Arts Briefs

Guest speaker Dave Kampfschulte talks on end of life conversations

Bringing the conversation about death to a new light, the director of Amazing Circles Workshops and nationally known speaker, Dave Kampfschulte, will come to Grand Valley State University on Jan. 20.

The conversation will highlight Kampfschulte’s experiences interacting with patients and families at the end of life, based on his book, “I’m Dying to Talk to You: 25 Years of Conversations on End of Life Decisions.”

Kampfschulte will dive into unexpected insights on initiating end of life conversations, and help others view death from a different aspect.

Those interested in attending can locate the event at 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 2201 of the Kirkhof Center.

Teach-In invites students to address privilege and oppression on campus

The university academic senate (UAS) and the student senate are inviting students to join a series of Teach-In events held Jan. 21, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center.

Located in Room 2266, “Check your privilege! Centering our sisters and brothers” encourages the community of Grand Valley State University to confront positions of power and privilege to further center oppressed voices on campus.

The event will be hosted by graduate student Michelle Jokisch Polo and Danielle Starkey, an undergraduate student at GVSU. The presentation will provide ways to help individuals address privilege in their lives and fight against homophobia, transphobia, sexism and racism.

This session will run from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., among more than 20 other events available to students throughout the day.

George and Barbara Gordon Gallery: Mathias J. Alten art gallery expansion

American impressionist Mathias J. Alten (1871-1938) has painted over 2,500 works of art throughout his life. Alten began his work as a naturalistic scene painter transitioning later into an impressionistic style.

Grand Valley State University holds the largest public collection of Alten in the world. The collection consists of more than 70 paintings along with his family’s collection of photos and letters. Private collectors George and Barbara Gordon donated the collection in 1999, and the addition of the second floor has allowed for further expansion.

The gallery will be available year-round at the George and Barbara Gordon Gallery downtown in Grand rapids, at the DeVos Center. The gallery is open starting from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23.

The Blue Wall Gallery presents: Photography from Oman

During the spring of 2015, Grand Valley State University’s Gabriella Patti, a senior student, participated on a life-changing trip to Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Patti studied Arabic and business for five weeks, mostly in a small Omani town called Ibri, where she documented her journey.

This exhibit, “The Universal Language: Photography from Oman” will be on display from Jan. 25 until March 31. Patti invites others to view her cultural discoveries from an adventure that was both personally and academically awakening, as she developed an understanding of other diverse communities.

Located in the DeVos Center at the Pew Campus, the gallery will be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to the public.