Artist Janice Perry kicks off Landmark College Academic Speaker Series
by Solvegi Shmulsky
The Landmark College Speaker Series kicks off its third year with artists, writers, and critics who will examine change in contemporary society. Cultural (R)Evolution, this year’s theme, is explored through performances and talks that are free, accessible, and open to the public. Located at Landmark College, the Speaker Series is a thought-provoking and convenient se
t of events for the college community and local residents.
The fall line-up is diverse. Speakers have backgrounds that range from gender studies to environmental science and Middle Eastern studies to fine art. With compelling messages that invite audiences to think and feel outside contemporary boundaries, experts in the 2013-14 Landmark College Speaker Series ask challenging questions about our responsibilities to the planet and to each other.
“As different as these speakers are, each one bring an insider's perspective and a sense of urgency on a vital issue,” said Geoff Burgess, Speaker Series director and associate professor at Landmark College. “They call upon us to consider our place in the world and what we can do to effect change.”
September 16th— Performance artist and social critic Janice Perry will perform Not Just Another Pretty Face: A Retrospective. Called “bizarre and brainy” by the Village Voice and “one of the world’s most respected performance artists” by the BBC, Janice Perry uses energy and a sharp sense of humor to comment on everything from Marilyn Monroe and the Gulf Wars to censorship and Robert Mapplethorpe’s nude male artwork. This event is co-sponsored by the Landmark College Women’s Center and the GLBT (Gay Lesbian Transgender Bisexual) club. Located at the Greenhoe Theater at 7 p.m.
October 7th— Monsour Farhang, PhD., will present “The Struggle for Democracy in the Arab World: Cultural Impediments to Pluralism.” Why has the Arab Spring—or pro-democracy movements in the Arab world—led to friction and political unrest? Farhang explores how the beliefs and practices of everyday people have affected the growth of democracy. A captivating speaker, 30-year Bennington College professor, and renowned expert on Middle Eastern Studies, Farhang has appeared on Democracy Now, PBS News Hour, ABC's Nightline, Bill Moyers Journal, 60 Minutes, and CBS's Face the Nation. This event is cosponsored by the Windham World Affairs Council (WWAC). Located at the O’Brien Auditorium at 7 p.m.
October 22nd— Bill McKibben will discuss his new book Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist. Time Magazine called McKibben “the planet's best green journalist” and the Boston Globe said in 2010 that he was “probably the country's most important environmentalist.” He is a journalist, author of over a dozen environmental books, and founder of 350.org—a grassroots campaign to reduce carbon emissions. Please preregister to reserve your seat at this event. Located at the Greenhoe Theater at 7 p.m.
November 11th— Multi-media artist and Landmark College Alumnus Dave Cole will present “Craft and Craftsmanship in Contemporary Art.” What is the difference between craft and art? David Cole’s beautiful and thought-provoking artwork answers this question by creatively fusing the two separate traditions. Cole will show slides of his work and discuss the recent influence of craft on the contemporary art world. Located at the O’Brien Auditorium at 7 p.m.
Armed with insight and an edge of social criticism, the explanations of current change in this series open up the potential inherent in evolution—that of a better future. The mission of the Speaker Series is to promote the intellectual environment of the College and to facilitate discussion of important issues in the community.
Landmark College was the first institution of higher learning to pioneer college-level studies for students with dyslexia. Today Landmark College, offering two and four-year degree options, a graduate level certificate in universal design with technology integration, and summer programs for students who learn differently, is a global leader in integrated teaching methods for students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, ADHD, and ASD. Students, faculty, and other professionals from all over the world are drawn to Landmark College for its innovative educational model—designed through research and practice to help all students who learn differently become confident, self-empowered, and independently successful learners.
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