Arts Crawl / Asia Night: Students’ creative energy burns bright
The Deansmen perform during the 2011 Arts Crawl at Bates.
A kaleidoscope of student creativity in the visual, literary and performing arts, Bates’ third annual Arts Crawl begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.
Simultaneous sessions take place at four campus venues (listed below), with new presentations beginning at the top and bottom of each hour. The event is open to the public at no cost. For more information, please call 207-786-8212.
Asia Night, a popular variety show representing many of Bates’ diverse cultures, follows the Arts Crawl at 7:30 p.m. in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St. The Bates student organization Sangai Asia presents a second performance of Asia Night at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. For more information, please contact ebou@bates.edu or hsiegel@bates.edu.
Read a preview of Asia Night by Liza Dorison ’13.
The Bates Arts Collaborative sponsors the Arts Crawl to celebrate the imagination and talent that Bates students invest in myriad creative disciplines. All around the campus, snow sculpture, strolling performers and tasty comestibles from Bates Dining Services will heighten the festive feel.
“Our hope is that people will come to one venue, stay a while and then make their way to the others,” says Carol Dilley, associate professor of dance and coordinator of the event. “It’ll be fun, warm and colorful. What better way to spend a Friday night in January?”
Here are the venues and what’s happening:
Chase Hall, 56 Campus Ave., houses a range of simultaneous activities. On tap in Memorial Commons, a former dining space newly repurposed for public events, are the Robinson Players (drama and musical theater); the Strange Bedfellows (improv comedy); Bates dancers; and bands from the Bates Musicians Union. There will also be an art station for children with face painting and art-making opportunities.
The Bobcat Den, downstairs from the commons, is the venue for literary readings.
Olin Arts Center, 75 Russell St.: As in Chase, an exciting mix of happenings with an emphasis on visual art and culture. Student artists will show work and open their studios to visitors, and on display in the Bates College Museum of Art are three new exhibitions: “Robert S. Neuman’s ‘Ship to Paradise,’ ” “Intermezzi Portfolio” by Max Klinger and “Fransje Killaars: Color at the Center.” (A reception for “Color at the Center” takes place at 5 p.m. Jan. 26.)
Diverse musical performances are slated for the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall: the Bates Steel Pan Orchestra, the college Jazz Combo, North Indian and Middle Eastern sounds, and a battle of the MCs.
New Commons Fireplace Lounge, 136 Central Ave. Musicians including a cappella singers, pianists and the Bates folk band Chase the Fiddlers perform in this cozy gathering spot.
Imaging and Computing Center, Coram Library, 42 Campus Ave., will be the site of the popular Giant Photo Booth for candid portraits.
