2020 ARTS FESTIVAL CANCELLATION

In light of all MGA instruction being temporarily suspended through March 29 and students being encouraged to remain home, we have decided to cancel the 2020 Arts Festival. We truly appreciate all who were scheduled to contribute this year, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2021!

The annual Arts Festival will take place March 29 through April 2, 2020. The theme for this year's festival is "Storytelling." All events are free and open to the public and sponsored by the School of Arts & Letters (SOAL). Please make plans to join us as we explore storytelling through music, art, film, and poetry. 

Download the 2020 Arts Festival Flyer

SCHEDULE:

Sunday, March 29, 2 pm:
Macon Harp Association Performance
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Rehearsal Hall

Monday, March 30, 2 pm:
"Stranger Than Fiction" Film Screening and Talk by Dr. Kelly Whiddon, Associate Professor of English | This event is in coordination with the English Studies Organization (ESO)
Macon Campus. School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Theater

Monday, March 30, 5 pm:
Book Reading and Signing with Novelist and MGA English Lecturer Andy Davidson for his newly released horror novel, The Boatman's Daughter
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Resource Center, Room 110 

Tuesday, March 31, 11 am:
"The Art of Story" Writing Workshop by Margaret South
Macon Campus, Teacher Education Building (TEB), Room 231

Tuesday, March 31, 1 pm:
“Feast of Words” (poetry workshop/competition in French and Spanish) by Dr. Yunsuk Chae, Professor of Spanish, and Dr. Sabrina Wengier, Professor of French
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Resource Center, Room 110

Tuesday, March 31, 4 pm:
Collaborative Painting with Art Professor Charlie Agnew
Cochran Campus, Russell Hall Art Studio

Wednesday, April 1, 11 am:
Affrilachian Poet and Sci-Fi Writer Gerald Coleman Reading
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Theater

 Wednesday, April 1, 2 pm:
The Fall Line Review Release Party (including Lady of Lake Knee Deep Writing Contest Reader)
Macon Campus, Professional Services Center (PSC) Patio 

Wednesday, April 1, 5 pm:
"Storytelling in K-Pop Music Videos" by Dr. Yunsuk Chae, Professor of Spanish
Cochran Campus, Walker Auditorium

Thursday, April 2, 11 am:
Poet Bill Walsh reading from his new collection, Fly-Fishing in Time Square
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Theater

Thursday, April 2, 5:30 pm:
Collaborative Painting with Art Professor Shannon Riddle
Macon Campus, School of Arts and Letters (SOAL) Rehearsal Hall 

For more information, contact
Dr. Kelly Whiddon

Please also join us for the:

8th Annual MGA Juried Student Art Exhibition
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Peacock Gallery, Russell Hall, Cochran Campus
Description: Includes Gallery Talk/ Opening Reception
Contact:  Prof. Charlie Agnew

2020 Arts Festival Biographies

Macon Harp Association Performance (March 29)

When was the last time you had the opportunity to hear a harp ensemble and flute choir perform together on the same stage? The Arts Festival at Middle Georgia State University presents the Middle Georgia Harp Ensemble in concert with the Middle Georgia Flute Choir.  The program will include classical and contemporary music such as the “Intermezzo” from Bizet’s Carmen, Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and much more.  Come and be part of this unique concert experience on March 29, 2PM in the lobby of the Arts Complex Theatre at MGSU. Admission is Free.

Middle Georgia Flute Choir: This community ensemble was formed in January of 2017 by Chris Blazakis. Chris, the Choir’s Artistic Director, has performed in flute choirs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Italy. The choir’s repertoire includes music from Bach to contemporary genres under the professional baton of Susan McDonald, flute teacher and retired Miller Elementary music educator. Our own MGSU chemistry professor Dr. Estelle Nuckels is among the high caliber musicians that form this diverse group, which ranges from professional flutists, medical and business professionals, to retirees.  

The Middle Georgia Harp Ensemble: Nationally recognized harpist Calista Anne Koch directs the ensemble, in addition to her role as harp professor at Mercer University. Calista Anne Koch regularly performs and teaches a variety of classical, Celtic, religious, and popular music. The Ensemble is joined by MGA English Professor Karmen Lenz.

“Feast of Words” (poetry workshop/competition in French and Spanish) by
Dr. Yunsuk Chae & Dr. Sabrina Wengier (march 31)

Dr. Yunsuk Chae and Dr. Sabrina Wengier (pictured to the right) hold a Ph.D. in Spanish and in French, respectively, and teach those languages here at MGA. They are both passionate about teaching language and culture and introducing students to new perspectives on the world. To this end, they organize many co-curricular activities to showcase language and culture: language conversation tables, movie nights, language festivals, and translation competitions.

Affrilachian Poet and Sci-Fi Writer Gerald Coleman Reading (April 1)

Gerald L. Coleman is a philosopher, theologian, poet, and scifi-fantasy author residing in Atlanta. Born in Lexington, he did his undergraduate work in philosophy, English, and religious studies, followed by a master's degree in theology. His most recent poetry appears in, Pluck! The Journal of Affrilachian Arts & Culture, Drawn To Marvel: Poems From The Comic Books, Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel Vol. 18, Black Bone Anthology, the 10th Anniversary Issue of Diode Poetry Journal, and About Place Journal. His speculative fiction short stories appear in: The Science Fiction, Cyberfunk Anthology: The City, the Rococoa Anthology by Roaring Lion, the Urban Fantasy Anthology: Terminus, the 2019 JordanCon Anthology: You Want Stories?, Dark Universe: Bright Empire, and the upcoming Dystopian Anthology from Onyx Path Publishing. He is the author of the Epic Fantasy novel saga The Three Gifts, which currently includes When Night Falls (Book One) and A Plague of Shadows (Book Two). He has been a Guest Author at DragonCon, Boskone, Blacktasticon, JordanCon, Atlanta Science Fiction & Fantasy Expo, The Outer Dark Symposium, World Horror Con, Imaginarium, and Multiverse. He served as a Programme Content Consultant for WorldCon Dublin and the Director of the Fantasy Track for MultiverseCon. He is a co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets and has released four collections of poetry entitled the road is long, falling to earth, microphone check, and Nappy Metaphysic. You can find him at GeraldLColeman.com.