UNC Asheville Arts Fest on April 19 to Include Opening of New Exhibition of Student Creations in New Media

UNC Asheville’s Spring 2019 Arts Fest, a full day and evening of arts-related exhibitions, performances, demonstrations and activities, will take place on April 19, beginning at 11 a.m. with many events clustered in and around Lipinsky Hall on campus. All Arts Fest events are free and open to everyone except where noted.

Arts Fest brings together music, dance and theater performances, poetry and prose readings, lectures and discussions, the opening of UNC Asheville’s 16th Annual New Media Student Show, a juried exhibition featuring innovative work by UNC students, and the performance of Nothing’s Happening: A Black Mountain College Project, an original devised theater piece by students.

The New Media Student Show is juried by Disney animator Dave Pruiksma, who helped bring to life characters like the Sultan from Aladdin, Mrs. Potts and Chip from Beauty and the Beast, and many others. The opening reception takes place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in Zeis Hall, second floor lobby. To learn more, visit nm.unca.edu.

Nothing’s Happening: A Black Mountain College Project, based on John Cage’s Lecture on Nothing, has been created by students working under the direction of Leon Ingulsrud, co-artistic director of the New York City-based SITI Company. Ingulsrud is UNC Asheville’s Black Mountain College Legacy Fellow for spring semester 2019. Ticketed performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 18-20 with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on April 20. Performances are in UNC Asheville’s Belk Theatre, with a limited number of seats available for each performance, and tickets available for $12 or $7 for students, at drama.unca.edu.

Complete Arts Fest Schedule 

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Global Art Challenges – Lecture by Eva Bares of UNC Asheville’s Department of Art and Art History faculty. Lipinsky Auditorium.

Noon-1 p.m. – Music by Student Ensembles – Performances by UNC Asheville’s John Scofield Ensemble and Woodwind Quintet. Lipinsky Hall, Room 117.

12:30-1:30 p.m. – Poetry and Prose – UNC Asheville students will read from their works. Ramsey Library Glass House.

1-2 p.m. – Improv Jam – Improvised music by UNC Asheville students. Lipinsky Hall Room 117. 

1-4 p.m. – Art Demonstrations and Activities – UNC Asheville students will offer flamework glass demonstrations and a chance to make solar prints and pinwheels. University Quad.

2-3:15 p.m. – Balinese Gamelon Performance – Warren Wilson College students will perform in this ancient music tradition. Lipinsky Auditorium.

2:30-3 p.m. – Belly Dancing – The UNC Asheville Belly Dancing Club will perform. University Quad. 

3:30-4:15 p.m. – Presentations on the Sublime – UNC Asheville students from the university’s Arts & Ideas Program will present. Lipinsky Auditorium.

4-5 p.m. – Music Performance – Army of Mars, a three-piece UNC Asheville faculty band, will play original sci-fi folk music. University Quad. 

4:15-5 p.m. – Dance Performance – A work in progress, choreographed by the Asheville Ballet, directed by Ann Dunn of UNC Asheville’s faculty, will be presented. Lipinsky Auditorium.

4:30-6:30 p.m. – Opening Reception – 16th Annual New Media Student Show, a juried exhibition featuring innovative work by UNC students, opens with a reception. Zeis Hall, second floor lobby.

5:30-6:30 p.m. – Original Student Films – A screening of short fiction and documentary films by UNC Asheville students begins at 5:30; pizza will be provided in the lobby starting at 5 p.m. for movie-goers. Lipinsky Auditorium. 

7:30-8:30 p.m. – Nothing’s Happening: A Black Mountain College Project – Ticketed performance in Belk Theatre, with tickets at drama.unca.edu.

On View Throughout Arts Fest 

Art – Works by UNC Asheville art students will be on display in the Lipinsky Hall Lobby.

This is Full of Color – A neuroscience art exhibition dealing with synesthesia will be on display in Lipinsky Hall Lobby.

Altered Books – This exhibition of UNC Asheville student art re-examining the concept of what constitutes a book will be on view in Ramsey Library.

Anagama Kiln Firing – The outdoor ceramic kiln near Owen Hall will be fired.

For more information on the Spring 2019 Arts Fest and UNC Asheville’s Arts & Ideas Program, visit the program website.