The “most famous rabbi in America,” Shmuley Boteach, will talk about sex and relationships at the Nott Memorial Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. An earlier scheduled date was postponed due to weather. His talk, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Hillel, Minerva Programs, Religious Studies, Multifaith Council and the Office of the President.
Boteach, known universally as Rabbi Shmuley, is host of the award-winning TV show, “Shalom in the Home” on TLC. He is the best-selling author of 22 books, including “The Kosher Sutra: Eight Sacred Secrets for Reigniting Desire and Restoring Passion for Life” (2009) and “Kosher Sex” (1999). His books on the American family, “Parenting With Fire” (2006) and “Ten Conversations You Need to Have With Your Children” (2006) were both launched on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
The second Mohawk River Watershed Symposium will be held in the F.W. Olin Center March 19. This meeting highlights recent and ongoing work in the watershed through oral and poster presentations. It’s anticipated that more than 100 people will come to campus for the event. Pre-registration, required, closes Friday, Feb. 19. There is no on-site registration for this event. For more detailed information, contact Jaclyn Cockburn at ext. 8015 or cockbuj@union.edu, or click here.
Through Feb. 28
Nott Memorial
Mandeville Gallery Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States
This exhibition of folk and outsider art documents in a variety of mediums features work created by incarcerated mothers, their children and professional artists. It explores issues of motherhood, incarceration, reproductive and welfare policy, and politics. The resulting dialogue presents the challenges and realities created by the dramatic rise of incarcerated women in the United States today. Curated by Rickie Solinger, an independent historian and director of WAKEUP/Arts in New Paltz, the exhibit has been traveling across the U.S. since 2006.
A host of related events are scheduled, including: a discussion, “Interrupted Lives in Schenectady: Stories from G and H Blocks” (Thursday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m., Nott Memorial”); and a discussion with Solinger, “Interrupted Life” (Thursday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m., Nott) followed by a reception (5-7 p.m.).
Through March 7 Wikoff Student Gallery
Nott Memorial A Geometric Mind: Work by Emily Burgess and Alex Handin
This exhibits features abstract work by two seniors; oil paintings and sculpture by Emily Burgess and silver gelatin prints by Alex Handin
Through March 14
Schaffer Library
Atrium Union Notables
Union Notables celebrates the great men and women who have studied and worked at the College from its founding in 1795 to the present day. Every six months, a new group of three notables is featured. Currently featured are assistant professor and janitor Charles Frederick Chandler (1836-1925); actor, playwright, journalist and producer John Howard Payne (1791-1852); and College Librarian Ruth Anne Evans (1924-2001).
Charles Dickens could work a crowd, and people loved him for it. Unlike many great writers, he was exceptionally famous in his own lifetime and was all the rage from England to Albany.
And in fact, Dickens visited Albany on two separate occasions, in 1842 and 1868. The later appearance at Tweddle Hall (where the Omni Hotel now stands) created a frenzy: When tickets to his two public readings went on sale, they sold out in less than two hours.
“Dickens in America” exhibit poster, February 2010
“Dickens was an accomplished amateur actor, as well as author, and he found he could make more money in a year giving such performances than he could by writing,” said Annette LeClair, head of Technical Services at Schaffer Library. “He was enormously popular and embodied what we mean by the term celebrity.”
His time here is highlighted in a new library exhibit called “Dickens in America.” The show coincides with a senior seminar on Dickens, taught by Harry Marten, the Edward E. Hale Jr. Professor of English. It also celebrates the library’s collection of early Dickens works, a recently acquired first edition of “A Christmas Carol,” and related materials from contemporaries of Dickens.
“The exhibit commemorates his two tours of the United States and explores his reactions to America and the reaction of Americans – including members of the Union community – to him,” LeClair said. “The Albany material is particularly interesting because it’s possible to imagine in detail what Dickens visit meant locally.”
Dickens' Albany readings inspired newspapers to publish welcoming essays and spurred advertisers to take advantage of his presence and profit from performances of his material by other artists. The sheer number of people clamoring to see Dickens also forced the city to provide extra transportation to accommodate the crowds.
“I was struck by how modern the story of Dickens’ fame is,” said Courtney Seymour, head of Collection Development and exhibit co-curator with LeClair. “He dealt with piracy of his work, a public divorce with the media taking sides and a celebrity status not unlike today’s Hollywood superstars.
“Still, what we remember most is his talent – his art – which is how we tend to memorialize today’s celebrities,” she added.
One man who knew the literary icon personally was John Bigelow, Class of 1835. Managing editor and co-owner of the New York Evening Post until 1861, Bigelow also served as consul-general to President Abraham Lincoln and later as minister to France.
“When Dickens reached the U.S. on his second visit, the two men met, and thereafter, Bigelow and his wife, Jane, socialized with Dickens on a number of occasions,” said LeClair. “They also corresponded with him and exchanged books.
John Bigelow (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress and dated between 1855-1865.) Union College magazine, spring 2008
“One of the items on display is a thank-you note from Dickens for several copies of Bigelow’s just-published and groundbreaking edition of Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography.”
Jane Bigelow’s diary, in which she recorded her own delighted reactions to Dickens, is also part of the exhibit.
“Dickens in America” runs through April 12, when a staged reading of “A Christmas Carol” will be held in the Nott Memorial. The program, featuring Union students and faculty, is being directed by Patricia Culbert, senior artist-in-residence with the Theater and Dance Department.
Other events are being planned by Union’s literature theme house, Dickens House. House members have arranged a campus showing of “A Muppet Christmas Carol” on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. in Reamer Campus Center Auditorium.
“We’re very excited about the exhibit, and we hope it will encourage interest in both Dickens and our College's old and unique history,” said Kathryn Krakowka ’10 of Dickens House.
The Ballroom Dance Club, Student National Medical Association and UProgram are co-organizing “Dancing with U,” set for Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Chapel, to raise funds for the Diana Legacy Fund.
“This will be an awesome chance for students to see faculty and administrators dance,” said Ben Miles ’10, president of the Ballroom Dance Club. “Each professor and administrator will be paired with a student from the Ballroom Dance Club. Each couple will perform one dance, and the audience will vote on which is the best.”
There’ll be commentary from a trio of judges: Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Jessica Critchlow, Director of Student Activities Matt Milless and Assistant Director of the Dance Program Marcus Rogers.
Participating faculty and staff members include Chad Orzel, assistant professor of physics; Scott LaBrake, senior lecturer, physics; Dean of Students Steve Leavitt; Residence Director Patrick Duffy, Assistant Professor of Biology Nicole Theodosiou Napier, Senior Artist-in-Residence Patricia Culbert, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Laurie Tyler, Director of Multicultural Affairs Karen Ferrer-Muñiz and Senior Associate Dean of Students Trish Williams.
All proceeds will go the Diana Legacy Fund, which helps provide hospice care in sub-Saharan Africa. It is named after Diana, Princess of Wales, who supported AIDS causes.
The event is open to the campus community. Admissions is $5, which gives five votes; additional votes can be purchased for $1.
