April 4 at the Emporia Arts Center, 618 Mechanic St. The exhibit is entitled, “Prairie Dust: Exploring the Rural Midwest.” The artist reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 12.
Fence discussion
The Between Fences TALK discussion series continues with “The Wire Cutters” by Mollie E. Moore Davis (1899), led by Tom Lewis of the Oklahoma Panhandle State University, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Emporia Public Library. The historical setting for the novel is the Texas Wire-Cutting War of the 1880s, “when the fencing off of the open plains set smallholders struggling to maintain access to water and roads against the rich large-tract owners determined to fence off their properties,” according to the news bulletin.
Symphony special
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra is offering a “2 for 1” special for their next concert, “I Love a Parade,” at 8 p.m. March 8 in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University Campus. The program will also feature violinist Michelle Joo-Eun Kim of Overland Park, the overall winner of the annual Youth Talent Auditions. To order tickets, call (785) 232-2032 or see www.TopekaSymphony.org. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Air Force band
The Concert Band of the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band will perform, beginning at 7 p.m. March 9 in Albert Taylor Hall. The 45-member band, stationed at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Neb., will be conducted by Captain Michael J. Willen. Admission is free with complimentary ticket(s), limit four, from The Emporia Gazette.
Historic talk
At 7 p.m. on March 11 at the Lyon County Historical Society, Robert Collins of Andover, author of the book, “Jim Lane: Scoundrel, Statesman, Kansan,” will meet his subject, Jim Lane, portrayed by Tim Rues, for a 20 to 30 minute discussion. Rues will ask his biographer “why the word ‘scoundrel’ appears in the subtitle of the book.” The press release said “Collins lists his reasons and then moves on to what made Lane a statesman, such as his work unifying the free-state movement at the Big Springs convention. The subject gives a short speech on his views of slavery, which leads to a discussion about his friendship with President Lincoln. Lane then asks the author about his importance in Kansas history.” Book sales are handled by the Town Crier.
ESU exhibit
The ESU Department of Art will have the Homecoming Drawing Show from Monday through March 28 in the Eppink Art Gallery. The opening reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. This “drawing exhibition selected from the ESU Art Department permanent collection and curated by emeritus faculty member Donald Perry, has been traveling nationally for two years with Exhibits USA and will be back home in the Gallery collection,” said the news release. ESU professor of art Dan Kirchhefer, has curated a new exhibit selecting works from the traveling show and from the permanent collection “to illustrate the range and power of mark making.”
Amanda Ford will have her senior exhibition Monday through March 14 in the Gilson Memorial Gallery. Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information: 341-5689 or 341-5246.
Dinner theater
The Community Theatre of Emporia will have Dinner Theatre at 6:30 p.m. March 14 and 15 at the Emporia Country Club. A roast tenderloin of beef meal will be served, after which there will be entertainment featuring Chuck Cowan, Mary Sue Wade, Don Kile and Pat Sutton. Tickets, $40 each person, must be reserved in advance. For information-reservations, call 341-9283.
Contra dance
The PRIDE Committee of Burns is sponsoring a contra dance from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 14 at the Burns Community Center. Caller John Tuner of Wichita will call the dances to the music of the band, “Instant Grits.” Refreshments will be provided by members of PRIDE. There is no admission charge; however, there will be a jar for free will donations to help cover the entertainment costs.