42 arts and culture events to attend this spring

By Rebecca Kirkman on January 14, 2020

This year, Towson University’s College of Fine Arts and Communications will continue its 2019 – 2020 theme Arts Without Boundaries.

Participants in this spring’s events are asked to think and plan outside the typical boundaries of their specific art form—or even beyond “art” in general—to find
common threads that unite and connect rather than divide and limit.

Here are 42 of TU’s spring creative events that you won’t want to miss: 

Exhibition | Stacy Levy: Collected Watershed

Fri., Jan. 31–Sat., Apr. 25 (Closed Mar. 15–22)
Gallery Hours: Tues.– Sat., 11 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Opening Reception: Thurs., Jan. 30, following Lecture
Center for the Arts Gallery, CA 3040
Free

This lyrical installation by nationally renowned environmental artist Stacy Levy will make visual the interconnectedness of local watersheds, mapping them onto the floor of the gallery by filling thousands of recycled glass jars with water from the corresponding streams and tributaries. Hear a lecture from Levy before the opening reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Art Lecture Hall. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

MFA Exhibitions

Fri., Jan. 31 – Sat., Apr. 18 (Closed Mar. 15–22)
Gallery Hours: Tues. –  Sat., 11 a.m. –  8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Holtzman MFA Gallery, CA 2040
Free

In Y?, Edelweiss Calcagno explores abstraction through a variety of media to shed light on abuse survivors. Multiple perspectives and layering represent the changes in those who experience abuse, ADHD, PTSD, dyslexia and other disabilities that are a normal
consequence of trauma. 

In Limits of Empathy, Italo De Dea composes warm, monochromatic ink drawing installations of landscapes, urban areas, fauna, flora and figures, contrasting the socioeconomics of the norther n and southeastern regions of Brazil from historic books, utilizing various media and field research to create an open narrative. 

In Entanglement, Rachel Horner explores the interconnection and complexity of our climate crisis, employing saturated hues and abstracted imagery to investigate nature’s immense resilience and simultaneous fragility. Entanglement conveys the delicate entanglement we share with the flora and fauna of our biosphere. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Empty Bowls Workshops

Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. | Feb. 1 and 8
Center for the Arts, Ceramics Studio, CA 3012

Anyone regardless of their experience with ceramics is invited to join TU students and faculty in creating a bowl after a demonstration on hand-building. TU ceramic students will glaze-fire the bowls and deliver them to the St. Vincent de Paul’s Empty Bowls event in March. Proceeds help Maryland’s homeless and hungry. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Faculty Recital | Trio Montage: Lullabies, Sketches and Blues

Sun., Feb. 2, 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

Trio Montage (Phillip Collister, baritone; Marguerite Levin, clarinet; R. Timothy McReynolds, piano) presents works by contemporary composers Armando Bayolo and Valencio Jackson and arrangements of art songs by Phillip Collister, as well as jazz-inspired works for piano, voice and clarinet. From the Department of Music.

12th Annual Bridges to the World International Film Festival

Fridays at 7 p.m. | Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 / Mar. 6
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

For the 12th season films from Finland, Lebanon, Indonesia, Chile and Rwanda will be presented in six venues across Maryland, including at TU. Each film has been chosen and sponsored by an embassy and will be introduced by a professional in the field. A post-screening discussion follows. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. From the Department of Electronic Media & Film.

Faculty Recital | Songs of Youth, Love, and Loss

Sat., Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Ticketed

Soprano Lori Hultgren and pianist Kanyoung Yoo will perform pieces by Schubert, Strauss, Berg, Korngold, Heggie, Gordon and Kahane. The program will highlight rarely heard pieces that are from the early compositional output of these beloved composers. From the Department of Music.

Exhibition | The Women of Shahnameh, The Women of Afarin Rahmanifar

Thurs., Feb. 13–Sat., May 16
(Closed Mar. 15–22)
Gallery Hours: Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Opening Reception: Thurs., Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Asian Arts Gallery, CA 2037
Free

Savor Afarin Rahmanifar’s arresting, large-scale mixed media paintings that showcase the compassionate, brave, loyal and sensuous female characters of the Shahnameh, the Persian Book of Kings. During the opening reception listen to a talk by the artist. Born in Tehran, Afarin Rahmanifar’s artworks have been featured in galleries and university museums across the United States. From the Asian Arts & Culture Center.

Lecture | Susan Gresens and Sarah Haines

Thurs., Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
Free

In conjunction with the exhibition Collected Watershed, TU biology faculty will present. Gresens explores the local watershed and its response to urbanization. Haines uses “citizen science” to discuss how water quality and sampling techniques get teachers interested in the health of that local watershed. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education with the Department of Biology.

