Past Events

An ALANA, ASU, BSU & SOCA Collaboration Presents “Liberation Through Black Expression”—A formal evening centered around Black creative expression. Thursday, February 16 @6:00 PM, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.
Feb. 16, 2023, 6:00 p.m.

An evening of student artwork, poetry, and performances at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. Refreshments will be served.

Professor J. H. (Yossi) Chajes poring over a manuscript with a magnifying glass.

A conversation between J. H. (Yossi) Chajes, the Sir Isaac Wolfson Professor of Jewish Thought in the Department of Jewish History at the University of Haifa, and Vassar’s Marc Michael Epstein, Professor of Religion on the Mackie M. Paschall Davis and Norman H. Davis Chair and Director of Jewish Studies.

Stem Connection Panel
Feb. 7, 2023, 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

An engaging dialogue about pursuing a career in STEM as a Black-identifying person with Vassar’s leading STEM faculty and alums. Attend in person or virtually.

Hailed as a ‘personable polymath’ in the London Times, Bill Barclay ’03 is a director, composer, writer, and producer. He joins us to discuss his work Le Chevalier, a full-length play detailing Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ true friendships with Mozart and Marie Antoinette, and his unknown contribution to the abolishment of slavery.

Welcome to Indian Country is an evening-length celebration of Native culture through music and storytelling. A world-class, five-piece musical ensemble is joined by storyteller and Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest. Together they weave new compositions and songs with witty, wise, and poignant poetry and satire to honor the elders and ancestors.

Audio

Heidi Latsky

Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre performs works selected from the current repertory by faculty, students, and guest choreographers, including a special appearance by the Heidi Latsky Dance Company. Tickets are free but must be reserved.

Kate McGloughlin

From Requiem to Solace: Artwork Inspired by the Ashokan Reservoir. Artist Kate McGloughlin will speak about how the devastation endured by her ancestors during the creation of the Ashokan Reservoir influences and inspires her work. Sponsored by Late Night at the Loeb and the Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement, and Education.

Jeh Vincent Johnson Alana Cultural Center, Black History Month Kickoff, "The Power Rests In Our Hands", Villard, 01 FEB 6-7:30 PM
Feb. 1, 2023, 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Featuring performances and speeches by students, alums, faculty, administrators, and local community members—as well as food and stations highlighting mental health, artifacts, African cuisine recipes, and books written by Black authors. Attend in person or virtually.

The words "ALANA Center" written in fancy script encircled by decorative patterns.
Feb. 1, 2023, 10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

A gathering to celebrate the first day of Black History Month, sponsored by the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center and hosted by leaders of the African Students’ Union (ASU), Black Students’ Union (BSU), and Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA).

Campus community only, please.

Loretta Ross seated in an office with a shelf of books behind her.

Ross—a nationally recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women’s rights, and human rights who teaches at Smith College—will discuss how we must fight oppression and injustice by weaving our collective strengths together and using our differences as a platform for molding a positive future built on justice and love.

Indra Spring Flow Tenri Rehearsal

​​Digital scores can change in real time during a performance, allowing for exciting and spontaneous interaction and improvisation. This workshop will explore this emerging performance practice using the software Indra, culminating in a conducted group improvisation. Participants should bring an instrument and a Mac laptop. A student-only event. Registration required.

Modfest word mark

Honoring the founders of MODfest, we celebrate the “meanings and measures” of modern musical works: Richard Wilson’s Avuncularities (2022) for solo trombone and Perplexities (2022) for oboe and English horn, violin, viola, and cello; and Serenity (2021) for solo piano by Jonathan Chenette.

This is an in-person event that will also be streamed live

Vassar College’s Muslim Students Association (MSA) presents excerpts from the new play Wedding Scraps by Arshia Iqbal ’23a senior thesis project that serves as a funny peek into the world of diasporic Desi kids and their collective efforts to find home.

Photo graph of photo collage featuring multiple circular images on a white field
Jan. 27, 2023, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

The Palmer Gallery exhibit Imploding Meaning: Tale-less Tales About Absolutely Nothing and Everything In Between features the work of M. Pettee Olsen, Michael Oatman, Rosanne Walsh, and Monica Church—all of whom will be speaking at this event.