By: Madeline Schnieders, Managing Editor
With its theme of "Queens and Things: Art and Gender," the 23rd Annual Arts & Literary Festival at Newman University will aim to reflect on traditional gender roles and discover ways to look at gender differently, says Mark Mannette, director of theatre.
The event will take place on March 3 and 4 in DeMattias Hall and will involve an art show from local artist Ann Resnick, NU Theatre Department's spring play "Mary, Queen of Scots," Open Mic and more.
The Arts & Lit Fest is free and open to the public. Attendees of the festival can expect to experience a celebration of a variety of art forms. Below is a schedule of the festival's events.
THURSDAY
11 a.m. — Gender Roundtable: A Conversation about Masculinity: Students from Associate English Professor Marguerite Regan's Gender Studies class will participate in a roundtable discussion about masculinity in Jabara Flexible Theatre.
Noon — Art for Lunch: Resnick will present and discuss her exhibit "So Long Fare Well" in the Steckline Gallery. Art Professor Shannon Johnston said that Resnick's paintings will mainly feature flowers, which have traditionally held feminine symbolism. This will tie into the theme of the Arts & Lit Fest as a whole, she said.
"The exhibit itself, as far as the artwork, the colors and the presentation of it, are very contemporary, very modern," Johnston said. "But the use of this floral motif being distinctively feminine and distinctively regal ties into those things as well."
She said that Resnick is well-known locally.
"Ann Resnick is definitely a queen of the art community in Wichita," Johnston said. "Anyone invested in the Wichita art community knows the name Ann Resnick. So I think she's definitely one of those strong woman pillars."
Resnick will also have her art featured in two other Wichita galleries at the same time of the Steckline Gallery exhibit, Johnston said.
"That kind of underscores that strength and queenliness, not only of Ann, but of the art community here in Wichita," she said.
Johnston said she had already scheduled Resnick for the Steckline Gallery months ago and did not choose the artist to fit in with the Arts & Lit Fest theme. In fact, she said, the theme was built around the Theatre Department's spring show and the art show in Steckline.
"Mark (Manette) schedules his plays, and I often have the gallery already scheduled, and so we look for common threads and use that to help us frame our theme for Arts & Lit Fest," she said. "So it was really exciting to have such a clear direction this year."
3 p.m. — Women Leaders: Sr. Therese Wetta and Sr. Tarcisia Roths, ASCs, will offer a discussion about women leaders in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
7:30 p.m. — "Mary, Queen of Scots:" The last event of the night will begin with the opening night of the play in the Performance Hall, which will be followed by a talkback with director Mannette and the cast. The play is about Queen Mary of Scotland and her exile to England, Mannette said.
FRIDAY
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Como La Flor/"Like the Flower:" Spanish Professor Sonja Bontrager will host a tissue paper flower-making workshop in the hallway of DeMattias.
Noon — Open Mic and "Coelacanth Literary Journal:" The event will offer a space for students, faculty and staff to present art, writing, plays and other works created by themselves or by another person. Students are eligible for a prize. The latest edition of the university's literary magazine "Coelacanth" will be presented as well.
1 p.m. — Creative Writing Showcase: Students will present pieces they completed for honors English classes in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
5 p.m. — First Friday: Resnick's "So Long Fare Well" exhibit will be on display in the Steckline Gallery. The NU Art Department will offer wine and light refreshments.
Photo: Courtesy photo, With its theme of "Queens and Things: Art and Gender," the 23rd Annual Arts & Literary Festival at Newman University will aim to reflect on traditional gender roles and discover ways to look at gender differently, says Mark Mannette, director of theatre.
The event will take place on March 3 and 4 in DeMattias Hall and will involve an art show from local artist Ann Resnick, NU Theatre Department's spring play "Mary, Queen of Scots," Open Mic and more.
The Arts & Lit Fest is free and open to the public. Attendees of the festival can expect to experience a celebration of a variety of art forms. Below is a schedule of the festival's events.
THURSDAY
11 a.m. — Gender Roundtable: A Conversation about Masculinity: Students from Associate English Professor Marguerite Regan's Gender Studies class will participate in a roundtable discussion about masculinity in Jabara Flexible Theatre.
Noon — Art for Lunch: Resnick will present and discuss her exhibit "So Long Fare Well" in the Steckline Gallery. Art Professor Shannon Johnston said that Resnick's paintings will mainly feature flowers, which have traditionally held feminine symbolism. This will tie into the theme of the Arts & Lit Fest as a whole, she said.
"The exhibit itself, as far as the artwork, the colors and the presentation of it, are very contemporary, very modern," Johnston said. "But the use of this floral motif being distinctively feminine and distinctively regal ties into those things as well."
She said that Resnick is well-known locally.
"Ann Resnick is definitely a queen of the art community in Wichita," Johnston said. "Anyone invested in the Wichita art community knows the name Ann Resnick. So I think she's definitely one of those strong woman pillars."
Resnick will also have her art featured in two other Wichita galleries at the same time of the Steckline Gallery exhibit, Johnston said.