Faculty Recital | The Giver of Stars: Music of Richard Hundley, Part II

Fri., Feb. 14, 6 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

Join Leneida Crawford, mezzo soprano, and Susan Ricci, piano, as they explore and perform the life and music of American composer Richard Hundley (1930–2018). Letters, recollections, photos and manuscripts from Hundley’s private collection at the New York Public Library will be discussed. From the Department of Music.

Faculty Chamber Concert | Arts without Boundaries

Sun., Feb. 16, 3 p.m. (Special Gallery Hours: Sun., Feb. 16, 2–6 p.m.)
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

In conjunction with the exhibition Collected Watershed, this concert explores music inspired by water. Performers include violinist Emmanuel Browosky, cellist Frances Borowsky, pianist Daniel Weiser, saxophonist John Thomas and members of the quinTUs faculty vocal quintet. From the Department of Music with the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Dance Majors Performance Project

Thurs., Feb. 20–Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Dance Studio Theatre, CA 1003
Ticketed

A thrilling and creative celebration of student choreography and performance that includes a variety of movement styles and music. Dance majors evolve their works to the next level in this performance with guidance from faculty mentors and peers. From the Department of Dance.

Master Class | Lawrence Brownlee, tenor

Sat., Feb. 22, 4 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Free

Lawrence Brownlee, one of the preeminent operatic tenors of our generation, presents this public masterclass with vocal students from the Department of Music. This masterclass is supported by the Ruth and Arno Drucker Fund for Vocal Performance and is offered in memory of Arno Drucker (1934–2019). Supported by the Ruth and Arno Drucker Fund via the TU Foundation. Donations welcome. From the Department of Music.

Faculty Recital | Dave Ballou: Another Leap

Sat., Feb. 29, 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

TU music faculty Dave Ballou performs with pianist Angelica Sanchez and others in a concert celebrating the oddity that is Leap Day. Compositions created especially for this concert will provide the groundwork for the group’s sonic explorations. Come check out their discoveries! From the Department of Music. 

Faculty Recital | TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble

Sun., Mar. 1, 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

Members of the TU Jazz Faculty Ensemble—Dave Ballou, Jim McFalls, Jason Rigby, Jeff Reed, John Lee and Frank Russo—present an afternoon of improvisations and original compositions inspired by the intersectionality of the uniquely American art form. From the Department of Music.

Lecture | Tom Pelton

Thurs., Mar. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
Free

Pelton, an award-winning environmental journalist, Chesapeake Bay author and host of “The Environment in Focus” on WYPR, will lecture on the environmental well-being of the Chesapeake Bay region. Presented in conjunction with Stacy Levy: Collected Watershed on view through Apr. 25. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Lasso of Truth by Carson Kreitzer | Directed by Steven J. Satta

Thurs., Mar. 5, 7:30 p.m. / Fri., Mar. 6–Sat., Mar. 7, 8 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 8, 2 p.m. / Tues., Mar. 10–Thurs., Mar. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Studio Theatre, CA 3060
Ticketed

Under the direction of Steven J. Satta, Carson Kreitzer’s funny, insightful play reveals the feminist origins of superhero Wonder Woman and traces the character’s rocky journey from America’s cultural margins to her current mythic status. Lasso of Truth is presented by arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. Proceeds benefit the TU Foundation. From the Department of Theatre Arts.

PRISM: A Musical Collage

Sat., Mar. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Ticketed

The TU Department of Music showcases many of its best student ensembles, chamber music groups, jazz combos, solo performers and student composers in this annual fast-paced and multi-genre concert enhanced with theatrical lighting. From the Department of Music.

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

Thurs., Mar. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

A screening of three award-winning short films provided by New York’s Wildlife Conservation Film Festival. The filmmakers will be on hand to present their films and discuss the importance of wildlife conservation. From the Department of Electronic Media & Film.

Family Arts Day

Sat., Mar. 28, Noon – 4 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Atrium
Free

Experience the joy of being an artist at TU Community Art Center’s Family Arts Day. Drop in for a day of interactive art activities, dance workshops and gallery tours inspired by the current art exhibitions. All ages welcome.

Faculty Chamber Concert | Celebrate Beethoven!

Sun., Mar. 29, 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

The Baltimore Trio and guests celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth with a lively concert of works. Highlights of the program include the famous Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost” and the Cello Sonata in A Major Op. 69. From the Department of Music.

