Fall Arts Celebration 2013 set

Since its start in 2003, Fall Arts Celebration at Grand Valley has enriched the arts and humanities in West Michigan by featuring many distinguished writers, poets, musicians, dancers, artists and scholars. The tradition continues this fall with six signature events that aim to broaden horizons, help make sense of the new and unfamiliar, reflect on the past and charm with the classics.

The celebration kicks off with an art exhibition, “Cyril Lixenberg: An Artist’s Journey,” Opening Reception, Wednesday, September 11, from 5-7 p.m. This unique exhibition in the Art Gallery, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus, explores and celebrates 81 years of the life and work of the popular contemporary Dutch artist Cyril Lixenberg. His monumental sculptures and colorful screen prints are exhibited throughout Grand Valley’s campuses. New gifts of paintings and works on paper will be featured, including drawings, monoprints, print editions, small sculptures and archival material. The exhibition is ongoing through November 1.

Music Department faculty and guest artists will recreate “Music from La Belle Époque: Chamber Music for Winds from Turn-of-the-Century Paris,” September 16, 8 p.m., in Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus. The performance will include the music of D’Indy, Enesco, Bernard and Stravinsky, with renowned guest conductor retired Col. Lowell E. Graham, former director of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C.

Laurie Garrett is the only person to win the three Ps of journalism: the Pulitzer, Polk and Peabody. One of America’s most trusted speakers on public health, infectious disease and prevention, Garrett will present the lecture “I Heard the Sirens Scream,” October 7, 7 p.m., in Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. A senior fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations, she has written many books, including The Coming Plague. Garrett is particularly suited to navigate the intersections of politics and science in an effort to understand and describe how our leaders help and hinder how we prepare, treat and respond to the threats of global health.

“An Evening of Poetry and Conversation with Christian Wiman and Pattiann Rogers” is set for October 25, 7 p.m., in Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Wiman is the author of three collections of poetry, most recently Every Riven Thing, as well as a memoir, My Bright Abyss. He edited Poetry for a decade, during which the magazine’s circulation tripled. In July 2013 he joined the Yale Institute of Sacred Music as senior lecturer in religion and literature. Rogers has published 12 collections of poetry, most recently Holy Heathen Rhapsody, and two books of essays, including The Grand Array: Writings on Nature, Science, and Spirit. Rogers is the recipient of two NEA grants, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a 2005 Literary Award in Poetry from the Lannan Foundation.

“Memories of Summer — The American Identity in Dance,” November 4, 8 p.m., in Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus, brings celebrated choreographer Lauren Edson and the Lauren Edson + Dancers to present a fresh modern dance interpretation of Samuel Barber’s achingly beautiful music. Throughout the 20th century, when most composers were experimenting with dissonance and freedom in musical form, Barber was writing in a lyrical, romantic style with a distinctively American melody.

Fall Arts Celebration 2013 wraps up with a special holiday celebration, “A Very English Christmas: Music of the Season from the British Isles,” December 9, 8 p.m., at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids. Musical selections will run the full gamut from the beloved “Coventry Carol,” which was first heard in the early 15th century, to the decidedly more modern parable of “Brother Heinrich’s Christmas.” The magnificent and uplifting “Gloria” by world-renowned English composer John Rutter will complete this unique performance event featuring some of the most beloved British Christmas music.

All events are open to the public with free admission. For more information, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/fallarts, or call (616) 331-2185.