The arts will be very visible at this year’s Nobel Conference with its focus on the science and ethics of “Living Soil: A Universe Underfoot”. Not only will several music ensembles perform preludes prior to the start of each session, there will be chances to view art, theatre, and dance interpretations of this year’s topic. Several events will be livestreamed as noted. Here’s your guide to arts events at this year’s conference:
The Gustavus Jazz Ensemble performs the prelude at the Nobel Conference.
TUESDAY
Musical Preludes, Lund Arena (livestream)
9 a.m.–Gustavus Wind Orchestra
12:45 p.m.–Gustavus Wind Symphony
Artist Talk, 3:30 p.m., Lund Arena Art Exhibit
Join artists Deborah Foutch, Greg Euclide, and Betsy Byers, for a conversation about art they created that engages with the land and soil.
Hillstrom Museum of Art Extended Hours, 4-8 p.m.
In the Museum’s FOCUS IN/ON project, a single work from the Hillstrom Collection is analyzed in depth, in collaboration with a colleague from the Gustavus faculty. Toilers (c. 1925), by American artist Cameron Booth (1892-1980), is considered in an essay co-written by Laura Triplett, a member of the geology department and co-chair of this conference, and Hillstrom Museum of Art director Donald Myers. The essay explores the artist, his career, and the way he portrayed people who live in close relationship with the land. It considers how new scientific breakthroughs are affirming what farmers have long known: that our personal and societal well-being is tightly linked to the health of our soil.
Dancers rehearse for a site specific dance choreographed by senior Maddi Miller at the Big Hill Farm.
Big Hill Farm, Site Specific Dance, 4:15 p.m.
Dance and environmental studies major Maddi Miller ’19, choreographed a dance which tells the story of soil through movement. Through the works she hopes to acknowledge the importance of soil, even as it seems to go unnoticed in many people’s day to day lives.
Literature at Nobel, 6:30 p.m., Lund Arena Art Exhibit
A meditation on the earth and its soil featuring selected texts from Nobel Literature Laureates performed and directed by theatre & dance students and alumni.
Music at the Nobel Conference, 8 p.m., Björling Recital Hall* (livestream)
Living Soil: Seasons in the Earth is a journey through the seasons featuring music by Boulanger, Beethoven, Brahms, Hirabayashi, Rachmaninoff, and Schubert. Performers include Taichi Chen, violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra; Esther Wang, pianist and music professor at Gustavus; David Carter, cellist and music professor at St. Olaf College; and soprano; Emi Chen.
WEDNESDAY
Musical Preludes, Lund Arena (livestream)
9:15 a.m.–Gustavus Symphony Orchestra
1:15 p.m.–Gustavus Jazz Ensemble