Bill and Helen Murray Jazz Residency Concerts | Ellery Eskelin ’81

Wed., Apr. 1, 8 p.m. / Fri., Apr. 3, 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Ticketed

Saxophonist and composer Ellery Eskelin ’81 returns as guest artist for the Bill and Helen Murray Jazz Residency. First Eskelin reunites in concert with local jazz artists Bob Butta (piano), James Kin (bass) and Eric Kennedy (drums). The second concert features Eskelin and TU music students in the culmination of his week-long residency. Proceeds benefit the TU Foundation. From the Department of Music.

Unshielded

Fri., Apr. 3, 7 p.m. / Sat., Apr. 4, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Preview: Thurs., Apr. 2, 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Dance Studio Theatre, CA 1003
Ticketed

Dance majors present their senior concert in the culmination of their capstone course experience. Nothing comes from nothing… The exposition of our vulnerabilities in various studies and forms through past years have shown us how our differences have united us. Through our work, you will see our perseverance in overcoming our artistic challenges and how we are now is a reflection of our collaborative efforts. Although we prepare to move on, we stand firm in our collective creative voices. We are unstoppable… We are unforgettable… We are unapologetic… We are Unshielded. From the Department of Dance.

Advocating Change: Public Discourse in Turbulent Times

Thurs., Apr. 9, 9 a.m.
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

The TU Communication Studies 2020 Symposium contributes to conversations
about what it means to advocate change in a diverse society. It emphasizes the central role of communication in public life, especially during politically turbulent times. Keynote address to be given by Eric King Watts. From the Department of Communication Studies.

The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan

Directed by Courtney Kalbacker | Conducted by Chris Cicconi
Fri., Apr. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 18, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 19, 2 p.m.
Stephens Hall Theatre, ST 217
Ticketed

Enjoy this rollicking farce filled with sentimental pirates, sassy sisters, bumbling policemen, two young lovers and an eccentric major-general. Presented by students of the TU Music for the Stage Ensemble and TU Symphony Orchestra. From the Department of Music.

Annual Public Speaking Competition

Thurs., Apr. 23, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Free

Presented by the TU Public Communication Center, this annual competition is open to any TU undergraduate student. Competitors must present a 5- to 8-minute speech that addresses the intersections of diversity and advocacy. Cash prizes awarded to the top three winners. From the Department of Communication Studies with the TU Public Communication Center.

Lecture | Mr. Trash Wheel and the Baltimore Inner Harbor

Thurs., Apr. 23, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
Free

Mr. Trash Wheel, part of the Waterfront Partnership’s “Healthy Harbor Plan,” is a beloved Baltimore icon and star of Twitter. The googly-eyed trash inceptor removes debris from the Jones Falls as it empties into the Inner Harbor. In the last five years, it has removed over 1,200 tons of garbage. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Master Class and Recital | Development of Korean Art Songs

Fri., Apr. 24, 6 p.m., Master Class / Sat., Apr. 25, 3 p.m., Recital
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Free

Guest artist You Seong Kim, Ph.D. is an associate professor of music and head of the voice area at North Park University in Chicago. She is an author of Korean Art Songs: An Anthology and Guide for Performance and Study. Kim, soprano, will be joined by faculty member Min Jin, tenor. Supported by the Ruth and Arno Drucker Fund via the TU Foundation. Donations welcome. From the Department of Music.

TU Percussion Ensemble | Art Without Boundaries

Mon., Apr. 27, 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Ticketed

The word “boundaries” is seldom applied to the field of percussion; to be a percussionist is to be boundary averse. There is no other way to thrive in our ever-changing field. In this program TU students embrace the experimental, unruly and diverse world of percussion repertoire in all its weirdness and glory. From the Department of Music.

Panel Discussion and Screening | The Mayor of Graterford (2018)

Tues., Apr. 28, 7 p.m.
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

Panelists include Tyrone Werts, the star of “Mayor of Graterford,” Stephen McWilliams of Villanova University, who is the film’s producer, and Elyshia Aseltine, director of the TU Fair Chance Program. Produced by Villanova’s Social Justice Documentary course, the film examines life without parole through the experiences of current and former inmates. From the Department of Communication Studies.

Master Class | Composer Steven Bryant

Wed., Apr. 29, 2 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Free

Join award-winning composer Steven Bryant for a composition masterclass and discussion on contemporary compositional techniques and trends. From the Department of Music with the New Music Ensemble at TU.

Towson University Symphonic Band

Thurs., Apr. 30, Lecture 7 p.m., Concert 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts,
Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Ticketed

Join the TU Symphonic Band and award-winning composer Steven Bryant for an evening of cutting-edge wind band music. A preconcert lecture will be followed by a performance of Bryant’s very own “Ecstatic Waters.” From the Department of Music with the New Music Ensemble at TU.

