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Conjuring Roots: AJ Vanderelli, Marcus Blackwell, and Rob Jones

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 14, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Conjuring Roots is an examination, celebration, and interrogation of the three spaces of Time as it is generally perceived by the collective of human consciousness: The Past, The Present, and The Future.

Exhibition on Screen – Klimt & The Kiss

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt is one of the most recognised and reproduced paintings in the world. It is perhaps the most popular poster on student dorm walls from Beijing to Boston.

Painted in Vienna around 1908, the evocative image of an unknown embracing couple has captivated viewers with its mystery, sensuality and dazzling materials ever since it was created. But just what lies behind the appeal of the painting – and just who was the artist that created it? 

Delving into the details of real gold, decorative designs, symbolism and simmering erotica, a close study of the painting takes us to the remarkable turn of the century Vienna when a new world was battling with the old.

Klimt was a titan of the Art Nouveau movement, creating decadent new worlds which merged tender sensuality, ancient mythology and radical modernity.

Discover the scandalous life and the rich tapestry of extraordinary influences behind one of the world’s favourite paintings.

From the director of ‘Frida Kahlo’ and ‘Mary Cassatt – Painting the Modern Woman’ comes a powerful, gripping and passionate new film.

$12 – $15

Sangeet: Yayati Aani Devayani

Sangeet: Yayati Aani Devyani is a historic Marathi musical drama, written by highly talented and famous litterateur V.V. Shirwadkar (popularly known as Kusumagraj) with music by legendary Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. It's a classic tale of love and revenge between the King Yayati and his wife Devayani from pre-Mahabharata period. It is one of the literary masterpieces of Kusumagraj depicting the richness of Marathi language. It is further embellished with Indian Classical music based naytasangeet, featuring beloved songs like "He suranno chandra vha", "Sarvatmaka Sarveshwara" and more.

This is the first ever production of "Sangeet: Yayati Aani Devayani" in the US. This rendition of the musical drama comprises of 3 acts and 10 songs with live music and dance, performed by well-accomplished, local artists from Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey. Along with the literary and musical eloquence, the grandeur of Mahabharata era in this drama is presented with spectacular drapery, make-up and stage setup.

Dhvani – Vocal Concert by Kruthi Bhat

Kruthi Bhat, a young prodigious vocalist in the field of Indian Classical Music, hails from a family of musicians. Kruthi Bhat is a conservator of her genre’s unique beauty and also preserves ancient tradition as she continues to innovate within it. Kruthi is a disciple of her mother, Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat & maternal uncle Vidwan Vittal Ramamurthy. She has had the privilege to learn from the legendary Padmabhushan Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and Sri T. R. Subramanyan. She is also blessed to receive guidance under renowned musicians, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, S. Sowmya, Abhishek Raghuram, Kalyani Sharma & Trivandram G. Seethalakshmi. Kruthi, an All India Radio graded artist, has performed extensively at Prestigious platforms all around the Globe and has numerous Titles and Awards to her credit. She is the youngest recipient of the title “Kala Ratna” by Cleveland Thyaragaraja Aradhana Committee, “Isai Chudar” from Karthik Fine Arts Chennai, & “Yuva Kala Mani” from Mani Krishna Swamy Academy – To name a few awards, she is a recipient of the ”Best Female Vocalist” Award from the Prestigious Madras Music Academy as part of the Spirit of Youth series, Winner of the Reality Show, Carnatic Music Idol USA Season 3 from Maximum Media Jaya TV, ” “Top 5 Voices of the Future” by Sruti Magazine & “Best Vocalist” by Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai. Kruthi is a Computer Science graduate, also proficient in Western & Indian Classical violin playing, Bharatnatyam & Pastel/Acrylic Painting.

Tifani K Inspires – Time to Breathe Peace by Piece

You deserve to breathe! Be inspired as we mindfully explore the Temporary Passenger exhibit and ground into the breath.

This is your space to explore breathing techniques that cultivate wellness for the mind, body, and spirit.

Together, we focus our intention on creating a masterpiece of our lives. Bring a yoga mat and/or floor pillows for your comfort. Journals or sketchbooks, and water bottles are encouraged.

Temporary Passenger – Guided Gallery Tour

Join main gallery artists, Catherine Bell-Smith and Mabi Ponce De León, in an informative and in-depth tour of their exhibition, Temporary Passenger, at the McConnell Arts Center.

TROTRO – Presented by Royall Legacy

This play unveils the frustrations and disappointments the majority of passengers go through on a daily basis as they commute between their homes and various destinations. An ordinary 15-minute trip from LA to Accra Central (very busy business central locations in Ghana) ends up stretching into a two-hour, side-splitting face-off between a drunken driver and his foul-mouthed ‘mate’ on one side, and a group of vociferous, no-nonsense, highly charged passengers on the other.

Also, ‘Trotro’ captures and brings to light how some of our heavily flawed social structures are responsible for putting the Ghanaian populace in that state of mind of having to constantly debate over who is more important than the other and why.

‘Tro-tro’ offers us a chance to laugh at ourselves while critically looking at important issues such as flouting of traffic regulations, bribery and corruption, and a lack of tolerance—a crucial societal challenge within the African fraternity and society in general.

This Sackey Sowah play, directed by Stampley Asamoah-Ampofo, touches on a very relatable subject that stares us in the face on a daily basis but is most often unnoticed.

$30

Songs at the Center – Heywood Banks, Steve Goodie, Carla Ulbrich (Live Taping)

Songs at the Center is proud to welcome comedy songwriters Heywood Banks, Steve Goodie, and Carla Ulbrich to the McConnell Arts Center, alongside our host, Eric Gnezda.

YOUR participation is a key part of the success of our series, having been broadcast to more than 400 PBS stations from coast-to-coast in nine seasons. Bring friends, and feel free to come and go as you please!

This taping is FREE to attend, registration is recommended.

Free

MAC Holiday Pop Up Shop

We are thrilled to once again be offering a Holiday Pop Up Shop featuring MAC class instructors and exhibiting artists! Find beautiful paintings, prints, ceramics, fabric art and more. Give the gift of art to yourself or someone else you love.

The shop is open for all MAC business hours, and extra hours for the special events listed below.

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