January 2007
Montana Poet Featured at "Dances With Words"
Monday, January 29 2007
The University of Montana Western English department is sponsoring a series of readings of area writers and poets during the 2007 Spring Semester titled “Dances With Words.”
The first reading features Montana poet Lowell Jaeger, Thursday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in The Cup, located on the lower level of the Swysgood Technology Center.
Jaeger has served as Professor of English at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell for the past 25 years. He was a finalist for the position Poet Laureate of Montana.
Jaeger is the author of ten books of poetry and the recipient of many honors such as the Grolier Poetry Peace Prize and a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
He has taught various creative writing workshops across the U.S. and Montana. Jaeger is the editor of “Poems Across the Big Sky”, an anthology of more than 100 Montana poets.
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Free Speaker Series Set For Spring Semester
Friday, January 19 2007
The University of Montana Western School of Outreach is sponsoring a Free Speakers Series during the 2007 Spring Semester.
Each presentation will be held in the Swysgood Technology Center in Room 005 from 7-8:30 p.m.
The series is called “What’s My Line?” and will showcase the unique talents and interests of Dillon community members.
Thursday, Feb. 15: “Modern Day Travels With Lewis and Clark: Across America with the Corps of Discovery.” The featured speaker is Steve Morehouse. He will retrace his 96-city tour of the United States. Morehouse was one of 21 people from all over the United States who traveled with the Lewis and Clark Exhibit.
Thursday, Mar. 29: “St. James Way: A Journey Through Spain on Foot.” The featured speaker is Bill Janus, associate professor of History at Montana Western. For more than 1000 years, pilgrims flocked to Santiago de Compostela, Spain on foot, bicycle or donkey to honor the burial site of the apostle James the Great. Janus made the 300 mile journey in 2004 In his presentation, Janus will trace the history of the pilgrimage and talk about the varied landscapes and the wealth of monuments that may be seen along the way.
Thursday, Apr. 12: “Amazing Polar Bears: To Churchill and Back. “ Featured speakers are Jim and Becky DeBoer. Jim will share their recent journey by train over many miles of permafrost and plains to Churchill, Canada. There, they spent time observing the nearby polar bears. DeBoer will give background information about the town of Churchill and the amazing ways the community adapts to and values their local bear neighbors.
For more information, please call the School of Outreach at 683-7537.
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Canada’s Hippest Quartet is Heading to Montana
Friday, January 12 2007
The music group the Polyjesters will perform in the Montana Western Beier Auditorium, in Dillon on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:30 pm. (ticket information below) “The Polyjesters specialize in vocally arranged swing music…a refreshing change…they are the real thing.” Jeff Healey, award winning Canadian guitarist/vocalist.
The Polyjesters are Canadian brothers Jason and Sheldon Valleau who hail from Alberta but honed their musical talents on The Continent playing for everyone from street folk to the Prince of Monaco.
They play everything from Billie Holiday to The Beatles…from old swing/jazz standards to alternative country. A breadth of musical appreciation that produced their special home-grown blend called CHUNK. A unique sound that is highly energetic, completely contagious, unfailingly entertaining and appeals to a wide range of musical taste.
“The Polyjesters have introduced a wonderful blend of witty lyrics, wry sense of humor and old-timey bluegrass music with a topping of jazz swing into our listener’s lives," said Mary Palmer, Music Director, High Plains Public Radio. This is music that makes you want to tap your feet, laugh out loud and blush all at the same time. Leon Redbone, Spike Jones, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, They Might Be Giants and Bill Monroe have been genetically blended and then artificially inseminated into Canada. Now you’ve got a little idea of the Polyjesters. I love them, my Grandmother loves them, my kids love them. You’ll love them too!”
The concert is the third in the Southwest Montana Arts Council’s 06-07 Showcase Series and will prove to be great family entertainment. The Polyjesters are performing at six locations across Montana and in area schools as part of the artists in the schools residency program. For more information on the band or to hear music samples, have a listen at www.polyjesters.com
Admission on Jan. 17th is by series ticket, individual tickets at the door or in advance at Bert’s CD’s (683-9202), adults -$12, students - $8. Free tickets are available at the Student Senate office for Montana Western students with current ID. The event is sponsored by the Southwest Montana Arts Council, Premier Sponsor Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan, Abacus Electric, Bramlett & Company Realtors, Wells Fargo Bank and Harve Wolfe, D.D.S. For more information on this concert and the programs of the Southwest Montana Arts Council contact the office at 683-7772.
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Faculty Art Exhibit at Gallery/Museum
Monday, January 8 2007
The University of Montana Western Art Gallery/Museum is once again pleased to highlight the artistic accomplishments of its faculty, both present and past. This year's exhibit includes professors Barney Brienza and Randy Horst, emeriti professor Jim Corr, and adjunct professors Sarah Krank and Nolan Salix.
Barney Brienza is well represented in this year's exhibit with pieces in hand blown glass, both stoneware and porcelain ceramics, and a large scale relief sculpture.
Randy Horst is exhibiting digital photography and mixed media collages from his recent "Spectrum" series that base each piece around one hue of the color spectrum.
Jim Corr has four new oil and acrylic paintings that focus on the landscape.
Sarah Krank is exhibiting four new colorful pastel figurative drawings.
Nolan Salix is represented by paintings, both in his signature style of oil paint on copper panels and in a new experimental style of paint mixed with cement.
An artist's reception will be held next Wed., Jan. 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Montana Western campus and Dillon community are invited. This is a free event and refreshments will be served. The reception is scheduled to coincide with the Southwest Montana Arts Council Showcase Series performance that evening by "The Polyjesters" (7:30 p.m. in the Beier Auditorium).
The Art Faculty Exhibit will continue through Feb. 9. The Art Gallery/Museum can be found at the south end of the first floor of Main Hall on the Montana Western campus. Gallery times are Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. To arrange for special times or visits call the director at 683-7232.
The Art Gallery/Museum also houses a permanent collection of art, including works by C.M. Russell, Edgar Paxson, Russell Chatham, and Monte Dolack, and the Seidensticker Wildlife Collection of taxidermy from around the world. "The Nature of Abstraction" is the next exhibit starting Feb. 16 and includes works by several artists from the Botanica Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman.
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Dances With Words Spring Semester Schedule
Monday, January 8 2007
The University of Montana Western English department is sponsoring a series of readings of regional poets and writers during the 2007 spring semester titled "Dances With Words."
All readings will take place Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. at The Cup, located on the lower level of the Swysgood Technology Center.
Feb. 1, 2007, Lowell Jaeger of Big Fork, Mont., poetry reading
Feb. 22, 2007, Diana P. Francis, Montana Western Associate Professor of English , fantasy-fiction reading
March 22, 2007, Sid Gustafson, Montana Western Assistant Professor of Equine Studies, longtime Bozeman horse veterinarian, and novelist.
March 29, 2007, Rick DeMarinis, Missoula, Mont., senior novelist and short story writer, Missoula
April 26, 2007, Vic Charlo, Salish chief, playwright, and poet.
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New Rehearsal Times For Dillon Community Band and Choir
Monday, January 8 2007
The University of Montana Western Community Band and Choir announces new rehearsal times for the 2007 spring semester.
The choir will meet Tuesdays from 11:20 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. beginning Jan. 16 in Main Hall 415.
The band will meet Mondays from 7 – 8:45 p.m. beginning Jan. 22.
Both groups welcome new members. For more information, please call Dr. Jeri Bonnin at 683-6216 or 683-7046.
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