Wallace State hosts annual Arts in April celebration

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College is hosting its annual Arts in April celebration with exhibits and events including art exhibitions, guest speakers, a theatrical production, musical performances and more.

The Community Art Exhibition is underway through April 11, and features work inspired by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, who is best known for his abstract pieces using blocks of vibrant, primary colors.  Students from area schools have entered pieces into the exhibit, which is on display in exhibit hall of the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. Wallace State students also have three-dimensional pieces on display in the atrium of theBurrow Center. The Community Art Exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday during regular campus hours.

The Evelyn Burrow Museum is hosting an exhibit of fine-art photography by ArdenWard Upton. The Mountain Brook artist’s “Equus” collection of large-scale photography shows the majesty and grace of the equine species. The exhibit will be on display in the gallery of The Evelyn Burrow Museum April 7 through May 16. An opening reception will be held on April 23 at 6 p.m.

“Providing cultural enrichment for our students and our community is an important part of Wallace State’s mission,” said Kristen Holmes, Director of Communications and Marketing and Burrow Museum Administrator. “Planning for Arts in April events intensified when the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts was established five years ago, and our offerings across campus increased as a result. Each April as we enjoy the beauty of springtime, we celebrate Arts in April with a month-long line up of events highlighting visual arts, literature, music, theatre, film, dance and so on.”

The month continues as the Lion’s Den Writing Club hosts a Mix-Tape Talent Show as a special Learning Communities event for Wallace State students. The event will be held Wednesday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m., in the Recital Hall of the BurrowCenter. A number of acts will compete in the talent show. The public is welcome to attend.

The final installment of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Films will bescreened on Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m., in the Burrow Center Recital Hall. The documentary “If You Build It” tells the story of a couple who work with a group of high school students in rural North Carolina, helping transform their community and the lives of the students as they take on a year-long, full-scale design and build project. The filmmaker will be on hand for questions after the free screening.

The Wallace State Theatre program will present “Into the Woods” April 9-12 at the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre. The musical composed by Stephen Sondheim and written by James Lapine will be presented at 7 p.m., April 9-11, and at 2 p.m., April 12. An orchestra will back up the 30-member cast. Tickets are $10.

On April 14, former NFL tight end and “Amazing Race” contestant Marcus Pollard will speak to students in Learning Communities courses at 9:30 a.m., in theRecital Hall of the Burrow Center. The Lanett, Ala., native is the director of player development and youth football for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The event is open to the public.

The Wallace State Jazz Band will present its annual Big Band Ballroom Dance on Friday, April 17, starting at 7 p.m., in the Burrow Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The band will perform instrumentals as well as a few tunesfeaturing vocalist Tahauny Cleghorn of the Wallace State singers. Admission is $15.

The Wallace State Concert Choir will perform at 2 p.m., at St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church as part of their Arts in April performances.

On Tuesday, April 21, Wallace State’s Suhana Chikatla will present “India and Indian Culture” as part of a Learning Communities event. The public is welcome to attend the 9:30 a.m., presentation to learn more about the Indian culture.

The Wallace State Concert Band will close out Arts in April with its Spring Concert on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m., in the Burrow Center Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Arts in April Committee, which organizes most of the month’s activities, is chaired by Ricky Burks of the Fine and Performing Arts Department and Dr. Kathy Buckelew of the English Department.

For more information about these events, call 256.352.8277 or visit www.wallacestate.edu.

A listing of the events for Arts in April includes:

·      Community Art Exhibition, March 30-April 11, Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

·      “Equus” fine art photography exhibition, April 7-May 16, The Evelyn Burrow Museum; opening reception on April 23 at 6 p.m.

·      Mix-Tape Talent Show, April 8, 9:30 a.m., Burrow Center Recital Hall

·      “If You Build It” film screening, April 9, 6 p.m., Burrow Center Recital Hall

·      “Into the Woods,” 7 p.m., April 9-11, 2 p.m., April 12, Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre, $10

·      MarcusPollard, April 14, 9:30 a.m., Burrow Center Recital Hall.

·      Big Band Ballroom Dance, April 17, 7 p.m., Burrow Center for the Fine and PerformingArts, $15

·      Concert Choir, April 19, St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church

·      ­“India and Indian Culture” by Suhana Chikatla, April 21, 9:30 a.m., Burrow Center Recital Hall

·      Concert Band Spring Concert, April 30, 7 p.m., Burrow Center Recital Hall