West campus events series features diverse artists

The fall 2012 arts events season at ASU’s West campus, with the theme “experience.the.new,” will feature concerts, plays, performances, nationally known authors, and art installations. The wide variety of artistic events reflects the rich artistic and cultural life on the West Valley campus, anchored by the Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance (IAP) program in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

“We have planned a diverse selection of events and activities to entertain and enlighten ASU students, faculty and staff as well as members of our surrounding communities,” said Jeff Kennedy, campus artistic director.

New College is contributing its events series in support of ASU's Project Humanities initiative.

In the experimental arena, John Cage’s 100th Birthday Party will celebrate the work of this seminal 20th century composer and theorist about art, with performances of his unique work, including the radio drama “The City Wears a Slouch Hat” (7:30 p.m., Sept. 5) and "Travelon Gamelon," the 30th anniversary of IAP professor Richard Lerman’s work for amplified bicycles (4 p.m., Sept. 27). 

Pentatonix is the wildly popular a cappella group that won Season 3 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” and whose new recording debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Pop charts. Penatonix is selling out concerts around the country. ASU’s West campus is the group’s only stop in Metro Phoenix on their first national tour (7 p.m., Sept. 21).

The West Valley Symphony performs Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, with guest soloist and ASU professor Katherine McLin (7:30 p.m., Nov. 3).

Second Stage West, the campus’s playhouse and performance space, will host “Underneath the Lintel” by Glen Berger, a play in which a librarian investigates the return of a book 113 years overdue (7: 30p.m., Oct. 18-20; 3 p.m., Oct. 21), and Bill Cain’s award-winning play, “Nine Circles,” which presents a soldier accused of shocking crimes in Iraq as it looks at the many sides of war (7:30 p.m., Nov. 15-17). 

Two celebrated authors will visit campus this fall. Best-selling author of “A Long Way Gone,” Ishmael Beah will recount the riveting story of his childhood in Sierra Leone where he was forced to serve as a child soldier and ultimately found a life of redemption and hope (7 p.m., Sept. 18). Beah’s appearance is presented in conjunction with New College’s ThinK (Tuesdays here in the Kiva) series.

National Book Award winner Maxine Hong Kingston, author of “Woman Warrior” and many other celebrated books, will speak about her recent work guiding U.S. war veterans to take their experiences and write their way to personal peace (7 p.m., Nov. 1).

As a campus where cultural diversity is celebrated on a continuing basis, the West campus will welcome the Calle 16 Mural Project to create a new mural with students, designed by the group’s brilliant artists, and will mark its completion with a Fiesta that also celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. The outdoor event will feature performances by folklorico, mariachi, flamenco and salsa groups, and delicious food (6:30 p.m., Oct. 5).

The campus installation gallery, ArtSpace West, will present Chicago-based artist Paula Palmer’s “constructed” photos, unique digital art titled “The Four Elements” opening at 6 p.m., Aug. 28 (running through Sept. 21); “Call and Response: War and Peace,” art work created by students and faculty in response to this year’s academic themes, opening at 6 p.m., Sept. 25 (running through Oct. 19); and “nests,” an interactive installation using a 3-D games that explores the places we live by IAP professor Barry Moon, opening at 6 p.m., Oct. 23 (running through Nov. 9). ArtSpace West is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and located in the University Center Building, room 228. Admission is free; visitor parking is $2 per hour. 

Many of the upcoming events and performances are free of charge; others have an admission fee. More information about the season can be found online at campus.asu.edu/west/events, on Facebook, or by calling the Arts Information line at 602-543-2787.