"That kind of underscores that strength and queenliness, not only of Ann, but of the art community here in Wichita," she said.
Johnston said she had already scheduled Resnick for the Steckline Gallery months ago and did not choose the artist to fit in with the Arts & Lit Fest theme. In fact, she said, the theme was built around the Theatre Department's spring show and the art show in Steckline.
"Mark (Manette) schedules his plays, and I often have the gallery already scheduled, and so we look for common threads and use that to help us frame our theme for Arts & Lit Fest," she said. "So it was really exciting to have such a clear direction this year."
3 p.m. — Women Leaders: Sr. Therese Wetta and Sr. Tarcisia Roths, ASCs, will offer a discussion about women leaders in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
7:30 p.m. — "Mary, Queen of Scots:" The last event of the night will begin with the opening night of the play in the Performance Hall, which will be followed by a talkback with director Mannette and the cast. The play is about Queen Mary of Scotland and her exile to England, Mannette said.
FRIDAY
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Como La Flor/"Like the Flower:" Spanish Professor Sonja Bontrager will host a tissue paper flower-making workshop in the hallway of DeMattias.
Noon — Open Mic and "Coelacanth Literary Journal:" The event will offer a space for students, faculty and staff to present art, writing, plays and other works created by themselves or by another person. Students are eligible for a prize. The latest edition of the university's literary magazine "Coelacanth" will be presented as well.
1 p.m. — Creative Writing Showcase: Students will present pieces they completed for honors English classes in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
5 p.m. — First Friday: Resnick's "So Long Fare Well" exhibit will be on display in the Steckline Gallery. The NU Art Department will offer wine and light refreshments.
Photo: With its theme of "Queens and Things: Art and Gender," the 23rd Annual Arts & Literary Festival at Newman University will aim to reflect on traditional gender roles and discover ways to look at gender differently, says Mark Mannette, director of theatre.
The event will take place on March 3 and 4 in DeMattias Hall and will involve an art show from local artist Ann Resnick, NU Theatre Department's spring play "Mary, Queen of Scots," Open Mic and more.
The Arts & Lit Fest is free and open to the public. Attendees of the festival can expect to experience a celebration of a variety of art forms. Below is a schedule of the festival's events.
THURSDAY
11 a.m. — Gender Roundtable: A Conversation about Masculinity: Students from Associate English Professor Marguerite Regan's Gender Studies class will participate in a roundtable discussion about masculinity in Jabara Flexible Theatre.
Noon — Art for Lunch: Resnick will present and discuss her exhibit "So Long Fare Well" in the Steckline Gallery. Art Professor Shannon Johnston said that Resnick's paintings will mainly feature flowers, which have traditionally held feminine symbolism. This will tie into the theme of the Arts & Lit Fest as a whole, she said.
"The exhibit itself, as far as the artwork, the colors and the presentation of it, are very contemporary, very modern," Johnston said. "But the use of this floral motif being distinctively feminine and distinctively regal ties into those things as well."
She said that Resnick is well-known locally.
"Ann Resnick is definitely a queen of the art community in Wichita," Johnston said. "Anyone invested in the Wichita art community knows the name Ann Resnick. So I think she's definitely one of those strong woman pillars."
Resnick will also have her art featured in two other Wichita galleries at the same time of the Steckline Gallery exhibit, Johnston said.
"That kind of underscores that strength and queenliness, not only of Ann, but of the art community here in Wichita," she said.
Johnston said she had already scheduled Resnick for the Steckline Gallery months ago and did not choose the artist to fit in with the Arts & Lit Fest theme. In fact, she said, the theme was built around the Theatre Department's spring show and the art show in Steckline.
"Mark (Manette) schedules his plays, and I often have the gallery already scheduled, and so we look for common threads and use that to help us frame our theme for Arts & Lit Fest," she said. "So it was really exciting to have such a clear direction this year."
3 p.m. — Women Leaders: Sr. Therese Wetta and Sr. Tarcisia Roths, ASCs, will offer a discussion about women leaders in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
7:30 p.m. — "Mary, Queen of Scots:" The last event of the night will begin with the opening night of the play in the Performance Hall, which will be followed by a talkback with director Mannette and the cast. The play is about Queen Mary of Scotland and her exile to England, Mannette said.
FRIDAY
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Como La Flor/"Like the Flower:" Spanish Professor Sonja Bontrager will host a tissue paper flower-making workshop in the hallway of DeMattias.
Noon — Open Mic and "Coelacanth Literary Journal:" The event will offer a space for students, faculty and staff to present art, writing, plays and other works created by themselves or by another person. Students are eligible for a prize. The latest edition of the university's literary magazine "Coelacanth" will be presented as well.
1 p.m. — Creative Writing Showcase: Students will present pieces they completed for honors English classes in the Jabara Flexible Theatre.
5 p.m. — First Friday: Resnick's "So Long Fare Well" exhibit will be on display in the Steckline Gallery. The NU Art Department will offer wine and light refreshments.
Photo: Courtesy Photo, Français Clouet, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
