Sep 16, 2024 | CVPA, Music News, Theatre and Dance News, xArt and Design News, xCVPA, xFeatured
A walk around the Northern Illinois University reveals a campus filled not just with students, faculty, staff and buildings, but of artwork to take in and enjoy. Now, there is even more to look at. The final piece of the extensive renovations to the university’s Stevens Building—home of the School of Theatre and Dance and Department of Anthropology—has been installed in the open area on the east side of the building, near the main entrance, and not far from the creek.
“The Tribesman, The Hero and The Light” is a free-standing stainless-steel sculpture consisting of figures and five-inch-thick steel circles.
The artist, Boyan Marinov, is a Chicago-based artist and furniture maker. Born in Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria, Marinov studied cinematography at the Bulgarian Film School before moving to the United States to pursue his lifelong passion for woodworking. He has a studio in Chicago where he creates sculptures and operates a custom furniture shop.
To dedicate the sculpture, the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are hosting a ribbon cutting and cookout at the sculpture site, Thursday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available, with a short program scheduled for noon.
“The sculpture is a wonderful addition to the east side of campus,” said Robert Brinkmann, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “It depicts the journey in life that all of us are on while representing the energy found not just within the Stevens Building, but throughout campus.”
Paul Kassel, dean of the College of Visual and Performing arts is excited about the opportunity for the sculpture to spark the imagination of those who view it.
“The pieces beautifully connect the three academic areas housed in the Stevens Building—theatre, dance and anthropology,” Kassel said, “But more than that, like all artwork on campus, I believe the sculpture will inspire creativity and reflection in anyone who encounters it. I’m already looking forward to what our students will devise, compose, and choreograph in and around it.”
The sculpture is presented in three parts. Designed as a series to be viewed as different parts of a story, or a study in the changing form and our own evolution.
Act One: The Tribesman
The grandest of all stories and the most grounded. The story of us, the whole human story. Finding ourselves within ourselves, our cultures and civilizations, beliefs and behaviors, truths and myths. Tracing our endless stories through the traces we leave. It demands that we treasure our differences as much as our similarities. That we see ourselves in ourselves – in our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers. From those who made cave art tens of thousands of years ago, to those who’ll leave footprints on the next new world.
Act Two: The Hero
A reflection of life. Whether imagined or reimagined, it is a play between dialogue and song, action and interaction, drama and comedy, plot and character, time and place. We embody other lives, other stories, real and unreal, in places known and unknown. Conveying stories not just in verse but in the entire universe we create. Together, actors and audience alike.
Act Three: The Light
A breaking of boundaries, a story beyond words, even beyond narrative. This story is felt, conveyed through movement, through give and take. With our body as both canvas and instrument, we connect with what is most primitive about us and also achieve what is most poetic about our physical form. We communicate viscerally and universally through rhythm and emotion. As we have since the whole human story began.
“The Tribesman, The Hero and The Light” joins “Pyramus and Thisbe Rising Over Snowy Peaks,” both located near the main entrance of the Stevens Building.
“Pyramus and Thisbe Rising Over Showy Peaks,” is a large sculpture constructed of Vermont Barre granite and southern yellow pine created by Chicago artist Terrence Karpowicz. It is based on the Greek myth of two lovers destined to forever see each other but never touch. That sculpture was donated to the university in 1990 in memory of Sarah Lipschultz by her husband, M.A. Lipschultz.
Feb 6, 2020 | Theatre and Dance, Theatre and Dance News, xCVPA
The NIU School of Theatre and Dance presents, “A Bright New Boise” by American playwright Samuel D. Hunter.
Get ready…in the parking lot of a mega arts and crafts store in Idaho, the Rapture is coming. Or is it? In this intimate comedic drama, five small-town residents come together at the local Hobby Lobby – all searching for something. Will, the newest hire, seeks atonement; Leroy seeks shock through his art; Anna seeks a dramatic ending; Pauline seeks order out of chaos, and Alex seeks belonging — to someone, somewhere in the weird beautiful American West. (more…)
Sep 14, 2018 | Theatre and Dance, Theatre and Dance News
Alex Gelman, Director of the NIU School of Theatre and Dance penned a guest column in the September 12 edition of The Midweek about the reopening of the Stevens Building. Stevens is home to the School of Theatre and dance as well as the Department of Anthropology. (more…)
Aug 27, 2018 | Theatre and Dance, Theatre and Dance News, xCVPA, xFeatured
The Stevens Building at Northern Illinois University, home to the School of Theatre and Dance and the Department of Anthropology have raised the curtain for Monday’s start of the fall semester after an extensive renovation project.
The $23.7 million state funded project has increased the size of the building by 55% to 106,000 square feet.
New features include:
- A 200-seat state-of-the-art black box theater venue for teaching and performances, providing the most-real world experience for what students will encounter in professional settings after graduation
- A vastly expanded scene shop with direct access so that sets can be built, painted and transported in totality in and out of theater spaces
- A 330-seat lecture hall which can easily be configured into as many as three smaller lecture spaces.
- Improved classroom and laboratory spaces for anthropology.
- Expansion of the theater and dance movement lab into a more functional two-story space.
- Five dedicated classrooms equipped with “smart” technology.
- Dramatically improved accessibility, including a new elevator.
Acting President Lisa Freeman said the completion of the project is another way that NIU is showing its commitment to students and the community. “These renovations to the Stevens Building afford our faculty the ability to teach our students in theater, dance and anthropology in a world-class facility. We welcome our community to visit our campus and attend performances where they will enjoy the work of our very talented students.”
Kendall Thu, Chair of the Department of Anthropology said his students are excited about the opportunities the new facility can provide. “We are thrilled to return to state-of-the-art facilities which will allow us to continue our tradition of being student-centered with an emphasis on engaged learning. The labs and classrooms optimize interactions between students and faculty while building a sense of community. This new facility is a fitting tribute to current and retired faculty who have been trailblazers in their research and distinguished teachers in the classroom.”
For Alex Gelman, Director of the School of Theatre and Dance the return to the Stevens means the improvisation for his students of the last few years can be focused into the classroom and stage. “We are certainly excited to be teaching and studying in these new and vastly improved spaces. The facility we have now provides us the opportunity to better prepare actors for the work that lies ahead after they graduate and move into their professional careers.”
Classes begin in the Stevens Building on Monday, August 25. The first School of Theatre and Dance performance is October 3 when “The Flick” a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker opens the new black box theater.
For a complete schedule of upcoming theater and dance performances visit niu.edu/theatre. For more information on the Department of Anthropology visit niu.edu/anthropology.
Aug 30, 2017 | Theatre and Dance, xFeatured
Construction is well underway on the Stevens Building additions and remodel on the NIU main campus. The building is home to the College of Theatre and Dance and the Department of Anthropology. Many more updates will come in the weeks ahead, but let’s start things off with some drone footage set to Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner. (more…)
