Plays and musicals, artist lectures and exhibitions, ensemble concerts and solo performances will be featured as the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts once again presents The Curiosity Series.
“Providing experiences with a focus on artistic integrity is one of our most important contributions to the university and region,” said Keith Jackson, Philip J. Faini/Falbo Family Dean of WVU’s College of Creative Arts. “Whether the artists are faculty, students, or world renown guests, we in the College of Creative Arts are committed to sharing high quality art.
“Often these experiences are entertaining, but more importantly they are inspiring, thought provoking, and educational. Our community deserves that level of intent and through the ‘Curiosity Series’ we stay true to the purpose of the college and university.”
The Curiosity Series was founded in 2018 as a way for the Morgantown community to dive into all the arts offerings presented through WVU’s College of Creative Arts. From August through April, the College will sponsor free or low-cost events featuring faculty, students and guest artists covering a wide-variety of genres, disciplines and topics.
The Curiosity Series will kick off Aug. 24-25 with multiple visual arts events. Artist George Rodriguez presents a Visiting Artist Lecture on Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Canady Creative Arts Center. Born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX, George Rodriguez creates highly ornamented, figurative ceramic sculptures, often underlined by a connection to the sociopolitical issues the artist explores. Rodriguez will discuss his exhibition, “Ancestral Adornments” which brings together life size sculptures and architectural adornments. Through the creation of guardian figures, tomb sculptures, and shrines, he depicts his community current and forthcoming.
On Aug. 25, the Art Museum of WVU opens for the fall semester with new exhibitions in both galleries. The museum will debut a solo exhibition by Nina Chanel Abney, an artist whose bold, colorful works on paper draw inspiration from current events and invite viewers into timely conversations. Three new Exhibitions in the McGee Gallery bring ideas and objects together in new ways, highlighting the breadth and depth of the Art Museum’s permanent collection.
The Curiosity Series also features a smaller sub-series in honor of long-time benefactors of the College of Creative Arts. The Canady Chamber Series gives MainStage access to chamber music groups to be seen by a larger audience. The 2023-24 theme of the Canady Chamber Series, “Telling the stories that need to be heard,” further enforces the College and the Canady family’s commitment to diversity in the arts.“Through the legacy of the Canady family’s unwavering generosity, we are able to amplify these historically marginalized voices,” said Jamie Whoolery, executive director for the Canady Chamber Series. “As we head towards the mid-21st century, this is exactly what the arts at a flagship land-grant university should be doing for the community: examining our shared humanity, sparking conversations about social justice, and demonstrating the importance of cultural preservation.”
Free and low-cost events make up The Curiosity Series to insure access to the arts for everyone. Free events are seated on a first-come-first-served basis. Tickets are now on sale and available at https://wvucca.universitytickets.com/ or on campus by visiting the College’s box office in the main lobby of the Canady Creative Arts Center. Special ticket pricing is available for children ages 18 and under, WVU students with valid ID and senior citizens age 65 and up. To inquire about group rates, email cac@mail.wvu.edu.
For a full list of Curiosity Series events, visit ccarts.wvu.edu/curiosity-series.