Even though life still isn’t exactly normal, there are still plenty of entertainment options sure to delight and inspire as we shift into the holiday season.
Several photography exhibitions will be on display in the Erb Memorial Union galleries as well as the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art’s Hallie Ford Fellows in the Visual Arts exhibition. And don’t miss the Oregon Bach Festival presentation of “An American Mosaic” commemorating Americans that have been affected by COVID-19 and those who have lost their lives to the virus.
Art
Join Los Angeles-based artist Sandy Rodriguez and the UO’s Latinx Scholars Academic Residential Community students for a live webinar and Q&A Dec. 2. Investigating the methods and materials of painting across cultures and histories, Rodriguez’ Codex Rodriguez-Mondragón is made up of a collection of maps and paintings about the intersections of history, social memory, contemporary politics and cultural production.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art opens the Hallie Ford Fellows in the Visual Arts, a new exhibition that will be on view through Jan. 10. The exhibition showcases the work of 15 artists named fellows in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
According to curator Jenelle Porter, the artists’ works address a wide range of themes, including “community, presence and presentness, bearing witness, devotion, the natural and urban environment, systemic injustice, daily lived experience, the body, civil rights and the rights of citizens, revolution, power, survival, storytelling and who is allowed to tell stories, philosophical divides, colonialism, the metaphorical dimensions and allowances of abstraction, pedagogy, legacies, and, always, beauty.”
Exhibitions
Often, when people think of exhibitions, they envision museums, but UO Libraries has a bounty of digital collections available to browse online, with topics ranging from a Eugene lesbian history project and works by women authors to ghosts and monsters in Japanese votive slips, children’s literature of the Cold War era and 100 years of Oregon track and field.
The EMU is hosting several exhibits in its galleries in December. The photographic works of UO student, photographer and member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Lúkwaiya Lira: Ichnaatash wa will be on display Dec. 1 in the Adell McMillan Gallery. His photos chronicle the rich lives and stories of his time spent in the Middle East and at the Warm Springs Early Childhood Education Center.
On the same date, the photography work of Kezia Setyawan, a recent graduate of the School of Journalism and Communication, will be on display in the EMU’s Aperture Gallery. The exhibit, Damana? Disini, which translates to “Where are we? We are here,” illustrates the experiences, perspectives and struggles for identity of Chinese Indonesians.
Theater
Listen to student playwrights or catch up on past events on the Department of Theatre Arts YouTube channel. Dec. 3-4, 10 Playwrights Writing will feature students reading the short plays they penned in associate professor Michael Najjar’s playwriting class.
Music
On Dec. 6, the Oregon Bach Festival presents the world premiere of “An American Mosaic,” commemorating American caregivers, first responders, parents and others affected by COVID-19 as well as those who have lost their lives to the virus. Composed by Richard Danielpour, “An American Mosaic” features Simone Dinnerstein’s performance of 15 piano miniatures and other accompanying Bach works.
Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Although still unable to gather in person at Viking Braggot Company Southtown, Ideas on Tap, the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s monthly pub talk, can be streamed online. On Dec. 2, join UO professor of Indigenous, race, and ethnic studies Michael Hames-Garcia for a discussion about race and policing and how current polices fail to address the demands of activists and community organizers.
Be sure to also explore the “Museum from Home” page and enjoy the museum remotely. The pages are also now available in Spanish and English.
Streaming resources
Even if you can’t be there in person, through the wonder of the internet you can virtually enjoy exhibits, collections, audio, video and images. And there are plenty of entertainment options available for your holiday viewing.
It may not emit any actual heat, but five hours of The Duck striking different poses in front of a crackling holiday fireplace is sure to warm your heart.
Missing live concerts? At Billboard you can purchase tickets throughout December for virtual performances by Barenaked Ladies, Andrea Bocelli, Alice in Chains and more. Also check out Quaranstream, another great resource for finding streams by your favorite performers. For your classical festival holiday playlist, look no further than Classic FM.
If you haven’t discovered eventbrite.com, try not to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of easily searchable free virtual events, including everything from yoga classes, music and baking workshops to author readings, crafting, comedy and networking opportunities.
Be sure to drop in and view the UO Channel, featuring an assortment of live streamed events, Department of Art Visiting Artist Lecture Series videos, guest speakers and more.
—By Sharleen Nelson, University Communications