Sweat by Lynn Nottage | Directed by Peter Wray

Fri., May 1–Sat., May 2, 8 p.m. / Sun., May 3, 2 p.m.
Thurs., May 7, 7:30 p.m. / Fri., May 8–Sat., May 9, 8 p.m.
Preview: Thurs., Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Mainstage Theatre, CA 3043
Ticketed

A group of down-and-out factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania, struggles to keep their lives in balance in this 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play presented by TU students under the direction of Peter Wray. Sweat is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. Proceeds benefit the TU Foundation. From the Department of Theatre Arts.

TU Choirs | Music of Our World

Sun., May 3, 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Ticketed

The TU Choirs, under the co-direction of professors Diana V. Sáez and Stephen Holmes, will perform choral music that celebrates the individual and cultural diversity of our world. From the Department of Music.

Mood

Wed., May 6–Sat., May 9, 7 p.m. / Sun., May 10, 2 p.m.
Stephens Hall Theatre, ST 217
Ticketed

The human condition is complex; multilayered through circumstance and emotion. Under the artistic direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, the Towson University Dance Company students will explore these concepts with a body of works by Ray Mercer, Caitlin McAfee, Runqiao Du, Malcolm Shute and Vincent E. Thomas. From the Department of Dance.

TU Classical Guitar Ensembles and Soloists Showcase

Wed., May 6, 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Recital Hall, CA 3066
Free

The TU Classical Guitar Ensemble and select student soloists, under the direction of Troy King, welcome you to an evening filled with the evocative sounds of the classical guitar. The program will feature works by Federico Moreno Torroba and Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco. From the Department of Music. 

Lecture | Artist and Educator Schroeder Cherry

Thurs., May 7, 6:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Art Lecture Hall, CA 2032
Free

The juror for the 2019 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, Cherry received a doctorate in museum education from Columbia and has worked in museum education for over 30 years. In his own work, he uses acrylic paint and mixed media on wood, found objects and text to construct open-ended stories. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

47th Annual Spring Pottery & Art Sale

Fri., May 8, 3–9 p.m.
Sat., May 9, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Preview: Thurs., May 7, 7–9 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Ceramics Studio, CA 3012
Free

Support TU’s community of artists and take home a unique piece of art to treasure in this spring pottery and art sale. Students and faculty present a vast selection of handmade pottery, sculpture, jewelry, glass and more. Proceeds benefit the TU Foundation and contributing artists. From the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education.

Dance for the Camera Final Screening

Fri., May 8, 7 p.m.
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

The projects for this screening were created by dance and EMF students during the spring semester. In an interdisciplinary course that combined Composition V and Dance for the Camera, choreographers and videographers collaborated to craft unique
movement pieces for the screen. None of these works could be presented “live” on a proscenium stage; each screen dance integrates digital video and dance into a mediatized performance exploring time and space. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. From the Department of Electronic Media & Film with the Department of Dance.

TU Choral Society | Carmina Burana

Sat., May 9, 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, CA 3042
Tickets: $6–$16

Composed by Carl Orff, this cantata based on a collection of medieval poems is one of the most popular choral works of the 20th century. Joined by Courtney Kalbacker, soprano, and the TU Percussion Ensemble students, TU Choral Society will perform in a version for choir, two pianos and percussion. From the Department of Music.

End of Semester Screenings

Fri., May 15, 4 p.m. Film 2 and 7 p.m. Film 3 / Sat., May 16, 11 a.m.
Audio 1 and 1 p.m. Audio 2, Sound in Media, Sound Creation & Design /
Sun., May 17, 4 p.m. Film 1
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

Watch and listen to final film projects, created by students in EMF’s narrative filmmaking and audio classes, up on the big screen. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. From the Department of Electronic Media & Film.

TU Media Arts Festival

Sat., May 16, 7 p.m.
Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium, VB 204
Free

Student works are celebrated and screened at this splashy annual event, featuring award winners in categories like Feature Narratives, Animation, Music Videos and Documentaries, among others. May contain material recommended for mature audiences. From the Department of Electronic Media & Film.

Spring Showcase | Arts Without Boundaries

Sun., May 31, 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Mainstage Theatre, CA 3043
Tickets: $10–$15

TU Community Dance students share the stage in a collection of choreography from the center’s faculty. From the Community Dance Center.

MORE EVENTS

Master Events Calendar

For a full list of events happening at TU, check out the Master Events Calendar.