Relevance of the arts explored during lecture
Loree MacNeill, who has organized shows and exhibits for Chadron State College’s Galaxy Series since the program’s inception, encouraged an audience Tuesday night to find art in their everyday living.
MacNeill said art can be found all around, from the design on the dishes from which people eat to the songs they can’t get out of their heads. And, to emphasize how the presence of that art can be lost in a busy world, MacNeill began her presentation with several radios blaring different messages simultaneously – a representation of today’s media driven society.
“We’re surrounded by line, form, texture and color all day long,” she said. “The arts are there every day, all day. It’s up to us to choose the art from what is before us.”
During her hour-long presentation, MacNeill referred to programs that successfully use the arts – dance, music, literature and drama – for mental and physical therapy.
When she asked people in the room what art means to them, they answered that it rejuvenates, decreases loneliness, helps express emotions, and connects people and their feelings.
MacNeill also addressed what she termed “The Eeeeewww Factor,” or the point at which a person is turned off to art because they deem it to be offensive. That point varies greatly, but she said almost all people have it.
MacNeill said she once left an exhibit that she found repulsive before viewing all the selections, despite considering herself open-minded. On the other end of the spectrum, she was somewhat surprised when a friend and colleague of hers walked out of a ballet performance at CSC just because men were holding hands as part of the dance.
MacNeill’s presentation was part of the Dorset Graves Lecture Series at CSC’s Reta King Library, which will continue with a book discussion of Loren Eiseley’s “Star Thrower” on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
The series then will turn to presentations about explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their historic 19th century journey through the western United States. Those speakers are scheduled to coincide with the “Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country” exhibit that will be shown in the library March 5 to April 18.
Following is the schedule of speakers who will discuss Lewis and Clark. Note that changes have been made from the schedule’s original printing.
March 11, Dr. Joel Hyer of Chadron; March 18, Mike Her Many Horses of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; March 25, Dr. Gary Moulton of Lincoln; April 1, Dr. Jim Hanson of Chadron; April 6, Kira Gale of Omaha; April 8, Dr. Catherine Lockwood of Chadron; April 15, Gerard Baker of Rapid City.
All but one of the sessions begin at 7 p.m. in room 108 of the library. Gale’s presentation on April 6 will begin at 2 p.m.
Category: Art, Campus News