Arts & Culture

The Chicken and the Egg

Before there is writing or drawing, there is simply image. The artists in this exhibition embrace a holistic approach to artmaking, marrying symbolic freedom to mature narrative, in a creative domain unconstrained by imposed rules of language or material. This liminal space yields divergent and imaginative formal outcomes from comics to sculpture, textile to paint, often in hybridized forms. Co-curated by Professor Amanda Burnham.

Lecture February 8 at 6:30 p.m. followed by reception

Center for the Arts Gallery, CA 3040  |  February 2 – April 13 (closed March 17 – 24), Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Dream Refuge for children imprisoned

While children safely slumber in this healing space by Na Omi Judy Shintani, visitors gain insight into the experiences of Japanese American children incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II, Native American boarding school children denied their culture and taken from their communities, and the Central American children imprisoned, separated from their families, and living in squalid conditions at the U.S. border.

Visitors are invited to bring offerings (origami, small toys, paper flowers) and leave messages on an altar in the exhibit to honor the imprisoned children. The items will be used in future ceremonies and will not be returned.

Asian Arts Gallery, CA 2037  |  February 7 – May 18 (closed March 17 – 24), Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Mini-Exhibition: Children’s Book Art by Japanese American Illustrators

Delight in the imaginative worlds of award-winning children’s book illustrators, Melissa Iwai and Katie Yamasaki, while learning about courage, love and adaptation by an incarcerated Japanese American family; intercultural sharing among immigrant families; and multicultural Zen-inspired stories. Become energized by to support the welfare of children, intercultural understanding, healing, and peace.

Vitrines outside the Asian Arts Gallery  |  February 7 – May 18

Murray Jazz Residency Guest Artist Drew Gress

The Murray Jazz residency welcomes the return of TU Alum, bassist, composer Drew Gress for a week of classes, workshops and concerts. Mr. Gress will perform 2 concerts during the week-long residency. On Wednesday, April 3, the TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble will perform a program of original compositions with Mr. Gress. On Friday, April 5, Mr. Gress will present a concert with students featuring music they have workshopped over the duration of the residency.

Recital Hall, CA 3066  |  April 3 at 8 p.m. & April 5 at 8 p.m.

Lecture: Artist and Conservator Adriana Benavides

Benavides, the juror for the 2024 Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, is currently finishing the Masters of Science in Art Conservation graduate program at Winterthur/University of Delaware. A 2019 graduate from the Art+Design, Art History, Art Education Dept. at TU, Benavides has since held internships in conservation at the Dallas Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Balboa Art Conservation Center, and the Walters Art Museum.

Lecture followed by opening reception for Undergraduate Juried Show.

Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032  |  April 4 at 6:30 p.m.

Exhibition: Undergraduate Juried Exhibition

The annual undergraduate juried exhibition features students’ works that represent the various tracks, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, crafts, metalworking/jewelry, ceramics, digital art and design, photography and printmaking.
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Lecture April 4 at 6:30 p.m. followed by reception

Holtzman MFA Gallery, CA 2040  |  April 5 – 13  | Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Public Speaking Competition: How My Cultural Identity Has Shaped Me

The theme of this year's competition is How My Cultural Identity Has Shaped Me. Once selected, each contestant must utilize the Public Communication Center to ensure their speech is competition ready. First, second, and third place will win a prize of monetary value. Students in COMM 131 selected as finalists will deliver their informative speeches reflecting on the importance of their cultural identities in making them who they are today.

University Union Cinema, UU 322 & 324  |  April 10 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Student Composers Concert

TU composition students present a concert of original works in this collaborative concert performed by students in the Department of Music.

Recital Hall, CA 3066  |  April 10 at 8 p.m.

Lieberman Scholarship Award Convocation

The Department of Music features the winners of the Sidney Lieberman Scholarship Competition in our annual scholarship recital sponsored by Sidney Lieberman and the TU Foundation.

Harold J Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042  |  April 18 at 11 a.m.

Die Fledermaus

Join the TU Music for the Stage Ensemble for a hilarious performance of this beloved Johann Strauss Jr. operetta: Die Fledermaus, or The Revenge of the Bat. With a ridiculous plot filled with costume parties, flirtation, mistaken identities, and lots hummable tunes, you are sure to be entertained. Great for the whole family and performed in English.

Stephens Hall Theatre  |  April 19 – 21

Percussion Ensemble

The Towson University presents an evening of percussion chamber music as we honor the legacy of Dale Rauschenberg (1938-2024), founder of the TU percussion program.

Harold J Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042  |  April 22 at 8 p.m.

Talent Award Winners Convocation

The Department of Music features the winners of the Talent Award Competition in our annual scholarship recital sponsored by the TU Foundation.

Harold J Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042  |  April 23 at 11 a.m.

Aerial Masterclass

Learn the art of aerial dance on low flying (single point) trapezes that are hung 5 feet from ground and aerial silks. You will learn a series of vocabulary such as lion in the tree, elbow/knee hang and much more. The workshop will culminate into a low-high score, which will inspire creative flow from the ground to the air then back down again.

No experience necessary but dance, movement or upper body strength helpful.

Dance Studio Theatre, CA 1003  |  April 27 at 12 p.m.

Jazz Showcase

Under the direction of Department of Music faculty coaches, student ensembles present a concert of music that culminates a semester of study. Ensembles can include combos, the vocal jazz ensemble, the popular music ensemble and the jazz guitar ensemble.

Recital Hall, CA 3066  |  April 29, May 6, & May 13 at 8 p.m.

Brass Showcase

Featuring brass music for both quintet and like instruments (trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba/euphonium ensembles). A performance of original works and transcriptions highlighting student work throughout the semester.

Recital Hall, CA 3066  |  April 30 at 6 p.m.