Blue Wall Gallery Features New Exhibit

A new exhibit opens this week in the Blue Wall Gallery in the Richard M. DeVos Center. The exhibit is called “The Universal Language: Photography from Oman.” The exhibit features photographs taken by Grand Valley State University student Gabriella Patti during her spring 2015 trip to Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Patti studied Arabic and business for five weeks. She spent the majority of her time in a small Omani town called Ibri. The program and the exhibit expose students to the people and culture of Oman.

The exhibit will be on view until March 31. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/artgallery.

Arts at Noon: Grand Valley Winds

Kicking-off the Arts at Noon series this semester, members of the faculty woodwind quintet Grand Valley Winds will be performing at noon on Jan. 27 in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

The quintet will feature Christopher Kantner on flute, Marlen Vavrikova on oboe, Joel Schekman on clarinet, Vincent Karamanov on bassoon and Richard Britsh on horn. The will perform a variety of repertoire including pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Joseph Jongen.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/music.

Faculty Reading: Glenn Shaheen and Oindrila Mukherjee

Continuing the Grand Valley Writers’ Series, Assistant Professor Glenn Shaheen and Professor Oindrila Mukherjee will be reading selections of their writing at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 in the Cook-DeWitt Center.

Shaheen is the author of poetry collection “Predatory,” which won the 2010 Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize. He is also the author of the flash fiction chapbook “Unchecked Savagery.” His second collection of poetry, “Energy Corridor,” will be released in 2016.

Originally from India, Mukherjee worked as a reporter for India’s oldest English newspaper “The Statesman.” Her work has been published in “Salon,” “Los Angeles Review of Books,” “The Oxford Anthology of Bengali Literature,” “The Greensboro Review,” “Arts & Letters,” “The Silk Road Review,” “The Writer’s Chronicle,” “Jaggery” and others.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/writing.

“Godspell”

Premiering at 7:30 on Feb. 5, the GVSU production of the musical “Godspell” will run from then until Feb. 14.

The musical is based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. The show is a love fest dedicated to light, joy and love. The music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz are eclectic, bringing in rock, folk, gospel and Broadway styles. The updated “Godspell 2012” is a family-friendly show and a retelling of the original version of “Godspell.” The 2012 version brings in new arrangements and contemporary references.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Louis Armstrong Theatre box office at (616) 331-2300. Tickets may also be purchased through Startickets online or by calling (800) 585-3737. The tickets will cost an addition $1 if purchased at the door.