LU News: Arts and Culture

Lamar University’s first concert of the 2022-23 school year, featuring the Lamar University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in Beaumont’s Julie Rogers Theatre. The band program recently welcomed more than 108 Lamar University students from 45 different high schools to both the university Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band.  

The LU Department of Theatre & Dance has announced its performances for the fall semester: “The Clean House” by Sarah Ruhl; “Lost Lake” by David Auburn; and “Fall & Recovery,” choreographed by LU dance faculty and guest artists.

Saxophone great Jeff Coffin will be appearing at Lamar University at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13 in the University Theatre for a free concert with the Cardinal Jazz Orchestra.

A new exhibition will soon open up at the Lamar University Dishman Art Museum: Ghostlight, the newest collection from award-winning photographer Keith Carter. The exhibition runs Sept. 24 through Nov. 12, with an opening reception will be held Sept. 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Lamar University is offering a unique class experience of role-playing the French Revolution this semester (HIST 4346), taught by chair of history and chair of university studies professor Dr. Rebecca Boone.

Looking for a good book to wrap up the summer? Two Lamar University professors –– Dr. Rebecca Weinbaum and Dr. Adrienne Starnes –– dish on their favorite reads of the summer.

The faculty and staff in the Department of Art & Design will present their work in an exhibition at the Dishman Art Museum Aug. 13 through Sept. 10. The public is invited to attend an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, Aug. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

On the heels of the group's return from the 2022 Business in Spain program, Lamar University Study Abroad and Student Exchange Coordinator Mary Alice Haas dives into the mission, programs and benefits of studying abroad.

Organized in partnership by the LU Department of Art & Design and the LU Center for Resiliency, the “Bounce Back: Art Making & Resiliency” exhibition encompasses the art work of eight Region 5 art educators that, through artmaking strategies, are exploring issues of resiliency, rebuilding, climate change, social justice and the pandemic.

Students of the first Social Emotional Artistic Learning Summer Art Camp were treated to a one-of-a-kind experience last week, seeking to promote the creative act of making and analyzing art from multiple perspectives.

The Miyazaki Prefectural Art Museum in Miyazaki City, Japan, currently holds more than 37 pieces of art work on display created and produced by 14 Lamar University art students. The Lamar University Digital Art Exhibition 2022 curated by the Lamar University Department of Art & Design features a large mixed media of works on paper from 2020 and 2021 with some digital artwork included.

Looking for a good book to dive into this summer? Four Lamar University professors talk about the books on their shelves that connect with their work at LU –– pulling from personal interest, research, history, art and beyond –– and also dish on the books that have captivated them this summer.

The Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music will present the Jimmy Simmons Jazz Fest on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre located on the campus of Lamar University. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Lamar University Department of Theatre & Dance takes the stage once again with their final performance of the season, “Catch and Release: LUTD Student Dance Concert,” which will be performed on the stage of the University Theatre on Monday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. with free admission.

The Dishman Art Museum is now taking entries for its fourth annual juried exhibition. After School Special: The Lamar University Fourth Juried Alumni Art Exhibition will run from June 24 to July 30. 

The Lamar University Department of Theatre and Dance will present their last dance concert of the semester, “Dance Unleashed,” on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. and two showings on April 23 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. All performances will be held in the University Theatre located on the campus of Lamar University.

"SPLIT" is an energetic 70-minute play that weaves the story of an elite runner, his handy sister, her skater friend, an optimistic single mother who knows her daughter is destined for greatness on the track as well as the two coaches with varying interests in each of them. This ensemble-driven play with stylized movement sequences mirrors the relay race we each face in our daily lives as we seek to outrun time. 

Learn more about the ancient civilization of Etruria in this guest lecture, hosted by the Department of Art & Design.

The Lamar University Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music is proud to present their annual Collage concert to benefit Music students. The event will take place on Mar. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre located on the university campus.

What they see is what they’ll be. That is the slogan and life motto for members of the 100 Black Men of America. It also is the motto that catapulted LU senior graphic design major DeShaun Bell into first place for the national Stop the Violence billboard and social media design contest hosted by the organization last fall.  

Lamar University’s Kurt Dyrhaug, professor of sculpture in the Department of Art & Design, has been invited to the Moritzburg Museum in Halle, Germany for its first iron pour in August.

Andre Ramos-Woodard, Lamar alumnus and visiting instructor in the Department of Art and Design, has recently had three pieces of his artwork acquired by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, along with a commissioned work currently on exhibition through Feb. 2023.

The Lamar University Department of Theatre and Dance is pleased to present their first production of the semester, “Whale Music,” written by Anthony Minghella and directed by Joel Grothe, associate professor of theatre. The production will be held in the Studio Theatre on Feb. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.

The Dishman Art Museum is pleased to present COHABITATION, featuring Mayuko Ono Gray and Mark Greenwalt, in exhibition through March 5. DRAWINGS, featuring work by Charles Kanwischer, is on display in the second-floor gallery during the same time.